Lehigh Football Nation

For the second straight season, Lehigh's football team will be playing after Thanksgiving. And for the second straight season, Lehigh will also be playing in a second-round game in the FCS Playoffs. For these two reasons alone, there is plenty to be "thankful" for this holiday season, for Lehigh fans and players alike.  As we run-up to the playoff showdown against Towson, though, it's worth taking a look back from where Lehigh was, and where they are now.

What Went Right When Lehigh won in 2006 against our tougher opponents, it involved our defense getting turnovers. Our 20-13 win versus Ivy League Champion Harvard was won after junior LB Tim Diamond stripped the ball from Harvard quarterback Chris Pizzotti and junior DL Paul Bode rumbled the ball into the end zone for the win. Similarly, senior DB Brannan Thomas ' two interceptions were the difference in Lehigh's early 32-21 victory over last year's Ivy League co-Champions Princeton. On defense, we found our biggest playmaker on defense in Diamond. He would finish the year with 107 tackles. 2 1/2 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 recovered fumbles, and that aforementioned game-winning strip. Junior DL Brian Jackson also had a great year with 63 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks, and another standout was sophomore LB Matt Cohen with a team-leading 13 tackles for loss including three sacks. Another part of the team that really shined was special teams. Thomas' 54 yard p...

Patriot League Media day, which I will be attending on Wednesday, is oh-so-close to being here. I think I finally realized this on Friday, when it dawned on me that I hadn't released my annual review of the offseason for all the teams of the Patriot League. (Yes, carney2 on the Any Given Saturday board offered his review about five months before I did, but maybe I'm not as bright as that ol' curmudgeon is.) I can think of no better way to usher in Media Day - and, by extension, the 2007 season - by posting my offseason review. Basically, it's your guide to what's been happening up to this point in the Patriot League. BUCKNELL Coaching Changes: Defensive coordinator Jared Backus jumped to Temple to become their defensive line coach, while Andrew Cohen returned to the Bison to take over instead (coming from Columbia where he helped propel the Lions’ defense lead the way to a 5-5 mark). Two more assistants also left – WR coach Devin Fitzsimmons (now at Kansas ...