Penn Quakers football
Encyclopedia
The Penn Quakers football team is the college football
team at the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers
have competed in the Ivy League
since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA). Penn plays its home games at historic Franklin Field
, the oldest stadium in football. All Penn games are broadcast on WNTP
or WFIL
radio.
(the namesake of college football's most famous trophy), have won a share of 7 national championships (7th all-time) and competed in the "granddaddy of them all" (The Rose Bowl
) in 1917
. Penn's total of 808 wins puts them 9th all-time in college football (3rd in the FCS) and their winning percentage of 63.1% is 21st in college football (7th in the FCS). 18 members of the College Football Hall of Fame
played at Penn (tied with Alabama for 14th) and 5 members of the College Football Hall of Fame coached at Penn. Penn has had 11 unbeaten seasons. Penn plays at the oldest stadium in college football, Franklin Field
, at which they have had a 35-game home winning streak (1896–1899), which is the 15th best in the country, and at which they have had 23 unbeaten home seasons. Penn is one of the few college football teams to have had an exclusive contract with a network for broadcasting all their home games. For the 1950 season
, ABC Sports broadcast all of Penn's home games. The only other teams to have exclusive contracts are Miami
and Notre Dame
. The Quakers competed as a major independent until 1956, when they officially joined the Ivy League
, which holds the NCAA record for most national championships among its members.
NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) record for longest winning streak - 24 games.
NCAA record for consecutive overtime losses - 3 games
Highest number of unbeaten Ivy League seasons - 8 (1984, 1986, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010)
Longest Ivy League winning streak - 20 straight games (2001–2004)
It is the site of the oldest stadium scoreboard (1895), the "original horseshoe" (1903), the first college football radio broadcast (1922 on WIP-AM
), the first double-decker football stadium (1925), the largest stadium in the country (1925 to 1926), the first college football television broadcast (1940 on KYW-TV
) and the first FCS stadium to host ESPN's College Gameday (2002).
- namesake of the Heisman Trophy
, College Football Hall of Fame
John H. Outland
- namesake of the Outland Trophy
, College Football Hall of Fame
Chuck Bednarik
- namesake of the Chuck Bednarik Award
, 1948 Maxwell Award
winner, Pro Football Hall of Fame
, College Football Hall of Fame
Bert Bell
- former NFL commissioner, founder, owner & coach of the Philadelphia Eagles
, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers
, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Skip Minisi
- first-round NFL draft pick, College Football Hall of Fame
Bob Odell
- 1943 Maxwell Award
winner, College Football Hall of Fame
Reds Bagnell
- 1951 Maxwell Award
winner, All-American, runner up for the Heisman Trophy, College Football Hall of Fame
.
(#1 overall pick in 1949) and Bert Bell
(1963) and NFL first-round pick Skip Minisi
.
. With this win, Penn clinched the Ivy League conference championship for 1982, their first in 23 years. Penn kicked a field goal in the last seconds to win. After a first field goal kick missed, a flag gave Penn a second attempt which they converted.
. 38,000 fans showed up to support Penn as they clinched a third straight Ivy League title. Head coach Jerry Berndt
was named Ivy League Coach of the Year in large part because of this game.
. Penn was 9–0, 6–0 in the Ivy League coming into the game needing a victory to win the Ivy League and preserve an undefeated season. Cornell led 14–0 at halftime, but Penn did not let their rival score in the second half and won by a field goal.
. Penn was 9–0, 6–0 in the Ivy League coming into the game for the second year in the row undefeated and needing to win to clinch an Ivy League title. Penn won a close road game over their chief rival to have back-to-back undefeated seasons.
. With this win, Penn clinched the Ivy League conference championship for 2002. This game was the site of ESPN's College Gameday program (the first and only time (as of 2010) a FCS school had been the host). ESPN personality Lee Corso
dressed up as Penn's founder founding father Benjamin Franklin
(who is also the namesake of Franklin Field) and predicted (correctly) that Penn would win the game.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers
Penn Quakers
The Penn Quakers are the athletic teams of the University of Pennsylvania. The school sponsors 27 varsity sports. The school has won three NCAA national championships in men's fencing and one in women's fencing.-Men's crew:-Football:...
have competed in the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA). Penn plays its home games at historic Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
, the oldest stadium in football. All Penn games are broadcast on WNTP
WNTP
WNTP 990 is a politically conservative talk radio station which serves the Philadelphia area. It is owned by Salem Communications, along with a number of similar channels in various markets. Some of those whose programs are run by WNTP include Michael Medved, Dennis Prager, Dennis Miller, Michael...
or WFIL
WFIL
WFIL is a radio station and a former television station serving the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its transmitter is located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania....
radio.
