PRINCETON, N.J. - Al Bagnoli had, for two seasons, been at a loss for words.
He had his well of go-to phrases that were used all too often: "snakebitten," "due for some luck" and "disappointed" - a thousand times, disappointed.
Three consecutive overtime losses and what seemed like an endless series of unfortunate events made the Penn coach sound like Lemony Snicket during every press conference.
But on Friday night, after a 14-9 victory over Princeton, Bagnoli couldn't keep a smile off his face. And, for the first time in what seems like forever, he had the chance to sing a different tune.
"It's a testament to their fortitude," Bagnoli said. "It speaks volumes for our kids, that's the part I can't stress enough. It's a great win for them."
It looks like the law of averages is finally catching up to the Red and Blue, and that's a good thing. The breaks finally seemed to go the Quakers' way this weekend, with Penn getting the benefit of at least one big call (an efficient Princeton drive into Penn territory was halted when Jordan Culbreath lost a fumble that seemed to be ground-caused). But the Quakers' biggest boost took place long after the final whistle.
Yale's upset victory over Brown on Saturday jolted Penn past relevance and into prominence. With a 4-1 conference record, the Quakers are now tied for the top spot in the Ivies with the Bears and the defending champion, No. 21 Harvard.
Over the course of 18 hours, Penn eked out a victory in the 100th game of a historic rivalry, watched the team that broke its heart on Homecoming lose at home and vaulted to the front of the standings. What a weekend.
And, for sophomore quarterback Keiffer Garton - who on Friday logged his first career start and his first rushing and passing touchdowns - it couldn't have been wilder.
In the bowels of Princeton Stadium, the kid who was on the scout team less than a season ago - and raised 15,056 sets of eyebrows when he made his debut under center last week - found himself privy to cheers of "Keiffer! Keiffer!" and butt slaps galore.
When you go from third-stringer to nationally-televised, linebacker-trampling hero in less than two weeks, I guess it's bound to happen. But Garton isn't letting his head swell.
"I'm just enjoying this victory tonight," he said.
If, a month ago, you had proposed the situation Penn faced this weekend - a game back of first place and bereft of its two top signal callers - most people would have set the headstone right then and there.
PENN FOOTBALL 2008: NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH. AGAIN.
Instead, by the bootstraps of a preseason afterthought, the team is where it had been for so many years. Right there, in a position to nab another title. And why? The string of bad - nay, horrendous - luck that the Quakers have suffered may be coming to an end.
Championships aren't forged in one game (one they were supposed to win, no less). But after Garton dove past the chains on third-and-eight with two minutes to play to seal it, a whole new energy emerged, an energy that few on the team have experienced in their time at Penn.
They say winners make their own luck. The Quakers still have a ton to prove against the Crimson next week; to show their mettle, they'll need to take advantage of the fortunate hand they've been dealt.
David Bernstein is a senior Economics major from Washington, D.C. His e-mail address is davidkb@dailypennsylvanian.com.
