Lehigh Football Nation

(Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Live)

It's 48 days until the start of the 2013 season.  It also means we've just hit the under-six week mark for opening weekend as well!

At no. 48, we find senior FB Sean Farrell as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

(Photo Credit: The Express-Times)

When it comes to Lehigh football players, even as freshmen there's a special place in the hearts of fans for the local products that choose to go to Lehigh after playing high school ball locally.

At no. 49, we find incoming freshman LB Evan Kauffman as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.  He comes from Freedom High School, situated about halfway between Lehigh and Lafayette,

50 days!  50 days!  50 days!  The halfway point is here!

At no. 50, we find junior DL Reed Remington as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

Here at LFN we continue our march towards the start of the Lehigh football season, which is only 51 days away. 51 days!

At no. 51, we find junior LB Jared Heschke as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

(Photo Credit: NorthJersey.com)

Here at LFN we continue our march towards the start of the Lehigh football season, which is only 52 days away

At no. 52, we find sophomore DL Greg Palma as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

I really thought I'd have been over it by now, but I'm not.

Last year's Lehigh football team, who went 10-1, was denied an at-large spot to the FCS playoffs, becoming the first school with 10 Division I wins to be denied the honor since the playoff field expanded from 16 teams.

How did this happen?

The most common complaint from some Lehigh fans and many other FCS fans was that Lehigh's "schedule strength" in 2012 simply was not cutting it when comparing them to other at-large candidates like New Hampshire, Wofford, or Illinois State.

Is it true that Lehigh scheduled themselves out of a playoff game last season - and will this season's Lehigh schedule make it any easier to qualify as an at-large team should the Mountain Hawks be in that position again?

(Photo Credit: Mentor Patch)

As of 12:30 PM today, the counter passed over to 53 days until Lehigh's home opener versus Central Connecticut State.

As such, we continue our day countdown towards the football season.

Today, we highlight No. 69, incoming freshman OL Brandon Short.

54 days until Lehigh suits up against the Blue Devils.  54 days!

At 54, we find another team captaion in  senior LB Nigel Muhammad as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.