Overall History
Penn bills itself as "college football's most historic program". The Quakers have had an impressive 63 First Team All-Americans, is the alma mater of John HeismanJohn Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
(the namesake of college football's most famous trophy), have won a share of 7 national championships (7th all-time) and competed in the "granddaddy of them all" (The Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
) in 1917
1917 Rose Bowl
The 1917 Rose Bowl, known at the time as the Tournament East-West Football Game, was a college football bowl game played on Jan 1, 1917. It was the 3rd Rose Bowl Game. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Penn Quakers by a score of 14–0. This remains the last, and to date, only Rose Bowl win ever for the...
. Penn's total of 808 wins puts them 9th all-time in college football (3rd in the FCS) and their winning percentage of 63.1% is 21st in college football (7th in the FCS). 18 members of the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
played at Penn (tied with Alabama for 14th) and 5 members of the College Football Hall of Fame coached at Penn. Penn has had 11 unbeaten seasons. Penn plays at the oldest stadium in college football, Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
, at which they have had a 35-game home winning streak (1896–1899), which is the 15th best in the country, and at which they have had 23 unbeaten home seasons. Penn is one of the few college football teams to have had an exclusive contract with a network for broadcasting all their home games. For the 1950 season
1950 college football season
The 1950 college football season finished with the unbeaten and untied Oklahoma Sooners being the overwhelming choice for national champion. On New Year’s Day, the 9-0-0 Sooners were upset by the 10-1-0 Kentucky Wildcats in the Sugar Bowl. The #2 team, the United States Military Academy had been...
, ABC Sports broadcast all of Penn's home games. The only other teams to have exclusive contracts are Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
and Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. The Quakers competed as a major independent until 1956, when they officially joined the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
, which holds the NCAA record for most national championships among its members.
NCAA television controversy
- See: NCAA #Football television controversy
Ivy League
Since joining the Ivy League in 1956, Penn has been a powerhouse in the conference. They are second in total Ivy League titles (15), first in outright Ivy League titles (12), and first in undefeated Ivy League titles (8).NCAA Records
NCAA record for most college football games played - 1,313.NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) record for longest winning streak - 24 games.
NCAA record for consecutive overtime losses - 3 games
Ivy League Records
Most outright Ivy League titles - 12 (1959, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010)Highest number of unbeaten Ivy League seasons - 8 (1984, 1986, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010)
Longest Ivy League winning streak - 20 straight games (2001–2004)
Franklin Field
Penn's home stadium Franklin Field is not only the oldest stadium in football but holds many other records as well.It is the site of the oldest stadium scoreboard (1895), the "original horseshoe" (1903), the first college football radio broadcast (1922 on WIP-AM
WIP-AM
WIP is a Philadelphia radio station with an all-sports format. Located at 610 AM, the station adopted its current all-sports format in 1986, making it the first all-sports radio station in the United States...
), the first double-decker football stadium (1925), the largest stadium in the country (1925 to 1926), the first college football television broadcast (1940 on KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
) and the first FCS stadium to host ESPN's College Gameday (2002).
