A FRONT ROW VIEW: The Untouchables

Quakers clinch title by beating Princeton, 33–19 PRINCETON, N.J. -- The goal post teetered and swayed, and was left dipping slightly to the Princeton sideline. But the Penn students who had swarmed the field seemed content to taunt the Princeton Tigers who defended it, rather than boldly capture the symbol of another Ivy championship. Besides, it was a long way back to the Schuylkill River. Marc Ross didn't bother defending the goal post. Ross was the only offense the Tigers had, so defense didn't really make much sense. He expected the occupation of the turf, and reluctantly accepted it. It hurt to lose at Palmer Stadium, where the Tigers had won 18 of their last 19 games. It hurt to lose to archrival Penn. Most of all, it hurt to allow the Quakers to clinch a share of the Ivy championship. Penn can claim sole possession of the Ancient Eight title with a win or tie against Harvard next Saturday. On the Penn sideline, offensive coordinator Chuck Priore walked up to quarterback Mark DeRosa and patted him on the head. They had heard the score update on the public address system. Yale 24, Cornell 14. Miles Macik, who had just caught two 23-yard touchdown passes in a span of 23 seconds, heard the Elis were winning back when it was 17-14. It was a topic of conversation in the huddle. The other discussion was how to get a first down and burn more time off the clock, which the Quakers were successful in doing. But this didn't feel like an Ivy championship in many respects. Penn hasn't faced Harvard yet. It hasn't faced Cornell. It hasn't won the title outright. The Ivy championship came so much earlier than expected, thanks to consecutive Big Red collapses against Brown and Yale. The Princeton game was supposed to be big because it was Princeton. The Princeton which revels in belittling Penn's academics. The Princeton from which Penn students supposedly received rejection letters. The Princeton with the basketball coach old enough to be Yoda's Jedi master, according to the Penn band. DeRosa knew the importance of Penn-Princeton. "We hear it all season from the alums: 'Beat Princeton -- that's your season.' " he said. DeRosa has always had loftier ambitions. While the Ivy championship is ultimately the goal, DeRosa said he and his teammates sit in the locker room talking about an undefeated season. If the Quakers win all their games, the Ivy title comes anyway. There is also the matter of the 19-game winning streak, one short of the Division I-AA record of 20 held by Holy Cross. Penn coach Al Bagnoli sat in the press conference as his players touted the party line. Bagnoli deferred the question to defensive back Kevin Allen, who apparently has been taught well. "We don't think about that," Allen quickly said. The pleased coach didn't have to say anything more. And why not be satisfied? Penn escaped Palmer Stadium with a rare victory. It has been wildly successful. It controls its destiny. "When it comes down to it," Macik said, "this is what we worked for all year." Adam Rubin is a Wharton senior from Bellmore, N.Y., and sports editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian.