with Gary Laubach

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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.

January 4, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (AND I AM JUST TALKING BASKETBALL)

The word "scholarship" has three meanings. It is a noun, which means:

1) The methods, discipline, and attainments of a scholar or scholars.

2) Knowledge resulting from study and research in a particular field.

3) A grant of financial aid awarded to a student, as for the purpose of attending a college.

It is a word that has been associated with Lafayette College ever since it was founded in 1826 by citizens of Easton, Pennsylvania. Lafayette College has always been an institution of scholars and has 2,403 of them currently on campus. At their disposal are more than 500,000 books in the library and 199 full-time faculty members to help the scholars attain "knowledge resulting from study..."

More than $26 million was provided last year for scholarships and grant assistance to 54 percent of the student body. Among the academic recipients were a few college basketball players. And it has sure made Coach O'Hanlon and Coach Smith happier, the fans more enthusiastic and my job more enjoyable.

The Lafayette College men's and women's basketball teams have improved dramatically this season and it is no accident. Lafayette began giving merit-based scholarships for basketball in March of 2006. That means in just one year and a few months, Lafayette has begun to level the playing arena in the Patriot League. Lafayette had been the only Patriot League member that had not awarded financial aid above need in any sport. All of the Patriot League schools were offering basketball scholarships, except Lafayette. The Lafayette men finished 3-11 and 5-9 the past two years in the League and the Lafayette women flip-flopped the Patriot League record with 5-9 last year and 3-11 two years ago. With a short window to find worthy recipients in 2006 and a full year to search for worthy academic basketball talent, the results have been obvious:

1) The Lafayette men are currently 8-5. They were 6-7 last year at this time and 7-6 two years ago.

2) The Lafayette women are currently 7-6. They were 2-11 last year through the first thirteen games and 4-9 the previous year.

3) The independent competition this year has been arguably much tougher than the previous two years.

4) Tammy Smith has started two freshmen (Elizabeth Virgin and LaKeisha Wright) most of the season and brings another (Lauren Jackson) off the bench without hesitation.

5) Fran O'Hanlon plays every healthy body on his roster, including the freshmen. No one would argue that Marek Koltun, Deirunas Visockas, and Jared Mintz have already made significant contributions to this season's success.

And this is just with one and a half years of finding players! Players who have the academic credentials first (Michael Gruner is a sophomore guard AND a Marquis Scholar) and the athletic credentials, as well. Remember, the rosters of the Patriot League are loaded with four years worth of scholarship players (as many as twelve players).

I do not think the Patriot League even realizes what the scholarships have done for the Leopards. The women were picked to finish in sixth place and the men were picked to finish dead last in the League. My gut tells me the League has it all wrong! Both the Lafayette women and the men have demonstrated in their non-conference schedules that they will be in the upper half of the League by the end of the regular season. Remember, that's based on "gut" not "knowledge resulting from... research in a particular field" (scholarship).

So, after all the teeth-grinding and the academic hesitation, is there anyone who still believes this was the wrong thing to do? More than 75 percent of students at Lafayette participate in at least one varsity, junior varsity, club, intramural or recreational sport. Now some of those students, who happen to be basketball players, have been awarded financial aid "for the purpose of attending college." They also inspire us, give fans a sense of school pride, entertain us and are quality citizens in the Lafayette community. It sounds to me like a good investment.

I, for one, say Happy New Year and look forward to many better years to come!

Go Leopards!