The Fordham and Holy Cross football teams arrive on the Island today for Saturday's Bermuda Bowl III clash, where they'll immediately be heading for the practice field.

So much for a Bermuda holiday.

Cynics would suggest that teams with sub-.500 records don't deserve a vacation, but weighing heavy on everyone's mind prior to Saturday's 2 p.m.

kick-off at National Stadium will be the dogfight emerging in the Patriot League standings.

A quick glance at their win-loss records would suggest Holy Cross (1-6) has more on the line than Fordham (3-4-1), and with the season rapidly coming to a close both teams still have first place within their grasp.

Head coaches Peter Vaas of Holy Cross and Nick Quartaro of Fordham are keenly aware that the biggest task facing their teams over the next two days is keeping everyone's focus strictly on football.

"I'm sure we have some things planned where we do have some free time and we'll be able to enjoy Bermuda, but it is mostly football,'' said six-foot-two, 240-pound nose guard Brian Regan of Holy Cross yesterday. "What we're going there for is to get a win, and we'll enjoy Bermuda a whole lot more if we get that.'' Wins have been scarce for the Crusaders in 1995, with only a 27-22 triumph over Harvard two weeks ago standing out as the lone bright spot in a campaign filled with misery. Vaas said his team has squandered opportunities to win on several occasions this season.

Their season quickly got off to a difficult start with a 24-9 loss against Hofstra, followed by a 51-0 thumping against top-flight Massachusetts, an NCAA powerhouse.

"Everybody's been upbeat and we've tried to put the losses behind us,'' said Regan. "It was tough psychologically after the Massachusetts game, but you try to put it behind you as best you can and going to practice helps that because you're looking forward instead of backward.'' Later he added: "I think we do have enough talent to win, I just don't know if we know how to win.'' The Crusaders, however, do have a winning record against Fordham that stretches back over six decades. Saturday's game will mark the 33rd time the teams have met and Holy Cross won last year's encounter 31-21.

While the Rams have enjoyed better fortunes in '95, it's often been a case of "which Fordham team will show up'' each week.

After being trounced by Buffalo in their season opener, Fordham rebounded with a 46-0 win against Marist, followed by consecutive losses against Bucknell and Dartmouth. Then came two straight wins on the road against Harvard and Colgate followed by a loss against Hofstra and last week's 3-3 tie against Richmond.

"It's very obvious about how we've improved week to week, but, you know, we came out and lost a big game on opening day and then we won 46-0 and then everybody was like `what are we, (are we lousy) or are we good?','' said six-foot-one, 193 pound senior defensive back Chris O'Leary. "We come back and we play a Bucknell team that everyone believed we should have beat and we fought right down to the last 30 seconds when they scored a touchdown.

"Everybody knows as far as our team morale goes we can play with anybody.

We've proven that for the last three years. We always find a way...we want to find a way to get it done.'' Nobody knows how to get it done better than senior quarterback Joe Moorhead, one of five senior co-captains along with O'Leary. Moorhead needs just five completions, 31 attempts and 47 passing yards to eclipse Rams' single-season records and those marks could fall in Bermuda.

"I really don't place too much emphasis on things like that, I try to think more of what can I do to help the team win within the confines of our system,'' said Moorhead. "If records happen to fall then that's great also.'' Moorhead said he expects to play against "a hungry team'' on Saturday.

Handling the Holy Cross quarterbacking chores will be junior Chad Vaughn, who played that position during the first two games of the season but has recently seen action as a receiver.

"They're a pretty good rival and it's a Patriot League game and everyone is still basically in the hunt, so I expect a really good game from Holy Cross,'' said Moorhead.

Later he added: "We're glad to have the opportunity afforded to us to come down to Bermuda and play in an obviously great atmosphere, but by the same token we have a goal set in our mind.

"It's just going to be a matter of which team handles the (distractions) best.'' BOWLED OVER BERMUDA BOWLS AT A GLANCE I -- 1993 Georgetown 17 Washington and Lee 14 Georgetown's freshman quarterback Bill Ring fires an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Dooley with just 45 seconds remaining to lift the Hoyas to victory in the inaugural game.

Moments earlier, the Hoyas watched in horror as they allowed a slim 10-7 lead evaporate with less than five minutes left.

II -- 1994 Davidson Wildcats 28 U. of South Tigers 14 The Wildcats erupted for 22 points in the second half to defeat the Tigers 28-14.

Five-foot-11, 210-pound tailback Chris Leak, playing in his final college match sparked the Wildcats, accumulating 235 yards rushing on 31 carries, the first time in in his career he gained more than 100 yards.

JOE MOORHEAD -- Rams' QB closes in on team records.

Brian Regan