Penn Captain Tom Gilmore echoes those sentiments. "I don't think that all of a sudden a lot of good recruits hit Penn," he says. "Coach Berndt is definitely the difference."

Those familiar with Berndt cite a unique blend of intensity and compassion in the Toledo, Ohio native's style to explain his success.

Some of his players say Berndt, who brought wide-open football with him from DePaux University, is an intensely driven coach with a lack of patience for mistakes.

Others look to his unparalleled preparation and burning desire to win to explain the success of Penn's 18th head football coach.

"He is always in control of the situation," Gilmore says. "He always knows what he wants to do. He prepares for every possible situation and as a result, we're prepared for every possible situation."

The other key to Berndt's success, observers say, has been his commitment to his players. And that, along with a strong reputation in the Midwest, has enabled the offensive guru to attract better football players to Philadelphia.

Berndt brought to Penn "a tremendous commitment to the people who work and play for him," says Dino Folino, Penn's defensive coordinator. Folino credits Berndt's sensitivity to his players' abilities and needs as one of the reasons the Quakers' program turned around so quickly.

Penn junior Rich Comizio says Berndt's honesty has enabled the silver-haired coach to establish a rapport with his players that has been crucial to the Quakers' success.

"When he recruits, he really tells you how he feels about you," Comizio says. "He seems like less of a coach and more of a friend."

Even Berndt, who diverts all the credit for the Quakers' success to his assistant coaches, admits that the atmosphere has changed around Franklin Field.

"There used to be a ho-hum attitude here," he says. "But I think we've changed that."