PHILADELPHIA – After two weeks of practices, the doors were officially opened on the 2017 Penn Football season as the Quakers met the media at historic Franklin Field.

The morning was a busy one for the two-time defending Ivy League champions with headshots for the newcomers, group photos by position and geographic location and the annual team photo. In addition, the coaching staff and players met with the local media to discuss the 141st season of Penn Football.

The final stop of the day included stops on set with the Penn Sports Network for live video via Facebook Live and some filming for in-venue and social media content.

Quotes From Media Day

Head Coach Ray Priore

On Starting Year Three As A Head Coach
"You just have to keep it revved up. It's trying to keep that energy level up. We have a culture that we've built here and there's a process to everything. That process takes time to develop, but we try and work it all the way through. There's a trust between everyone – coaches to coaches, coaches to players, and players to players. That's how the best teams I've been around in my tenure have succeeded and that's how we try to operate here."

On Returning Many Veteran Players
"We have some good experience and very good players returning at key positions. Justin Watson is a preseason All-American, and Tre Solomon is back after leading the Ivy League in rushing. When you add Louis Vecchio, Colton Moskal, and Sam Philippi to anchor the defense, and Hunter Kelley and Jack Soslow in the kicking game, we are fortunate to have a strong core to build off."

On Replacing Graduated Quarterback Alek Torgersen Who Is Now With The Atlanta Falcons
"Our kids are very, very resilient. You can only worry about the guys that are here, it really is a 'next man up' mentality. Quarterback is vital to an offense and how a team flows, but we're concerned with the process of getting that position ready. All three of the quarterbacks have done a tremendous job so far in camp and it's a good, healthy competition so far."

Offensive Coordinator John Reagan

On The State of The Offense
"Putting together the offense is a lot like putting together a puzzle. We return many of the pieces, and we are working to find the right fits in the other areas. I think we are better than we've ever been at running back, and our wide receivers are one of the best groups I've coached. All three quarterbacks are doing a good job developing in their own way and we feel good about where we are right now at that position. Our offensive line is a bit younger, but maybe a little more athletic so that will help us as well."

On How Having Veterans Like Justin Watson Can Help Shape The Offense
"Justin is a phenomenal asset for any player. When your best players are your hardest workers, and your best players are your best people, you are in pretty good shape as a program and it's easy for the rest of the group to follow that example."

Defensive Coordinator Bob Benson

On The Veteran Presence On Defense
"We have leaders up and down the defensive unit. Louis Vecchio might be one of the best overall players in the Ivy League and he sets the tone. Colton Moskal and Nick Miller run the show in the middle of the second level, while Sam Philippi makes it all work in the secondary. Connor Jangro had a great freshman year and we're building on that. We are going to continue to run to the ball and try to force turnovers."

On His Goal For The Defense in 2017
"We need to raise our game. We have to get better, but the good thing is we want to get better. We have the desire to become a dominant presence in the Ivy League and be able to win games for this team when called upon."

Senior Wide Receiver Justin Watson

On Entering His Final Season
"It's kind of crazy that it's the final season doing this. It's a little bittersweet, but it is an honor to be named captain and represent all the history and championships that this program has built. We're a hungry group. We've been picked third after back-to-back championships, and we love that. We love being the underdog. The goal hasn't changed, we're striving for an outright championship."

On Using Preseason Polls As Motivation
"We've proven who we are on the field over the last two seasons. We have all our coaches and all these talented players returning, and we are excited to get out on the field and prove it all once again."

On Working With New Quarterbacks
"I'm really glad that I don't have to make that decision. Will Fischer-Colbrie and Nick Robinson have been around the college game for a bit, and Ryan Glover is new to all this but has a cannon for an arm. Our whole wide receiver group has worked with all the quarterbacks in spring ball and throughout camp to build our relationships and fine tune the little things. We were all together all summer, so we hit the ground running when camp opened."

On Coach Priore's Leadership
"Coach Priore is a phenomenal listener. He has brought in Coach Reagan and Coach Benson who are two of the top coordinators in the country and they've compiled a top-notch staff. Coach Priore listens to the staff and listens to the leaders on the team and he incorporates everyone's opinions as much as possible. That's what makes us want to play for him."