Lehigh Football Nation

On a picture-perfect Saturday in the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh's defense showed exactly how much further along they were than the offense in a lopsided 52-24 victory. It was a great day to be at Lehigh and to see the pads on and hear the hits once again. It was great to roam the sidelines again, taking pictures, chatting on the sidelines, and talking to some of the soon-to-be alumni out there. It was a great crowd there, and after the game, the South Side Boosters had a fantastic post-game spread for everyone - including the best pierogies my wife and I have ever tasted. (My wife was also raving about the orzo salad, which played well with her Greek heritage; my son, the grapes and cookies.) The South Side boosters are the best! It really put the exclamation point on a great day. With my regular computer in mothballs until we move into the new house, it will take me a few days to upload the photos - but look for them soon, as well as some exclusive post-game commentary from coach Coen

You couldn't have a more perfect day tomorrow for the annual Brown/White game (1:30PM, Murray Goodman Stadium). With a forecast of 80 degrees and mostly sunny, it won't be too much of a leap of imagination to think of yourself on September 6th at Drake. And with the IronPigs taking their huge losing streak to Syracuse this weekend , the Brown/White game will take center stage. The goings-on at Coca-Cola park, the announcement of a new head wrestling coach and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama coming to town have knocked the Mountain Hawks from the headlines these days. But here at Lehigh Football Nation, I'll be heading to Murray Goodman to take exclusive pictures, catch up with coach Coen and get a glimpse at what we have for 2008. The South Side Boosters will also be there at the game with refreshments and hotdogs after the game. It will be fun! Here are some random thoughts about tomorrow, and what I'll be looking for. "O"-line improvement. The linch

As Patriot League fans, it seems like many discussions about our league end up with a discussion about the "place of athletics" at our universities. It's a by-product of the rules that our schools have chosen to follow in terms of athletics, following in the footsteps of the Ivy League to ensure academic standards. What I haven't seen before, though, is a published discussion about these issues with the difference-makes in a college administration. This forum in the Holy Cross alumni magazine winter issue does just that with Holy Cross' president (Fr. Michael C. McFarland, S.J.), influential vice-presidents (like Frank Vellaccio), the athletic director (Dick Regan) and a host of other people. The fascinating four-page look at athletics, including a frank discussion of football scholarships, is a must-read for many reasons, not least because it articulates the thoughts of the person whose decision matters the most in Rev. McFarland. I'd encourage you to read a