Harvard Prepares to Take Down the Bears
Graphic by Justin Ma
It was a typical evening at Harvard’s historic concrete bowl. The last rays of sunshine illuminated the top of the stadium while AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” boomed overhead. A couple of members of the public were attempting the infamous stadium walk, climbing and descending each section of stairs. Fortunately for my quads, I was not here to work out.
Instead, I stood on the field alongside a “Boston Globe” reporter, pink legal pad in hand, to observe practice and speak with some of the players who devote hours to this stadium. The team ran goal-line sets, the defense wearing crimson jerseys to contrast with the offense in white. Two drones flew overhead to record the drills—an extra pair of eyes alongside the arsenal of coaches pacing the sidelines. Practice ran like a record player, transitioning through each rhythm without ever lifting the tonearm.
Harvard will take on Brown University tomorrow at 7 p.m. in what is arguably the second-biggest game of the year besides Yale, at least in terms of student-body hype. The two have met 124 times since Oct. 25, 1893. Last year, the team cruised to a 41–7 victory, shutting the Bears out completely in the final three quarters.
Since tomorrow’s game is away, students—like me—will travel to Providence primarily by commuter rail for cheap transit. A few logistical changes—hosting the game on a Friday when many students have classes, and moving the venue to Centreville Bank Stadium, about four miles from Brown’s campus—may reduce the number of Harvard fans who show up. Still, support is expected to be larger than most of Harvard’s games.
Curious about what the preparation looks like, I talked to senior Thomas O’Brien ’27, a 6-foot-6 offensive lineman wearing No. 71. He explained what a typical week looks like for the team: two lifts per week on Monday evening and Wednesday morning, meetings and then full pad practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, a “walk-through” at 6 a.m. on Thursday, and a high-tempo practice on Friday to get their central nervous system activated and their bodies ready for a game on Saturday.
When I asked whether training intensity increased in the build-up to big games, he said it didn’t matter. “You have to treat every opponent with the same amount of respect,” he stated.
For O’Brien, the victory over the Bears is personal. “Brown’s quarterback was my high school quarterback. It’s our last college matchup, so I’m excited. I’m 2–1 against him, so I got to be 3–1.”
To stay focused during the game, different players I spoke to highlighted their techniques for getting in the right headspace. Damien Henderson ’27, a defensive back from Tampa, Florida, discussed how music is his pregame ritual. “I like to listen to Lil Wayne a little bit before the game, and then right before we go out, I might throw on some Erykah Badu just to calm the nerves,” he told me.
O’Brien takes a similar approach, adding that he will “try to keep it light” at least during the one to two hours before the game. “I would say about an hour, 45 minutes before we go out when everyone is dressed, they kind of have a similar mindset to me. You listen to your music, you still talk to people, but it’s more of a self-reflective time at that point. You’re envisioning yourself being successful out on the field.”
Team captain Xaviah Bascon ’27, who averaged 56.9 rushing yards per game as a running back in 2025, defined “pregame ritual” slightly differently. He described how his faith was his biggest source of inspiration. “We have a cool bible study group here called Ironman that we’ve had for a while, and we meet up as a group every night before the game,” he informed me, exuding a confidence that made it obvious why he was voted captain. “And there’s a group of about 40 of us, so it’s really awesome because it just shows us and reminds us that we’re playing for something greater than just the game of football itself.”
It would seem difficult to define a broader team culture for a sport with close to 110 players on its roster, so after practice I asked Head Coach Andrew Aurich how he would characterize the program’s philosophy. “We define our culture with three words: sacrifice, integrity, and toughness.” Aurich went on to explain each in depth, calling integrity “100% honesty going both ways” and toughness a focus on the mental aspect. “I reinforce it as much as I possibly can with examples of it, so these guys understand I’m using that in all my coaching decisions.”
From the players’ perspective, Henderson noted that more experienced teammates often curate a positive team culture. “It’s about the senior leadership. I think every year since I’ve been here, all the seniors and juniors and just returning players have always been welcoming with open arms, inviting all the younger guys to different activities.”
The Harvard v. Brown game will be the team’s first test this season of how they will operate under pressure and handle a boisterous crowd. “We love the crowd, we love having people watch and cheer us on,” Bascon noted. “But really, it’s the brotherhood that we have on this field, that’s going to compete together, and that’s what the game’s about for us, at least.”
Expectations from the student body to win the matchup will certainly add stress. The last time Harvard faced Brown in Providence, the Bears made a narrow comeback that led students to flood the anonymous app Sidechat with expressions of deep dissatisfaction. When I asked players how they respond to negative commentary, O’Brien said it is easy for other students to sit in the stands and be critical, but they don’t see the year-round work. “You have to be proud of your teammates, regardless of the outcome,” he emphasized.
Bascon urged players to think back to their childhood to stay grounded during intense moments. “Just remember why you started playing football in the first place. Backyard football, you’re just having fun, doing it for fun, and it never mattered about what anyone else thought.”
Ella Ricketts ’28 (ericketts@college.harvard.edu) will finally be choosing the man over the bear this Friday.