Another Quakers win, another week of What the Other Side is Saying. This time let's look at the Brown Daily Herald's coverage, as well as that of the Providence Journal.

The Daily Herald just had a simple recap of the game, leading with a quick recap of Penn's overtime woes since 2006. Two interesting stats from the article:

1) If the Quakers had shut out Brown -- and they were a pick six away from doing so -- it would've been the first time Brown failed to score since 1996.

2) Brown running back running back Zach Tronti didn’t touch the ball in the second quarter and got only six handoffs in the final two quarters, yet somehow had 63 yards on 11 carries, making him only the second running back to gain over 60 yards against Penn this season.

That second stat about Brown's limited success running the ball led to two comments on the Pro Jo recap. The two comments astutely called out Bears coach Phil Estes for relying heavily on the pass. Meanwhile, Penn's vaunted rush D did give up 5.7 yards per carry to Tronti, yet he didn't even get a dozen carries. Considering Penn -- usually a run-first team -- focused on its passing game, perhaps if Brown had gone to its rushing game more often it would've compensated for the below-average performance of its Ivy-leading passing attack. Then again, it's easy being a Monday (afternoon) quarterback.

When Fran Dunphy left Penn in the Spring of 2006, a number of candidates were mentioned as possible replacements: Dave Wohl, Billy Taylor, Fran O’Hanlon, Glen Miller and Steve Donahue. Ultimately, a great deal of the consternation regarding Glen Miller revolves around Steve Donahue’s recent run of success as Cornell’s coach. But did Penn make a foolish decision in 2006? Is there any obvious statistical answer as to why Miller was chosen rather than Donahue? Obviously, if the reasons were a great interview and the vast potential seen in Miller by the powers that be, a statistical explanation will be impossible to further, but let’s take a look. All these statistics have been culled from the Penn and Cornell athletic department web sites and we’re going to pretend we’ve travelled back in time to 2006 and only have those statistics available to us.

Career records

Glen Miller (13 Years 188-157)

Steve Donahue (6 years 58-105)

Though it’s difficult to compare sample sizes this different, it seems abundantly clear that Miller, at least to this point in his career, had experienced a great deal more success than Donahue. Though his record does count his time at Connecticut College, where in his final season with the Camels he lead them to a 28-1 mark and Donahue’s whole career as a head coach was at Cornell. So let’s just compare the records of the two men within the Ivy League and, to create even more equality, let’s use just the first six years of each man’s record.

Ivy Records, First Six Years

Glen Miller (48-36)

Steve Donahue (31-53)

Again, the records seem to speak for themselves. Most impressively, Miller in his fourth year at Brown went to the NIT. In those first six years within the Ancient Eight, Miller averaged eight wins per year to Donahue’s five and one-sixth wins per year. Miller’s teams averaged a finish closer to fourth place than third and Donahue’s averaged a finish closer to fifth than fourth. But all this might mean is that Miller was about one place better than Donahue at beating the teams they both played. How did the two men fare against each other?

Series between Miller and Donahue

2000-01 Brown 2-0

2001-02 Brown 2-0

2002-03 Brown 2-0

2003-04 Split 1-1

2004-05 Cornell 2-0

2005-06 Split 1-1

Near the end of the series it is possible to see Donahue approaching and perhaps overtaking Miller, but overall, before taking the coaching job at Penn, Glen Miller held an 8-4 record against Steve Donahue and the Big Red.

While these are some fairly rudimentary statistics and, admittedly, they do not tell the whole story — for example, they do not take in to account factors such as what players were currently on the roster when the coaches arrived at their respective schools, what the relative levels of alumni and athletic department support were like or any of a myriad of other factors — it’s fairly easy to see, at least numerically, why, in 2006, Glen Miller seemed to be a stronger choice than Steve Donahue in replacing Fran Dunphy.

Good afternoon from Franklin Field. Matt Flegenheimer here to provide live updates on this all-important Ivy showdown. Quakers fans couldn't ask for a more beautiful Homecoming Day; conditions are perfect as the Ancient Eight's two undefeated powers each try to seize a stranglehold on conference front-runner status. Keep it here with the Buzz for up-to-the-minute reports on all the action.

FINAL: Brown 34, Penn 27

Samson's onside kick lands nicely in the hands of a Brown player. The Bears kneel to run out the clock, game over.

