Penn quarterback Ryan Glover has been efficient at avoiding mistakes

No quarterback likes the term "game manager."

Still, for the overall success of a team, doing an efficient job of managing a game is the most important thing a signal caller can do.

With his Penn playing experience almost exclusively confined to this season's first four games, the best thing sophomore quarterback Ryan Glover has done is be efficient. The game is slowing down for Glover with each start, and he gains  confidence analyzing what's happening on the field and how to handle things. That's a natural part of the learning curve.

The Quakers are 3-1 going into Saturday's game against Columbia, because Glover has avoided making many of the mistakes that typically accompany the development process.

"I think the process has been pretty smooth," said Glover, who won the starting job despite throwing just two passes as a freshman. "The big thing is that I obviously have a lot of great weapons around to help me. It's not like I have to do things by myself.

"I definitely think I'm progressing mentally in my decision making. I'm becoming more comfortable with the playbook. Once you get comfortable with the playbook, you don't worry so much about the plays and the actual concepts of them. That frees you to focus more on what the defense is trying to do."

Glover has completed 57 of 98 passes for 610 yards and four touchdowns. He has run 41 times for 156 yards and a touchdown.

He has not been spectacular, but he has been reliable, and he hasn't made a ton of the mistakes that can put his team in bad situations.

In the Quakers' 31-27 win over Sacred Heart last week, Glover drove the Quakers 87 yards in the final 3½ minutes of the fourth quarter and connected with receiver Christian Pearson for a game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass.

"He is maturing every single day," Penn coach Ray Priore said of Glover. "Only time and experience is actually going to get you there. What's remarkable about Ryan right now is how poised he is out there. He doesn't get rattled."

Glover, who is enrolled in the Wharton School, went to Penn as the two-time Georgia 5A player of the year at Woodward Academy in Atlanta.

Penn offensive coordinator John Reagan "emphasizes smart decisions and getting the ball to guys that are open," Glover said. "Honestly, going forward, the only thing I want to do is win every game. I'm not looking at any statistical goals.

"If we can be better each week as an offense than we were the week before, we'll be doing a good job of meeting our goal."

Saturday, 1 p.m., Franklin Field

Records: Penn, 3-1, 0-1 in Ivy League; Columbia, 3-1, 0-1

Coaches: Ray Priore (23-11 in fourth season at Penn); Al Bagnoli (251-117 overall, 16-18 in fourth season at Columbia.)

TV/radio:  WFIL-AM (560)

Series history: Columbia won, 34-31, in overtime last season, but Penn leads the all-time series, 74-22-1