COLUMN: Penn should beef up its schedule

From Scott Mulhauser's "On The Ball," Fall '95 I began to glance through this year's schedule, and quickly my mind began to wander. I saw little challenge to continued Penn football domination. Thoughts of Miles Macik leaping to snare another fade pattern in the end zone started to dance tantalizingly through my mind. I smiled at another season full of Nick Morris hits and Tom McGarrity sacks. I was nearing slumber as I thought of Mark Fabish turning another near-death experience into a 20-yard punt return. I quickly scanned this year's slate of games. Dartmouth, always a tough game, didn't frighten me. Resurgent Columbia and Princeton are a little worrisome perhaps, but with games against the likes of the mighty Bison of Bucknell and the Leopards of Lafayette, I liked our chances of going undefeated again. Then something caught my eye, Penn's fifth game against William & Mary. Aren't they GOOD?, I wondered in astonishment. Penn is playing a ranked team? Then, in horror, I suddenly awoke from my semi-conscious dozing -- what about "The Streak"? How can the Quakers continue their winning ways against teams like this? After further examination of our opponent, the knot in my stomach grew ever tighter. William & Mary should be the game of the season for the Quakers. The Tribe, ranked No. 18, have made the Division I-AA postseason two of the last three years. They return 21 of 24 starters from a team that was ranked No. 19 last season. Could the mighty winning streak fall? In my three years at Penn, I have never seen the Quakers lose a football game. Might the streak end at the hands of William & Mary? My fear over losing The Streak confounded me almost as much as this seemingly bewildering scheduling error. Should the Quakers be playing such a quality team? Why not schedule another Holy Cross game, so that any team members that didn't get a chance to score in last season's 59-8 win might get that opportunity this year? Then, as I placed the William & Mary media guide back on the table, I happened to glance at an old DP with a joyous Jerome Allen ready to hit the winning shot that upset Michigan. I began to reminisce about Penn basketball victories over St. John's and Nebraska. I lamented close losses at the hands of teams like Temple, Villanova, Alabama and Florida. Our "little" Ivy hoops team had accomplished one spectacular feat after another: tournament victories; Ivy championships; undefeated Ivy seasons; fantastic battles against current and future NBA players including Antonio McDyess, Eddie Jones, Aaron McKie, Kerry Kittles and Felipe Lopez. Not all of these games were victories, but each was undeniably exciting. They were challenges for an overachieving Quakers squad that got to play quality opponents based on both their own merit and a fine scheduling job by coach Fran Dunphy. The level of competition was what made these games as riveting as they were, and that competition elevated Quakers basketball to an unprecedented level of national prominence. As if struck by an epiphany, I realized the road to prominence has many speed bumps. Leaving the Quakermobile on cruise control is not always the answer. To provide challenges to the Quakers football squad, as is done for basketball, Penn must dramatically raise the caliber of its opponents. Thus scheduling changes must be made. While some Ivy games may be easy, all are a must. Storied rivalries such as Harvard-Yale or Penn-Princeton are traditional necessities. But instead of scheduling mop-up victories over teams like the Lehigh Engineers, the Quakers should truly test their mettle against Division I-AA powerhouses like Marshall or Youngstown State. Since we cannot participate in the I-AA football playoffs, prove our merit by scheduling games against teams like William & Mary that will challenge the Red and Blue. We may not win all 10 games every year, but a victory over Marshall would certainly taste a lot sweeter than a win over Lafayette. Close games make football exciting. Penn must play teams that will bring out the best in the Quakers. If, as many profess, Penn football is above "Ivy caliber," prove it.