Lehigh Football Nation

Ever have such a good idea, that you're amazed you never came up with it before? That's what happened to me yesterday, when I discovered I could break up my game previews into two different blog postings: one for a more general look at the game, and the other a technical breakdown of the opposition. Below the flip, see Holy Cross broken down, as well as my "Keys to the Game" - and, of course, the "Fearless Prediction".

It's been a crazy week so far in the Lehigh Valley, with the freak October snowstorm that made its way through the area, and the resulting power outages on campus that continue to this moment. But that hasn't stopped the local press from churning out a host of different articles about the big Patriot League clash between Lehigh and Colgate this weekend. Even the relatively silent media around Utica took notice - with an actual written postgame story, and an actual quote from a Colgate player who played in the game . Who said gumshoe reporting is dying north of Binghamton and east of Buffalo?

Princeton is known for a lot of things.  A founding member of the "Ivy League", of course.  World-class academics.  The team everyone hates to play in the NCAA Tournament in basketball.  The backdoor pass.  Co-inventor of the game of college football.  And a dominating college football team in the early days of college football. But Princeton is also know for something else - their eating "clubs". "For many juniors and seniors, Princeton's 10 historic eating 'clubs' -- the first opened in 1879 -- offer a hub for dining and social life. The clubs, which are located in architecturally distinctive houses along Prospect Avenue, serve daily meals prepared by a head chef and staff," Princeton website proudly tells us. Lehigh's win this weekend illustrates a dirty little secret about the world of collegiate athletics, too.  It's a series of "clubs", too.   (more)

(Photo Credit: Rick Sinclair/The Worcester Telegram & Gazette) If you look at the previews and the musings of FCS pundits across the land, you'd think that the Patriot League title race was most likely going to come down to Lehigh or Colgate. But there was another team last year which concluded the year winning three of their last four games - including one over the team who has the preseason superstar for the Patriot League, senior RB Nate Eachus . Holy Cross doesn't have a lot of big names on the squad. They don't have the record-setting quarterback from last year, QB Dominic Randolph , that would make them a sexy pick for the title. But what they do have is a solid team without a lot of overt weaknesses that make them an especially dangerous team in 2011. (more)

Most years, it's a gimme to pick last year's champions to repeat the following year.  But admittedly, last year wasn't just any old year for the Holy Cross Crusaders. Last year,  QB Dominic Randolph , currently in camp with the NFL's New York Giants, was at the helm of the Crusader offense, well on his way towards shattering every significant passing record in the Patriot League.  His choice to return for his final year of eligibility sent shockwaves through the rest of the league, as it should have.  His decision making ability and skill to find the weak spot on the opposing defense was unbelievable. It might be understandable to believe that the loss of Randolph to the NFL would cause a dropoff.  But a dropoff to being picked 4th in the preseason rankings, behind Lehigh and Lafayette?  4th, with two of Randolph's biggest receiving targets returning? 4th, with the preseason player of the year returning on defense? "I guess we'll have to prove it on t...