It’s been a long time since I’ve written about sports, and there’s a reason for that. More later. For now, let’s Tivo blog the event. The title is a reference to this ban, by the way.
- This version of The Game is version 127. Coincidentally, that’s the version that the opening sponsor, Windows, would need to be good. Ba da bum.
- eHarmony starting lineup? Is this really the right audience?
- 6:45 remaining, 1st quarter: Fourth and 1 at the Harvard 5? Of course you go for it. Stupid fake punts aside, Yale’s coach has likely read fourth down studies. Besides, Ivy Leagure field goals are never as easy as double integrals.
- 6:00: Yale runs right through the open gap in Harvard’s goal line defense. They ran to the 3 on 3 side, not the 6 on 4. Harvard should spread its two extra players (opposite quarterback and ballcarrier) better.
- 4:42: Harvard outsmarts Yale! Redundant, I know. Double back pass, then a nice bomb gets Harvard close.
- 3:00: Harvard has 4th down at the 1 yard line after a decent scramble. It’s an option, and a nice cutback gets the score. Extra point ties it.
- Versus begins to atone to its audience for the Windows 7 sponsorship, running an interview on the holder of the Little Red Flag. It’s been around since 1884.
- 2:21: As the commentator says, Harvard’s onside kick attempt was “not good”. It’s windy; the ball then blows around before it can be snapped. I remember playing ultimate frisbee in that wind, better known as heave and scores. The intramural games were always like 9-8 or 11-10.
- The Harvard Hockey ad is pretty miserable. It’s like, from the 80s. Not the good 80s, either.
- 12:30 2nd quarter: Yale tries a long field goal, which fails. I’m not happy about the Harvard hold on the drive, though. The Crimson should be good enough to not need to cheat.
- 5:40: Yale goes again on 4th and 1, but it’s a plain dive into the strong, covered side. It fails. Given the importance of fourth down plays, I would think people would study them more carefully. Then again, so many coaches can’t even manage the clock as well as a Madden PS3 player, so I can’t expect much.
- 3:00: Yale #5 makes a really good read and tackle to stop the Harvard drive. Honorable sportsmanship recognizes both teams.
- After a touchdown drive to give Yale a 14-7 lead, the Yale coach gives a solid interview. The halftime show includes the Illinois-Northwestern problem at Wrigley Field. Having one end zone against a brick wall is, well, Ivy League. Northwestern is almost there. Of course, the ex-player in the studio is an idiot; since the moves will occur only on change of possession, it won’t affect tempo.
- Hey! Chris Berman does the voiceover for the Ivy League ad! It’s not on Youtube, though.
- 14:48 3rd quarter: Though outplayed in the first half, Harvard ties the score with a kickoff return touchdown and convert.
- 10:00: The commentators comment on Harvard Stadium, which is very pretty. So is Yale Bowl, actually. It’s just the rest of New Haven that’s the problem. There are only 4 National Historic Landmark football stadiums; the other two are the Rose Bowl and the LA Coliseum.
- 5:35: After a sack by Harvard #48, on the next play he rushes the punt and knocks the blocker back, gaining a punt block. Harvard takes over in field goal territory.
- 3:01: Harvard does better, as nice running leads to a touchdown. The convert gives Harvard a 7 point lead. The day becomes brighter.
- 11:18 4th quarter: Seriously, Yale. Harvard rushed 3 people. You had 5 linemen plus a back. For some reason, the middle 3 men block one guy, leaving the tackles alone on edge rushers. The left tackle has to make a cut block, and the back on that side doesn’t help. Hello, sack.
- 10:30: I’ve run around Harvard stadium, and the wind was weird. Now the wind tunnel effect is even worse with the end zone building. Still, an 18 yard punt is never good. The Harvard player knows enough to pick it up for 8 more yards.
- 9:54: Oh no. Yale #10 spears. Both he and Harvard #22 are concussed. After about 3 minutes, the Harvard player gets up. The doctors have to immobilize the Yale player, which takes about 12 minutes. At the end, the Harvard player comes out to say a word to the Yale man, and exchanges cordial words with another Yale defender. That’s exactly the type of fair play that Harvard and Yale women and men should exhibit.
- 9:40: And a late blow to the quarterback’s head is the opposite of that.
- 7:38: Scramble, pass, touchdown Harvard! That’s a horrible dance in the stands by the Harvard fans, but they’re unlikely to become dancers anyway. It’s 28-14.
- 5:51: Yale goes for it on fourth down and fails. The Harvard person wearing the same number as my jersey, #16, comes out at quarterback. But he has a more Harvard name than I, Collier Winters. That sounds like money more than my man of earth name. Unfortunately, he doesn’t hold on to the ball, handing it off to someone who fumbles.
- 4:38: A horrible overthrow by Yale is an interception, but Harvard roughs the passer. I reluctantly agree; that was late and to the head. As punishment, their Kobe steak dinner will be reduced to Black Angus steak. It’s tragic.
- 3:17: After a stop, Harvard calls a defensive timeout before fourth and goal at the 1. What’s Yale’s call? A simple off tackle run. Yale #41 runs through a tackle attempt and scores. It’s 28-21.
- 3:09: Not a short kick, because Harvard’s lost its first two running backs. The third down reverse doesn’t work, but someone finally gets a decent punt, 47 yards. Has the wind shifted? Yale has 83 yards to go and 121 seconds.
- 1:00: Harvard, so close! “Cornerbacks are wide receivers who can’t catch.”
- 0:41: After a debatable interference call on Yale, the penalty leads to a long fourth down. Yale fails. Harvard wins. Angels get their wings.
There’s the game. Good – well, good for me – triumphed. Larger issues are for other days, after the fall is over. As I upload this, Black Friday is beginning, and it’s snowing. Winter is coming.
