Gage, MacDonald unite at last at

While Penn's All-Ivy linebacker Tim Gage was sidelined in 1996, Darren McDonald emerged as a star. Penn senior Tim Gage was supposed to be the Quakers' leader on the field last season. But a broken foot on the first day of preseason confined the team captain to a seat on the bench. Gage, a 1995 second-team all-Ivy linebacker, wouldn't step off the sidelines all season. "Linebacker is a very volatile position," Penn linebackers coach Todd Orlando said. "If we ask a guy to be physical in every practice, injuries are going to happen." For the 6'2", 235-pound Gage, a broken foot resulted in an end to his season before it even began. But rather than end his Penn football career on a low, the captain spent the season doing his job from the sideline and then petitioned for a fifth year of eligibility. "It's a lot different being on the sidelines than on the field," Gage said. "I was able to pick up a lot more as far as tempo, attitude and how to correct last year's mistakes. It's going to be a lot easier this season, being able to see last season what happened." Gage watched from the sidelines as then-sophomore linebacker Darren MacDonald emerged from deep on the 1995 depth chart into a dominating force. The 6'1", 220-pound Naples, Fla., native recorded Gage-like stats -- 64 tackles in just seven games -- en route to a second team All-Ivy season. And with the Ivy League's acceptance of Gage's eligibility petition, second team All-Ivy linebackers Gage and MacDonald unite at last on opposite sides of Penn's 5-2 defensive set. This season's linebacker tandem gives the Red and Blue their first season with two returning All-Ivy linebackers since their undefeated season in '93, when Pat Goodwillie and Andy Berlin fortified the Quakers' dominating defense. "I think me and Tim complement each other a lot," MacDonald said. "With us together, we'll be a lot stronger and a lot more experienced than last year." In 1995, Gage had 90 tackles and two sacks. Along with his hard-hitting style and solid defensive coverage, Gage provides leadership and a strong work ethic. After spending '96 shadowing defensive coordinator Mike Toop, the 6'2'', 235-pound linebacker should know the Red and Blue defense cold. "Timmy's gone through a lot of things working off the foot injury," Orlando said. "He adds experience in his understanding of the defense." Behind Gage and MacDonald on the depth chart, the Quakers present 6'3", 230-pound senior Mark Van Meter and 6'2", 230-pound sophomore James Hisgen. Both reserves are likely to see action and also serve as valuable insurance policies, given Quakers linebackers' propensity to get hurt. Injuries created the opportunity for Van Meter to start most games last season and he responded, finishing second on the Quakers with 10 sacks. The Huron, Ohio, native was a major contributor, playing through a shoulder injury and still recording 61 tackles. "Mark's a kid we feel comfortable putting on the field," Orlando said. "He has a lot of experience. For him, he's in a different mode this year, but we are still comfortable with him." Unlike Van Meter, Hisgen played sparingly in '96, stepping into the line-up only when MacDonald's knee forced him out. In limited time, the neophyte had seven tackles and showed promise for '97. The Quakers will also regain the services of junior Brian Hamilton early this season. The 5'11", 210-pound linebacker is in final stages of recovery from a spring 1996 knee injury that caused him to sit out all of last season. With five new starting quarterbacks in the Ivy League this season, Orlando's linebackers will be called upon to mix it up between blitzes and drop-back coverage. And with the return of Gage opposite MacDonald, opposing quarterbacks can't be too excited about a meeting with the Quakers.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.