FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Losing is new experience for the Quakers

The nation's longest streak now belongs to Nebraska at 18 games. Penn's record seems safe, though -- Dayton holds I-AA's longest win string at nine games. "Losing is definitely a new experience for us all," all-American wide receiver Miles Macik said. "But the nice thing about football is that you have a day to feel bad about it and then you move on. We play a very athletic and talented William & Mary team Saturday. I think that will help us." "We can't panic," co-captain Nick Morris said. "At the end of the year, there may be one or two undefeated teams left and the last two years, we've been lucky enough to be one of them. In the past 25 years, there have only been a few undefeated Ivy champs, so we are just focused on winning our games. Odds are, somebody will help us out." Throughout the now-defunct streak, Penn coach Al Bagnoli has always told his team to forget about the past and focus on the task at hand. "I told them on Sunday not to feel sorry for themselves because nobody else in the league is going to feel sorry for them," Bagnoli said. "We agonized for a day and now we have to put it behind us. We can't wallow in defeat." Wallowing may put Not Penn State on the same track as its cross-state rivals. The Nittany Lions, after winning a Division I-record 20 games, have now lost two in a row. With the Quakers travelling to Williamsburg, Va., Saturday to face a squad Bagnoli called "the most talented team on our schedule, athletically speaking," they will be hard-pressed not to follow in the Nittany Lions' footsteps. The Tribe have 62 full-scholarship players on their roster. · One of the biggest factors that has plagued the Quakers this young season is special teams. After the unit won a number of games for Penn last season, with blocked kicks, excellent returns and solid coverage, it has been the cause of constant headaches for Bagnoli this year. Part of the inconsistency is understood. The Quakers have a crew of sophomore kickers, including kicker Jeremiah Greathouse and punter Jeff Salvino. Greathouse has been up and down, kicking a game-winning 41-yard field goal to beat Bucknell, but then missing a pair of shorter kicks last weekend at Columbia. Salvino is averaging only 35 yards per punt. Penn relies on a solid kicking game to help control field position in its basically conservative, defensive-oriented philosophy. "We're not going to change our personnel," Bagnoli said. "We just need consistency, which is normal with the number of young kids we have. The key now is to grow from it. It's on the job training for them." Someone from whom Bagnoli may have expected more veteran play thus far has been speedy returnman Mark Fabish. Although his play was improved last week, Fabish has not been his normal explosive self this season. He fumbled several balls at Lafayette and at home against Bucknell and has misplayed several others. "It's been more of a technical problem," Bagnoli said. "He's been turning his shoulders a little bit instead of staying square to the ball." · Fabish's diminished statistics have not been entirely his fault, however, as several key blockers on the return team have been absent. The most noticeable absentee is Joey Allen, Penn's starting linebacker, who missed the Columbia game with a slightly separated shoulder. He is expected to return to practice today. Elsewhere on the injury front, 350-pound offensive tackle Sears Wright chipped a bone in his back. X-rays were still being examined last night, and the severity of the injury and Wright's status remain up in the air. If he can't go, sophomore Mike Weaver could step into his massive shoes, or Bagnoli could move a guard over to tackle and insert someone into the middle of the line. As always, he is keeping his options open.