Oct. 30, 2003

By Scott Rex
Athletic Communications Graduate Intern

Vince Lombardi, a man who knew a thing or two about football, once said, "Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile."

The role of captain is arguably the greatest honor that can be bestowed upon an athlete. To be looked upon by one's peers for direction, leadership and motivation is an awesome responsibility that only a special few can fulfill.

This autumn, that task has fallen at the feet of four members of the Leopard football team: senior quarterback Marko Glavic, senior receiver John Weyrauch and junior linebackers Wes Erbe and John-Frank Stubits. The rest of the 2003 Leopard squad has assigned these four student-athletes the responsibility of guiding them through the travails of a 13-week season and setting an example, on and off the field, of what needs to be done to have a successful football team.

"I think the football team recognized these individuals as people who were leaders and who were motivated," said head coach Frank Tavani. "They are totally committed to the program and they represent leadership in a variety of ways."

"It's an honor," said Stubits of being named a captain. "When 100 guys choose you to be their leader it's a special feeling. It's a big responsibility trying to be there for all 100 guys and understand what they're going through and be able to relate to them."

"It's a great honor. It's the greatest honor I've ever received in sports," Erbe said. "You don't really know how your teammates and your friends feel about you until you're given such an honor by them."

Erbe and Stubits are in the unique position of being named captains while still juniors. Typically reserved for seniors, captaincy can be an added burden when trying to lead older players. The pair has accepted the role, however, knowing that their teammates expect them to provide leadership and keeping in mind that those same teammates have chosen them for the position.

"Last year I felt like a young underclassman, but in the course of one semester I feel like I've matured a lot," Erbe said. "It's a big weight, a big responsibility to have on your shoulders, but it's a good thing."

"It's a different situation to have two juniors in there," Tavani said. "But the team has spoken and the votes they received say it all. I think they've handled it well. The fact that they were both nominated by seniors is also a testament to both of those guys."

In his fourth season as the starting quarterback, Glavic has grown accustomed to being in the spotlight and acting as the steadying force for the Leopard offense. Still, the addition of the "captain" title has a special significance for the senior.

"The quarterback is definitely an important position from a leadership standpoint," Glavic said. "I know that the other players are looking up to me and I consider it an honor to be voted as a captain by my teammates."

Weyrauch is the epitome of Lombardi's belief in hard work toward a goal. When he reported to preseason camp as a freshman, Weyrauch was assigned locker 103 in the dressing room. Considering that a player's locker number typically coincides with his jersey number, it is easy to see where Weyrauch stood on the depth chart. Three years later, Weyrauch has established himself as one of the most prolific receivers in school history. He echoes the other three captains in saying simply, "It's definitely an honor to be voted a captain by the rest of your teammates. It's something I wanted and I'm honored that my teammates selected me for the position."

The Lafayette football program has come from the basement of the Patriot League to being able to compete with anyone on the schedule in just four seasons under Tavani. It is not surprising, then, that the current crop of Leopard captains pays homage to those that came before. Without hesitation, each of them acknowledges the importance of 2002 co-captain Chris Partridge in shaping not only the team's attitude, but establishing a model for how a captain should perform.

"I think how Chris handled everything was an example for everyone," Erbe said. "He took us under his wing and showed us how to do things and really set an example for us to follow."

"In the past we've had different kinds of captains, both vocal and the type that lead by their actions, and I think I fall somewhere in between," Glavic said. "I've learned something from all of them. Phil Yarberough (2000 co-captain) was a quiet guy who always played well and led by his actions. Chris Partridge was a very vocal leader who fired everybody up and always played well as well."

Each of the captains understands the importance of being a vocal leader when the situation calls for it, but also recognizes the need to lead by example both on and off the playing field.

"I can get vocal when I need to, but I definitely always try to lead by example and by my actions," Weyrauch said.

"I'm not as much of a vocal guy. I'm probably the least vocal of all the guys," Erbe said. "But I try to do all the things off the field right and set an example that way."

Stubits is clearly the emotional leader of the group.

"I'm more of a vocal guy. I try to get guys fired up," he said. "When I'm out on the field I'm trying to make a play, trying to make something exciting happen, so guys will get fired up and go out and make plays themselves. Off the field I try to be a guy that my teammates can feel confident in as a leader."

Glavic, Weyrauch, Erbe and Stubits have put forth the effort and displayed the leadership qualities required of a captain and have been rewarded as such. Their teammates have asked them to represent this Leopard squad and they have answered the challenge.