Tim Tai, Senior Photographer

As the Bulldogs head into the 139th Yale-Harvard game, the News asked the weightlifting staff and trainers what it takes to prepare the Bulldogs for the biggest game of the year.

As history has proven, Yale has taken home the head-to-head rivalry 69 times, Harvard has claimed it 61 times and the two teams have tied a total of 8 times. Anthony Belanger, director of sports performance and student-athlete innovation, spoke about on Yale football’s approach to nutrition and weight training going into this game. 

“We educate our student-athletes throughout the year on nutrition and best practices,” said Belander. “They do a great job of being committed to the process. Every individual is different, regardless of position group, so we truly keep that in mind when providing information. We take every game week the same; the preparation doesn’t need to change, only what needs to be achieved.”

Before last year’s game, the News also spoke to the Bulldogs’ middle linebacker Hamilton Moore ’24 and asked him how he prepared for The Game. 

He said his approach to The Game included as much mental preparation as physical preparation. 

“A big thing is getting these reps mentally by seeing yourself react to these plays and how the lineman acts through videos,” said Moore. “That way, you have practiced this play, and it’s not surprising to you the first time they run that play in the game.” 

Head coach Tony Reno has coined the term “gritty not pretty” on and off the field, having the same mentality all season.

When it comes to the Bulldogs being ready for action, Reno said the Bulldogs are ready to fight to the end.

“We’re very familiar with playing gritty football,” head coach Tony Reno told the News earlier this season. “We’re kind of, as you say, gritty not pretty. We like the muck, that’s who we are. We like the muck and that’s how we play. That’s how we do things, we love adversity.”

Three days out from game day, Moore said he was looking ahead and boosts his team’s preparedness.

“The team does a phenomenal job of coming in every day with the mindset that ‘this is my job to do today, and I am going to do it at the highest level,”said Moore. “It’s part of what makes working with them so special and why the team has been able to achieve what they have throughout their collegiate careers.” 

In the history of Yale-Harvard football games, Yale holds the record for the largest victory, dominating the Crimson 54–0 in 1957.

Kate Estevez | kate.estevez@yale.edu