Lehigh Football Nation

(Photo Credit: Suburban One Sports) As of 12:30 PM today, the counter passed over to 41 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. 41, incoming  freshman FB Mackenzie (Kenny) Crawford .

Preseason training camp is just around the corner for Lehigh, and it's a mere 42 days until the Mountain Hawks' season opener vs. Central Connecticut State. At no. 42, we find  senior LB John Mahoney  as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

Two blog posts in a day?  Awesome.  Miss the countdown to the start of the 2013 season?  No way. At no. 43, we find  sophomore P/K Austin Devine  as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

The talk around collegiate athletics is "Division 4", after "Big 5" commissioners  Mike Silve, John Swofford and Bob Bowlsby floated the idea of a new subdivision over the past few weeks . Normally the talk of the big conferences breaking off from the rest of FBS would elicit so much yawning from the likes of Patriot League schools. Unless, of course, you're on the table for Division 4 membership. No, this isn't a typo, or a crazy theory.  Sportswriters are contemplating what Division 4 might look like, and the Patriot League is being contemplated as a possible league to be a part of that subdivision.

(Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Live) Over the years, the schools of the Patriot League have had a reputation as being slow, contemplative, and not exactly proactive when it comes to matters of expansion or conference movements. A recent blog post from an odd source, however, shows how untrue this reputation is, at least in regards to the swirling winds around collegiate realignment the past few years. From the Shades of 48 blog, comes detailed freedom-of-information act information from William and Mary that exposes quite a bit about the process that goes on when a school and a conference are mulling over a potential move. It also shows how seriously William and Mary thought about leaving the CAA and joining the Patriot League.  In all sports.

(Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Live) Work?  Yes, Virginia, and plenty of it.  Does that stop the countdown to the beginning of Lehigh football season?  Hell, no.  Only 44 days away. At no. 44, we find  junior TE Tyler Coyle  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 - incredibly- only 45 short days away. At no. 45, we find  senior LB Cody Raup  as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

(Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Live) The Royal Baby was born today, but here at LFN, we're waiting 46 days for the real excitement, the Lehigh football season, to come. And today, we celebrate someone who changed jersey numbers from No. 61. At no. 46, we find  senior LS Kyle Lechner  as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.

(Photo Credit: Monmouth Athletics) In a way, you really have to feel for the football players of the Monmouth football program. A year ago today, Monmouth was preparing for a season where the Hawks were going to be in competition for the NEC title. A challenging schedule beckoned, with a trip to nationally-ranked Lehigh and Rhode Island of the CAA heading to Kessler field, but there was a battle with teams like Albany, and nearby rival Wagner, for the NEC championship and an autobid to the FCS playoffs. But many had no way of knowing that Realignmentaggeddon would hit the Hawks, having them leave their longtime home, the NEC, and in the process find the Hawks scrambling for a new conference home. It might have even come about thanks to the Patriot League.

Here at LFN we continue our march towards the start of the Lehigh football season, which is only 47 short days away. At no. 47, we find  sophomore LB Cody Kondas  as our highlighted Lehigh football athlete in today's countdown.