Penn will host Colgate in home opener

With Colgate not expected toWith Colgate not expected tochallenge, Penn will use game asWith Colgate not expected tochallenge, Penn will use game astune-up for future Ivy contests It's sure to be a show at Franklin Field tomorrow night. And there's even a football game, too. While the Penn-Colgate match-up doesn't have quite the appeal of an Ivy League game, the athletic powers that be have added a twist to this year's home opener. A laser-light show is scheduled for about 20 minutes after the game, the first night game at Franklin Field since 1985. "It's going to be different, it's different to everybody," Quakers coach Al Bagnoli said. "But I think it's an opportunity to do some things and hopefully help attendance." After last weekend's 24-22 nail-biter at Dartmouth, the last thing the Penn football team is looking for is another tight game. If Colgate's recent history is any indication, the Quakers may just get their wish. After posting an 0-11 mark last season, the Red Raiders, who invade Franklin Field tomorrow at 6 p.m. looking for their first win since Nov. 12, 1994, have had a terrible start to the new year. Despite a coaching change, Colgate (0-3) has dropped all of its contests in 1996 -- by an average of 17 points. In total, the Red Raiders have lost their last 15 games. If Penn is taking Colgate lightly, it certainly wasn't providing any bulletin board material yesterday. "They've haven't won a game, I think they're 0-3, but neither have we," Quakers defensive end Doug Zinser said. "We'd better get motivated or else we'll be 0-2 pretty fast." Last week's narrow loss to the Big Green was largely a result of the the Red and Blue' failure to move the ball, especially in the second half. Part of the problem was the team's inability to develop a passing game, with senior quarterback Steve Teodecki completing seven passes on just 18 attempts. "We're going to try to open it up, try to do it gradually," said Bagnoli, who has three weeks to diversify the offense before Ivy action resumes. "It's just a philosophy of trying to be a more balanced attack." Red Raiders coach Dick Biddle is well-aware of the weapons that "probably the best team we're going to face this year" brings to game. "They have an excellent running back in No. 1, [Jasen] Scott, and No. 5 [wide receiver Mark Fabish] is a good player," the first-year coach said. Colgate's downfall this season has been turnovers, the worst example of which was a six-fumble debacle in a 36-16 loss to S.U.N.Y.-Buffalo. Using a combination of the option to senior fullback Daymon Smith and drop-back passing from junior quarterback Mark Lindell, the Red Raiders have been able to move the ball. "I think we have a diverse offense -- we can throw the ball and we can run the ball," Biddle said. Bagnoli may call Colgate's offense "surprisingly efficient," but Penn's real concern lies not in Colgate's weapons as much as in getting its own house in order. In addition to perking up the passing attack, Penn will look to get its pass defense in order after the young group was picked apart by Dartmouth quarterback Jon Aljancic. "We had three new [defensive backs] and some relatively new underneath people -- yeah, it's a concern," Bagnoli said of the 227 passing yards allowed. "I think that's entirely too much yardage, certainly much more than we're accustomed to giving." Another area which the Quakers seek to improve is the backfield. Last week's 174-yard effort looks all right on paper, but it is a cause for concern because all but eight of those yards came from one back, senior Jasen Scott, and exactly zero yards came in the second half. Penn wants to get junior Rick Granata more involved, as well as senior Aman Abye, who the coach yesterday revealed suffered a "slight concussion" against the Big Green. Bagnoli said another Quakers injury victim, defensive lineman Mitch Marrow, who has a hamstring pull is "probable" for Saturday. Any opening of the offense will be most reflected in Teodecki's numbers. Against Dartmouth, six of the seven completed passes were to Fabish. That might work once, but Fabish is already a marked man. The Quakers hope to get the ball out to No. 2 and 3 receivers Erik Thompson and John James. If all goes according to plan, the Quakers will see the light tomorrow night.