Aug. 7, 2001

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette football program, with it strong young nucleus of players returning to the lineup, raced out to an early lead and was the top choice among fans participating in the first Patriot League poll on the League's new web site.

The Leopards drew 39.6% of the vote (608) among the 1,536 total votes cast to earn top honors among the League's fans. Lafayette easily topped Lehigh (409 votes, 26.6%) for top honors, depite the Mountain Hawks drawing the preseason nod from the League's coaches and sports information directors to win their fourth straight title.

Rounding out the fans voting were: Holy Cross (260 votes, 16.9%), Bucknell (88, 5.7%), Colgate (81, 5.3%), Georgetown (47, 3.1%), Towson (23, 1.5%) and Fordham (20, 1.3%).

The Leopards open the 2001 season when they travel to Towson for a Patriot League contest on Sept. 8, at 1 p.m.