Football's passing giant

At 6'6", 245 lbs., Gavin Hoffman's size is enough to make him seem big on the football field.

But his rewriting of the record books will make him a giant in Ivy League lore.

There have been great quarterbacks in this league before, a couple of whom -- like Dartmouth grad Jay Fiedler -- can be seen these days in the National Football League.

Yet, perhaps it is Hoffman's background that makes him unique in the Ancient Eight, the fact that he gained Division I-A notoriety before landing in a conference far more heralded for its academics than its athletics.

The Minneapolis native could have been well on his way to stardom as the starting signal caller for Northwestern in 1998, his freshman year. He put up strong numbers, completing 54.5 percent of his passes for 2,199 yards and throwing 13 touchdowns for a quarterback efficiency rating of 116.29.

After such a promising rookie campaign, Hoffman appeared destined for great things somewhere. But they would not be in Evanston, Ill.

The Wildcats finished that season 3-9, with an 0-8 conference mark. Then-head coach Gary Barnett, who had recruited Hoffman, bolted to take the helm at Colorado University in January of 1999.

Randy Walker inherited the Wildcats, but he didn't inherit their quarterback from the previous year. If Hoffman was faced with the prospect of learning an entirely new system, he figured he might as well do it at another school where he could also receive a superior education.

It wasn't an easy decision, but one he's now glad he made.

"Transferring is sort of a tough deal," Hoffman said. "There were some times when I first got here when it wasn't always a rosy picture. But once I got comfortable, I never really looked back."

And when you consider that getting comfortable at Penn, from a purely football-related standpoint, has been quite challenging, it makes Hoffman's productivity all the more staggering.

This season will represent the first time in Hoffman's college career that he will operate out of the same offensive scheme as he did in the previous year. Last season, Penn switched systems when Andy Coen replaced Chuck Priore as the Quakers' offensive coordinator.

"I think he's going to turn into a heck of a coach because he's had lots of different things thrown at him," Bagnoli said of his star quarterback. "Lots of different philosophies, lots of different ideas, and I think the thing that impresses us is his mental capacity."

Another coach-like trait of Hoffman's is the stern, unquestioned leadership he provides, even during practice sessions.

Though he may have once been a transfer student from Minnesota by way of suburban Chicago, Penn's quarterback has earned the respect and full support of his teammates.

"Not only does he have all the physical tools, but what helps him most is his work ethic, preparation and smartness for the game," said Penn senior wide receiver Rob Milanese, who knows something about great quarterbacks. Milanese played alongside University of Texas star Chris Simms for three years at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, N.J.

Aside from his experience and his insights on the field, Hoffman thrives because of his raw talent. In addition to the sheer power he possesses, his ability to flawlessly connect with his targets downfield has thoroughly impressed his coaches.

"He's very accurate," Bagnoli said. "There are very few times when he doesn't hit receivers in an area where they can reach it and give them an opportunity to catch the ball."

The big righthander has racked up some mammoth numbers in his first two years at Penn.

In 1999, Hoffman completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,328 yards. However, some were concerned about the 12 interceptions that accompanied his 14 touchdowns.

His 2000 performance removed any doubts regarding his greatness. The then-junior connected on a mindboggling 70.5 percent of his passing attempts, good for 3,214 yards.

About one-sixth of those yards came at Franklin Field on Oct. 28, when Hoffman threw for 476 as he surgically tore apart a demoralized and overmatched Brown defensive unit.

And people didn't seem to mind that his interception total had grown to 14 last year, probably because his 24 touchdowns tied a school record.

Hoffman might very well hold the record for breaking Penn records. His individual accomplishments are stunning, but the modest Minnesotan insists that there is no contest as to what his greatest feat is.

"The thing I'm most proud of is winning an Ivy League championship [in 2000]," he said. "I was kind of worried that I'd be the only quarterback under coach Bagnoli not to leave with a ring."

With that no longer a concern now, Hoffman is looking forward to another stellar year. After finally benefitting from some offensive continuity, are even more extraordinary statistics possible?

Maybe, maybe not. But no one involved with the program seems to care all that much.

The bottom line is winning.

"Last year was statistically a year that we may not see here for a long time," Bagnoli said. "It's tough to go out and complete over 70 percent of your passes just during 7-on-7 drills or just running out with four wide receivers -- to do it in a game situation is amazing.

"We may be a better football team with him not statistically having the same year he had last year."

Penn followers can rest assured that the offense will be highly productive as long as it remains healthy.

Unlike last year, when he suffered a pair of injuries, the Quakers hope and expect to have their star running back Kris Ryan for the long haul in 2001.

Ryan, Milanese and a host of others will undoubtedly be essential components of the Penn attack this season, but most would agree that the Quakers' most indispensable asset wears No. 2 on his back.

It's been a long, interesting road for Gavin Hoffman, but he couldn't be happier with what has transpired.

"It's definitely been more than I could have anticipated," Hoffman said. "It's been a very pleasant surprise with the way that things have worked out."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.