| Lafayette Leopards football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1882; 142 years ago | ||
| Head coach | John Troxell 3rd season, 19–15 (.559) | ||
| Stadium | Fisher Stadium (capacity: 13,132) | ||
| Year built | 1926 | ||
| Field surface | FieldTurf | ||
| Location | Easton, Pennsylvania | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | Patriot League (since 1986) | ||
| Past conferences | Independent (1882–1928) Middle Three Conference (1929–1975) Division II Independent (1975–1976) Division I-AA Independent (1977–1985) | ||
| All-time record | 654–559–39 (.538) | ||
| Claimed national titles | 3 (1896, 1921, 1926) | ||
| Conference titles | 8 (1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2023) | ||
| Rivalries | Lehigh (rivalry) Bucknell[citation needed] Penn[citation needed] | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 15 | ||
| Current uniform | |||
 | |||
| Colors | Maroon and white[1] | ||
| Fight song | On, Lafayette! | ||
| Mascot | The Leopard | ||
| Marching band | Leopard Pride | ||
| Website | goleopards.com | ||
The Lafayette Leopards football program represents Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania in college football. One of the oldest college football programs in the United States, Lafayette currently plays in the Patriot League at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level.
Fielding their first team in 1882, Lafayette has won three college football national championships (1896, 1921, 1926), eight Patriot League championships (1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2023), six undefeated seasons (1896, 1909, 1921, 1926, 1937, 1940) and four undefeated, untied seasons (1921, 1926, 1937, 1940).[2]
For most of its history, Lafayette played an independent schedule until joining the Patriot League in 1986. Between 1929 and 1975, the Leopards were a part of an unofficial conference, the "Middle Three Conference," which consisted of Rutgers University and Lehigh University. Today, Lafayette is most noted for its fierce arch-rivalry with Lehigh, which is the most played rivalry in college football (158 games) and the most consecutive years played (since 1897). ESPN considers "The Rivalry" to be among the top ten in college football,[3] and was the subject of a PBS documentary narrated by NFL Films voice and Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. Aside from Lehigh, Lafayette's primary rivals are Bucknell University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Lafayette has produced four consensus All-Americans (FBS),[4] 11 FCS All-Americans, four College Football Hall of Fame players,[4] and three College Football Hall of Fame coaches. Lafayette football has produced and nurtured several legendary football personalities, such as George Barclay, inventor of the football helmet, and Jock Sutherland, legendary coach of the Pittsburgh Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Lafayette's Herb McCracken is also credited with inventing the huddle during a game in which Pennsylvania was stealing hand signals.[5]
Lafayette's nickname is the Leopards, dating from October 21, 1924.[6] In its early history, the students, alumni, and press referred to the team as the 'Maroon.' The Leopards are still occasionally referred to as the 'Maroon' or the 'Maroon and White.' Currently, Lafayette has 650 wins, 33rd all-time in Division I.[7]
- ^ Lafayette College Full-Color Representations (PDF). Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ "2010 Lafayette Football Media Guide" (PDF). goleopards.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "ESPN2 and ESPNU to Feature Lafayette-Lehigh Football Rivalry – PATRIOT LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE". Patriotleague.org. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ a b "2010 NCAA Football Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletics Association.
- ^ Friend, Tom (December 31, 1995). "The Lives They Lived: Herb McCracken;Football's Best-Kept Secret – New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Lafayette Chooses Leopard as Symbol of its Teams". New York Times. October 22, 1924.
- ^ "Division I-AA All-Time Wins". Cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.