Sept. 12, 2003

The sports world is full of clich?s. Phrases like, "We just need to take it one day at a time," and, "I just go out and give 110 percent everyday," dominate the sports vernacular and are used in nearly every situation, whether appropriate or not. There is, however, one clich? that is perfectly applicable to the senior members of Lafayette's offensive backfield - "Everyone knows their role on this team and plays within themselves."

Marko Glavic is the standout - the decorated quarterback could own every Lafayette passing record by the end of this season. Quarterback Michael O'Connor is the solid backup, capable of stepping in when needed and contributing on special teams. Fullback Matt Jackson is the reserve who has always been in the mix and is now ready to step into the spotlight. Tailback Ed Carter is the career backup whose contributions largely go unnoticed outside of his coaches and teammates.

"Those guys all came in together in the same recruiting class, but since then they've obviously served different roles," said fourth-year head coach Frank Tavani. "But the one thing they have in common is that they were here to set the foundation for rebuilding this program and helped establish the work ethic, both in-season and out-of-season, that is required to be successful."

Glavic has been a constant under center since assuming the starting job as a freshman in 2000. He earned Rookie of the Year honors from the Patriot League, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and USATODAY.com after leading the league in passing yards with 1,964. Since then, Glavic has quickly climbed the Lafayette all-time passing lists, establishing himself as one of the most prolific passers in school history. He has led the Patriot League in passing yards each of his three seasons and garnered Second-Team All-League honors as a junior.

"Marko was thrown into the fire early after he got here and the rest is history," Tavani said. "He's improved year-in and year-out and worked hard to get to where he is now."

"The records are something that are in the back of my mind, but my main goal is to win a Patriot League championship," Glavic said. "If the team is successful, then the records will come. But my focus is on the team and winning games."

Glavic and his classmates endured a pair of two-win seasons prior to last year's break-out seven-win campaign. According to Glavic, the reasons for the turnaround are simple, and the Leopards have even higher goals for 2003.

"I think we have more talent than we did then and we have more depth," Glavic said. "(In 2000) we had new coaches and a new system to learn too, but I think now we have more experience, everyone understands the system and our last couple of recruiting classes have been deep too.

"Anything less than a Patriot League championship would be a big disappointment," he added. "To get to the I-AA playoffs and maybe win a couple of games would be nice, but we're focused on winning a championship.

With Glavic's rise to prominence, O'Connor has been the "other" quarterback in the Class of '04. And while his snaps with the offense have been limited, O'Connor has found a different way to leave his mark on Lafayette football. Leopard fans remember O'Connor as the holder who scrambled for eight yards and a first down on a fake field goal to continue Lafayette's go-ahead scoring drive in the 2002 season-ending win over Lehigh.

"As of now, that's definitely what I'm going to be remembered for," O'Connor said. "That's been my biggest contribution to this team and I have no problem if that is what people remember. That was a game I'll never forget."

"Whenever Michael has been called upon to perform he has done well," Tavani said. "The play against Lehigh will be remembered and go down in history, but the thing about Michael is he can always be counted on when he's needed."

O'Connor understands what his role is on the team.

"Marko has been our starter all along. He's the best quarterback in the Patriot League," O'Connor said. "Early on a lot of people asked me if I was going to quit or transfer, but I decided I was going to stay here and work hard and be ready when the team needs me."

Jackson is a two-year letterman who has seen most of his action on special teams. He appeared in all 11 games in 2002 and scored his first career touchdown, a three-yard reception at Bucknell. Jackson is penciled in as the first-team fullback entering the 2003 season.

"Matt is a guy who has been shuffled around during his career but has really come into his own as a senior," Tavani said. "He's worked hard and we expect big things out of him this year."

Jackson has a simple plan for his final season in a Leopard uniform.

"I've just waited for my turn and now I'm ready to get the job done," Jackson said. "I don't really have any personal goals. I just want to win. This whole team together is just focused on winning a championship."

Ed Carter is the consummate team player. After spending his first two seasons on the offensive side of the ball, earning his first varsity letter as a sophomore, Carter moved to the defensive backfield prior to the 2002 season. In six games, Carter was in on 12 stops and forced a fumble while earning his second letter. For his final season, Carter has returned to his roots and will be a reserve tailback in 2003.

"It's been tough because I feel like I'm constantly working my way up the depth chart," Carter said. "I feel like I have the athleticism to play different positions, which is why I was willing to make the moves. But the hardest thing has been making that climb to the top."

"We were in a situation where we were deep at tailback and thin at safety and we thought Eddie had the athleticism to do it," Tavani said. "I think he feels more comfortable at tailback and he gives us good depth there now."

Like Glavic, Carter sees simple, yet essential, differences in the Leopard program from three years ago to today.

"It feels like a team now," Carter said. "Before there were different groups within the team and there was a lot of separation. Now everyone's main goal is just to win."

Regardless of the paths their individual careers have taken, these four seniors have one thing in common with all of their classmates: they have laid the foundation upon which a consistently successful football program can be built.