Aug. 23, 2007
EASTON, Pa. - With the intrasquad scrimmage behind them, the Leopards begin to look forward to their first game against the Red Foxes of Marist.
"Banging against each other for two or three weeks is not something you like to do, so it's going to be nice to start looking at Marist and preparing to go against another team," said senior captain Marcel Quarterman.
Despite being picked first in the Patriot League Preseason Poll and having won the last three Patriot League crowns, junior runningback Joe Russo said the team isn't feeling the pressure.
"I think we're just looking to go out, have some fun and take it to the next level, and to get further in the playoffs and to make a name for ourselves nationally."
While the team evaluates last night's scrimmage, both Quarterman and Russo are happy with the Leopards' performance.
"I think the offense did pretty well as a whole," Russo said. "We just want to see everyone get into their assignments and getting on the right men."
Even though head coach Frank Tavani kept the defense restricted, Quarterman saw encouragement in what the team was able to do.
"It's always frustrating not to be able to do the blitzes and all that," Quarterman said. "But you know when we play regular defenses; it shows who can make plays just doing regular things."
Quarterman and the other upperclassmen were given a chance to sleep in this morning while the freshmen attended a special early-morning practice before the entire team joined other student-athletes to assist with freshman move-in.
"Everybody was assigned to their dorms and I think it went pretty well," Quarterman said. "Everybody's out there working and it was a great thing."
While everyone pitched in to help the Class of 2011 get settled into their new homes on College Hill, Quarterman explained the perks of being a senior on move-in day.
"Since I'm a senior, I kind of got all the comforters and the pillows and things like that," he said.
The upperclassmen will practice Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. at Fisher Stadium, while the freshmen take a two-day hiatus to attend orientation.
