No Respect for Ivies

When will the Ivy League get some respect?

Take the case of Penn (7-0), first place in the Ivies and the Northeast's only undefeated Division 1-AA team. While the selectors for the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophies--which honor the best teams in the Northeast--think Penn deserves a top ranking, the national Divison 1-AA Top 20 poll has completely ignored the Quakers.

Delaware (6-2), Villanova (5-2-1) and Lafayette (6-1-1)--all listed behind Penn in the Lambert-Meadowlands poll--are nationally ranked in the Division 1-AA poll. But where are the Quakers?

Penn also has a better record than 19 of the 21 nationally ranked teams. Only top-ranked Marshall (8-0) and second-ranked W. Illinois (9-0) could boast of better records.

Last year, Harvard cracked the top 20 after a 14-9 victory over Brown improved the Crimson's record to 6-1. Harvard entered the Holy Cross game as the 19th best team in the nation.

What does Penn have to do? Upset Notre Dame? Receive a bowl bid?

This week, the Quakers will visit Lafayette, the same team that had to come back and tie Cornell, 21-21, last Saturday at Easton, Pa. Penn should earn a national ranking with a victory.

But it should have entered the game already ranked.

Injury Update: Harvard's All-Ivy duo of QB Tom Yohe and RB Tony Hinz will not play Saturday against Boston University.

Yohe, who suffered a left tibula fracture last week against Brown, and Hinz, who broke his right hand, both earned All-Ivy honors last year. This season, Yohe has thrown for 1599 yards, while Hinz has racked up 897 (454 rushing, 443 receiving) total yards.

Reserve quarterback Rod MacLeod, who led Harvard to a 28-3 victory over the Bruins, is the most likely starter in Saturday's B.U. game. Fullback Art McMahon, coming off a 126-yard day, should see more action against the Terriers.

Catch It: Harvard wide receiver Neil Phillips and tight end Don Gajewski are earning a reputation as a dangerous receiving duo.

Phillips, the captain of the Harvard basketball team, has caught 31 passes for 569 yards. Gajewski has snagged 29 passes for 380 yards.

Ivy Honors: The Ivy League honored two quarterbacks for their performances in last weekend's games.

Penn QB Malcolm Glover, who threw for 289 yards--including a 54-yard bomb to Scott Sandler--in a 31-23 triumph over Princeton, was named Ivy League Player of the Week.

Yale QB Darin Kehler earned Ivy League Sophomore of the Week honors, as the Elis defeated Dartmouth, 22-13, in New Haven, Conn. On a fourth and five situation for the Elis, Kehler ran the ball 36 yards for a score.

I Love This Crowd: Just goes to prove what a little good weather can do.

Although Harvard was facing the last-place Bruins, last Saturday's crowd of 14,900 was the largest to watch a game at The Stadium this year.

With the Terriers crossing the river this weekend, the stands could fill up even more.