ARTICLE ABOUT RCN'S GARY LAUBACH

Keith Groller

November 17, 2009

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Lafayet te College is believed to be the only Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) program in the country to have all of its games televised.

Home and away, near and far, the Leopards are on the Lafayette Sports Network, which translates locally into being seen on RCN-4 or on WBPH-60, a channel that has a spot on several area cable lineups, including Service Electric's.

This is the seventh straight season that all Lafayette football games are televised and LSN announcers Gary Laubach and John Leone will be at Lehigh's Goodman Stadium on Saturday for the 145th edition of college football's most-played rivalry.

The game is also available on WFMZ-TV, Channel 69 with Steve Degler and Mike Yadush doing the commentary, but Laubach said Lafayette alums and fans want to see and hear the game from a Leopard perspective and they'll get it on the LSN.

''We do Lafayette games all year, and, of course there's an attachment there and there's going to be some bias from us, but since Lafayette fans and alums are going to be the ones watching, they're not going to mind that bias,'' Laubach said. ''The game has always been on WFMZ as well, but there was a feeling that since they had done other Lehigh games, Lafayette wasn't always going to get a fair shake on that broadcast.''

Laubach, who has been doing local sports television for 37 years, appreciates the spectacle of the rivalry.

''It's the biggest game of the season, every season,'' he said. ''There's nothing else like it. As a crew, we look forward to it.

''We have a tremendous relationship with Lafayette and get nothing but terrific cooperation from the school. But what really makes it special is the quality of the kids you're dealing with. They're all great student-athletes and they are excellent people to interview.''

Although Lafayette lost at Holy Cross in a game that determined the Patriot League title and automatic bid for the FCS playoffs on Saturday, the Leopards, conceivably, could get an at-large berth by beating Lehigh.

''Since they had two close to losses to nationally ranked teams, Lafayette can still get into the playoffs,'' Laubach said. ''But they need an impressive win over Lehigh.''

And, of course, Lehigh-Lafayette isn't the only one Laubach will do this weekend.

RCN-4 will also have the much-anticipated Wilson-Central Catholic District 11 3A championship game on Friday night with Laubach behind the microphone.

''I have a new GM and he thought I'd want Friday night off, but I love this,'' Laubach said. ''This is the best time of the year. I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity I have to work so many of these big games with a great team like we have at RCN. I realize there are so many people who would love to be in my chair.''

A TIP OF THE REMOTE TO Â…

RCN4's Chris Michael and Leone for getting to do the George Washington-Boston University men's basketball game tonight at 7, a game that will go across the RCN regional network. The Morning Call's Andre Williams will guest on Michaels' live ''Sports Talk'' show at 6 p.m. Thursday by the way.

With everyone else burying Bill Belichick for his decision to go for it on Sunday night, give Tony Kornheiser credit for going against the grain on ''Pardon the Interruption'' and supporting the decision. Kornheiser noted that the Pats had gone on fourth down 16 times against the Colts and made it 12 times. He also noted the Colts had gone the length of the field a couple of times in the blink of an eye earlier in the game.

Jimmie Johnson is about to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series title on Sunday, but no one really seems to be paying much attention. With that in mind, it was a good move for Johnson and NASCAR to get him signed up with HBO for a new 24/7 series called ''Race to Daytona.'' An in-depth series like this -- and HBO does them well -- might generate some interest in NASCAR's new Babe Ruth and in the fading racing genre in general. ''Race to Daytona'' debuts on Jan. 26.

Keith Groller