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.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has taken college football by storm over the past three years as the dynamic leader of the Gators, just as much of a threat to run with the ball as he is to throw it.

The second-ranked Quakers may be opening the 2006 season with an entirely new defensive secondary, but defensive coordinator Ray Priore, who enters his 20th year with the team, isn't fretting.

Perhaps the defining moment in the 2005 season came in Penn-Princeton Homecoming game.

After a less-than-stellar 2005 season, Penn has been picked to finish second this year in last month's media poll.

Scotty Williams' strength was gone. After playing his freshman season way back in 2001, a Mormon mission in Quebec took away 35 pounds from his body and two years of his physical prime.

Sept. 16 @ Lafayette 1:00 Sept. 23 Villanova 7:00, CN8 Sept. 30 Dartmouth 1:00 Oct. 7 @ Bucknell 1:00 Oct. 14 Columbia 1:00 Oct. 21 @ Yale 12:30, CN8 Oct. 28 Brown 12:00, CSTV Nov. 4 @ Princeton 1:00, CN8 Nov. 11 Harvard 1:00, CN8 Nov. 18 @ Cornell 1:00

Coach Al Bagnoli has a problem. But it's the kind of problem that coaches love to have.

If a season simulation on "Dynasty Mode" of EA Sports' NCAA Football 2007 is in any way a harbinger for Penn's upcoming season, then the Quakers are in deep trouble.

As senior wide receiver Matt Carre prepares to take the field for the Quakers' season opener tomorrow, he will be focused on helping his team reverse the downward spiral of last season.

If Ivy League teams are going to beat Penn this year, they'll have to do it through the air.