Game of tears.
It really hasn't totally sunk in yet, but I can't think of a Lehigh loss that has devastated me more. Seriously. I don't think we were outplayed or outcoached. I think we lost because our team gave away 7 points on a messed-up punt attempt, and because senior QB Pat Davis on Lafayette managed to barely get the ball away and junior RB Jonathan Hurt somehow got open on a completely busted play. Contrary to what the legions of nay-sayers will be spouting in the off-season, no amount of coaching would have changed anything on those plays. There is no gameplan that could have fixed them.
Before that play, I thought the story of the game was how Lehigh's defense did such a great job shutting Lafayette down, especially in the passing game. Senior CB Drew Nelson and junior CB Brannan Thomas were batting away ball after ball, forcing tons of third and fourth downs.
It is with great pain that I say that I feel like Lehigh's season was lost on two broken plays, which I witnessed firsthand at Goodman. Holy Cross' senior WR Sean Gruber making what an Any Given Saturday poster called "the immaculate reception" - senior CB Drew Nelson slipping while Gruber somehow held onto the ball. And now, the 4th-and-10 reception by Hurt on an eerily similar broken play. It makes me want to curse. It makes me want to take the plays back. The plays hurt. BAD. And it's nobody's damn fault! No amount of coaching would have made it better! If the Philadelphia Eagles were out there, the same thing would have happened!
It almost seems like it's my fault. What if I had stood in a different place on the field? What if I had sat in the bleachers? On the grass? What if I didn't pick up that penny that was tails-up in the parking lot on Friday? What if I didn't even show up to the game, and flown to Montana to see the Montana/Montana St. game instead? Would Davis had been sacked instead on that same play, and I'd instead be blogging about the fact we should be hosting a playoff game? Would being in a different state have helped?
I know it sounds crazy, and despite the last pragraph I just wrote, I am a rational college-educated guy. But it was one damn play. Couldn't luck have had something to do with it?
Last years' 24-10 loss to Lafayette was also devasating, but some comfort was to be had by the fact that there was a co-Patriot League championship and a chance at a I-AA playoff bid. We got the bid, we played valiantly against the eventual I-AA champions, and it was easier to call the season a great success.
But this year is different. This year's loss cost us a co-Patriot League title. It cost us the automatic I-AA playoff berth, which now goes to Colgate. And it's likely to have cost us an at-large I-AA playoff berth as well. Definitely? No. Probably? Yes.
Both Lehigh and Lafayette will now be in the at-large playoff discussion, along with Georgia Southern, Furman, Cal Poly, Southern Illinois, Montana, Youngstown St., Richmond, Texas St. South Carolina St., and Coastal Carolina. Here's what my at-large board looks like:
Montana
Georgia Southern
Furman
Texas St.
Southern Illinois
Youngstown St.
Richmond
Cal Poly
If Cal Poly doesn't make it because they played too many provisional teams (which I think would be totally wrong - I think Cal Poly deserves to make the playoff field), then the next teams in my mind would be Lehigh and Lafayette. Lehigh's GPI going into the Lafayette game would be higher, and they're nationally-ranked, but Lafayette beat Lehigh head-to-head and has a win against playoff-cound Richmond. Lehigh beat Colgate at home, and Lafayette lost to Colgate on the road. I could see the I-AA playoff committee making a choice of either team.
Another possibility is Youngstown State not making the field with a D-II win and some wins over lowly Northeastern, Liberty, and Indiana St. Again, I think they make the field over both Lehigh and Lafayette, mostly because they are one of the top teams in terms of attendance.
Another possibility is Richmond, but again, I think they're in over Lehigh or Lafayette since they're 8-3 and have won their last 6 or 7 in a row. Lafayette beat them early in the year, though.
The selection will be tomorrow, but I think the I-AA playoff committee will take Cal Poly, Youngstown St., and Richmond.
Tune in tomorrow. I'll say something.
