I felt a small pang watching Rob Milanese cement his place atop the Penn record books.
I couldn't stop thinking of Saturdays when Milanese, Gavin Hoffman and Kris Ryan lit up the Franklin Field scoreboard.
For three seasons I was spoiled by a juggernaut that convincingly rolled over opponents offensively as well as defensively.
That may not be Penn's game this year -- not yet, anyway.
So as I watched the final seconds tick off the clock Saturday night, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe Penn was getting away with something.
Maybe it was watching Lehigh's backup kicker Matt Douglas miss his second field goal of the game, preventing the Engineers from tying the game.
Lehigh coach Pete Lembo played Douglas because he wanted to "give him a shot" in a non-conference game.
Perhaps it was that the defense, aided by two Vince Alexander interceptions, handed Penn three of its four scores on a silver platter.
The sole scoring drive that started in Penn territory was culminated with a trick play. I almost fell out of the press box with excitement when I saw it, but it was smoke and mirrors all the same.
It could have been the punting gaffes in the fourth quarter that made the game a good deal closer than it might otherwise have been.
What alarmed me most was watching the vaunted Penn defense allow a running back to tally 100 yards on the ground. That didn't happen last year.
But then I saw Alexander's beaming post-game smile. That smile wasn't for last year's Quakers.
A few fans even rushed the field in celebration. Sure, Lehigh wasn't pounded into submission, but plenty of things went right in the victory.
In many ways what transpired against Lehigh was more unique than what the old Quakers teams did. The Red and Blue used every tool they possess to snap the Engineers' 26-game winning streak.
This year's team knows how to win. The Quakers trounced Lafayette in a blowout, and Saturday they proved that they can take the close ones, too.
Quarterback Mike Mitchell got picked off on the second play of the game. No big deal.
The defense picked him up and the only jerseys he hit the rest of the night were red and blue. When the dust settled he had performed convincingly in the first home game of the post-Hoffman era.
Running back Stephen Faulk was contained by the Engineers' formidable defense most of the night, but he still hit paydirt twice.
So what if three of the four scores were set up by the defense? Last time I checked Penn still scored enough to beat one of the best squads in Division I-AA.
A 100-yard rusher had to happen at some point, but Travis Belden, Alexander, et al. created five turnovers along the way and proved that they can still butt helmets with the best.
As for the special teams miscues -- there is a reason that Penn plays non-league games. Penn can cash in this victory and fix whatever ails them before facing down Dartmouth next weekend.
Are there question marks on this team? Sure. But what team doesn't have them?
Are they last year's club? No. But they proved Saturday that they don't need to be.
This year's incarnation of the Red and Blue knows how to find a way to win, and when the new offense starts to gel that can only spell trouble for opponents.
Maybe the game didn't have to come down to a nail-biting kick that the backup placekicker sent wide right, but Penn still brought home the 'W.'
The more I think about it, the only thing Penn got away with against Lehigh was solid football.
Maybe it's time that we stop thinking about last year and start appreciating the team in front of us.
I have a feeling that when Milanese sets the reception record in a few weeks, the only team I'll be thinking about is the one on the field.