National Championships
| Year | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1894 1894 college football season The 1894 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Penn, Princeton, and Yale as national champions.... |
George Woodruff George Washington Woodruff Note: Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. 1894 Poll Results = Penn: Parke H. Davis, Princeton: Houlgate, Yale: Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke H. Davis1895 Poll Results = Penn: Billingsley, Helms,... |
12–0–0 |
| 1895 1895 college football season The 1895 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Penn and Yale as national champions.... |
George Woodruff | 14–0–0 |
| 1897 1897 college football season The 1897 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Penn and Yale as national champions.-Conference standings:The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:... |
George Woodruff | 15–0–0 |
| 1904 1904 college football season The 1904 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Michigan, Minnesota, and Penn as national champions.... |
Carl "Cap" Williams Carl Sheldon Williams Carl Sheldon "Cap" Williams was an American football player and coach. A Wellington, Ohio native, Williams graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1894 with a bachelor of Science and a medical degree in 1897. Williams played both at Oberlin and University of Pennsylvania and coached at... |
12–0–0 |
| 1907 1907 college football season The 1907 college football season saw the increased use of the forward pass, which had been legalized the year before. Football remained a dangerous game, despite the "debrutalization" reforms, and an unprecedented eleven players were killed , while 98 others were seriously injured. However, there... |
Carl "Cap" Williams | 11–1–0 |
| 1908 1908 college football season The 1908 college football season ran from Saturday, September 19, until November 28 . The Quakers of the University of Pennsylvania and the Crimson of Harvard University finished the season unbeaten, though each had been tied once during the season. The Tigers of Louisiana State University went... |
Sol Metzger Sol Metzger Sol S. Metzger was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, college athletics administrator, and sports journalist... |
11–0–1 |
| 1924 1924 college football season The 1924 college football season was the year of the Four Horsemen as the Notre Dame team, coached by Knute Rockne, won all of its games, including the Rose Bowl, to be acclaimed as the best team in the nation. Notre Dame and Stanford were both unbeaten at season's end, and the Fighting Irish won... |
Louis Young | 9–1–1 |
Conference Championships
| Year | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 1959 college football season The 1959 college football season saw Syracuse University crowned as the national champion by both the AP and the UPI wire services. Mississippi , which had outscored its opponents 350-21, finished #2 in both polls, and its only loss during the regular season had been to LSU, which ultimately... |
Steve Sebo Steve Sebo -External links:... |
7–1–1 | 6–1–0 |
| 1982 | Jerry Berndt Jerry Berndt Jerry Berndt was a college football coach at DePauw University, Penn, Rice, and Temple. In two years at DePauw , Berndt guided the Division III Tigers to a 9-9-1 mark, including a 7-2-1 mark in his second season. From 1981 to 1985, he coached at Penn, and compiled a 29-18-2 record... |
7–3–0 | 5–2–0 (shared title) |
| 1983 | Jerry Berndt | 6–3–1 | 5–1–1 (shared title) |
| 1984 | Jerry Berndt | 8–1–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 1985 | Jerry Berndt | 7–2–1 | 6–1–0 |
| 1986 | Ed Zubrow | 10–0–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 1988 | Ed Zubrow | 9–1–0 | 6–1–0 (shared title) |
| 1993 | Al Bagnoli Al Bagnoli Al Bagnoli is an American football coach and former player. He currently serves as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania, a position he has held since the 1992 season.... |
10–0–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 1994 | Al Bagnoli | 9–0–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 1998 | Al Bagnoli | 8–2–0 | 6–1–0 |
| 2000 | Al Bagnoli | 7–3–0 | 6–1–0 |
| 2002 | Al Bagnoli | 9–1–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 2003 | Al Bagnoli | 10–0–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 2009 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season The 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of the college football season, began in August 2009 and concluded with the national championship game on December 18, 2009 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, won by Villanova 23–21 over Montana.-Rule changes for 2009:The NCAA football rules committee... |
Al Bagnoli | 8–2–0 | 7–0–0 |
| 2010 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season The 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of the college football season, began in September 2010 and concluded with the national championship game on January 7, 2011 won by Eastern Washington... |
Al Bagnoli | 9–1–0 | 7–0–0 |
Penn in the AP Poll
| Year | Final AP Poll Ranking |
|---|---|
| 1936 1936 college football season The 1936 college football season was the first in which the Associated Press writers' poll selected a national champion. The first AP poll, taken of 35 writers, was released on October 20, 1936... |
10 |
| 1940 1940 college football season The 1940 college football season ended with the Gophers of the University of Minnesota being named the nation’s #1 team and national champion, and the Stanford University Indians in second, with the two teams receiving 65 and 44 first place votes respectively... |
14 |
| 1941 1941 college football season The 1941 college football regular season ended with the Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota repeating as the AP Poll national champion. This was Minnesota's fifth national championship in eight years... |
15 |
