Interestingly, our own Ivy League has to be the most stable athletic conference in the history of athletic conferences.

The Penn men’s basketball team announced its 2011-2012 schedule yesterday, and it’s arguably the toughest in the Ivy League.

This year, both the men’s and women’s teams have done their best to maintain a crucial advantage on the attack.

Despite being used only situationally, Aaron Bailey ranked fifth on the team in all-purpose yardage. His playmaking ability could have been helpful in Penn’s quest for a third-straight Ivy title.

George Mason wasted no time in putting an end to Penn’s five-game shutout streak on Sunday.

The truth is that the Quakers were not out-coached, but rather exposed by an underdog Lafayette team led by a quarterback making his first collegiate start.

It was halftime of a scoreless battle, and an upbeat Colleen Fink had only one message for the Penn field hockey team: score first. As the second half began, the Quakers generated chance after chance.

The result was eight shots and two goals for Baker, who paced the Quakers to a 2-1 victory over Villanova.

It wasn’t quite like the 70-0 Princeton beatdown last year, but the sprint football still ran roughshod over the Tigers under the Friday night lights of Franklin Field this weekend.

To say it was a disappointing start for the two-time defending Ivy League champions would be an understatement.

Friday at 7 p.m. under the lights of Franklin Field, the Red and Blue will be looking for the same dominating performance as last year’s 70-0 drubbing of the Tigers.

Penn coach could has benefited from the dedication and support of his assistant coaches — especially those who have been with him since the very beginning.

Penn returns many skilled players, but will have to forge on behind a relatively new offensive line

The 2011 Ivy League football season has been dubbed, “The Year of the Quarterback” by the New York Times. With each team returning a starter under center, there’s no dearth of talent calling the plays.

This season, coach Al Bagnoli has the unique task of replacing the most prolific kicker in Penn history, Andrew Samson

In 1980, Penn football won just one game. Four years later, they began a run of three-consecutive outright titles, and they remain the only team to finish it.

A fresh start awaits the Penn field hockey team this Saturday when it kicks off its Ivy League season against Cornell.