Penn to play in first night game at Dartmouth

The Penn football team will participate in a historic event on Saturday in Hanover, N.H., where the Quakers are likely to face a challenge from Dartmouth in the Ivy League opener for both teams.

The 6 p.m. contest will be the first-ever night game in 130 years of Big Green football.

In the Dartmouth community, the fact that Penn, the two-time defending Ancient Eight champions, is the opponent for the occasion makes the day. A spokesman for the Big Green athletic department said the anticipation and excitement for the game has been growing all week, and ticket sales have been brisk. Walk-up customers on game day are expected to swell the final tally.

Dartmouth's Memorial Field seats 13,000. Before the opening kickoff, a pair of skydivers will deliver the game ball at midfield.

"Any time you have a first-time event, there's lots of enthusiasm and energy about it," said Big Green coach Buddy Teevens. "And you have an opportunity to play a perennial power. It's nice to play this first-time event in Hanover."

In order to get Penn to agree to switch from the original 1 p.m. game time, Dartmouth will fly the Quakers home after the game. As usual, Penn will travel by bus on the front end of the trip.

Dartmouth has installed seven light towers at Memorial Field with funds provided by donors.

The Big Green (1-1), which finished 6-4 last fall to register their first winning season in 13 years, have designs on putting an end to Penn's 15-game league winning streak, which is longer than any Football Championship Subdivision team can claim in its own conference.

Penn is 0-2, with nonleague losses to Lafayette and Villanova.

"It's like it's the game of the century up there," said Penn defensive tackle Greg Van Roten. "I heard it's really hyped up. They're saying this is the year for them to beat Penn. We feel a little disrespected, and we will play with a chip on our shoulders and with energy."