Heading into its Ivy championship meet at Heptagonals this weekend, Penn cross country looks better than it has in a long time – maybe better than ever.

For Watson, things are looking pretty elementary. Justin Watson, that is. Through the first six games of Penn football’s season, the sophomore wide receiver is putting together one of the best pass-catching seasons in recent memory.

Move over Pope Francis — another cavalcade of stars is preparing to take over Philadelphia.

Penn football found itself in an unfamiliar spot on Friday night. And no, that spot isn’t only the winner’s column.

Unfortunately, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, not soccer.

Close, but no cigar.

After Penn football’s week two victory against fourth-ranked Villanova, my colleague Colin Henderson made a bold statement: The Quakers' win was no fluke. Five games into the season, with the Red and Blue sitting at 2-3 heading into Friday’s game against Yale, I still didn’t know what to make of that statement.

Maybe Penn football should spot its opponents early points in every game.

As noted poet Rocky Balboa once said: “When you get knocked down, get back up and keep moving forward.” Responding to failure is a vital process in sports at all levels.

For Penn football, the first five games of the season have exposed stars on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

In 2008 Barack  Obama was elected president for the first time, Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in Beijing, Heath Ledger died, Eliot Spitzer resigned over a prostitution scandal and No Country for Old Men won best picture at the Oscars.  And Penn sprint football beat Army.

It is commonplace for athletes to use the metaphor of brotherhood or sisterhood when describing the nature of their relationship with teammates.

If Penn football hosts a game under the lights and nobody is there to see it, does it really happen?

Two Penn freshman – football’s Christian Pearson and women’s soccer’s Sasha Stevens – were named the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Week in their respective sports Monday.

In addition to the branding overhaul of the University, Grace Calhoun is quietly upgrading – no, revolutionizing – what it means to practice for Penn Athletics.

Channeling the lyrics of rock legend Tom Petty, Penn’s cross country is certainly “running down a dream” this season.

On to the next. Now that the dust has cleared, there’s not much more to say about Penn football’s win on Saturday.