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Rob Delaney ’12
Rob Delaney ’12 (Summit, N.J.), a government and law major and guard on the men’s basketball team, discusses “Jersey Shore,” the rigors of the season, and goals for a Patriot League Championship.
What do you enjoy about your major?
I don’t like classes with a ton of “busy work.” Government and law courses are usually based on a few major assignments and class participation.
One class that every Lafayette student should try to take is…
…anything taught by Professor Howard Schneiderman. He just has a great perspective. He is refreshingly candid. I would also recommend Richard Shupp‘s Spanish class. He has a unique way of teaching languages that makes the material very engaging and interesting.
Do you have any post-graduation plans?
For a few months, I plan to really relax and enjoy myself, maybe do some traveling. Basketball has been such a huge part of all of our (the other five seniors and my) lives—dating back to since we were in high school—that I think we are all really looking forward to having some freedom. Over the last four years we never got to do things like study abroad, have a Christmas break, or even go home for Thanksgiving. Our summers were devoted to basketball. In no way do we regret any of this—I wouldn’t trade my time playing at Lafayette for anything—but it is going to be a nice change of pace… and then after I’m done goofing off, I’ll start working. I recently accepted a job working in management consulting for Accenture, starting sometime in the fall.
What has been the highlight of your Lafayette basketball career thus far?
It’s tough to pinpoint one, because our class has been very lucky to be a part of a number of big moments. But I would say the top two were beating Penn State on their home floor earlier this year, and our semifinal win at American in the Patriot League Tournament last year when Jimmy Mower‘s shot got us all on SportsCenter.
How has the team changed throughout the non-league season?
We’ve grown up a lot. Especially due to injuries, a lot of guys were asked to do things outside their expected roles and outside their comfort zones. I think this will be really helpful to us in the second part of the season. As we start to get healthy at the right time, our team now has good depth and a number of guys we can count on in key situations… plus we’ve all lost about 10 pounds.
What goals have been set for Patriot League play?
There’s really nothing else on our minds other than a championship. This core group has come so close two years in a row, so we know what it takes. We need to play every game with a sense of urgency. I think earning some type of home-court advantage is key. Last year, we were able to win two playoff games on the road before falling in the championship. I believe we may have been somewhat worn out—it was asking a lot to go into three hostile environments and win all three. If we had more urgency to handle our business in the regular season, we may have been in a better position. We know we can win on the road if we have to, but it’s not what we would like to do. That’s why every regular season game is so important.
What is your favorite part of practice?
Practice? Practice? We talkin’ bout practice? (Editor’s note: This is a quote of former NBA star Allen Iverson.)
As a New Jersey native, how do you feel about “Jersey Shore”?
On the one hand, I think it’s an unflattering misrepresentation of my people from New Jersey. But on the other hand, I cannot help but have some guilty pride about all the fist pumping.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Is the Jersey shore not an acceptable answer? But really, I would have to say somewhere in Africa; I’ve never been there.
What is your favorite sport other than basketball?
I used to play soccer, and I definitely miss playing, but I would have to say football. I love watching football and I wish I played. My roommate J.D. Pelham and I have a favorite pastime of watching Cowboys QB Tony Romo blow the game, especially against my New York Giants.
What television show have you seen every episode of?
“Sons of Anarchy” and “Modern Family.” I’m also a big “King of Queens” guy, but there are a lot of those.
What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
There are a lot of them, but I’ll go with “Escape” by Enrique Iglesias.
Your Theme Song: “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull
Food You Can’t Live Without: Avocado/Guacamole
Team-Given Nickname: Bob, BertBar
Words to Live By: “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Or, as Coach Fran O’Hanlon translates it into Swedish, “När katten är borta, dansar råttorna på bordet.”