After a dominant 33-0 win in the alumni game, which ultimately amounts to a season warm-up, the lightweight football team is primed to sprint into the season. They open up on the road tonight at 7 p.m. in Ithaca, N.Y., against Ivy foe Cornell.

Before Andrew Samson landed in Philadelphia, Penn football's kicking woes might have been its biggest problem.

The defending Ivy co-champion Bears — whose three rushing touchdowns allowed in 2008 were the fewest in the nation — are going to rely on the rush in their own offense this season after the graduation of quarterback Michael Dougherty.

while Yale is projected to be a mid-tier Ivy team, the Crimson (9-1, 6-1 Ivy in 2008) are the favorites to win their third-straight title (they split the crown with Brown last year).

Cornell has not won an Ivy League championship since 1990 — the second-longest active drought — and it doesn’t look like its spell will end in 2009.

For the Princeton football team, this season is all about the rush — in more ways than one.

The Bulldogs hope to improve upon a 6-4 record (4-3 Ivy) that led to a fourth-place finish in the Ancient Eight.

Penn’s No. 1 Ivy defense from a year ago lost six players with significant starting experience, including three-fourths of its secondary.

Given that the Dartmouth football team enters the 2009 season winless in their last campaign, it's difficult to pinpoint which areas need improvement with its season beginning Saturday against Colgate.

The 2008 Penn football season is probably best remembered for the quarterback carousel and the eventual emergence of Keiffer Garton.

Given that the Dartmouth football team enters the 2009 season winless in their last campaign, it’s difficult to pinpoint which areas need improvement with its season beginning Saturday against Colgate.

That confidence, however, may come from the faith the Lions (2-8, 2-5 Ivy in 2008) have in their 18 returning starters.

Graduation hit Penn's defense hard. Two all-Ivy defensive tackles departed. Captain and linebacker Jay Colabella got his diploma in May. Jordan Manning, Tyson Maugle - and their 30 combined starts in the secondary - are now Penn alumni.

This fall, the football team playing at Franklin Field will look retro. No, the players are not getting old school jerseys nor leather helmets.

Penn football was buzzing on media day Monday, based largely on the offense's stockpile of playmakers.

This fall, the football team playing at Franklin Field will look retro.