Lafayette Football "Isn't Fun Anymore"

[carney2]

Recently I was having a discussion with someone about Pard4Life’s comment that Lafayette football “isn’t fun anymore.” It then occurred to me that “anymore” assumes that at one time or another it actually was fun. I blurted out that the drought in Lafayette football is approaching the 70 year mark and counting. Can that be? Not possible. I put together some statistics using the arbitrary cut-off of 1950 as somehow the dividing point between “modern” football and the days of the leather helmet. So, here are some stats to get the discussion – and the venom - going:

1950-2014

Overall record = 301-353-11 (A winning percentage of 45.3%)

No of winning seasons = 25 (Out of 64 = 39.1%)

Most consecutive winning seasons in 64 years = 3 (3 times)

Most consecutive losing seasons in 64 years = 9

Most wins in a season = 9 (1981)

I’m pretty sure that if you leave out Georgetown who isn’t too serious about football anyway (cue the DFW rant), only Bucknell might rival this extended period of Patriot League pigskin ineptitude.

NOTE: I gave some thought as to whether this might enrage the folks on the Lafayette board, but since I’ve been drummed out of that fraternity anyway, … Facts are facts.

[crusader11]

Lafayette football had a pretty good run from 2002-2009. They were one of the better teams in the PL during this time, and I'm sure plenty of people were having fun at Fischer Field. 56-36 record with 3 PLCs.

But from 2010 on, it's been really bad. 1-4 this season, and in all four losses Lafayette has field to reach double digits in points scored.

[carney2]

Lafayette football had a pretty good run from 2002-2009.

2002: 7-5
2003: 5-6
2004: 8-4
2005: 8-4
2006: 6-6
2007: 7-4
2008: 7-4
2009: 8-3

56-36

Not bad, as you say. FranksTanks says it ended because Tavani lost key assistants. Franks is a very knowledgeable observer of the Lafayette football scene, and what he says is correct. In my less reliable opinion however, a bigger key to the downfall was the administration's decision to reduce the football equivalencies by 25%-33%. The program has yet to recover from that. AND it shines light on a bigger problem at Lafayette: the powers that be do not just practice benign neglect (no increases to the football budget in something like 8 years), but they are intentionally destructive. I also point to Art Rothkopf's investigation of taking the program to D-3 16 or 17 years ago. In my opinion (again that word) each of the last two coaches was beaten down and drained of all incentive. Bill Russo hung on for years merely to cash a pay check. I increasingly get the impression that Tavani has entered that same twilight zone, although he does look truly crushed after some of these horrendous losses.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I also point to Art Rothkopf's investigation of taking the program to D-3 16 or 17 years ago. In my opinion (again that word) each of the last two coaches was beaten down and drained of all incentive. Bill Russo hung on for years merely to cash a pay check. I increasingly get the impression that Tavani has entered that same twilight zone, although he does look truly crushed after some of these horrendous losses.

That Rothkopf announcement game the week of Lehigh/Lafayette as well. What a slap in the face to the kids. I've always thought that disgraceful.

[Libertine]

2002: 7-5
2003: 5-6
2004: 8-4
2005: 8-4
2006: 6-6
2007: 7-4
2008: 7-4
2009: 8-3

The end of that timeline pretty much coincides with the massive budget cutbacks that Lafayette athletics faced following the 2008-2009 academic year. I've always attributed their fall-off to the vanished $$$.

[Ivytalk]

Football isn't fun! It's work!

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Other then the UNH Lafayette game thread has it ever been fun?

[crusader11]

Also, what's with the departure from the Lafayette board, C2?

[superman7515]

Also, what's with the departure from the Lafayette board, C2?

I wasn't allowed in, so he's leaving in solidarity.

[DFW HOYA]

I’m pretty sure that if you leave out Georgetown who isn’t too serious about football anyway (cue the DFW rant), only Bucknell might rival this extended period of Patriot League pigskin ineptitude.

Since you asked...

Georgetown, 1950-2014

Overall record = 214-240-2 (A winning percentage of 47.1%, better than LC)

No of winning seasons = 23 (Out of 50 = 46.0% , better than LC)

Most consecutive winning seasons in 50 years = 6 , better than LC)

Most consecutive losing seasons in 50 years = 10, not as good)

Most wins in a season = 9 (1998,1999 same as LC)