One final tribute for Penn football's Al Bagnoli

After 23 years, it's time for Al Bagnoli to say goodbye to Franklin Field.

Coming off a sloppy defeat to archrival Princeton, Penn football is not simply preparing for one of its toughest on-field tests of the season against No. 17 Harvard this weekend. The Quakers are also getting ready for the emotional toll that accompanies the circumstances surrounding a game like Saturday's.

In addition to celebrating the careers of the Red and Blue's senior class, the program will also honor one of the most decorated coaches in Ancient Eight history. In over two decades at the helm, Bagnoli has guided Penn to nine outright Ivy titles and 147 victories, winning nearly 70 percent of his games against conference opponents.

"Every game comes with its own distractions, and you need to be able to block out those distractions once the game starts," Bagnoli said. "Our kids have done a good job of doing that.

"It's going to be a bittersweet day for the seniors — it will be bittersweet for me — but when the game starts, we need to put our best foot forward and try and get that win."

Unfortunately for the Quakers, wins have been hard to come by in 2014. Defined by inconsistent play and a roster decimated by injuries yet again, Penn will likely finish with its worst record in Bagnoli's illustrious career.

As the Red and Blue (1-7, 1-4 Ivy) attempts to finish the year out strong, it's unlikely that the Crimson (8-0, 5-0) will make that task easy. Coach Tim Murphy's squad has been stellar this season, winning games by an average of 23.8 points per contest.

"We've played against teams that are as good as they are on offense, and we've played teams that are as good as they are on defense," Bagnoli said. "But we haven't played anyone in our league that is as good on both sides of the ball and well-coached as Harvard is."

The Crimson is coming off a 45-point shutout of Columbia — the only team Penn has defeated this season — due in large part to three interception returns for touchdowns. With that win, Harvard is only one win away from capturing at least a share of its second consecutive Ivy championship.

"Harvard is a great football team. Every year it seems like they have some great kids," senior defensive back Dan Wilk said. "They like to utilize their tight ends in the passing game which is unique — not a lot of Ivy League teams do that."

Like fellow defensive back Evan Jackson, wide receivers Conner Scott and Spencer Kulcsar and linebacker Dan Davis, Wilk is one of many seniors playing in his final home game for the Red and Blue on Saturday. However, unlike most of those players, this will be the second time Wilk goes through the Senior Day experience.

"It's a bit weird because last year [Jackson and I] technically had our Senior Day, and now we're coming back for another one," Wilk said. "It definitely means a lot more this time because you recognize the magnitude of everything going on around you."

Despite the disappointing win total and the players set to leave the program following the season, Bagnoli knows that Penn is in good hands moving forward.

"To be in one place for 23 years, it's somewhat unusual, but I've loved it and I'd like to think we've had more good moments than bad," Bagnoli said. "We're all caretakers to a program that is over 130 years old, and the seniors and I are happy to pass it on to the next guys who will get it all back on track."

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