April 23, 2004
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette senior linebacker Wes Erbe (Wall, N.J./Admiral Farragut, Fla.) and senior offensive guard Stephen Bono (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) have been elected co-captains of the 2004 Lafayette football team.
Erbe and Bono were selected by a vote of their teammates. They will be formally introduced at Lafayette's spring game on Saturday, which is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. at Fisher Field.
"I think the kids recognize the leadership capabilities that these two young men possess and respect what they do on and off the field," said fifth-year head coach Frank Tavani. "Wes has consistently performed at a high level, while Stephen is the ultimate student-athlete. I think the team made an outstanding choice by selecting these two."
This marks the first time during Tavani's tenure that captains were selected during spring practice. The team had formerly elected captains during preseason camp in August.
"We wanted the captains in place to take full responsibility of that role earlier," Tavani said. "Now our captains can assume that leadership role over a longer period and take charge in a more formal manner during the summer and into the preseason."
Erbe will serve a co-captain role for the second consecutive season. He is the first player to be named as a captain for two straight seasons since Ryan Priest in 1985-86 and just the fourth in 123 seasons of Lafayette football to be so honored.
A three-year letterman and two-year starter at linebacker, Erbe ranked second amongst his teammates, and fourth in the Patriot League, with 104 tackles in 2003. He forced five fumbles, second-most in NCAA Division I-AA, while also recovering a fumble and recording four sacks. He tallied at least 12 tackles in four different games last season, including a career-high 14 stops against Fordham. Erbe was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year by the coaching staff in 2003.
Bono took over the starting spot at right guard midway through his freshman season and has not relinquished it, making 26 consecutive starts over the past three years. As a junior, he was part of an offensive front that helped the Leopards finish first in the Patriot League in total offense, while the 2002 line paved the way for an attack that was second in the league in passing offense and sacks allowed.
A civil engineering major, Bono is a two-time selection to the CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team as well as the I-AA Athletic Directors' Academic All-Star Team. He has earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll after each of his first three seasons and was named the 2003-04 Maroon Club Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Lafayette opens the 2004 season at home against Marist on Sept. 4.
