At end of emotional week, TCNJ with more than pride to play for

When The College of New Jersey opened the season with six straight defeats, it seemed like there was one obstacle after another to overcome.

By staying the course, the Lions fought through the adversity, through the losses and have put together a two-game winning streak.

Then on Tuesday morning the emotional bottom fell out of the program when assistant coach Donny Klein was tragically killed in a car accident.

Few things take a bigger toll on the game’s we play than a brutal slap in the face of reality.

This is a young football team and many of them have been actively involved with Klein in the recruiting process, as he was the recruiting coordinator. TCNJ (2-6, 2-5 NJAC) no doubt will be dedicating this Saturday’s game against Christopher Newport (5-2, 4-2 NJAC) in honor of Coach Klein.

While it will be with heavy hearts the Lions honor their fallen coach and the program’s seniors, they’ll be prepared to battle CNU to the final whistle.

This group of seniors led by, Max Busca, Jesse Streb, Tyan Signora and Ibn Bailey have been instrumental in helping get the program moving forward. It’s a bunch of players who have shown a lot of resilience and a passion for the game.

During their four years the TCNJ program has had three head coaches, bu fortunately there has been stability the last two seasons since Casey Goff took over the program.

Although he’s not a senior, this is a pretty big day for TCNJ’s Gavin Liepe.

The sophomore linebacker spent the 2017 season playing for Christopher Newport.

It has been a perfect move for Liepe and the Lions, though.

There’s a lot of TCNJ tradition in the Liepe family as Gavin’s father Dave was a member of the Lions’ 1990 Hall of Fame team that was 9-1 and won the last five games by shutting out the opponent.

Gavin is living up to the tradition as he is second on the Lions in tackles with 38 and has one interception.

There will be friends on both sides of the ball for Liepe, but his loyalties are now with the Lions.

Saturday will be an emotional day for the entire Lions program as they remember their fallen coach.

They will honor him in many ways and one way will be to play to the level he expected from them every day on the practice field.

STEPHEN ARMSTRONG — SIGNATURE PHOTOS TCNJ senior Ibn Bailey will take the field at Lions Stadium for the last time on Saturday, something he’ll do with a heavy heart after the tragic passing of assistant coach Donny Klein this week.