| 1943 1943 college football season The 1943 college football season concluded with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame crowned as the nation’s #1 team by a majority of the voters in the AP poll, followed by the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks as the runner-up... |
20 |
| 1945 1945 college football season The 1945 college football season finished with the United States Military Academy, more popularly known as “Army”, being the unanimous choice for the nation’s number one team by the 116 voters in the Associated Press writers’ poll... |
8 |
| 1946 1946 college football season The 1946 college football season finished with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame crowned as the national champion in the AP Poll, with the United States Military Academy the runner up... |
13 |
| 1947 1947 college football season The 1947 college football season finished with Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State all unbeaten and untied, but the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were the first place choice for 107 of the 142 voters in the AP writers poll, and repeated as national champions... |
7 |
Bowl Games
| Season | Date | Bowl | Location | Result | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916–17 1916 college football season The 1916 college football season had a very clear cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Army and Pittsburgh as national champions. Only Pittsburgh claims a national championship for the 1916 season.... |
January 1 | Rose Bowl Game 1917 Rose Bowl The 1917 Rose Bowl, known at the time as the Tournament East-West Football Game, was a college football bowl game played on Jan 1, 1917. It was the 3rd Rose Bowl Game. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Penn Quakers by a score of 14–0. This remains the last, and to date, only Rose Bowl win ever for the... |
Pasadena, California Pasadena, California Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet... |
L 0–14 | Oregon 1916 Oregon Ducks football team -Schedule:... |
Notable Quaker players
John HeismanJohn Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
- namesake of the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
John H. Outland
John H. Outland
-External links:...
- namesake of the Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
, College Football Hall of Fame
Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik
Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
- namesake of the Chuck Bednarik Award
Chuck Bednarik Award
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States...
, 1948 Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
winner, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, College Football Hall of Fame
Bert Bell
Bert Bell
De Benneville "Bert" Bell was the National Football League commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. As commissioner, he helped chart a path for the NFL to facilitate its rise in becoming the most popular sports attraction in the United States...
- former NFL commissioner, founder, owner & coach of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Skip Minisi
Skip Minisi
Anthony Salvatore "Skip" Minisi was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985 based on his college career at the University of Pennsylvania and the United States Naval Academy.-External links:...
- first-round NFL draft pick, College Football Hall of Fame
Bob Odell
Bob Odell
Robert Harper Odell is a former American football player who, as a college senior at the University of Pennsylvania, won the Maxwell Award in 1943. In 1944 he was drafted in the second round by the Chicago-Pittsburgh Cardinals-Steelers but served in the United States Navy from 1944 through 1946...
- 1943 Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
winner, College Football Hall of Fame
Reds Bagnell
Reds Bagnell
Francis "Reds" Bagnell was an American football halfback in college. He was an All-American tailback for the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1951. He won the Maxwell Award, was runner-up for Heisman Trophy, and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.-External links:...
- 1951 Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
winner, All-American, runner up for the Heisman Trophy, College Football Hall of Fame
Individual award winners
Penn's total of three major award winners surpasses several BCS programs to this day.- Maxwell AwardMaxwell AwardThe Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
- Bob OdellBob OdellRobert Harper Odell is a former American football player who, as a college senior at the University of Pennsylvania, won the Maxwell Award in 1943. In 1944 he was drafted in the second round by the Chicago-Pittsburgh Cardinals-Steelers but served in the United States Navy from 1944 through 1946...
- 19431943 college football seasonThe 1943 college football season concluded with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame crowned as the nation’s #1 team by a majority of the voters in the AP poll, followed by the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks as the runner-up... - Chuck BednarikChuck BednarikCharles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
- 19481948 college football seasonThe 1948 college football season finished with several unbeaten teams. The Michigan Wolverines and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were both unbeaten and untied, as were the California Golden Bears and the Clemson Tigers... - Reds BagnellReds BagnellFrancis "Reds" Bagnell was an American football halfback in college. He was an All-American tailback for the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1951. He won the Maxwell Award, was runner-up for Heisman Trophy, and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.-External links:...
- 19511951 college football seasonThe 1951 college football season finished with seven unbeaten major college teams, of which five were unbeaten and untied. Ultimately, the Tennessee Volunteers were voted the best team by the Associated Press, followed by the Michigan State Spartans, with the Vols having a plurality of first place...
