Lehigh Football Nation

In the NFL's strike-shortened 1982 season, the Washington Redskins had a major setback in their quest for the Super Bowl title: hall of fame wide receiver WR Art Monk was injured, and would miss their run in the playoffs. His teammates, receivers  WR Virgil Seay , WR Charlie Brown and WR Alvin Garrett , along with  TE Rick Walker and TE Don Warren , wanted to have a tribute to Monk if they scored a touchdown in the playoffs.  In a game against the Detroit Lions which the Redskins would win 31-7, this "Fun" Bunch performed a choreographed high-five in the end zone after their score.  Fans and media would enthusiastically approve - even if the NFL didn't, and would make their infamous ban on "excessive" end zone celebrations in 1984 - and the "Fun" Bunch was born. Today, there are plenty of rules discouraging "excessive" celebrations after touchdowns, even at the college level.  But the chest-bump of senior PR/CB Jarard "Main Ma...

At Grace Hall - a venue better known for wrestling matches (and - back in the day - varsity basketball) - Lehigh recently held a gala event to celebrate the end of Lehigh's "Shine Forever" campaign.  By anyone's yardstick this donation campaign has been an incredible success, raising $508 million - $8 million over the target. If you're an alum, you may look at this information, smile, and go about your day and not think about it anymore.  But if you're a fan of Lehigh Athletics, there's also plenty to celebrate when you look further at the numbers.  That's because the success of "Shine Forever" will also benefit the athletes currently at the university, too.  (more)

Quick hit: I stumbled upon the following article about the story of Jim Mahlbacher and the memorial scholarship fund his family still sponsors: Reilly, who lives in Lewes, said that, after her son died, she got together with former Lehigh football coach John Whitehead to set up a memorial scholarship fund in her son's name. Whitehead, who is deceased, helped her set up the fund so a student athlete would receive proceeds from it in addition to any other scholarship money they would be awarded. The first award was given in 1986. ... "The fund is now up to a market value of $276,649," Reilly said. "The interest is providing help ... to two football players every year." Reilly said the fund continues to grow because of tremendous support and fundraising efforts, headed by Phil McGinniss, of Dover. "I receive a note of thanks each year from the fund's recipients, and I must say I am so proud of the quality young men receiving the award," Reilly...