Class News
Many ’64 classmates went to The Game, a double-overtime thriller
December 22, 2019
by Tony Lavely, ’64 Class Secretary
THE GAME took place on November 23, 2019, and was “A Play in 6 Acts!”
Act 1: The Blue Leadership Ball
Act 2: The Getman Tailgate
Act 3: The First Half (and Third Quarter)
Act 4: Halftime
Act 5: The Fourth Quarter and Overtime
Act 6: Celebrating at Mory’s
Act 1: The Blue Leadership Ball
Festivities started at the Blue Leadership Ball on Friday night in the Lanman Center of Payne Whitney Gymnasium, where Chris Getman, Terry Holcombe, Tony Lavely, and Chuck Post listened to Coach Tony Reno predict a Yale win.
The Setting
Chris Getman
Terry Holcombe
Chuck Post
Honorees
Act 2: The Getman Tailgate
With a 12:00 noon kickoff, tailgating got underway at 9:30am around the Getmans’ car outside Portal 30. It was brisk, but sunny. Getting there for the tailgate (generously provided by the Getmans) were:
Sam Francis
Chris and Toddie Getman
Tony Lavely
Edward Massey
Jon McBride
Steve Norman
Chuck Post
Pete Putzel
Group Tailgate
Chuck Post, Steve Norman, Tony Lavely, Sam Francis
Tony Lavely and Sam Francis
Chip Thomas (son of Stan Thomas '64) and Tony Lavely
Act 3: The First Half (and Third Quarter)
In the stands, just two rows behind President Salovey, we were joined by Robert Whitby. Later, we learned that other 1964 classmates were there, too, like Jerry Flannelly and Neil Mitchell.
For the first three quarters, Yale was being outgunned. Behind by 17 points in the fourth quarter, the optimists were thinking, “Well, Harvard made up 16 points in the last two minutes against us in 1968, ‘Why not us?’ ” Just when our spirits were lagging, I was joined by one of my soccer “recruits” from Atlanta, Thomas Toney ’23. That week, Yale won the Men’s Ivy League Soccer title. Thomas is in Benjamin Franklin College.
Photo from the stands:
Tony Lavely and Thomas Toney ’23 (soccer recruit from Atlanta)
Act 4: Halftime
The halftime was “extended” by a protest against the continued investments in fossil fuel companies by both Yale and Harvard. The protest delayed the start of the second half by about one hour. With no lights at The Bowl, the delay presented the possibility that the game would be called on account of darkness.
Photo of Protest
Act 5: The Fourth Quarter and Overtime
While we had gotten cold from the delay and setting sun, the thrill of the Yale comeback in the fourth quarter to tie the game with seconds to go kept us warm. Just as the new scoreboard provided the only light on the field at one end, the overtime proceeded. Here is the account in the Yale Daily News. Opinions were divided on the legitimacy of the protest.
Photo of final score.
Act 6: Celebrating at Mory’s
After the game, the Getmans, the Whitbys, Chuck Post, and I gathered at Mory’s to celebrate. Chuck Post proudly showed us the souvenir ticket he had bought online to the Yale-Georgia game in 1875. It couldn’t have been as exciting as this one!
Getman Family
Whitby Family
Getmans and Chuck Post
Whitby, Lavely, Toddie, and Post
Post’s Souvenir Ticket
Handsome Dan with Ivy Trophy
Commentary
In the following days and weeks, commentary from classmates came in:
Steve Norman: “A terrific, remarkable Game. Truly, one for the ages. A never-say-die effort by a talented team. A wonderful experience for us all. My only gripe is that cacophonous, overwhelmingly intrusive, noisy, conversation-suppressing, ear-damaging electronic scoreboard, and which only rarely shows the yard marker and down. The Athletics Department better dial it way back or affix a pair of earplugs to each ticket. Despite this splenetic outburst, I had a great time.”
Marya Holcombe: “It was the most gripping and dramatic Harvard-Yale game ever (except in 1965 when Terry proposed to me at halftime). It was a race against time and darkness.”
John More: “I remember the 1968 ignominious tie like it was yesterday. I was there with Dick Campbell. It took a long time to get payback.”
Sam Francis: “Though I was there, I didn’t realize until later, when I read the accounts, that the Yale QB and receivers had broken all Yale career records, individually and collectively.”
And from afar, those who weren’t even there:
Dan Pollack (from Arizona): “Your devotion to Yale is legendary!!! I knew you'd be at THE GAME. I'd be in the hospital today if I'd been there. The comeback was legendary — requires incredible confidence and courage. Proves anything can happen regardless of previous records.”
Patrick Caviness (from Thailand): “It’s a little revenge for the 29-29 Harvard ‘win.’ Epic game. Yes. Instant classic. What a finish. Yale’s defense looked inept at times. Brilliant at others. Harvard backs had big holes to run through. Didn’t see much hang tackling in highlights. A few pass-coverage breakdowns. But Yale won. Against all odds Yale won. It doesn’t get much better than that.”