with Gary Laubach

< gary="" laubach="">>

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.

October 25, 2007

LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

When you are a football player, no matter what the age, at some point, you think about what it would be like to play football on a Sunday afternoon. And, unless you are around 10 years old, you and I both know that means playing in the NFL. Having been around the Patriot League now for over 10 years, I enjoy looking at players and evaluating their skills and potential and trying to project whether they could play on Sunday afternoon. Bucknell's Sean Conover is with the Tennessee Titans; Colgate's Jamaal Branch is on the Saints' practice squad; and Lafayette's Blake Costanzo is on the Bills' practice squad. Among those currently playing, Fordham's punter, Ben Dato, has a professional foot; Colgate's running back, Jordan Scott, has professional feet; and, maybe, Colgate's linebacker, Mike Gallihugh, has professional intensity. Perhaps they could all play on Sunday afternoon.

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down once again to host Inside Lafayette Football. The show is divided into three segments: the first segment consists of Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani and me discussing the Leopards' previous game and showing highlights. The final segment once again has Coach Tavani looking ahead at the upcoming opponent and discussing the keys to victory. After all, the show is Inside Lafayette Football. Football is the main theme.

However, the main focus changes during the middle of the program. That segment is devoted to getting to know one of the Lafayette football players as both an athlete and a student. The discussion usually centers around a bit of both. That was not the case when Lafayette sophomore tailback DeAndre' Morrow sat down for his eight minutes in the spotlight. The conversation was not about football; it was all about academics.

You see, DeAndre' was recently welcomed, along with 12 other new inductees, into the McKelvy House. With five returning members, the house has a population of 18. It is certainly a unique 18! Since 1962, the McKelvey Scholars program has brought together Lafayette students with a wide range of majors and interests to reside in the historic off-campus house. The current residents include students from China, Turkey, Moldova, Zimbabwe, Russia, Ghana and the U.S.

One of them is from Hilton Head, South Carolina. One of them is the son of Clifford and Sandra Morrow. One of them and only one of them is an athlete. One of them and only one of them is a football player. One of them is DeAndre' Morrow.

So instead of talking about football on Inside Lafayette Football that Tuesday afternoon, DeAndre' and I talked about the McKelvy House. DeAndre' says this intellectual community is made up of "the smartest people I have ever been around." One girl, he pointed out, speaks seven different languages. DeAndre' is one of THEM!

At Hilton Head Prep School, DeAndre' played football and track and was, obviously very good at both. He was also the first chair for the Chess Club, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the Faculty Honor Roll and a Merit Honor Roll participant.

As a freshmen at Lafayette, he impressed Professor Caroline Lee of the Anthropology and Sociology Department with his academic acumen and she nominated DeAndre' for the prestigious McKelvy Scholars program. He filled out the application, submitted a paper and was accepted this past summer.

DeAndre' Morrow is a member of the sophomore class at Lafayette, plays football, is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Brothers of Lafayette and the Association of Black Collegians. He is extremely well-organized and readily admits "life's good" for him right now. He is a very, very busy young man. He obviously knows how to prioritize.

Now, you may be wondering what any of this has to do with "playing on Sunday afternoon." Well, the McKelvy scholars spend their Sunday afternoons in a discussion that engages students in debate and in the exchange of ideas. Other students are welcome to join in and participate. Each member of the house is responsible for a topic on a given Sunday. Recently, the 18 students had a very vibrant discussion on religion.

DeAndre' is not responsible for his topic until the Sunday after the Lehigh game (remember, he knows how to prioritize). He is going to discuss "diversity at Lafayette and institutions like Lafayette." Preparation for the debate/discussion includes articles, videos and other appropriate materials. DeAndre' will make those materials available to everyone.

He will also submit a paper to be published in the annual McKelvy Papers later in the school year.

So, you see, young kids who grow up playing the game of football dream of one day playing on a Sunday afternoon. Scholars at Lafayette one day aspire to becoming one of the very few who also get to "play" on a Sunday afternoon. It's always a home game and, trust me, there are no losers.

DeAndre' is a rare individual who is able to dream of doing both! Right now, he does his football playing on Saturday afternoon. But he has made the Sunday afternoon team. And, in the long run, that may prove to be even more important. DeAndre' Morrow is already doing some serious "playing" on Sunday afternoon.

Go Leopards!