Aug. 11, 2007

EASTON, Pa. - Twenty-one days before the season-opening game against Marist, the Lafayette football team ended another long wait on Saturday. On the sixth day of the Leopards' preseason camp, the squad used a picturesque day on College Hill to don full pads for the first time in the 2007 season.

Co-captain Marcel Quarterman was glad to put on the full gear and now can start to anticipate the 2007 opener against Marist and the historic first night game at Fisher Stadium on Sept. 1.

"It felt good," Quarterman said. "I think we turned up practice a little bit once we got out here with full gear. People were out there going hard and making plays."

Head coach Frank Tavani pushed his team through another intense afternoon three-hour session and echoed Quarterman's thoughts.

"It was a good first day of full pads," Tavani said.

"We got a little more physical and aggressive. This was our fifth straight day of three-hour practices and that's rough on the guys. I'm sure some of them are looking forward to two-a-days tomorrow just because the practices will be shorter. We'll keep getting more physical, more aggressive and eventually build up to some scrimmaging."

The Leopards will complete the first week of preseason with the first day of double sessions tomorrow at Fisher Stadium.