Brown 34 Penn 27, 1:21 Q4

Penn's drive stalls deep in Brown territory, but after a stop, Bagnoli sends everyone on a punt block and someone gets a hand in. Tyson Maugle recovers in the end zone, and it's a one-score game. Here comes the onside kick...

Brown 34 Penn 20, 4:05 Q4

Penn gets the stop it needs, but can't muster any offense thereafter. Faced with a fourth-and-two on their own 26, the Quakers opt for a Garton run off tackle to the left, a play Brown has sniffed out from the start. Brown scores three plays later on a play-action lob to Cloherty. After lineman Brian Wing blocks his second kick of the day on the extra point attempt, Brown leads by 14.

Brown 28 Penn 20, 9:33 Q4

First, an apology: The wireless connection in the Franklin Field press box has been in and out for most of the second half, causing the delay between posts.

Now, an update: Irvin fumbled again, in the midst of a promising drive around midfield, and Bears senior Joseph McPhee (who forced the fumble) pounced on it. Dougherty proceeded to hit tight end Colin Cloherty for a big gain over the middle down to the 12, then connected with Sewall on a screen pass in the left flat, which the wideout parlayed into a touchdown down the left sideline.

Penn responded with a solid drive--highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Garton to Koontz over the top of the secondary--but couldn't get past Brown's 21. Samson converted the field goal from 38 yards out to get Penn within a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Brown 21 Penn 17, 8:24 Q3

After a Brown three-and-out, Penn takes over at its own 8. Garton rushes up the middle for a short gain on first down, but on the next play, Irvin returns to fumble the snap, which is promptly recovered by Brown's Michael Lemmons. It's worth noting that Penn's backup center, sophomore Joe D'Orazio, was in for the botched snap.

Taking over from Penn's 10, Dougherty hits Farnham again on a quick screen, and the junior wideout finds a seam to reclaim the lead.

Brown 14 Penn 17, 11:01 Q3

DiMaggio makes the gutsiest play of the year so far, taking a short pass on 3rd and 11, shuffling forward for about six yards before being hit by a swarm of Bears defenders. He keeps his feet churning, though, spinning out of a tackle, and trudging past the first-down marker.

A few plays later, with Garton behind center, the Quakers dig deep in the playbook for an end-around to Lawrence, who runs right, drops back, and floats a pass to Garton up the left sideline for a gain of 21. Lawrence becomes the fifth Penn player to complete a pass this afternoon.

Irvin comes in for the goal-line situation, dumping a pass to Blackmon on first down, then watching his back shake a tackle at the seven, duck left, then scamper into the endzone to put the Quakers back on top.

Update on Olson: He sustained an injury to his left knee and will be undergoing X-rays this afternoon. He will not return.

Brown 14 Penn 10, Halftime

Penn decides to squib the ensuing kickoff--every football fan's favorite ploy--giving Brown possession at its own 43. On the second play of the drive, Dougherty fakes the handoff and unloads a pass to Farnham streaking up the right sideline. The wideout hauls it in, tiptoes the sideline, and finds the end zone for a 57-yard score, a mere 21 seconds after the Quakers had taken the lead.

Penn runs the clock out on the final possession of the half, and the teams hit the locker room after a wild opening thirty minutes.

Halftime stats:

Brown

Dougherty: 10-21, 141 yards, touchdown

Ritter: 2 carries, 23 yards

Farnham: 5 catches, 109 yards, touchdown

Penn

Olson: 12-16, 95 yards

DiMaggio: 12 carries, 44 yards

Derham: 3 catches, 20 yards

Brown 7 Penn 10, 1:15 Q2

An eventful drive for Penn, to say the least. After forcing a Brown three-and-out, Penn takes over near midfield. On the first set of downs, Olson runs a play-action, faces significant pressure from the Brown line, backpedals to his own 45, then lofts a pass off his back foot up the right sideline to

Providence fired its coach, Tim Welsh, yesterday after 10 years. This story by the Times' Pete Thamel -- he of Tommy-Amaker-investigation fame -- mentions Brown coach Craig Robinson as one of several logical successors. I'm not sure exactly what to make of it right now, but it's something to watch for in the papers over the next few weeks, especially if Brown makes the NIT or, more likely, the newly-formed CBI.

I'm no member of Obama Nation, as my friends will tell you. But I was sad that he missed a great opportunity when he didn't show up at the Brown-Penn game on Saturday.

