Football: Penn to play Duquesne, not Lafayette, in season opener

For the last two years, the Penn football team opened its season against Lafayette, winning by a combined 68 points.

This season, however, the Quakers play host to Duquesne in their first game of the year. Lafayette has no game scheduled for September 20, the date of Penn's opener.

Penn had been scheduled to play Lafayette for a series of games with this year's matchup being the last in the set, according to Penn coach Al Bagnoli.

"We were supposed to play them," Bagnoli said. "But they opted not to play us and instead picked up Marist."

Bagnoli stated that Lafayette made the decision not to play Penn this year "right after the Lafayette game last year." That game took place on Sept. 21.

Dave Morse, director of athletic communications and promotions at Lafayette, offered different insight into the matter.

"We [Lafayette and Penn] made a mutual agreement sometime in the last year or two not to play in 2003, 2004 or 2005," Morse said. "But we do have a contract to play in 2006."

According to Bagnoli, that is not the case. Upon being asked about the agreement not to play from 2003-2005, Bagnoli said, "That's wrong. We were supposed to play them."

While the two sides offer different perspectives regarding the decision not to play this season, the Penn Athletic Communications Office confirmed that Penn plans to play Lafayette in 2006.

With the Lafayette game no longer on the schedule, Penn had little time to find a replacement for its opening game of 2003.

"We were forced to scramble," Bagnoli said. "But we managed to find Duquesne."

Dave Saba, associate athletic director/media relations for Duquesne, confirmed that Penn contacted them to schedule the game "about 10 months ago, around last October."

Penn defeated Lafayette in 2000, 2001 and 2002 by scores of 45-28, 37-0 and 52-21, respectively.

The Penn-Lafayette series is a long-standing one, if not historically the most competitive matchup. Penn first faced Lafayette in 1882 and the Quakers' overall record against the Leopards is 60-18-4.

Last season, Duquesne edged Lafayette, 23-22, led by defensive back Leigh Bodden, who earned a spot on the 2003 Cleveland Browns roster. In doing so, he became the first Duquesne player to reach the National Football League since 1953.

Duquesne also defeated Marist, 36-0, last season.

Contractual disagreements between Penn and Lafayette aside, the the No. 20 Penn football team will kick off a season of great expectations when it faces Duquesne on Sept. 20 at Franklin Field.

"Let's not get into contractual he said, she said," Bagnoli said. "We got the contract. We're playing Duquesne. It's not a big deal."

The Quakers and the Leopards Lafayette has struggled against its intra-state rival throughout its history. The Leopards are next scheduled to play Penn in 2006. Last 3 meetings: 2002: Penn won 52-21 at Lafayette 2001: Penn won 37-0 at Lafayette 2000: Penn won 45-28 at Franklin Field Streaks: Penn has won the last five matchups dating back to 1994. In 1991 Penn lost a 20-12 decision to Lafayette. The teams first met in 1882. All-time record: Penn leads the all-time series, 60-18-4

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