History will always be important in the college football world, which is why programs like the Lafayette Leopards will never be forgotten. Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to find cheap Lafayette football tickets. The Leopards play in the Patriot League at the FCS level and have no major role in the modern landscape. However, Lafayette is one of the most historically significant programs in college football and the winners of multiple national championships. Whether the Leopards play winning football or not, the program remains important, and so finding last-minute Lafayette football tickets is a special occasion for any football fan.

An Early Powerhouse

Lafayette spent most of the 1920s and 30s as one of the powerhouse programs in college football. Legendary coach Jock Sutherland got his start with the Leopards in 1919, winning 33 games in five seasons, including a 9-0 season in 1921 that gave the Leopards a national championship. He was succeeded by Hall of Fame coach Herb McCracken, who led the Leopards to another 9-0 season and a national championship in 1926. In fact, during McCracken’s first season at Lafayette in 1924, he was the first coach to utilize the huddle as a way of preventing the opposing defense from stealing signs.

A New Generation

Lafayette maintained a high level of success throughout the 1940s until the Leopards started to fade into the background. However, Bill Russo helped to revive the program in the late 1980s as members of the Patriot League. Russo won over 100 games and three conference titles during his 19-year tenure before passing the reins to Frank Tavani, who coached 17 seasons. Tavani led Lafayette to three straight Patriot League titles from 2004 to 2006, earning the Leopards their first-ever invitations to the FCS Playoffs.

The Rivalry to End All Rivalries

Whether the Leopards are a winning program or not, they’ll always have their epic rivalry with in-state foe Lehigh, a series that is simply called “The Rivalry.” Located just 17 miles apart, Lafayette and Lehigh have played one another more than any two teams in college football history. The rivalry has inspired books and documentaries and is still considered one of the greatest college football rivalries of all-time.