True, I don't know for sure if he was in the state, but there was a rumor going around as the fans filed into the Pizzitola Center that Mr. Obama would make an appearance. Could he, should he, would he?, the crowd was whispering. With the Rhode Island polls set to close at 9 p.m. tonight, it made sense. There were 1,727 people already gathered in one place, plus a few hundred more Brown fans watching the hockey game against Union a few hundred yards away. (Ivy Leaguers with deep pockets and liberal inclinations, too.) Plus, as we've been reminded, he has another link to Brown hoops.

No dice, which was too bad. The Bears won the hockey game; no shock. But they also dealt Penn its fifth Ivy loss on the hardwood, by the biggest margin ever, and propelled themselves a step closer to the NIT.

Obama would have been happy. It was change we could believe in.

• Tonight's game marked the first time in Brian Grandieri's career that Penn lost an Ivy League contest at the Palestra.

• As a team, the Quakers shot 9-17 from downtown, hitting three more triples than the Bears. The difference was the play inside. Despite Brown's smaller size, the Bears etched out 30 points in the paint (compared to Penn's 24) thanks to a number of smooth backdoor cuts. More importantly, the Bears got to the free throw line 26 times -- Penn was 2 of 6 from the charity stripe. Brown's 61.5% clip wasn't impressive, but it was good enough.

• Grandieri overcame his recent shooting woes tonight, going 9-15 from the field and 2-4 from beyond the arc. He was the Quakers' only reliable option in the second half -- especially with Kevin Egee on the bench in foul trouble -- and hit a number of clutch shots down the stretch.

• Cameron Lewis did not see any action tonight, and though Remy Cofield did see 12 minutes, he left the Palestra wearing a Tom Brady-like protective boot.

Tomorrow's game against Yale has been moved up to 6 pm. If you can't make it to the Palestra, ESPN Classic will be televising the game. Stay tuned to The Buzz for more coverage.

P.S. Jack Eggleston was a guest earlier this week on UTV's DP Roundtable and was asked about the incident with Noah Savage at the end of the Princeton game. With Princeton inbounding the ball under its own basket down by 3 with 9 seconds to go, Savage took a swing towards Eggleston's groin area and was called for a technical foul, essentially ending the Tigers' chances. On an earlier possession, Savage missed an important shot that would have put his team in better position to win. On the show, Eggleston said that right before Savage picked up the "T," Eggleston -- who played with Savage a lot over the summer -- said something to him about the missed shot, prompting the hot-headed reaction. Zidane, anyone?

Final: Brown 66, Penn 61

In-game updates can be found after the jump.

(more...)

Some news stories to keep you busy before the game tonight.

• Columbia's paper gives another perspective on the financial aid issue.
• The Yale Daily chronicles 'Attrition and the Yale Athlete.'
• The NCAA is considering tweaking with some penalties in college football.

Check out these betting lines: Brown is a four-point favorite at Penn, Cornell is a five-point favorite at Harvard, Columbia a two-point favorite at Dartmouth and Yale a 1.5-point favorite at Princeton.

What's so remarkable about that? I believe today is the first time any road team has been favored all year. And the first time it happens, all four road teams are favored!

I think the best bet is for the Big Red to cover the spread at Harvard.

For those who want to keep an eye on 6-0 Cornell's run for the Ivy League title, check out the Times's ongoing coverage of their roadtrip through New England.

And if you can't make it to the Palestra for the Brown game tonight, check back here for live updates. Until then, here's the Providence Journal's preview of the game and here is the DP's.

You probably know the story by now.

Brown coach Craig Robinson is the brother-in-law of Barack Obama. You've probably read the New York Times articles about it too. But here is an interesting story from the Providence Journal a few days ago that focuses on Robinson's amazing journey.

If you haven't noticed, and if you're reading this post you have, the blog has changed its look a bit. Most of the items in the right rail are still there, just in a slightly different order. We've added archives by month, as well as tags that will show what's popping up most frequently on The Buzz.

Send any comments along to scurria@sas.upenn.edu.

In today's football news, the Boston Globe does a fine profile of Harvard linebacker Peter Ajayi, which is almost enough for me to excuse them for snubbing Saturday's Penn-Princeton game from their Friday preview rundown. The Brown Daily Herald briefly previews Yale's tester against the Bears.

Today's DP carries previews of the Princeton game and the weekend in the Ivy League along with our regular opp spot.