Aug. 20, 2007

EASTON, Pa. - The 2007 football season opener is now less than two weeks away as the Lafayette football team enters the homestretch of preseason camp. The squad has now practiced for two-plus weeks but after a day off on Sunday, the Leopards were ready to go for another double-session on Monday.

Head coach Frank Tavani knows the final weeks of preseason can take its toll on the players and Sunday's day off seemed to be just what the players needed.

"I gave them yesterday off to get a little rest so there was a little more bounce in our step today," Tavani said. "We're in the third week of camp now and I don't care good of a shape you're in, it's a grind. It's tough and they're at that point where we have to focus and push ourselves through."

This week will see some changes in the schedule as the freshmen have orientation and the team will hold a scrimmage with officials on Wednesday night, making the next few days of practice important ones.

"It's going to be a shorter week so we have to get a lot of work done," he said. "We'll go 80-90 plays during Wednesday's scrimmage with full officials and game situations. That will be our last major scrimmage, but every full-padded practice will still have an aspect of live work in it as we begin to prepare and zero in."

The Leopards will hold afternoon practice tomorrow from 1:30-4:30 p.m.