Press Mash-Up; What You Didn't Read

As I finish up a particularly brutal week in my day job, I've finally able to get some time to put together my regular Friday feature in my press mash-up, where I take all the Lehigh press on the pregame and mash it up into the essentials. What's funny is, I'm finally realizing how few I-AA fans (and some I-A fans) have this option to do the press mashup. Fordham has no fewer than six national and local media outlets in New York City - not to mention their student newspaper - and not one of them bothered to write up the Fordham game. If I were a Fordham fan, my press mash-up would consist completely of out-of-town press. And Fordham is by no means alone in this.

Another great benefit I have as a Lehigh fan is to watch the Lehigh press conferences on-line. Although I'd love to get some free wings at Starter's Pub on a Wednesday afternoon, I can't be at the press conference live, so the internet broadcast is the next best thing. That allows me to be able to do something that even fewer fans get to do, and that's to be able to deliver a weekly segment of "What You Didn't Read" in this week's Lehigh press conference. This week, I bring you coach Lembo on Fordham:

"Their running game seems to be clicking. I've seen them on film, and in terms of being physical, running to the football, and showing you a multiplicity of fronts, I think they've played solid defense all year long. Their defensive line and their corners jump out at me as good, solid football players in this conference. This is a highly motivated team that plays hard."

Here's your press links and your mash-up:

Allentown Morning Call:
Lehigh Has Done a Good Job Handling Injuries Thus Far

Easton Express-Times:
Lehigh Focuses On Now

Brown & White:
Hawks Ready For Rumble In Bronx

"We're thankful for the help [of Fordham beating Holy Cross] the last couple weeks," [senior offensive tackle Tom] Toth said, "and it's great to be in the driver's seat. But that's it.

"We're going to be in a dogfight."

"If we don't win this week," cautioned Lembo, whose team is 7-2 and riding a four-game winning streak, "next week doesn't have anything near the significance it should.

“Each game is a one week season. We are fighting for survival. This is the most important game of the season at this point.”

“Every game is important and we are focused on one game at a time,” [sophomore QB Sedale] Threatt said. “All of our attention is on Fordham. If we don’t win against Fordham, there might not be the playoffs to look ahead to.”

"Sure, it'd be nice to look at Lafayette," Tom Toth said. "We simply can't do it. We had a setback earlier in the season and can't lose momentum. Coach (Pete) Lembo said after the Holy Cross loss the rest of the season was the playoffs. We played as though we've been in the playoffs for four weeks. We've still got a couple more."

"You've got to get beyond their record," Lembo said. "This is a team that certainly has the ability to beat us if we don't play well. This is a highly-motivated team.

“Our defense must contain Fordham’s outstanding running back, James Prydatko, and speedy quarterback, Derric Daniels.”

“With help from the coaches and Borda, I am progressing a lot,” Threat said. “But there is still room for improvement.”

“Mark [Borda] was much more experienced, so he could take advantage of some looks the defense would give him,” Lembo said. “In time, Sedale will be able to do the same kinds of things.”

"There's a new threat there," said Fordham coach Ed Foley, who suggested the Rams may use a spy to control Threatt. "You've got to keep an eye on him on defense with one of your players, particularly on third down."

“Having Marques and Eric lifts a big weight off my shoulders,” sophomore quarterback Sedale Threatt said. “They are a big part of Lehigh’s multitalented offense.”

"[Sedale's ability to run] makes my job a little easier," said Toth, a freshman roommate and good friend of Borda -- who remains a key part of the team despite recovering from a fractured right fibula -- by serving as an advisor to Threatt. "He's got the ability to take off whenever he wants."

“The seniors are the leaders of this team,” Threatt said. “We all try our hardest, for ourselves, but not too many guys get to go to the NFL like [Adam] Bergen, so we try to win it for departing seniors.”