SPORTS BRIEFS: Wednesday, January 27, 1999

Rubano and Hisgen are new Football captains Penn coach Al Bagnoli made the announcement in the middle of the awards banquet Friday night at the Penn Tower Hotel. Rubano and Hisgen follow in the footsteps of two first-team All-Ivy selections -- running back Jim Finn and defensive back Joe Piela. Rubano and Hisgen made the All-Ivy team themselves last season as honorable mention picks. "It was a great honor because me and Jimmy Hisgen are good friends," Rubano said. "And this year's class of seniors is so big.? We're both honored that we are captains, but there are so many [seniors] that I don't think it's going to be that big an issue." Hisgen emerged as a standout last season playing next to Darren Macdonald. Hisgen recorded 64 tackles, third on the team behind Piela and Macdonald. He led the Quakers with three fumble recoveries and tied with tackle Mike Germino for the team lead with three forced fumbles. Hisgen missed time in the middle of the season with a knee injury but rebounded quickly after only missing limited action. The timely start of Rubano's season was threatened by an injury but he bounced back to regain his starting spot and anchored a banged-up offensive line. Rubano also won the Chuck Bednarik Award as Penn's best offensive lineman. The two captains will have their first test in spring ball as the team adjusts to the departures of defensive coordinator Mike Toop and linebackers coach Todd Orlando. "They were both good friends to the team," Rubano said. "You don't ever want to lose two great coaches like that, but I'm sure that our coaching staff will do a good job in finding someone to come in and step up." Both coaches took the same positions at the University of Connecticut, with Toop leaving January 7 and Orlando not officially joining the Huskies until yesterday. He is the 10th and final assistant coach to join head coach Randy Edsall's staff for the 1999 season. -- Brian Hindo