Football recruits will make noise on the field

Bagnoli expects 10 to 15 newcomers to letter They arrive in a cloak of secrecy, no one knowing who they are or what they can do. They practice with everyone else, sometimes even play with everyone else. Unlike their counterparts at major Division I-A universities, they are not well-known names, and it is usually a year or two before anyone on campus recognizes them. They are the freshmen football players at Penn, a group sparingly seen on the field and even more rarely heard to speak. It is all part of Quakers coach Al Bagnoli's plan -- bring the youngsters along slowly, build their confidence up and don't let the media tear them down too soon. And the strategy has paid off. Shielded from the minicassette recorders and microphones of the media, the freshmen are eased into the grander arena of collegiate football. It's hard to argue with the results -- two of the last three Ivy League championships, a Division I-AA record 24 straight victories over three seasons, one player now in the NFL. "The problem with recruiting is that it's not an exact science. It's hard to tell how fast a kid will make some adjustments off the field," Bagnoli said. "We haven't really had a freshman who has come right in and started." In the past, Ivy League coaches didn't have to worry about protecting the freshmen. Up until 1993, freshmen were not even eligible to compete at the varsity level. But that has all changed, and Bagnoli has now made it a priority to make the adjustment from high school to college as smooth as possible. That means freshmen are not allowed to speak to the press, and Bagnoli doesn't comment about specific rookies. Another by-product of freshmen eligibility is that Bagnoli and his assistants need to be more sure of the talent they bring in. Before freshmen were made eligible, schools had to field an entire freshmen team, with the top freshmen moving on to play varsity as sophomores. "You needed 50 kids to field a team. When they granted you freshman eligibility, recruiting changed," Bagnoli said. "You have to be more accurate with reduced numbers." But if Bagnoli's past success is any indication of the Class of 2000's, Penn should be in good shape. Bagnoli is bringing in Jason Lebron (6-6, 280), Carmelo Rubano (6-2, 260) and Mike Bertolino (6-5, 270) to shore up the offensive line. All three turned down scholarships elsewhere to attend Penn. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Qurran Rogers (6-2, 210) and defensive back Hassani White (5-11, 175) lead the new recruits. Although the Quakers appear to be set in the backfield with seniors Jasen Scott and Aman Abye and sophomore James Finn, the prize of last year's freshmen class, Penn successfully recruited running back Rick Granata, who is transferring out of Eastern Michigan after two years. Granata will be eligible to play immediately. Bagnoli and his staff faced a hurdle they haven't encountered in recent years. In the past two off-seasons, Bagnoli could trumpet two straight Ivy titles to potential recruits. But this winter, it was Princeton coach Steve Tosches using that selling point. Ironically, Bagnoli says not winning the conference crown may have helped him on the recruiting trail. "In a roundabout way, it helps you at times," Bagnoli said. "If you win too many games in a row, kids feel threatened in the system." None of the incoming freshmen are expected to have an immediate impact on the team. "I think it's going to vary, each kid in each position. Some will have better opportunities given the status of the upperclassmen," Bagnoli said. "When the smoke clears, usually out of 25 or 30 recruits, 10 to 15 letter. That's been our average." If Bagnoli's plan works, one day, maybe a year or two from now, it will have been worth the wait. Patience, Bagnoli begs, patience.