With only a month remaining until the Penn football team returns to Franklin Field for summer practice, all eyes will be on the returning starters as they try to recapture the Ivy title that they won three out of the last five seasons.
The Quakers did not place any starters on The Sporting News' preseason All-America team. Penn coach Al Bagnoli could not remember the last time the Quakers did not have a player represented, stressing that he "doesn't really pay attention to it." Last year, Penn cornerback Duvol Thompson was a second-team preseason All-American.
This year, only three Ivy Leaguers were selected as preseason All-Americans by The Sporting News. Harvard running back Clifton Dawson was the only first-team representative, while Cornell tackle Kevin Boothe and Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie were both elected to the second team.
Nevertheless, Bagnoli is very confident that the Quakers will have enough talent from their returning starters to seriously contend for the Ivy crown.
"In the spring the entire team really elevated their play," Bagnoli said.
"While that doesn't necessarily translate to a game situation yet, I'm confident we will be well prepared. I'm anxious to see them get started." Questions at quarterback
The Quakers will be returning several prolific starters from last season, but the position the Quakers have the most depth at is quarterback, where the Quakers return two players who started last season. Senior Pat McDermott started eight games last season before going down with an injury late in the game against Princeton. The Yonkers, N.Y., native is projected to be at the helm of the Quakers' offense this year as well. But McDermott will not just be handed the position. Sophomore Bryan Walker is expected to challenge him for the spot, as the young quarterback started Penn's final two games of last season. While Walker tore a hamstring and missed most of spring practice, Bagnoli expects him to be ready for the start of the season.
"There will be plenty of competition," at quarterback this year, Bagnoli said.
"Pat had a strong spring camp, while Bryan got injured so he missed a bit.
But the coaches know that both guys can put up good numbers."
When asked which player will receive the nod for the Quakers' opener against Duquesne on September 17, the 14-year coach laughed.
"When I know, believe me, you guys will know," he said. One that got away The Quakers will receive help from an incoming class of 33 rookies, hailing from as far west as California. However, one recruit who was originally listed as part of the roster backed out at the last minute to sign with another school.
Chris Gronkowski, an Amherst, N.Y., native was offered a scholarship at the last minute by the University of Maryland and decided to take it instead of coming to Penn, according to Bagnoli. Gronkowski, a 6-foot-2, 237 pound defensive end, has a brother of the same age who will also be playing football for the Terrapins.
"Having a brother already there may have had something to do with it," Bagnoli said. "It's a tough loss, but it happens and we'll move on." Quakers on TV? YES! The Penn football team has the chance to be featured twice on the YES network's slate of Ivy League football games during the 2005 season. One of the games
has already been set, while the other game would depend on Penn's contention for the Ivy title.
The Quakers' tilt with Harvard on Nov. 12 will be broadcast live from Boston. Over the last several years, this game has garnered national attention since either Harvard or Penn has won the Ivy League title for the last five seasons.
The Quakers could also be featured a week later on Nov. 19. The YES network has yet to decide which game will be shown, choosing to wait and see which contest will have Ivy title implications. If the Quakers are contending for the title, then YES will send its crew to Franklin Field for Penn's season finale against Cornell. YES is also considering covering either that weekend's game between Brown and Columbia or Princeton's game at Dartmouth.
