The Quakers' trainers are being kept busy this week. Two key players - cornerback Tyson Maugle and running back Bradford Blackmon - suffered injuries in Saturday's win over Dartmouth.
As reported in yesterday's DP, Maugle broke his nose in three places. According to coach Al Bagnoli, he underwent "a procedure" today and is doubtful for this weekend's game at Georgetown. However, he should be ready to suit up the following week.
Blackmon bruised his ankle and missed the bulk of the second half of the game, although the injury shouldn't keep him out of action this weekend.
Maugle leads Penn with 19 tackles, while Blackmon has amassed 108 yards rushing and 104 yards receiving, with one touchdown.
Uphill battle. When Blackmon left the game on Saturday, sophomore running back Mike DiMaggio had to shoulder the load. While he picked up just six yards in the first half, he heated up in the second half and bulldozed through the Dartmouth line for 123 yards.
The difference, according to coach Bagnoli, was Penn's shift to from an east-west to a north-south running game that better accommodated DiMaggio's grinding style.
But when asked whether DiMaggio had earned himself more carries, Bagnoli seemed to indicate that "as long as [Blackmon] is healthy," he'd still be the No. 1 option.
A special award. Thanks to his three fourth-quarter field goals against Dartmouth, Penn kicker Andrew Samson earned Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week honors, becoming the first Quakers special teamer to do so since punter Anthony Melillo won it on Nov. 13, 2006.
Such an award is not usually notable, but the Red and Blue's troubles in the kicking game have been well-documented over the past two seasons. The last Penn kicker to earn the honor was Peter Veldman in 2003.
Dinner and a movie? Some of the Quakers cleared their schedules last night to take in a premiere of the Dennis Quaid football movie The Express.
Those players - who attended the flick instead of stopping by the NFL's on-campus recruitment event - rubbed elbows and, one can only assume, shared popcorn with Villanova and Temple players. The impetus for the outing came as part of a promotion from Universal Pictures.
