Move-in day was such a hassle.
There was bumper-to-bumper traffic just to find a parking spot in front of the Quadrangle gate, unloading of boxes and bags, lugging them up the thousands of steps and into the elevators you deceivingly thought were working. But amidst the mayhem, your eyes lock on a helmet-wearing, uniform clad stream of red and blue.
No, your vision hasn't been impaired by the accumulated dust in your dorm room. It isn't the tears welling up in your eyes over the distraught thought of mom and dad leaving you for good. The uniformed troop isn't a pack of 300-pound gorillas; instead, they're your typical guys -- not built, not intimidating, the guys you were friends with in high school. They're the Penn sprint football team.
This is a team that's been around for 73 years, a team with players as determined and as talented as any other college football team.
Destroying Cornell at their opening game last Friday by a score of 35-13, the Quakers excited the crowd with their interceptions, tackles and defensive line.
And that's no small achievement.
Cornell took a seven-point lead in the first quarter. But only a minute into the second quarter, the Quakers scored, and it was all downhill from there for the Big Red.
After two more touchdowns in the third quarter, the Red and Blue had a 28-point lead.
Cornell scored six points in the fourth quarter, but they would get no closer.
Sophomore quarterback Michael Loguidice shined throughout the game, passing for 250 yards.
Most surprising was sophomore running back J.T. Hutchinson. Hutchinson scored four touchdowns in his first collegiate game as a starter.
As for being the second most popular football team on campus, Penn coach Bill Wagner said, "The only team that outdraws [us in] fans is varsity football. They're football, we're sprint football, and we're one of a kind."
And he's right.
This year's Quakers are fast- moving, skilled, and as far as the team is concerned, it is second to none.
Cornell 7 0 0 6 -- 13 PENN 0 14 21 0 -- 35
First Quarter: COR - Fullowan 1 yd run (Minnock kick).
Second Quarter: P - Hutchinson 9 yd run (Stine kick), P - Hutchinson 54 yd run (Stine kick).
Third Quarter: P - Hutchinson 12 yd run (stine kick), P - Herman 18 yd pass from Loguidice (Stine kick), P - Hutchinson 2 yd run (Stine kick).
Fourth Quarter: COR - Fullowan 12 yd run (Minnock kick blocked).
