Lehigh Football Nation

This game was just the confidence boost that Lehigh needed to go into next weekend in "The Rivalry". It felt like a snowball running downhill when junior LB Tim Diamond rumbled for a 58 yard fumble return for a touchdown on the third play from scrimmage. Although there were some hiccups making this game a 14-10 game at halftime, after Lehigh came out after the break they put together the best half of football that Brown & White fans have seen all year. When senior "slash" Sedale Threatt put the ball in the end zone for his second of three touchdowns on the day (with 78 rushing yards), the score was 21-10, and when Diamond and the defense forced the Bison on a 3-and-out, sophomore QB Chris Bokosky would find junior WR Mike Fitzgerald for a big score to make it an insurmountable 28-10 lead. Just great stats all around: the defense held Bucknell to 8 offensive yards in the second half (no, that's not a typo), freshman RB Jaren Walker had another fine day

(Photo Credit: Andrew Maier, Brown & White) The Patriot League autobid has been wrapped up by Fordham, Holy Cross and Colgate are hoping for a share of the title (and maybe even an outside shot at an at-large bid), while Lehigh looks towards next year this weekend in Lewisburg. With the news that senior QB Sedale Threatt has been battling a rotator cuff injury, it's now official: the era of sophomore QB Chris Bokosky has begun. All the talk of quarterback battles are over, and Mountain Hawk fans will finally have one signal-caller to rally behind this week before "The Rivalry". I've got to believe that the lifting of the uncertainty will help this team focus once again on winning football games, beating "that school in Easton", and springboarding Lehigh fans into an exciting offseason. And hopefully we'll have heard the end of quotes like this from the Brown & White: "We don't finish plays, we don't rise up and stop them on third

(Photo Credit: Michael Bavero, Daily Item) Momentum. It's an old chestnut in football, how you want your team to get some wins in a row - even at the end of a season when you're out of the championship hunt - to get something established for next year. And Lehigh and Bucknell, both young teams who have struggled offensively, are looking for it this weekend. For Lehigh, a week before "The Rivalry" against that school in Easton, the objective is clear: the offense must be more effective, execute better and score more points, because we'll need it next week. Lehigh, due to injuries all across the board, is starting more freshmen and sophomores across the board as well, giving Lehigh fans an intriguing glimpse at 2008 to see what could be in store. Despite the troubles Lehigh had last week versus Colgate, the underclassmen have been a considerable bright spot, and fans will be looking for improvement from last week from those players who will be the ones to carry the

The votes are in. On defense, junior LB Tim Diamond gets the nod with a 13 tackle day, including seven solo tackles. On a day where Lehigh needed to punish Colgate's Jordan Scott, Diamnond left it all out on the field in an admirable performance. On the year, Diamond leads the Mountain hawks in tackles with. Special teams goes resoundingly to freshman KR John Kennedy . His 4 returns for 121 yards was his best this year, and included a 54 yard return that was one block away from being taken to the house. His development has been a real bright spot. Finally, the player you voted as "Player of the Week" was freshman RB Jaren Walker (pictured) in his first-ever start in a Mountain Hawk uniform. He showed great promise, running for 69 yards and having 4.3 yards per carry, and is angling to be one of the players Lehigh fans will be looking for production from in the last two games of the year. Congratulations to the winners. Next up: the Lehigh/Bucknell preview.

I was in the Bronx this weekend to watch the Holy Cross/Fordham game, and the pictures of that should be up soon at the College Sporting News for your viewing pleasure. One of my shots is to your left - is this the prettiest spot in the Bronx, or what? Before we sum up the goings-on around the horn, I wanted to ask Lehigh alumni (and alums from "that school in Easton") for some personal stories of the most-played football rivalry. It doesn't matter if you're a fan, a player, or just an observer, I'm looking for a list of different stories to list on a special blog posting during "Rivalry Week". "The Rivalry" will be a week of celebration of the Lehigh/Lafayette game, and I very much would like to have a posting detailing what has made it great for you over the years. You can email me at charles.burton@collegesportingnews.com to share your story! I also wanted to point out that Any Given Saturday, the premier FCS message board in the count

The press links detail another frustrating day in Hamilton last weekend, but also points at something important: the results of the next two weeks will be critical "for momentum going into next year," said sophomore LB Matt Cohen . And with the large number of underclassmen contributors in games this year, there is good reason to be excited about the future. Freshman RB Jaren Walker was a definite bright spot, with some good rushes and some nice power running, especially on the opening drive. Freshman KR John Kennedy was another, a guy who has made an immediate impact on the return game this year. These guys, along with junior LB Tim Diamond , could be the core of something special in 2008. But it starts by winning the next two games. Press Links: Morning Call: Offense Slumbers At Colgate Morning Call: Loss To Colgate Had Bright Spots Express-Times: Brush With Colgate Shows Flaws

No, I'm not going to say the season is "history". But "history" does apply as today's Word. Lehigh trades on "history". This football program is not unique in that regard, but Lehigh's football program exists in a unique blend of football excellence, dedication to academics, "The Rivalry", and "history". In Lehigh's "history" are "Middle Three" championships, Patriot League championships, Lambert Cups, a Division II national championship, and I-AA playoff success. "History" sells the program; it's what gets recruits here, it's what keeps former athletes and students interested in the program, and in "The Rivalry" it's what everyone rallies around. "History" is omnipresent on Saturdays during football season. At halftime of two games this year, the 1957 Lambert Cup winning team and the 1977 Division II National Championship were honored. In an added twist o