No fear for second-years

The nature of college athletics is such that each year, underclassmen need to step up. And with an Ivy League title to defend, it was even more important this season that a core group occupied the recent graduates' roles on the Penn football team.

Enter the Class of 2013. These Quakers seem to be in no sophomore slump — in fact, many of their statistics show incredible improvement between the 2009 season and this season’s first three games.

After the jump, more musings from these sophomores that didn't make it into today's DP article.

Sophomore punter Scott Lopano, who played every game as a freshman, praised his class for their efforts and determination. “The sophomore class has put in a lot of hard work and determination to be much better than we were last year, and to get better every year. So it’s always good to see that fire to win another one. Instead of the underdog fire, you have to have the repeat fire.” And the “repeat fire” that Lopano spoke about gives the young sophomores a reason to feel confident against older opponents.

“I know Billy Ragone had a great game last Saturday [against Dartmouth]. He’s built a lot of confidence from last year [even though he played] only two games before he got injured. But those two games he played were fantastic. He built a lot of confidence, even though he got injured … I think knowing that he was part of that team, and contributed to that team, gave him a lot of confidence coming into the season. I know he’s probably playing as well as he is because of that confidence. There’s definitely plenty of kids that have put in time — I know Brandon Copeland on defense is a really dominant sophomore for us and he’s just a ridiculous athlete. He played really well last year and he got recognized by the coaches, so the confidence that he has coming into this year is substantial too.”

Copeland echoed that sentiment.

“I don’t have to get comfortable playing physical. I’m comfortable with myself, I know I can play with the people I’m playing against because I played last year. Right now I’m more mentally aware, I’m more sure with myself, I know the plays and all that stuff. It’s helped me a lot, [I’m] more confident.

“This year has been so much easier, I know what to expect, I know what to look for, I know what we’re doing every day, [I know] pretty much the plan, I know we’re traveling on certain days, get your work done before a certain day, as compared to last year when I was just a freshman, I was just all about playing so I didn’t do that much work.”