Left to right, Devin Paige ’27, John Olmstead ’24, and Mason Gilbert ’24 lead teammates out of the tunnel and by the new scoreboard just before kickoff.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM ATKINSON
Game on
Scenes around Fisher Stadium as Lafayette gets ready for its first home football game of the season.
For the Leopards, game day begins long before the first whistle blows. In Lafayette’s September home opener against Columbia University, the lights turned on in Bourger Varsity Football House as early as 6 a.m. when equipment manager Michael Shiffert ’18 began the day’s work in the locker room, and what followed was a full community effort: Coaches, trainers, cheerleaders, musicians, fans, and more all rallied behind the players to help them bring home the dominant 24-3 victory over the Lions. Here are just a few scenes from the morning.
Around 9:30 a.m., athletic trainers tape players in the locker room.
Markle parking deck provides the field for Wilson Warriors practice plays.
The squad and staff fuel up on breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
Shiffert, who was a four-year starter for the Pards, packs up the essentials.
Also pictured are helmets that represent the season schedule; the Lafayette helmet faces each week’s opponent.
Players take the field for warmups around 11:15 a.m.
Members of the Lafayette and Columbia media staff in the press box, including director of athletic communications Philip LaBella.
John Skalski ’27 readies his baritone saxophone for the pep band’s halftime show.