- Ivy League Coach of the Year
- Jerry BerndtJerry BerndtJerry Berndt was a college football coach at DePauw University, Penn, Rice, and Temple. In two years at DePauw , Berndt guided the Division III Tigers to a 9-9-1 mark, including a 7-2-1 mark in his second season. From 1981 to 1985, he coached at Penn, and compiled a 29-18-2 record...
- 1984
College Football Hall of Fame
Eighteen former players have been inducted into the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Quakers in the NFL
A total of 51 players from Penn have been drafted in the NFL, including NFL Hall of Famers Chuck BednarikChuck Bednarik
Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
(#1 overall pick in 1949) and Bert Bell
Bert Bell
De Benneville "Bert" Bell was the National Football League commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. As commissioner, he helped chart a path for the NFL to facilitate its rise in becoming the most popular sports attraction in the United States...
(1963) and NFL first-round pick Skip Minisi
Skip Minisi
Anthony Salvatore "Skip" Minisi was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985 based on his college career at the University of Pennsylvania and the United States Naval Academy.-External links:...
.
Cornell
Penn's rivalry with Cornell is the 5th-most played college football rivalry of all time, as the two have met 117 times. Their first game was in 1893 and have played every year since, except in 1918.Princeton
Although Penn's rivalry with Princeton is primarily in basketball, the two also have a historic and intense football rivalry dating back to 1876. Princeton was Penn's first opponent in football and have played 102 times.Yale
Penn's rivalry with Yale dates back to 1879. These two Ivy League universities have very historic football traditions.Harvard
Penn's rivalry with Harvard dates back to 1881. In recent years, the Penn-Harvard football game in mid-November has usually had Ivy League Championship connotations. Since 1993 Penn and Harvard have won the Ivy League Championship 13 times between them. Penn (8) and Harvard (5).Lafayette
Penn and Lafayette have played 87 games since their first meeting in 1882. The Penn-Lafayette rivalry was one of the most fierce contests in college football during the 19th century, most notably the 1896 contest. Lafayette is one of Penn's primary non-Ivy games.Penn 23, Harvard 21
On November 13, 1982, Penn defeated Harvard 23-21 at Franklin FieldFranklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. With this win, Penn clinched the Ivy League conference championship for 1982, their first in 23 years. Penn kicked a field goal in the last seconds to win. After a first field goal kick missed, a flag gave Penn a second attempt which they converted.
Penn 38, Harvard 7
On November 10, 1984, Penn defeated Harvard 38–7 at Franklin FieldFranklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. 38,000 fans showed up to support Penn as they clinched a third straight Ivy League title. Head coach Jerry Berndt
Jerry Berndt
Jerry Berndt was a college football coach at DePauw University, Penn, Rice, and Temple. In two years at DePauw , Berndt guided the Division III Tigers to a 9-9-1 mark, including a 7-2-1 mark in his second season. From 1981 to 1985, he coached at Penn, and compiled a 29-18-2 record...
was named Ivy League Coach of the Year in large part because of this game.
Penn 17, Cornell 14
On November 20, 1993, Penn defeated Cornell 17–14 at Franklin FieldFranklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. Penn was 9–0, 6–0 in the Ivy League coming into the game needing a victory to win the Ivy League and preserve an undefeated season. Cornell led 14–0 at halftime, but Penn did not let their rival score in the second half and won by a field goal.
Penn 18, Cornell 14
On November 19, 1994, Penn defeated Cornell 18–14 at Schoellkopf FieldSchoellkopf Field
Schoellkopf Field is a 25,597-capacity stadium at Cornell University's Ithaca-campus that opened in 1915 and is used for the Cornell Big Red football, sprint football, lacrosse and field hockey teams...
. Penn was 9–0, 6–0 in the Ivy League coming into the game for the second year in the row undefeated and needing to win to clinch an Ivy League title. Penn won a close road game over their chief rival to have back-to-back undefeated seasons.
Penn 44, Harvard 9
On November 16, 2002, Penn defeated Harvard 44–9 at Franklin FieldFranklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. With this win, Penn clinched the Ivy League conference championship for 2002. This game was the site of ESPN's College Gameday program (the first and only time (as of 2010) a FCS school had been the host). ESPN personality Lee Corso
Lee Corso
Leland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
dressed up as Penn's founder founding father Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
(who is also the namesake of Franklin Field) and predicted (correctly) that Penn would win the game.