Nov. 11, 2003

By Scott Rex
Athletic Communications Graduate Intern

Over the past four seasons, Lafayette has boasted one of the most prolific offenses in the Patriot League. Credit is due the big-play capability of offensive coordinator Mike Faragalli's system and four record-breaking seasons by quarterback Marko Glavic, but the offense would go nowhere without one vital element.

Enter the receiving corps.

The Leopards have developed a talented group of pass catchers that is arguably the deepest in the Patriot League. Six different receivers may see action in any given game, while 13 Leopards (six receivers, five backs, two tight ends) have caught at least one pass this season. Six Leopards have caught a touchdown pass in 2003, excluding Glavic who caught his second career scoring toss against Columbia. Four seniors, John Weyrauch, Jeremy Burkes, Tom Hall and Joel Cesare, stand out as the unquestioned leaders of Lafayette's most exciting position group.

"Weyrauch and Burkes are guys who have worked their way up to starting positions and have become impact players," said head coach Frank Tavani. "Weyrauch is a perfect example of patience and perseverance and Jeremy really evolved into his own over the summer and is having the type of season you would hope to as a senior.

"Tom and Joel fill different roles in that they're great kids and guys you want to have on your football team," Tavani continued. "They fulfill extremely important backup roles and are the types of guys that are the heart and soul of this football team."

Weyrauch enters today's contest with 2,127 career receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 28 games. Both figures are second-best all time at Lafayette; he trails Phil Yarberough by 258 yards and sits just one touchdown catch behind Phillip Ng for first place on the Leopard career receiving charts. An All-Patriot League Second Team selection in 2002, Weyrauch has led the Leopards in receiving each of the past two seasons and holds the Lafayette single-game receptions record, hauling in 12 passes at Fordham last season. Not a bad resume for someone of whom not much was expected when he walked onto campus in 2000.

"It's just been hard work and dedication," said Weyrauch of the roots of his success. "I didn't come in as a really highly touted player but I knew I could play so I just worked hard and stuck with it.

"I think there's pressure for me to make big plays," he added. "I think that's part of my role and what's expected of me and I'm always trying to make a big play out there."

Over the past four seasons, Burkes has established himself as a big-play receiver. Half of his eight career touchdown catches have covered more than 60 yards. He has 109 career receptions, good enough for fifth place all-time at Lafayette, while his career total of 1,372 yards is eighth-best at Lafayette. This season has been his most consistent, however, as the senior has snagged 25 passes for 411 yards and five touchdowns. He will long be remembered for his eight-catch, 234-yard, three-touchdown performance against Columbia on Oct. 11 at Fisher Field.

"Most of the credit for that game has to go to coach Faragalli for drawing up the plays," Burkes said. "Marko gets a lot of credit too for making the throws and getting me the ball." Burkes tries to keep a level head about his play-making ability.

"I try not to think about always making a big play, but that isn't to say that it's not in my head," Burkes said. "The last couple of weeks it's been tough because teams are double-teaming me and paying more attention to me."

While Weyrauch and Burkes have been stealing the headlines, Cesare and Hall have been lurking in the background as capable backups throughout their careers. Cesare made an impact as a freshman, ranking second in the Patriot League in kickoff returns (21.1 yards per return) and fifth in punt returns (5.7 yards per return). He has been slowed by injuries since, but the Government and Law major has been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll each of the past three seasons and was named to the Verizon District II Academic All-America Team as a sophomore in 2001.

"One thing our receivers must be able to do is block well," Tavani said. "Cesare made a great crack-back block on Joe McCourt's touchdown catch against Fordham which a lot of people probably didn't notice. That was a tremendous job and he might as well have been standing in the end zone as important as that block was."

Hall, who entered 2003 with 15 career catches for 148 yards, has already caught 14 passes for 156 yards in seven games this season. He caught the coaching staff's eyes at Harvard on Oct. 18 when, playing for an injured Weyrauch, he caught six passes for a team-high 81 yards. He also proved he had no fear of running over the middle, absorbing a couple of bruising hits from Harvard defenders but still making the reception.

"When I'm going across the middle it almost seems like everything is in slow-motion and the only thing I see is Glavic," Hall said. "Once you get your hands on the ball you start to realize what's going on around you. You just have to expect to get hit every time and hang on to the ball."

Running a crossing route is the most harrowing part of playing the receiver position. The thought of sprinting the width of the field, looking back at the quarterback and knowing a defender is closing in is enough to make any receiver shudder. To a man, the Leopards insist they can block out everything going on around them on the field.

"When you're going over the middle all you can think about is catching the ball," Cesare said. "You know you're going to get hit but you can't think about that."

"I just concentrate on the route and try to see the ball and make the catch," Weyrauch said. "I know I'm probably going to get hit but you can't think about that. You just have to hang on to the ball."

While the receivers acknowledge the danger of their job, they readily admit that playing in Faragalli's system has more rewards than drawbacks. The number of multiple-receiver sets allows more players to see the field and results in more excitement for players and fans alike.

"It's nice as a wide receiver to play in our system," Cesare said. "We have a great quarterback who throws the ball well and we have the deepest receiving corps in the Patriot League. We like to throw the ball downfield and that kind of system is fun to play in."

"I think it's more so with Marko throwing the ball," Weyrauch said. "Guys see him throwing the ball all over the field and it's exciting and people want to be a part of that."

While each of the four seniors has served a different role during his career, one thing they all have in common is their contribution to the Lafayette offensive fireworks of the past four seasons. Weyrauch, Burkes, Hall and Cesare have each done their part to make the Leopards an exciting team during their careers.