Win or lose, Saturday’s contest against Cornell will be the last of the football team’s 2009 season. But the Quakers aren’t too happy about that, as many of them are frustrated that the Ivy League Champion does not receive a berth to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
The Ivy League is the only FCS conference that prohibits its champion from participating in the postseason tournament.
“It’s one of those rules that no one’s ever articulated any reasons why,” coach Al Bagnoli said. “On the surface it’s so illogical that you sit there scratching your head and it seems so unjust. But that’s the rule we live by, and I knew it coming in so it wasn’t like I was blindsided by it.”
Some players have their theories. Senior quarterback Kyle Olson claims he was told that all members of the conference must agree to allow the champion to participate.
Olson thinks that Harvard and Yale refuse to vote in favor of the rule change in order to preserve the status of their annual meeting as the climax of the season for the Ivy League.
But as the stipulation won’t be changing any time soon, the Quakers are left to predict how well they could have fared.
“We would’ve definitely gave some teams a run for their money,” senior linebacker Jake Lewko said. “We could’ve gotten pretty far I think, maybe to the championship game. Who knows?”
We’re Number 24. In the next-to-last week of the regular season, Penn has finally received enough votes to enter the FCS top-25 rankings. The victory over Harvard boosted the Quakers to No. 24 in The Sports Network poll and No. 25 in the Coaches’ poll.
But at this point in the season, the Red and Blue don’t care too much.
“I don’t even think about it right now,” Bagnoli said. “It’d be nice at the end of the year, but it doesn’t really mean much in Week 9.”
Olson echoed his coach’s disinterest in the ranking at this point in the season.
“Yeah, I heard something about it, but I’m not too worried about that,” he said. “I’m focused on Cornell.”
But it’s not completely meaningless for everyone, as for some it’s certainly a subject for bragging rights over high-school teammates.
“It’s nice to get home and tell people: I got a ring, and oh yeah, I’m top 25,” Lewko said. “I had a couple friends playing in other divisions … but besides that you don’t get too much for it.”
As for whether Penn — whose only losses this season were close defeats to No. 3 Villanova and No. 22 Lafayette early in the season — should have been in the rankings earlier, Lewko could only muster a “no comment.”
Celebrate good times, come on. As soon as the whistle blew to signal Penn’s 17-7 victory over Harvard last Saturday, the party started.
Alumni distributed cigars to whichever players wanted them, and they hung around on the field for a while, taking pictures and soaking in the moment.
But how will the Quakers celebrate if they can beat Cornell and gain sole possession of the title?
“More champagne and cigars,” Lewko said. “We’ll have to bring double the amount.”
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.