Family First. Championships Will Follow.
Ray Priore officially took over as the 22nd George A. Munger Head Coach of Football at Penn on Dec. 1, 2014 and established a “family first” mantra which has enabled his teams to band together and claim championships in two of his first four seasons.
Whether by bringing on board the inspirational Vhito DeCapria, continuing Penn’s long-standing commitment to the Be The Match bone marrow donor registry drive, helping launch successful pre-game Fan Fests for the University community or bringing generations of Quakers together for the Penn Football Family Spring Game and BBQ, Priore has made certain that every member of the Penn Football legacy feels connected to the program.
On the field, Priore guided the Quakers to back-to-back Ivy League championships in his first two seasons at the helm – becoming just the second head coach in Ancient Eight history to win titles in each of his first two seasons and the first since 1971-72.
For more than a century, The University of Pennsylvania's historic stadium has remained one of Philadelphia and University City's treasured landmarks. Named after the university's founder, Benjamin Franklin, Franklin Field has played a significant role in the history of college football. However, it's impact on the sports and cultural community goes well beyond that.
Penn football and Franklin Field have seen many firsts in college football...
Meet our Strength Coach
The George A. Weiss Pavilion spans more than 18,000 square feet has been dedicated to Penn’s varsity intercollegiate athletes, with state-of-the art equipment, running areas, and setups that are unique to the University.
Entering from 33rd Street, certainly the highlight and most dramatic element of the center is the 30 weightlifting racks that were uniquely made for Penn by Sorinex. These racks use more than 20,000 pounds of WerkSan barbells and plates, which are generally considered the finest of their kind in the world. The flooring and platform inlays, unique to Penn, were designed by Mondo Flooring. The room also boasts two running tracks with a special surface specifically designed by Mondo Flooring for maximum traction and durability.
With Perch, everything is mounted and out of the way. Athletes can walk in, login, and lift without any interruption to their existing workflow. With a unique gallery style weight room with 15 racks on either side, Penn Performance Coaches need to be sure they have eyes everywhere. And with technology, the amount of data seen and captured exceeds that of a single human.
Penn’s intercollegiate weight room also boasts more than 40 LifeFitness machines for cardio as well as muscle development; 18 heavy bags from Balazs for kickboxing drills; two complete dumbbell sets (up to 150-pound weights) from Intek; and dozens of medicine balls from M&F Athletics for ballistic training.
The goals for the T House include assisting in providing Penn's student-athletes with more calories, an immediate pre- or post-workout fueling spot, and a space for nutrition education. In addition, the location has space dedicated to fostering the sense of community.
Student-athletes have access to a variety of nutritious options designed to keep them energized and performing at their best before and after workouts and competitions.
The T-House offers student-athletes a welcoming space to connect, foster community within Penn Athletics, and support each other beyond the game. It also serves as an excellent spot to study and stay on top of academic work.
Check Out the Video of UPenn Dietician, Cat Hammer Describing the T-House on X: https://x.com/pennathletics/status/1882522536115830837
As part of the George A. Weiss Pavilion inside Franklin Field, the University of Pennsylvania athletic department also unveiled the new, state-of-the-art Donald E. Frey Athletic Training Center in August 2010.
Providing Top-Tier Recovery for Student-Athletes, Frey Features State-of-the-Art Equipment, Including a Cutting-Edge Cryotherapy Machine.
During the 140 years of Penn Football, there have been nearly 30 selectors of national champions using polls, historical research and mathematical rating systems. Beginning in 1936, the Associated Press began the best-known and most widely circulated poll of sportswriters and broadcasters. Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls.
The Red and Blue have won seven National Championships and 18 Ivy League titles. The Quakers hold an Ivy League record 13 outright championships as well as 11 undefeated seasons.
Toast throwing is one of the most unique sporting traditions at Penn which crowds of Quakers fans perform as a sign of school pride. After the third quarter of Penn football games at historic Franklin Field, the spirited fans unite in the singing of “Drink a Highball.” As the last line is sung, “Here’s a toast to dear old Penn,” the fans send toast hurling through the air to the sidelines. Legend has it that this tradition began back in the mid-1970s, and after a couple of games where thousands of pieces of toast covered the track, a group of engineering students modified Penn’s motorized turf cleaner so it would be able to pick up larger pieces of trash. These days, it is belovedly called the “Toast Zamboni” and is a permanent fixture at Penn football games.
SINGING THE RED & BLUE
Penn football has strong ties to some of the major awards associated with college football.
Kevin Stefanski - Head Football Coach, Cleveland Browns
At Penn, Stefanski was a three-year letter winner with the Quakers in 2000, 2002 and 2004 when he was also a tri-captain. As a first-time head coach, Stefanski led the Browns to their first playoff victory in 26 years and was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year!
Justin Watson - WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Watson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Watson is a three-time Super Bowl champion, winning Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers and Super Bowl LVII and LVIII with the Chiefs.
Greg Van Roten - OL, New York Giants
Gregory Van Roten plays guard for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2012.