It really hasn't totally sunk in yet, but I can't think of a Lehigh loss that has devastated me more. Seriously. I don't think we were outplayed or outcoached. I think we lost because our team gave away 7 points on a messed-up punt attempt, and because senior QB Pat Davis on Lafayette managed to barely get the ball away and junior RB Jonathan Hurt somehow got open on a completely busted play. Contrary to what the legions of nay-sayers will be spouting in the off-season, no amount of coaching would have changed anything on those plays. There is no gameplan that could have fixed them.
Before that play, I thought the story of the game was how Lehigh's defense did such a great job shutting Lafayette down, especially in the passing game. Senior CB Drew Nelson and junior CB Brannan Thomas were batting away ball after ball, forcing tons of third and fourth downs.
It is with great pain that I say that I feel like Lehigh's season was lost on two broken plays, which I witnessed firsthand at Goodman. Holy Cross' senior WR Sean Gruber making what an Any Given Saturday poster called "the immaculate reception" - senior CB Drew Nelson slipping while Gruber somehow held onto the ball. And now, the 4th-and-10 reception by Hurt on an eerily similar broken play. It makes me want to curse. It makes me want to take the plays back. The plays hurt. BAD. And it's nobody's damn fault! No amount of coaching would have made it better! If the Philadelphia Eagles were out there, the same thing would have happened!
It almost seems like it's my fault. What if I had stood in a different place on the field? What if I had sat in the bleachers? On the grass? What if I didn't pick up that penny that was tails-up in the parking lot on Friday? What if I didn't even show up to the game, and flown to Montana to see the Montana/Montana St. game instead? Would Davis had been sacked instead on that same play, and I'd instead be blogging about the fact we should be hosting a playoff game? Would being in a different state have helped?
I know it sounds crazy, and despite the last pragraph I just wrote, I am a rational college-educated guy. But it was one damn play. Couldn't luck have had something to do with it?
Last years' 24-10 loss to Lafayette was also devasating, but some comfort was to be had by the fact that there was a co-Patriot League championship and a chance at a I-AA playoff bid. We got the bid, we played valiantly against the eventual I-AA champions, and it was easier to call the season a great success.
But this year is different. This year's loss cost us a co-Patriot League title. It cost us the automatic I-AA playoff berth, which now goes to Colgate. And it's likely to have cost us an at-large I-AA playoff berth as well. Definitely? No. Probably? Yes.
Both Lehigh and Lafayette will now be in the at-large playoff discussion, along with Georgia Southern, Furman, Cal Poly, Southern Illinois, Montana, Youngstown St., Richmond, Texas St. South Carolina St., and Coastal Carolina. Here's what my at-large board looks like:
Montana
Georgia Southern
Furman
Texas St.
Southern Illinois
Youngstown St.
Richmond
Cal Poly
If Cal Poly doesn't make it because they played too many provisional teams (which I think would be totally wrong - I think Cal Poly deserves to make the playoff field), then the next teams in my mind would be Lehigh and Lafayette. Lehigh's GPI going into the Lafayette game would be higher, and they're nationally-ranked, but Lafayette beat Lehigh head-to-head and has a win against playoff-cound Richmond. Lehigh beat Colgate at home, and Lafayette lost to Colgate on the road. I could see the I-AA playoff committee making a choice of either team.
Another possibility is Youngstown State not making the field with a D-II win and some wins over lowly Northeastern, Liberty, and Indiana St. Again, I think they make the field over both Lehigh and Lafayette, mostly because they are one of the top teams in terms of attendance.
Another possibility is Richmond, but again, I think they're in over Lehigh or Lafayette since they're 8-3 and have won their last 6 or 7 in a row. Lafayette beat them early in the year, though.
The selection will be tomorrow, but I think the I-AA playoff committee will take Cal Poly, Youngstown St., and Richmond.
Tune in tomorrow. I'll say something.
Comments
Did Lafayette do anything to earn the win, did they make plays? Should they be given any credit? I don't see that in your article?
In Lafayette's eleven play touchdown drive to win the game there were four other pass completions. Were they all "busted plays" too, or just the last one?
When Walker scored on the 70 yard catch and run, was that a "busted play" by Lafayette?
