Penn Football: A proud 121-year history

Though many people may choose to dwell on Penn's 1997 campaign, in which Mitch Marrow's subsequent ineligibility forced the team to forfeit five victories en route to a 1-9 finish, last season was an aberration in what has been a successful 121-year tradition of intercollegiate football at Penn. Over the years, the Quakers have compiled a 716-426-42 (.622) record and have placed 79 players on the First-Team All-American squad. 20 former Penn players and coaches are enshrined in the National Football Hall of Fame. The number of alumni to enter the ranks of professional football increased to 61 when Mitch Marrow inked his contract with the Carolina Panthers. A look at the greatest moments in Penn football through the years: 1876 Penn plays its first-ever football game on November 11, vs. Princeton. The Tigers, lured to play by Penn's offer of $50 to cover travel expenses, defeat Penn six goals to zero in a 90 minute game. On November 17, Penn wins its first game, vs. the All-Philadelphia squad, four goals to none. 1887 Penn beats Rutgers, 13-10, in the world's first indoor football game, held at Madison Square Garden. Penn follows that victory by losing 96-0 to Princeton. 1894 Legendary coach George Woodruff, who compiled a 124-15-2 record from 1892-1901, invents the soon-to-be famous "guards-back" offense, enabling Penn to earn its first decisive victory over Princeton, 12-0. Penn finishes the season 12-0, scoring 304 points while giving up just 20. 1895 Franklin Field is erected, replacing the original playing field at 37th and Spruce . The Quakers react by going 14-0 and earning a share of the national championship with Yale. 1897 Following 1896's "subpar" 14-1 season, Penn goes 15-0 while scoring 517 points and giving up 20. Penn ties for the national championship with Wisconsin. 1904 Dr. Carl Williams, captain of the '95 team, coaches Penn to a 12-0 season. Penn gives up four points while posting 11 shutouts. 1905 Penn's success continues as the team finishes 12-0-1. Penn beats Harvard, 12-6. The Crimson, frustrated at losing, derail Penn's use of Wharton students instead of athletes studying arts and sciences. The two schools will not meet again on the gridiron until 1927, following the opening of Harvard's own business school. 1908 In his only season as coach, Sol Metzger directs Penn, led by All-American halfback Bill Hollenback, to an 11-0-1 record. At 6-1, 185 lbs., "Big Bill" towers over the opposition. 1912 In the greatest comeback in college football history up to this point, Penn, trailing 21-0 against Michigan at the half, receives a wake-up call when trainer Mike Murphy, dying of tuberculosis, dons a uniform to "show these boys how to fight." Penn storms out of the locker room, shutting Michigan down and winning, 27-21. 1917 On January 1, Penn makes its first and only Rose Bowl appearance. Coach Bob Folwell introduces the "baseball pass," a short pass with a high completion percentage, and the '16 squad rides it to a 7-2-1 record and a trip to Pasadena. On New Year's Day, the Quakers' run ends with a 14-0 loss to Oregon. 1925 Franklin Field becomes the nation's first two-tiered stadium. Seating capacity increases to 78,205. 1936 After several sub-par seasons, Penn, led by the "Destiny Backfield" of Lew Elverson, Bill Kurlish, Franny Murray, and Eddie Warwick, finishes with a No. 10 Associated Press ranking and a 7-1 record, including wins over Michigan and Penn State. 1947 Led by three All-Americans, future hall-of-famers George Savitsky, Anthony Menisi, and Chuck Bednarik, the last of the NFL's iron men, Penn finishes 7-0-1, wins the Lambert Trophy as the best team in the East, and reaches No. 7 in the AP poll. 1959 Penn, which suffered the most from the restrictions enforced by the new Ivy League in 1953-54, turns the program around and captures its first Ivy title. In the five years prior to '59, the Quakers compile a 14-39-1 record. In '59 they storm to a 7-1-1 record and the school's first Ivy title. 1969 Astroturf replaces the grass at Franklin Field. 1982 Penn enters the season ranked third-worst in the nation by Penthouse magazine. Miraculously, the Quakers finish 7-3 and tie for a share of the Ivy title. 1986 Penn finishes 10-0, capturing the Ivy title. It is the fifth season in a row in which the Quakers finish first or tied for first in the Ivy League. 1994 The Red and Blue roll to a 9-0 record, their second consecutive Ivy title and undefeated season. Three Quakers, Miles Macik, Pat Goodwille, and Andy Glockner, are named NCAA Div. I-AA All-Americans.