Last Sunday was the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. It was also the inaugural week of the 2016 NFL season. Oddly enough, it seems like patriotism and what our flag stands for – and whether we choose to stand for it – is at the forefront of the nation’s conscience.

There are nine days until Penn football kicks off its 2016 campaign. That’s 22 days after the first college football game of the season. Sports buffs out there will know that the first game, a matchup between Cal and Hawaii on August 26 in Sydney, Australia, is in the FBS division whereas the Quakers' first game against Lehigh on September 17 at 5 p.m.

It seems the lack of success last year can be attributed to two main points: youth and injuries to the team’s few experienced leaders. In 2016, look for those issues to be almost completely resolved.

There are some things in this world that I’ll never understand: quantum physics, rainbows, Amy Gutmann’s ability to defy age and how Penn field hockey remains criminally underrated each and every year.

Success is just a small part of why we cover Penn’s teams, as are the teams themselves. More importantly than the teams, we cover the athletes.

I’ve had the privilege of writing for the Daily Pennsylvanian for two full years now, and one particular date is seared into my brain: November 7, 2015. That particular day, undoubtedly, was the most entertaining of my Penn career thus far.

The stage is set in Philadelphia. The United States Men’s National Team has played in some pretty important and memorable games in recent history, notably including the last game of the group stage at the 2010 World Cup, which featured a famous last-minute winner from Landon Donovan to send the Americans through to the knockout rounds.

“I don’t like to write” should have been my first tweet. Writing and tweeting: two areas I should have learned to love and excel in after four years at the Daily Pennsylvanian but yet, I do not.

This is the hardest article I have ever had to write. I always assumed my senior column would be easy to create.

I've got approximately nothing for this senior column.

The state of Penn Athletics is strong — and it’s getting stronger every day.

When I first set out on being a sports reporter, I did it for a girl.

The Ivy League basketball tournament is finally here. ... So what exactly does that mean? Ever since the Ivy League was formed in 1955, it has always stood apart.

As a professional sports fan, it does not make sense to me why so many people who are passionate about professional sports are not passionate about Penn’s teams.

Last week, Penn Athletics announced the elevation of assistant squash coach Gilly Lane to head men’s coach.

The vote by the eight Ivy League football coaches to end tackling at in-season practices is Penn Athletics' philosophy in action.

This year was supposed to be a step backwards for Penn baseball. After a program-record 14 Ivy League wins a season ago, the Red and Blue graduated a cavalcade of veteran standouts; a total of ten seniors played their final games in 2015, two of whom — Austin Bossart and Ronnie Glenn — were talented enough to take their skills to the professional level. And accordingly, the team has not been as dominant as it was a year ago.