Coming into the game Lehigh was averaging 38 points a game and Lafayette 23. Today, Lehigh scored 19 and Lafayette 23. Which defense did you say was the "story of the game?" Which defense "shut down" whom?
Was Colgate's game winning TD pass vs Lafayette in the final minute against the fourth string CB a "busted play" or a smart call well executed? If it's the former, thanks, I need another excuse.
Has Lehigh ever lost to a better team?
Thanks, have a nice day.
SELECTION SUNDAY is IN OUR FACE! I-AA.org honoring it with a special online streaming audio I-AA WAVES show on Sunday beginning 30 minutes before the 12:00 p.m. CST ESPNNEWS announcement of the bracket. Our show begins at 11:30 a.m. CST and will cover the picks and pans featuring I-AA.org senior columnist David Coulson, Sports Network columnist Matt Dougherty, NCAA I-AA Selection Committee Chairman Roachel Laney and a slew of other guests including fan call-ins. This is a must-listen for all I-AA fans at http://i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=72957
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You need to take a look at the last four years versus the four before that and evaluate the performance of the coaching staff. The numbers are grim -- 3 regular seasons per year versus 1 in four years, 0.5 PL title versus 3.5, 1 playoff appearance versus 4, 1 win against Lafayette versus 4.
Perhaps the 1998-2001 was an aberration and we should accept the performance of the last four years. This seems to me a serious issue to examine, not speculating on bad luck. The best coaches always seem to be the lucky ones and they do not blow two score leads in the fourth quarter of a key game three times in one season.
You need to take a look at the last four years versus the four before that and evaluate the performance of the coaching staff. The numbers are grim -- 3 regular seasons per year versus 1 in four years, 0.5 PL title versus 3.5, 1 playoff appearance versus 4, 1 win against Lafayette versus 4.
Perhaps the 1998-2001 was an aberration and we should accept the performance of the last four years. This seems to me a serious issue to examine, not speculating on bad luck. The best coaches always seem to be the lucky ones and they do not blow two score leads in the fourth quarter of a key game three times in one season.
That is plain stupid! I guess when LU went 42-1 from '98-'00, they were just plain lucky. For some strange reason, there were not any bad bounces/broken plays during those 4 years. Poor Pete just needs to find his rabbit's foot and everything will be fine.
One question Chuck, "Is the LU football program on the right track or wrong track?" I challenge you to convince us nay-sayers in your blog why Lembo should remain rather than be replaced. You have a nice long offseason to come up with an answer. As a "reputable" 1-AA pundent, this should not be too difficult.
"If the Philadelphia Eagles were out there, the same thing would have happened!" With a brilliant grasp of football like this, I just can't wait for your well thought out response.
Gee, I think that you just became a rude insulting ass.
As an LU fan, I would prefer to post on LU boards and blogs and let the LC fans stay on their board.
"go to the Luckyette blog". I just don't see where Lafayette was lucky yesterday. If I were an LC fan, that would be insulting.
I am not ready to concede that Tavani is a great coach. I think that his coaching staff is better than Lehigh's staff. As a head coach, this makes him a very good head coach. He also deserves alot of credit for resurrecting a dead program in 6 years. The programs were light years apart when Tavani took over and when Lembo took over. They are now at roughly the same place in 2005.
The best way for this program to move forward with a very good head coach who can surround himself with very good assistants. I really think Lembo's fatal flaw has been his selection of assistants from mid to lower Ivy programs and DIII programs. I think Sterrett should make Lembo's future employment conditional on revamping the staff.
Do you recall that LU twice intercepted Davis at the LU 46 and came away with a total of 3 points?
If a blogger is going to post insulting things about an opponent, expect the other side of the story to be posted in return.
By the way, IMO, if LC hadn't made that go ahead play and LU won and went on to a respectable playoff showing, you guys wouldn't be complaining about Lembo and I and others would be bitching about Tavani's lack of aggressiveness after the fumble recovery. We fans are a fickle bunch.
