ITHACA, N.Y. – While the Cornell varsity team opens its season on the road, football returns to East Hill on Friday night when sprint football kicks off its 2012 campaign against Penn. Cornell, which went 3-4 last season, will be looking to build off a thrilling season-ending victory over Mansfield last season when the Quakers come to town.
 
GAME INFORMATION
GAME #1: Cornell vs. Penn
GAME TIME: Friday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
GAME SITE: Schoellkopf Field (Ithaca, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Cornell leads 58-35-0
LAST MEETING: Cornell lost 35-28 on Oct. 21, 2011
2012 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0), Penn (0-0)
LIVE STATS: Cornell Stats
LIVE VIDEO: RedCast

THE HEAD COACH
Coach Terry Cullen is now in his 47th season at the helm of the Big Red program with a 163-127-7 record (.561). Cullen has been a member of the coaching staff since 1964 and officially became the Terry Cullen Head Coach of Sprint Football in 2001.

THE CO-HEAD COACH
In August 2008, Cornell announced that Bart Guccia would assume a majority of the on-field coaching and gameday decisions for the Big Red. Guccia is now in his seventh year with the team and has posted a 16-11 record (.593) in his new role.

ABOUT PENN
The Quakers, who hail from Philadelphia, will be beginning their season on Friday night as well as Cornell. The team finished last season with a 5-2 record and a 4-2 mark in conference play. The Quakers return leading rusher Mike Beamish, who had 662 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. Also back is junior wide receiver Andrew Donald, who topped the team with 361 yards through the air in 2011. Starting quarterback Todd Busler, however has departed after graduation.
The Quakers are coached by Bill Wagner, now in his 43rd year leading Penn.
 
THE SERIES WITH PENN
Long-time rivals Cornell and Penn will be squaring off for the 94th time on Friday, and the Big Red hold a large 58-35 advantage in the series history. Penn, though, has claimed the last twocontests against the Big Red. Cornell was unable to beat Penn last season, though, as the Quakers threw for nearly 400 yards and had 11 fourth-quarter points for a 35-28 win.
 
STARTING STRONG
The Big Red has won its last two opening games, defeating Mansfield in the first contest for the last two seasons. Cornell is also 4-2 in the last six season in its first game at Schoellkopf Field.

A WIN OVER THE QUAKERS WOULD…
…start Cornell off 1-0 for the third consecutive season…be Cornell's first since 2009…open conference play with a victory for the fourth year in a row.
 
HIGH FLYING
The Big Red's roster will look familiar to fans who loved its passing game last year, as quarterback Brendan Miller and top two receivers Abe Mellinger and Spenser Gruenenfelder all return in 2012. Miller and Gruenenfelder were All-CSFL Second Teamers, but Mellinger – who averaged a league-high 17.4 yards per catch – made the league's First Team in 2011.
 
LEAGUE NEWCOMERS
The Collegiate Sprint Football League welcomes Franklin Pierce to the party this season. Cornell will look to offer a rude welcome when the teams meet on Sept. 22, the Ravens' first ever sprint football game.

LEAGUE RANKINGS
Cornell's offense ended 2011 ranked fifth in the CSFL with 286 yards per game, while its defense was third by allowing 292 yards. Graduated running back Doug Famularo was fifth in the conference with 347 rushing yards, while Miller's passing numbers (1,409 yards) had him in third.
 
RED ZONE PROWESS
Cornell made it to the red zone 27 times in 2011 and scored on an impressive 20 of those chances. That 74 percent conversion rate was significantly higher than the 62 percent Cornell allowed from opposing offenses.
 
NATIONAL APPEAL
The sprint football team has players from 18 different states on the roster, with New York and California having the highest representation. Twenty-eight players hail from the Empire State while the Golden State has 10 players on the Big Red roster. Just one player comes from Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Virginia and Washington.
 
UP NEXT
Cornell plays its first road game of the year and its first ever contest against CSFL newcomer Franklin Pierce. The Ravens and Big Red kick off on Sept. 22 at noon in Ashburnham, Mass.