Ready to make history

Some things change. Others do not.

When Bob Shoop accepted the head coaching position at Columbia two years ago, many felt the Yale graduate would be able to inject some much-needed life into Columbia's notoriously underperforming football program.

The Lions showed signs of improvement in Shoop's inaugural season. With a 4-6 record, Columbia remained in the hunt for second place in the Ivy League up to the final game of the season.

But if the first four games of the 2004 season are any indication, things have returned to normalcy at Baker Field.

At 0-4, the losing epidemic appears to have infected the Upper West Side of New York once again.

Nonetheless, Columbia's record may be slightly deceiving.

Two of its home losses -- a 17-14 defeat by Fordham and a 27-26 overtime nail-biter against Princeton -- were decided in the final minutes of the game. Shoop's other two losses, a 42-13 drubbing by Bucknell and a 35-14 defeat by Lafayette, have been less auspicious.

After a 32-25 double-overtime victory last week against Bucknell, Penn will look to continue its quest for an Ivy League championship today.

If any Quakers fear a Homecoming letdown, they have shown no signs of it.

"I think Homecoming is going to be a big game for us," Penn senior wide receiver Dan Castles said.

"You never want to underestimate Columbia. I think they're a pretty good team. They played a lot of teams tight this year. Just because they're struggling a little bit doesn't mean they're not a good team. We're definitely taking them seriously."

Penn coach Al Bagnoli echoed Castles' sentiments, also stressing that in order to achieve their goal of an undefeated Ivy League season, the Quakers must improve significantly.

"We made enough mistakes last week," Bagnoli said. "I don't think that anybody thinks that we're near a finished product. I would be very disappointed" to see a letdown.

Penn's defensive unit will be looking to shut down a balanced Columbia offense that is averaging 16.8 points per game on the season.

At the forefront of Penn's focus will be Columbia quarterback Jeff Otis.

Otis has completed 69 of 119 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns, a completion percentage of 58 percent.

At 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, the Chesterfield, Mo., native excelled last year in a 31-7 loss to Penn at Baker Field. The current senior was successful on 24 of his 43 passing attempts, ending the day with 224 yards and one touchdown strike.

But Otis also threw two interceptions, a tendency that appears to have followed him into the 2004 season.

In addition to his three touchdown passes this season, Otis has thrown four interceptions.

On the defensive end, Columbia has struggled mightily in its four losses.

The Lions are giving up an average of 31.7 points and have failed to stop the running game.

Shoop's porous rush defense is conceding an average of 224.3 yards on the ground, a statistic that has surely made Penn running back Sam Mathews salivate during this week's preparation.

But Mathews will have to be aware of senior defensive tackle Mike Quarshie, who is leading the Lions with an impressive 14 tackles for losses.

The Lions' pass defense has been better, giving up an average of 145.8 yards through the air, a statistic that suggests Penn may opt for the run rather than give emerging star quarterback Pat McDermott -- who threw for an impressive 384 yards last week -- the opportunity to air it out.

Shoop offered no victory guarantee in this week's preparation as he did before last year's game. But according to Castles, Penn will need no extra incentive.

"We just want to win the Ivy League championship," Castles said.

"That's enough motivation for us."

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