However, the "Lembo ERA" is begining to feel like the "Fassel ERA" with the NY Football Giants. Both were/are good football coaches, and on balance do more good than bad. However, they also seem to have an affinity for finding new, interesting, and heart-breaking ways to snatch defeat out of the hands of victory.
Therefore, just to change the bad karma we need to alter our direction.
Love the BLOG. Keep up the great work.
Gee, I think that you just became a rude insulting ass.
You come on here and insult my man Chuck so you are quite rude and quite an insulting ass.
And quite honestly, do you realllllly believe that 4th and ten miracle play wasn't "lucky"? Get real. Whoever won that game was gonna be considered lucky because neither team dominated.
I'm probably preaching to the choir...but I've heard this complaint out of players' mouths and I know it gets them down.
The positive is that maybe we can get back to hating Lafayette as much as they've come to hate and envy us.
I miss watching the drunken fist fights on the field after games. :-)
This is especially true at the Lafayette games. It's mor of an alumni gathering than anything else. They're there to brag about the damn jobs and how they did in the stock market during the past year. When you go to a football game, consentrate on rooting for your team!!! OR STAY HOME!!!
Most of the crowd are not true Lehigh football fans. For example, they probably didn't even notice that Justin Misiek was FINALLY replaced as the field goal kicker after he muffed ANOTHER relatively easy kick (sans Delaware extra point in OT - and many others over the last 2 seasons). I'm sure they had no clue, because they don't know anything about the team.
That team was a National Championship calibre team - who knows when another one will come along. That's the shame of it. They deserved much better from their fans in this game. They deserved to be in the playoffs.
THANKS A LOT, DEADHEADS! You contributed to a bizarre, heartbreaking season.
"I'm probably preaching to the choir...but I've heard this complaint out of players' mouths and I know it gets them down."
One word for these players - Transfer. What a bunch of babies.
Go play for school that gets half of the support that this team does. They can bitch about lots of things, but fan support is beyond the pale. As a fan who attends at least 9-10 games a year, I have never felt more disgusted.
That being said, any player who complains about fans or fan support seems to have his focus and motivation misplaced. If the players can not be motivated to play for a league championship and playoff spot even if it's in a sound proof booth, maybe the problem isn't their talent, its their character.
THANKS A LOT, DEADHEADS! You contributed to a bizarre, heartbreaking season. "
Let me get this straight, this was a National Championship caliber team, but because the fans may have not been loud enough during the 4th quarter, that's why they lost a 9 point lead. If the fans were just a little louder, we could be booking our rooms in Chattanooga? Was this crowd any different than those from 1995-2001 or in 2002? Those teams somehow managed to win.
Hey number one Lehigh fan did you sit out in monsoon during the HC game or in the rain at Bucknell or lose your voice screamin at the refs and for the team at Colgate? It's good to know us DEADHEADS who did somehow contributed to a heatbreaking season.
One other question, perhaps the team did deserve a more boisterous crowd in the 4th quarter. However, did those of us who did follow this team everywhere this year deserve more from them in the 4th quarter, especially them being a National Championship caliber team and all?
I am a fan of all fans and I know you couldn't hold a candle to me -whoever you are.
The crowd does get into the games on rare occasions but you can't depend on it. Most of the time the "plurality" of Lehigh fans is SILENT. Maybe a few claps - That's it!
"I'm probably preaching to the choir...but I've heard this complaint out of players' mouths and I know it gets them down."
One word for these players - Transfer. What a bunch of babies.
Go play for school that gets half of the support that this team does. They can bitch about lots of things, but fan support is beyond the pale. As a fan who attends at least 9-10 games a year, I have never felt more disgusted"
I'm with you all the way on this one. Lehigh fans support their team better than any other Patriot League team. At Bucknell and Fordham there were nearly as amny Lehigh fans as the opposition. Combined with the Lehigh band they made every bit as much noise as the home side. Whenever Lehigh played at Georgetown the visitor's side was full. Have you whiners been to an "away" game? Maybe not every Lehigh fan stands up and screams on every play, but they make a hell of a lot more noise than any other stadium. Speaking from experience just seeing all those bodies on the sidelines psyches up the athletes.