July 31, 2006
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - For the second straight year, Lafayette has been slotted second in the Patriot League Football Preseason Poll, as voted by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
And for the second straight year, the Leopards received three first place votes and 61 points and finished seven points behind the team they shared the Patriot League championship with the previous season.
Colgate was the first choice, receiving eight first place votes and 68 points. Lehigh, which finished 2005 with an 8-3 record and a 4-2 mark in league play, gathered the final three first place votes and had 57 points.
Holy Cross, which placed fourth in the league a year ago after being selected sixth in the preseason poll, was predicted to repeat its fourth-place finish this season, just ahead of Fordham. Bucknell and Georgetown round out the list.
Colgate sophomore tailback Jordan Scott, last season's Patriot League Rookie of the Year, and senior defensive back Geoff Bean were the choices for Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Micah Clukey of Fordham, the first team All-Patriot League kicker each of the last two years after being named the league's Rookie of the Year in 2003, was named Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
The poll and the preseason players of the year were announced Tuesday at the Patriot League Football Media Day at Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem. Lafayette Preseason All-America offensive lineman Mike Saint Germain was one of six student-athletes to participate in the league's first-ever online chat, while Archie Fisher, Brad Maurer and Marvin Snipes were also in attendance to represent the Leopards.
1. Colgate (8)
2. Lafayette (3)
3. Lehigh (3)
4. Holy Cross
5. Fordham
6. Bucknell
7. Georgetown
