cosmo here
August 3rd, 2006, 11:18 AM
Leopards fine with No. 2 spot
Patriot preseason poll gives Lafayette plenty of respect, but without the bull's-eye.
By Don Bostrom Of The Morning Call
http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/all-lafayetteaug03,0,4661366.story
Lafayette senior Brad Maurer fearlessly threw a verbal gauntlet down during the Patriot League football media day Tuesday at Green Pond Country Club.
''We're looking forward to going for the three-peat this season,'' Maurer joyfully chirped. ''We have a real good chance of taking the title home.''
Before coaches around the league start heading to Kinko's so they can plaster that all over their bulletin boards, understand one thing.
The Leopards quarterback and tri-captain was talking about his intramural bowling team.
''I am an avid bowler,'' Maurer said. ''I am actually pretty good with both hands. I taught my roomie how to spin the ball and our team has actually won the intramural championships the last two years. We're in a great position to win it all again.''
Maurer, a Marquis Scholar and a perfect poster boy for the academic and athletic balance the Patriot League strives for, wasn't as bold when it came to predicting the football team's chance to become only the second school in league history to earn at least a share of three consecutive crowns, something Holy Cross accomplished from 1989-91.
He took no umbrage to the preseason poll that has the Leopards pegged No. 2 behind 2005 co-champion Colgate.
''You obviously want your program to get to the point where you are expected to be contending for the championship every year,'' Maurer said. ''We are starting to get to that point where our name comes up on the short list of contenders and we are getting respect. As far as I'm concerned, expectations are a good problem to have.
''A lot of those projections are based on performances from last season and a bunch of unknowns, like new players coming in to replace departed starters,'' Maurer added. ''Based on that, I'm not surprised at all by the picks.''
Patriot preseason poll gives Lafayette plenty of respect, but without the bull's-eye.
By Don Bostrom Of The Morning Call
http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/all-lafayetteaug03,0,4661366.story
Lafayette senior Brad Maurer fearlessly threw a verbal gauntlet down during the Patriot League football media day Tuesday at Green Pond Country Club.
''We're looking forward to going for the three-peat this season,'' Maurer joyfully chirped. ''We have a real good chance of taking the title home.''
Before coaches around the league start heading to Kinko's so they can plaster that all over their bulletin boards, understand one thing.
The Leopards quarterback and tri-captain was talking about his intramural bowling team.
''I am an avid bowler,'' Maurer said. ''I am actually pretty good with both hands. I taught my roomie how to spin the ball and our team has actually won the intramural championships the last two years. We're in a great position to win it all again.''
Maurer, a Marquis Scholar and a perfect poster boy for the academic and athletic balance the Patriot League strives for, wasn't as bold when it came to predicting the football team's chance to become only the second school in league history to earn at least a share of three consecutive crowns, something Holy Cross accomplished from 1989-91.
He took no umbrage to the preseason poll that has the Leopards pegged No. 2 behind 2005 co-champion Colgate.
''You obviously want your program to get to the point where you are expected to be contending for the championship every year,'' Maurer said. ''We are starting to get to that point where our name comes up on the short list of contenders and we are getting respect. As far as I'm concerned, expectations are a good problem to have.
''A lot of those projections are based on performances from last season and a bunch of unknowns, like new players coming in to replace departed starters,'' Maurer added. ''Based on that, I'm not surprised at all by the picks.''