Oct. 19, 2002
Coming into the 2002 football season Lafayette football was again ready to partake on a journey that would hopefully put an end to five straight losing seasons.
As usual the work ethic was evident on College Hill, especially under the tutelage of third-year head coach Frank Tavani. But for all of that hard work the Leopards have been missing something.
That something was an attitude, a chip on the shoulder and a fire and brimstone swagger that good teams possess.
Enter Chris Partridge.
Partridge is a fiery fifth year linebacker that lives and breathes football, and admittedly the Government and Law major lets his emotions get the better of him when it comes to bringing intensity to the gridiron.
"I have always been the assertive one in the huddle and on the field, and I just like to play with emotion," Partridge said.
To offset the fire comes ice in the form of Chris Royle.
He is soft-spoken, calm, composed and everything you want in the center of your offensive line.
An unassuming Royle leads by example, and that means making his presence felt in the trenches where the Electrical and Computing Engineering major throws 286 lbs. around to open holes for the Leopards' running attack and shield Marko Glavic from would a be pass rushers.
Divided the two would make up a personality clash for the ages, but together Partridge and Royle mix just enough high voltage emotion with quiet composure to lead Lafayette out of the cellar of the Patriot League and into a scrap for the conference championship.
"It is important that these two guys are not the same types of players because they should complement one another," Frank Tavani said. "Chris Partridge is an out-spoken, highly emotional and intense player, and Chris Royle is more of a blue-collar guy who is going to lead by example and show confidence in himself that way."
While at Lafayette, and as a mark of tremendous trust in his teams, Tavani has always left it up to his players to decide upon the captains in true democratic fashion.
"I have a lot of faith and confidence in our process," Tavani said. "We wait until our preseason is finished so our freshmen have a say as well because they too have a lot invested in this program."
While the two have gone about their business in unique ways, both took their nominations as captains by their teammates as an honor.
"Being named captain was a great feeling and a great honor," Partridge said. "Because it was selected by our entire team I have more confidence in myself knowing that they have confidence in me."
Royle agreed, hinting at the personal satisfaction that it gave him knowing that his hard work has paid dividends.
For Royle, his hard work on the offensive line has made him a poster boy for captain.
"For the past few years I have been the guy with the most experience on the offensive line," Royle said. "(Offensive Line) Coach (Bob) Heffner has been counting on me to step up during practices and games for awhile."
His success and leadership in his center position has grabbed the attention of those outside of College Hill as well.
The senior center garnered 2002 preseason All-American honors from Lindy's, along with last year's First Team All-Patriot League accolades.
"I am just concentrating on playing hard," Royle said. "I use the preseason stuff and even my captaincy as motivation to do well, and to focus more on leading this team."
Do not let Partridge's boiling intensity catch you off guard, because his story is as much about hard work as it is about heart.
Sidelined in 2000 with a devastating ACL injury, Partridge never gave up his fight to get back to the Leopards' starting defensive spot that was his.
"The day he was injured he immediately told me that he was returning for a fifth year," Tavani said. "He had a lot of confidence in himself, and a love for the game that makes him a great role model for our underclassmen."
Now after a medical red shirt, and a year of wear and tear on the knee, Partridge is leading the team and ranked third in the Patriot League with 56 tackles and three sacks.
"My mom always told me that what does not kill you makes you stronger, and I knew that the injury was not going to get in my way," Partridge said. "I feel like I have been through it and seen it all, and I can pass those experiences on to the younger guys now."
Through the year Partridge and Royle have grown closer, and so too have the Leopards as a whole.
"We have a great working relationship," Royle said. "I think we have brought the offense and defense together as one team."
Partridge agrees, and attributes Lafayette's success to the team's chemistry, that he and Royle undoubtedly contributed to making stronger.
"This is the closest team that I have been a part of in my five years here," Partridge said. "I will do anything for these guys and we are learning to trust one another on and off the field."
With the confidence of their teammates and coaches, and thoughts of a winning season circling College Hill, both Partridge and Royle realize that now is the time to take ownership of these Leopards and put their stamp on this program.
"I want these guys to know that when you work hard good things will happen, now and in the future," Royle said.
"These guys have to know that your teammates are the ones you bleed with, cry with and in the end win with," Partridge added.
With these Leopards adopting the attitudes of their two leaders, success will soon follow and again elevate Lafayette into the Patriot League's elite.
