Media Day welcomes Penn football back

“It’s usually the kiss of death.”

The first words Penn coach Al Bagnoli uttered at Monday morning’s annual Media Day at Franklin Field served as a sobering reminder that in Ivy football, the worst way to finish on top is to start there.

But that’s where the Quakers found themselves projected to finish earlier this month in the Ivy League Football Preseason Poll, in which the team slated to finish second has actually gone on to win the conference crown each of the last four years.

At Media Day, Bagnoli admitted that Penn’s first-place projection for 2013 made sense.

“We’ve got a lot of experienced kids coming out,” he said. “Traditionally the champions are elected No. 1 until someone dethrones them.”

Indeed, it’s hard to bet against three fifth-year seniors on offense in quarterbacks Billy Ragone and Ryan Becker and running back Brandon Colavita, as well as a secondary unit and linebacking corps which together return three All-Ivy selections and a bevy of ballhawks from a year ago.

Still, the biggest unknown quantity remains Ragone and exactly how he’ll respond once he’s getting knocked around again after suffering a gruesome season-ending ankle injury in Penn’s Ivy title share-clinching victory over Harvard on Nov. 10. Ragone only just received his final clearance to play “full go” three weeks ago.

“I think the first hit is going tobe a relief,” Ragone admitted. “Making sure everything’s in working order and moving on from there. Just like anything, you’ve got the butterflies the first play, and then everything takes care of itself.”

Last season, Penn was able to take care of itself in Ragone’s absence with the Ivy crown at stake against Harvard largely thanks to a defensive front that dominated the Crimson all afternoon, culminating in a season-defining sack for a safety by sole 2012 team captain and current Baltimore Raven Brandon Copeland.

This season, the Quakers defense is dealing with an inexperienced front line and life without Cope.
“[Copeland] was a leader, one of the best leaders I’ve ever been a part of on a team,” said senior cornerback and 2013 co-captain Dan Wilk. “He was incredible.”

“Last year, Brandon Copeland was a tremendous leader for us, and we don’t have a Brandon Copeland,” Bagnoli said. “But when you look at how much more experience we have at all the positions, especially the second and third levels, I think that leadership responsibility will get shifted from one person to maybe five or six guys who have extensive playing experience.”

The offensive side is dealing with a significant loss of its own in former Penn running back Lyle Marsh, who left the team due to academic issues. Last season, Marsh caught 34 passes for 276 yards and four receiving touchdowns, all good for second on the team.

“Lyle was a premier player,” Bagnoli said before reminding the dozen or so reporters on-hand that there is still some depth remaining at tailback. “Brandon Colavita comes back for his fifth year, he was another all-league running back. Spencer Kulcsar we used quite a bit last year toward the end when we had some injuries, he’s a very explosive, dynamic running back. We have a sophomore, Mike Elespuru, who has the chance to be a really good player. I think we’ll be okay, but obviously when you miss a premium kid, it’s gotta take some toll on you.”

But there was no sign of any toll taken on Media Day. Instead, the Quakers soaked up the sun, posed for official team photos and launched into shenanigans, as several players interrupted ongoing media interviews by dunking footballs into trashcans near them.

“We get to take some pictures, have a little fun,” junior right tackle Matt Kiefer said. “Gotta stick the fun in there somehow. It’s camp after all.”

The time will come to avoid the kiss of death. For now, though, Penn football season has officially just begun.

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