Lehigh Football Nation

It's a season where Lehigh is supposed to be turning the page from a disappointing 2014.  Every player interviewed so far has said so, from senior TE Chris Ruhl, junior QB Nick Shafnisky and the rest of the team. In a strange sort of way, 2014 was buried by a different sort of numeric combination. The Mountain Hawks would win their first game of the year by the poetic score of 20-14, in the process finally putting the final shovelfuls of earth on top of last year's disappointing season. It's not so much the win but the way it was won - won with a strong defensive effort that very nearly shut out the Blue Devils in the first half, won with a game-clinching drive that ate up the clock when a stalled drive might have opened the door for more, won with a kicking game that turned in critical points that were the difference between winning and losing. Last year, Lehigh found ways to lose.  Tonight, the young Mountain Hawks found a way to come together and finish the g

We break down the Central Connecticut State game - and we give our fearless prediction, below the flip. Thinking of openers and CCSU this week made me think of Lehigh's 2013 season. That was an epic overtime game, where Lehigh overcame a 20 point 4th quarter deficit to overcome the Blue Devils in double overtime 51-44 . While most probably remember the record-breaking receiving day from WR Lee Kurfis , I dug deeper.

Offseasons are long after season-ending losses to Lafayette, but it seems like no game after a Lafayette loss has been as anticipated as this one. All offseason - and I've been as guilty of this as anyone - there's always been question for the Mountain Hawk football team concerning a football game played last November: "Did you actually watch a tape the 150th Rivalry game in Yankee Stadium last November? "What was your reaction?  Did you toss the DVD out the window, or set it on fire?" "Do you think about that loss every day, or simply once a week?" This Friday up at New Britain, Lehigh football players and their fans will finally have something to talk about that doesn't involve that infernal game in the Bronx last November. Oddly enough, they are facing a team that comes from a similar place.  The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, 3-9 last season and in their second season under head coach Pete Rossamondo , wants to erase the me

Coastal Carolina is nuts. The Sun Belt is crazy. These will not be among the official statements you will be reading today in regards to Coastal Carolina's whirlwind acceptance of their athletic program into the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt did not make this decision because Coastal Carolina was the most qualified candidate.  They were not convinced by an impressive attendance number or a plan of action that stated exactly how the Chanticleers were going to be able to pay for an expensive, permanent upgrade to the costs and expenses of FBS football. They picked them because they were in the right place, and were willing to go. And that's precisely why someone at the NCAA needs to put a stop to the the madness that is the current structure for drafting FBS teams.

Lehigh QB Nick Shafnisky (Morning Call) Junior QB Nick Shafnisky spent Patriot League media day telling the gathered media about haters drinking the haterade. Well, he didn't exactly say it like that .  But he did talk about proving the haters wrong. "I love having people either be there for me or count me out," he said.  "Personally, I love it all.  I love haters.  I was just saying to my dad - the more people are talking bad about you, the more people you have to prove wrong.  I love proving people wrong, and making my coaches from high school proud." Now finally healthy, Shafnisky finally has the chance to prove a lot of people wrong - those that doubted his ability to recover from a Rivalry game he'd rather forget , those that thought he might not get over the injury that severely limited him last season, those that picked Lehigh to finish fifth , sixth , or even seventh in the Patriot League. Despite an infections optimism that carried all

It doesn't take an Engineer to see that much is expected of Lehigh football's underclassmen this season. As Lehigh football fans start looking at the season opener, a mere 5 days away, they're looking at their theoretic depth charts and see some recurring themes: Freshman.  Freshman.  Sophomore.  Freshman.  Sophomore. Football is the ultimate team game, where experience counts in terms of knowing what it takes to win Division I football games.  Yet up and down Lehigh's roster, it's very evident: to win in 2015, head coach Andy Coen will be relying on his underclassmen in a big way - underclassmen who will be a big part of this season. "Thery're going to get their opportunities early," coach Coen told me during Patriot League Media day earlier this month.  "I think we have 54-56 guys that are going to be freshman, sophomore-level eligibility.  And there are going to be some kids from that freshman class that are going to play - that'