Oct. 5, 2005

In honor of 20 years of Patriot League football, the Patriot League will profile the seven members who have playin the League. Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh have played in all 20 seasons, while Fordham has played 16 seasons and Georgetown as played in five seasons. This week we look at the four-time league champions, Lafayette.

The Leopards of Lafayette are one of the most storied programs in the history of college football. They rank 33rd in all-time wins coming into the 2005 season with 612. During Lafayette's 123-year history the Leopards have recorded many landmark wins. Its first victory came in 1883 when they beat Rutgers, 25-0. They won the national championship in 1921 and 1926 and tied for the title in 1896.

Lafayette also has a storied history in the Patriot League. The Leopards have captured four league titles (1988, 1992, 1994, 2004), but they have finished second or third seven other times. Lafayette's most successful season came during the 2004 campaign where the Leopards finished 8-4 overall and 5-1 in league play. During 2004, Lafayette's only league loss was to Colgate. However the Patriot League title came down to the annual Lehigh-Lafayette game, which the Leopards won 24-10. The win not only clinched the Patriot League title for Lafayette, but also the automatic berth to the NCAA Championships. Lafayette drew I-AA power Delaware and lost a hard fought 28-14 game in Newark, Del.

One of Lafayette's most interesting League titles came in the 1994 season where the Leopards went winless in non-conference but undefeated in League play to win the title. In 1998 Lafayette went 8-2-1 overall and 5-0 in League play to win the crown. That season saw the Leopards beat rival Lehigh in a 52-45 shootout, and nearly beat I-A member Army and I-AA power Penn.

During its run in the Patriot League, Lafayette has only had two head coaches Bill Russo and current head coach Frank Tavani. Russo came to College Hill in 1981 and coached the Leopards for 19 seasons amassing a 103-98-4 (.512) record. He coached the Leopards to three of their four League titles. Tavani took over in 2000, after being a top member of the coaching staff for 13 years. He comes into the 2005 season has a 24-32 (.414) including one League title and a postseason berth.

"I feel the Patriot League has made great strides not only in football but in all sports. The League started as a football-only League and as evolved into one of the premier conferences for student-athletes," stated Tavani.

A look at the all-time leaders in Lafayette history will show many familiar names to Patriot League fans. The Leopards all-time leading rusher is Erik Marsh (1991-1994) who ran for 4,834 yards in his career. He was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year three times in his career. Marko Glavic (2000-2003) is Lafayette's all-time leading passer. For his career, he threw for 9,819 yards and 62 touchdowns. John Weyrauch is the Leopards' all-time leading receiver. He caught 162 career passes for 2, 406 yards and 18 touchdowns. Ryan Hiles is third all-time in tackles in a season with 153 in 1998.

Going into the 2005 season Lafayette was picked to finish second by the League's coaches and sports information directors receiving three first-place votes and 61 points overall. The Leopards (4-1, 2-0 PL) return to action this week when they host Columbia on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Patriot League continues its look at 20 years of football next Wednesday when Fordham will be featured.