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Big 33/All-Star Games, A Royce Morgan Sighting, and Season Tickets

Forgive the lack of posting this week, as I've been dispatching a lot of writing for the FCS Yearbook (to be released very soon). But I needed to clear out my inbox with a bunch of Lehigh-related news that hit the wires this week, starting with the fact that Lehigh season tickets are now on sale. They are a bargain by any standard: $55 for general admission season tickets and $75 for chairback seats - plus, you're guaranteed a Lehigh/Lafayette ticket (this year, played at Easton) if you buy now.

If you are from Pennsylvania, you probably know what the "Big 33" all-star game is, where the best high school football recruits from talent-rich Pennsylvania and Ohio play as high school players one last time. This year, the "Big 33" game featured four incoming Patriot League players: RB/LB Nate Eachus (Colgate), LB Corey Watts (Lafayette), OL/DL Dan Kessler (Fordham), and one of ours: freshman OL/DL Cody Connare. I did not see the game, but there are some good (copyrighted) pictures of the game here, showing Connare (who played in the game as a DE) going up against 300 lb tackle R.J. Dill (Maryland-bound).

"I think that all star games are an honor for the kids that are chosen, so we dont have a problem if kids play in them," coach Coen told me. "I just always hope they stay healthy."

There are no Lehigh players in this weekend's PSFCA East/West All Star Game or next week's McDonald's Lehigh Valley Al-Star Football Classic, while on June 8th incoming freshman OL Troy McKenna played in the New York/New Jersey All-Star Classic. Something to look out for might be some of the Florida all-star games, considering we have five incoming athletes from Florida.

One interesting news opinion that I stumbled across deals with the Ivy League's president meetings. Like the Patriot League, the Ivy League has "presidential control" of the league and this carries with it certain interesting side effects for the league - and as this Daily Pennsylvanian reporter reports. I'm wondering, is this guy talking about the Patriot League or Ivy League here?

It’s about that time of year when the ... presidents get together for their annual sit-down. That means that for everyone outside those doors, it’s about time to start the annual guessing game. What did they talk about? Who said what? What changes are in the works? Who’s behind them? But it seems like the dizzying speculation, high-stakes as it is, will inevitably end with a climactic pronouncement of I-Don’t-Know’s-On-Third.
Have I ever said anything similar to this? Perish the thought... (said the speculator-in-chief)

Finally, I'm very happy to report a sighting of DT Royce Morgan ('06), playing in Arena Football League af2 as a part of the Mahoning Valley Thunder:

A bright spot defensively for Mahoning Valley has been the play of tackle Royce Morgan, a rookie from Lehigh University who is in his first season in the league.

Against Manchester, Morgan had a sack (six yards) and forced two hurried throws, giving him 8 Ω sacks which places him eighth overall in the league in that category.

“Royce is a very good player who works extremely hard; someone who is passionate about what he does each and every time he comes to the arena. He sometimes wants to do too much,” Hold said.

“He always has a positive mindset and with the amount of adversity that we have faced this season, Royce is definitely the kind of player you want and need on the team right now,” Hold said.
Congratulations to Royce!
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