Joltin' his way up the depth chart

If you have to lose a Joe, it's nice to have a DiMaggio waiting in the wings.

With senior running back Joe Sandberg relegated to the sideline at times this season - with an injury, or simply for some in-game rest - Quakers fans have been given a glimpse of a Penn backfield without its established star. If this year's action is any indication, life after Sandberg might not be so bad after all.

Freshman Mike DiMaggio has been a revelation for the Red and Blue, warding off a host of veteran runners to become the primary backup. And after taking the majority of the carries in Sandberg's absence at Villanova on Sept. 22, he has made the best of his role as a change-of-pace back.

"Every off-season I take the steps to become a better football player," said DiMaggio, who began the year at fourth on the halfback depth chart. "I made sure before I came to camp that I was in my best football shape and mentally and physically ready."

"Mike did a great job throughout preseason camp . earning the right to be on the field," running backs coach Steve Downs said.

Not bad for a guy who, after Penn's opening-day loss to Lafayette, was still playing JV.

"I played a half [of the JV game] and then the first play after the first half, coach Downs brought me out and said 'We're gonna need you the rest of the season.'"

As far as his coaches are concerned, DiMaggio fits the running back mold especially well.

"He's physical, and you want your backs to be physical," said Bagnoli. "I think Mike is the epitome of what you want in the toughness side of a running back."

DiMaggio has also used Sandberg as a resource to improve his game, whether talking to him on the sidelines between series or emulating key facets of his running style.

"Joe defines the finesse running back," said DiMaggio. "From him, I've definitely learned to just be patient, let things happen and then hit the hole."

On the year, DiMaggio has amassed 189 yards on 43 carries, a solid 4.4 average per attempt.

While coaches were pleased with the downhill running and grit he displayed at Villanova in his only start, DiMaggio's season highlight came on Oct. 6 against Georgetown, when he rushed for 89 yards and a score on 11 carries. His powerful 38-yard romp down the sideline late in the first quarter gave the Quakers an insurmountable 21-0 lead.

Last Saturday, DiMaggio shook loose for a 24-yard run in the second quarter against Yale.

Bagnoli acknowledges that many areas of the freshman's game still need fine-tuning, especially his reads and his knowledge of the offensive scheme.

Still, DiMaggio should head into next year's camp as a major contender for the starting position with Sandberg gone after five years.

"Obviously he's gonna be one of the guys competing for Joe's job," said Bagnoli. "You're losing a great one, and hopefully we've got somebody in-house who can pick up that slack."

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