Ivy League Game Parallels Politics

Nov. 18 -- If that old adage about history repeating itself is true, they might as well call off the presidential recounts in Florida and declare George W. Bush the winner. Yale has won its annual football game against Harvard, 34-24.

There has been a definite trend during the presidential election years since 1940: A Yale victory in the November matchup between the Ivy League rivals has meant a Republican won the presidency that year, while a Harvard win has translated into a Democratic victory at the polls.

The two exceptions to this trend came in 1960 and 1976 — also years with razor-thin presidential election margins.

Another interesting twist this year is that the presidential candidates attended these two universities. Texas Gov. Bush graduated from Yale in 1968, while Vice President Gore earned his degree from Harvard in 1969.

Since the 2000 presidential election is yet to be decided, the superstitious might read into the outcome of today’s game.

“Why not let the 117th playing of The Game,” as the rivalry is called, “determine the next leader of the free world?” Yale asked in a press release distributed before the contest at Harvard Stadium.

Yale Wins In Final Quarter

Yale won today’s game as Ray Littleton returned an interception 45 yards with2:13 left to set up Rashad Bartholomew’s second touchdown.

Other than a few jokes about the election connection by the bands at halftime, the daywas devoted to football, and the full house of 30,898 saw the teamsplay to four ties before Yale (7-3 record overall, 4-3 in the Ivy League) outscored Harvard (5-5,4-3) 17-7 in the fourth quarter.

Bartholomew ran 29 times for 119 yards to give him 3,016 careeryards and break the Yale record set by Dick Jauron, who’s now thehead coach of the Chicago Bears. Yale’s Peter Lee completed 25 of37 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns to Eric Johnson, who had13 catches for 113.

Harvard’s Carl Morris caught 13 passes for 142 yards and twotouchdowns. Neil Rose completed 28 of 52 passes for 310 yards, buthe also had four interceptions, including one picked off byLittleton with Harvard trailing 27-24. Bartholomew ran it in from 5yards out to make it 34-24.