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


Philadelphia Inquirer

She graduated from Penn in 2023. Now, she’s the Quakers’ director of football operations

Jordyn Hall is Penn’s director of football operations, a role she’s had since last spring when she was a fourth-year student.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

These Penn Relays will have more prestige in the track world, and more prize money for stars

This year’s Penn Relays again will have a set of races with big international stars on Saturday, and though exact numbers weren’t provided, the increase in prize money more than doubles what it was before.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

After a back injury, this Penn senior’s record-breaking track success is ‘a long time coming’

Penn fourth-year Isabella Whittaker has set multiple program and Ivy League records this season and has Olympic hopes.

FULL STORY →

Philadelphia Inquirer

For Penn’s wrestling team, an ‘innovative’ succession plan from one program legend to another

Matt Valenti will take over the Penn wrestling program in 2025-26, when longtime coach Roger Reina will move into an emeritus role for one season before retiring from coaching.

FULL STORY →

Marketplace (NPR)

The success of women’s college basketball is more than just Caitlin Clark

Kenneth Shropshire of the Wharton School says that women’s college basketball needs to cultivate more superstars and superstar matchups like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to keep investors bought in and fans engaged.

FULL STORY →