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BEHIND THE MIC

with Gary Laubach


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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 the Lafayette 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.

GoLeopards.com recently transitioned the Behind the Mic column from the written form to video, Laubach's specialty. Enjoy the video Behind the Mic segments:

August 11, 2008

LAFAYETTE BEATS LEHIGH Do I have your attention? As pleasing as it is to write those words anytime, I am really begging the issue this time. On July 31, the Patriot League held its annual pre-season Football Media Day. Lafayette was picked to finish ahead of Lehigh in the preseason Patriot League poll. That's the good news. The bad news is Lafayette was picked to finish fourth overall. That's right - fourth! For the past four years, Lafayette has either shared the Patriot League title (three times) or finished second (last year). So fourth is just not acceptable anymore. It is just not part of our mindset. However, I can understand the voting. Fordham was picked to repeat as the champion. After all, they do have eight starters back on offense and eight starters back on defense, while returning 57 letterwinners including their starting quarterback, running back and leading receiver. The Rams were 5-1 in the League last year, 8-4 overall, and became the first outright champion since 2003. They may have even received my vote if I had one. Holy Cross was picked second and Colgate was chosen third. These two and Lafayette finished tied for second last year with 4-2 marks in the League and 7-4 overall. Preseason Offensive Player of the Year choice, Dominic Randolph, returns for Holy Cross and Jordan Scott returns needing 362 yards to become the all-time leading rusher in Patriot League history (Lafayette's Erik Marsh '95 tops everyone at the moment with 4,834 yards). Hasn't Jordan Scott been on the Colgate roster for about 7 years? It sure seems that way. So does a Patriot League championship for the Leopards seem unattainable? Not in the eyes of this biased, partial, judgmental, prejudiced, AND "show favoritism" Leopard announcer. They certainly can WIN the Patriot League. Am I crazy? I think not. Let me count the ways: 1. They have Coach Tavani! This guy would sooner give up hamburgers (and anyone who knows him knows that won't happen) than finish fourth in the Patriot League. That is not part of his "upward mobility" plan that he began writing eight years ago. Frank's teams are a combined 19-5 the past four years in the Patriot League. He, along with his veteran staff, seeks superiority, not mediocrity. 2. Rob Curley, Mo White, and Shaun Adair are playmakers on offense. Curley was 3-1 as a starter last year; Mo White is as hungry as any player can be after an injury-riddled season last year, and, I think, Shaun Adair might touch the ball more than anyone besides Curley and center, Michael Wojcik. He returns punts, returns kickoffs and catches passes. 3. The Leopard defense. They were ranked first in the nation in overall defense last year. Six starters return including Luke Schade along the front four as a fifth year senior (do you think he is coming back to finish fourth?), a solid linebacking crew led by Andy Romans and Mark Leggiero, and an outstanding secondary anchored by Nigel Bryant and Marvin Clecidor. 4. Joe Russo and Andy Romans! They are the co-captains for 2008. Co-captains lead by example. These two lead by example!! Joe Russo runs the ball, catches the ball, and blocks, blocks, blocks. Romans is Romans - Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year for 2007 and the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for 2008. He AVERAGED 10.3 tackles per game last year! They will not let this team finish fourth! 5. Intangibles - The place-kicker returns, the kickoff man is back, the punt returner is back, the kickoff returner is back. The facility (Fisher Stadium, Bourger Varsity Field House) is second to none. The Athletic Communications staff keeps the information flowing. And there is unrivaled television exposure with all of the games on the Lafayette Sports Network. So the Patriot League poll suggests that Lafayette will finish fourth in the Patriot League. That will not happen. The Leopards will be in the hunt for the Patriot League championship. Perhaps, they will clinch the title on Nov. 22, at Fisher Stadium when they take on Lehigh for the 144th time. I can see the headline now ... GO LEOPARDS!