Sports

Football hero

A new statue at Franklin Field will honor Penn alum and NFL Hall-of-Famer Chuck Bednarik. Known as “Concrete Charlie,” Bednarik played for the Quakers from 1945 to 1948, and then for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 to 1962.

Palestra

Historic Palestra floor makes a rebound

Known as the “Cathedral of Basketball,” the Palestra opened in 1927 and has grown into one of the most historic collegiate arenas in the nation. The celebrated gymnasium has hosted more games and visiting teams and NCAA tournament games than any other college facility in the country.

Greg Johnson ・

Palestra

Putting the Palestra on film

Mikaelyn Austin remembers visiting the Palestra as a high school senior, during her Penn recruiting trip, and seeing a photo of former Penn basketball star Michael Jordan sitting atop one of the arena’s hoops, swinging the recently cut net over his head after a momentus win.

Tim Hyland

David Berger Professor of Law Stephen Burbank

Law prof gets handed a labor football

This past January, while half the country was huddled around the TV watching the Super Bowl and scarfing down Buffalo wings, David Berger Professor of Law Stephen Burbank was in sunny San Diego, taking it all in live.

Sandy Smith ・

Wearing a USC hat, Rich Bonfiglio stands on the tennis court.

Rich Bonfiglio named new men’s tennis coach

Bonfiglio began his coaching career at Trinity in 2011 and coached at Ithaca, Amherst, the University of San Diego, Columbia, and USC before coming to Penn.

Penn Today Staff ・



In the News


Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)

University of Arizona faces difficult challenge in trimming sports budget

Karen Weaver of the Graduate School of Education says that cutting sports is one of the most difficult things any college athletic director or president can do because some of the most loyal and dedicated alumni are former student athletes.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

Call it Palestra magic, but understand how Penn’s Big 5 upset of Villanova came about

Penn’s zone defense and some big individual efforts carried the Quakers to a Big 5 upset, beating Villanova 76-72.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

Meredith Schamun is giving Penn volleyball ‘some love and attention’ as she continues rebuilding its culture

In 2020, Meredith Schamun was Penn’s fourth coach in five years, and focused on building trust with her players over Zoom. Having struggled for three seasons, this year’s squad is 3-17 with four regular-season matches remaining.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn’s hard truth? In the case of college sports and the Ivy League, it isn’t all about the money

The idea of a collective to help financially attract top athletic talent is a nice thought. But when it comes to the Ivy League, that’s all it is at the moment. Ivy League rules prohibit athletic scholarships.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

Seasoned Penn football team picked to finish third in the Ivy League

Penn was tabbed to finish third in an Ivy League football preseason poll of the media, behind Yale in first and Princeton in second.

FULL STORY →