Captain's Corner: Restoring the pride

By Corwynne Carruthers

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Captin Corwynne Carruthers, MC '99, plows into the Princeton line. Carruthers looks to lead Yale to its first victory in The Game since 1994.

Iknow that I cannot begin to convey to you the thoughts and feelings of an entire senior class. For all of us, the memories of the past four years will be memories that will last forever. However, I will attempt to recount the journey of the senior class that has restored the pride to the Yale football team.

As freshmen, we entered the Yale Bowl awestruck with dreams of Ivy League championships. However, those dreams became distant as the season unfolded. A very talented 1995 team was marred by injuries and never reached its potential. A 3-7 record left a bitter taste in the mouths of a young and naïve freshman class. And we lost to Harvard.

Our sophomore year began with the announcement that our legendary coach, Carm Cozza, would be retiring at season's end. That became the focus of the year. Every game was fought hard, but hopes of winning the title for Coach Cozza vanished with a dismal 2-8 finish. And we lost to Harvard.

Then came change. A new coaching staff brought life to a dead program. The hopes and dreams of championships were rekindled. A very young squad showed improvement in a new system. But a 1-9 record left us questioning. And we lost to Harvard.

"Belief Without Evidence" became the theme of the 1998 edition of the Yale Bulldogs. With the Class of 1999 on track to have the worst winning percentage in the history of Yale football, my senior class set out to turn this team around. Accountability, dedication, and perseverance may have been the most obvious traits learned from three dismal seasons, but the desire to win is what fueled the sacrifices made during the off-season.

"Belief Without Evidence" was ingrained in every one of the seniors' hearts. For three years we had no evidence. We believed in a team that no one outside the program believed in. Every major poll had picked us last, yet we believed.

In 1998, that belief has produced evidence. With one game remaining, the Yale football team is in second place, still in the hunt for the Ivy League title. Every win this year has been a combination of offense and defense, underclassmen and upperclassmen. It is often the interaction between new players and old that determines the course of the season. Throughout this year, the underclassmen have been united by the vision of an Ivy League championship. Their talent, ability, and dedication have played a huge role in this turnaround.

For the senior class, there is but one goal left--BEATING HARVARD. This game represents the culmination of what we've set out to accomplish this season. When we beat Harvard on Saturday, all of our goals will have been achieved, and pride will be restored to the Yale football team.

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