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Column Archive   April 29, 2008 January 4, 2008 October 25, 2007 September 18, 2007 August 2, 2007 May 14, 2007 April 21, 2007 February 16, 2007 August 21, 2006 August 4, 2006

Emmy-nominated local sports broadcaster Gary Laubach has served as the voice of the Leopards on television since 1996, handling play-by-play duties for theLafayette Sports Network. The Sports Director at RCN-TV 4, Laubach has been a television sports broadcaster for more than 35 years and has called over 4,000 contests. The Behind the Mic column offers a broadcaster's perspective on Lafayette Athletics.

April 29, 2008

THIS "YOUNG" MAN'S FANCY

Spring - when a young man's fancy turns to... FOOTBALL. That's right - football! That, of course assumes that I still know what a young man's fancy is. But for the sake of writing this article, let's make it football. And not just for young men, but for all students, parents, supporters, and fans of college football.

On April 26, Frank Tavani sent his 2008 edition of the Lafayette football team out onto Fisher Field at Fisher Stadium for their annual "rite of passage" - The Maroon-White Spring Game. This is the first time that fans begin to really consider who will graduate in the next few weeks and who is left behind to defend the turf, albeit artificial.

DePaolo, Dixon, Dorsey, D'Urso, just to name the D's - gone. Plumby, Quarterman, Sprenkle, Bloom, just to name the guys on 'D' - gone. So is the cupboard bare? Hardly.

Forty letterwinners return - 13 starters: 7 on offense and 6 on defense. Three All-Patriot League selections will be found on each side of the ball.

The starting quarterback and the tailback(s) return. That's certainly important - in each of Lafayette's six Patriot League championship seasons (1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 20005, and 2006), Lafayette has returned at least one starter at either quarterback or tailback, and in two years, the Leopards brought back starters at both positions. Rob Curley is back at quarterback and Mo White and friends are back at tailback. Perhaps, more importantly, co-captain, Joe Russo, will stand between the two and protect both the quarterback and the tailback.

Are there offensive concerns? Of course. Jesse Padilla (famous for the "tortilla" or flattening block) and Greg Lippert are gone from the left side. Offensive line depth is lacking. New receivers must be found. Kyle Roeder and Duaeno Dorsey caught 49 passes last year. Not this year - caught a diploma instead.

The defense lost five starters - three linemen, one linebacker, and two defensive backs. However, the Leopards did not lose Defensive Player of the Year Andy Romans. How did he perform in the Spring Game, you might ask. Helmetless and padless. Coach Tavani was taking no chances with his defensive co-captain. Frank really knows what Andy can do - so do all the other coaches in the Patriot League. He was pretty good at high-fiving and hugging before, during, and after the scrimmage. Andrew Poulson and Luke Schade will anchor the defensive line, Mark Leggiero joins Romans at linebacker and Nigel Bryant and Marvin Clecidor will defend the pass.

They were all part of the best defensive unit in the nation last year, surrendering just 260.9 yards per game. There are good players to fill the positions hit by graduation. The defense looks very solid again.

Davis Rodriquez returns to placekick, Chris Cosgrove to kick off, Shaun Adair to return punts and kickoffs. And Big 33 selection, Tom Kondash will get his first shot at punting. Special teams could very well be, well, special.

All in all, the Spring Game went well - the talent was evaluated, no one was hurt, the hamburgers were well-cooked, and Coach Tavani auditioned for a future in broadcasting. Despite doing exceptionally well at the microphone, his broadcasting diploma, however, will be held back - not much depth in the head coaching position and he has been named captain of the Leopards for the ninth season.

Leopard football begins for real on September 6 at 6 p.m. in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. when the Leopards take on Marist. Dan Mowdy, John Leone, and I will see you there either in person or in your living room. Oh yes, we are back on the Lafayette Sports Network even though, despite what you might have thought, we all graduated.

Enjoy the summer!

Go Leopards!