"Lightweight football players overcome a lot of obstacles," Penn coach Bill Wagner said. His words will be put to the test when Cornell visits Franklin Field to kick off the 1996 lightweight football season against Penn at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Although this game does not count towards the Eastern Lightweight Football Team standings, the Quakers are not taking this game lightly. Penn's lightweight team will try to channel its anger that's risen with each developing problem from the past few weeks. It started with the unexpected departure of several returning starters -- including their two top quarterbacks. Penn will start senior Matt Veneri at quarterback, who hasn't taken a snap in a real game since high school. "I'm a little nervous," Veneri said. "I need to get that first snap...and stick to doing what the coaches have told me." The added losses to graduation of several all-Eastern Lightweight Football League players would seemingly leave the Quakers thin at running back and at tight end. But fullback and co-captain Joel Correia and sophomore tailback sensation Greg Grabon have looked strong in preseason. All-ELFL defensive end Zach Chan, who will play despite a badly bruised hand, has brought his leadership to the tight end position. At wide receiver, primary target Clint Schmidt needs only 68 yards to break the lightweight record for career receiving yardage. "I may break [the record] in the first half," Schmidt said. Offensive coordinator Gordon Hotchkiss will make sure that Scmidt has the opportunity to break the record. "He'll see the ball," Hotchkiss said. "If he doesn't, we'll hear about it." The Quakers were upset further by the last-minute bumping back of a practice because of the field hockey team. In a final insult, during the Quakers' Tuesday night practice, their locked but unguarded locker room was broken into and the players' valuables and money were stolen. Now the Quakers are looking to the game as a potential outlet. "The team is very anxious to play the game," Wagner said. It will be important for Penn to get off to a good start. In last year's opening game against Cornell, the Quakers lost six of seven fumbles on their way to a lopsided loss. With the inexperience of Veneri, Penn will look mostly to the running game, mixing in occasional short-yardage passes. "We'll play smash-mouth football," Veneri said. The Big Red defeated their lightweight alumni team for only the second year ever last week, indicating that Cornell -- usually a middle-of-the-road team -- may be stronger this season. The Big Red will have a new quarterback and a new feature running back. Tim Hodges has moved from his tight end position of last year to play quarterback, and Mike Matays will get the majority of the work on the ground. "Their running back likes to cutback, and we've got to hit him," Penn free safety Mario Malcolm said. Also returning is wide receiver, Nolan Hecht. "They like to throw the ball," Wagner said. "They run a wide-open offense." Penn's defensive coordinator John Amendt is looking for strong leadership on defense from Malcolm, linebacker Mike Steib, noseguard Cameron Reilly, cornerback Justin Reger, and defensive end Carter Byrnes. "They all have to play well for us to win," Amendt said. Amendt sees the home turf as an advantage for his defense. "We seem to play better on turf," Amendt said. "We're a much quicker team [on turf]." Cornell, despite being the visiting team, will try to counter this quickness with larger numbers. "We're looking at quite a challenge, but I think we'll be up for it," defensive back Josh Brogadir said. "[Cornell] will probably bring a team that numbers in the 60s and we're in the 40s," starting offensive tackle Neil Batiancila said. "But we're a tougher team." Against Cornell, the lightweight Quakers hope their recent trials have built the toughness they will need to open their season on a winning note. "If our offensive line blocks, we'll win," claimed Hotchkiss. "The key [against Cornell's 4-3 defense] is getting to their middle linebacker."
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