Lehigh Football Nation

I always enjoy watching the Patriot League men's championship game every year. Colgate faces American this afternoon (5:00PM, ESPN2) to determine who will be going to the big dance. I love watching it, even if Lehigh's not involved. There's something about watching the game, in a real arena with approachable players. There simply is something soul-sucking watching the ACC quarterfinals, where the sixth-best team is hoping to make the tournament with a late run with uber-talented players who have underperformed most of the year. Contrast the game on ESPN2 before ours - the Miami/Virginia Tech game - to the Patriot League championship, and the difference couldn't be more stark. (You'll probably get a chance to watch this game, unfortunately - if history is any guide, no matter how insurmountable the lead, ESPN2 will probably again pre-empt the beginning of the Patriot League final to televise the agonizing end of the quarterfinal game. Ever feel like a second-cl...

There's been some movement in the world of Lehigh football recently. Quiet movement, but movement nonetheless. First, the Mountain Hawks quietly announced the results of their football banquet a few weeks ago. Over 300 people attended this event to celebrate the achievements of the seniors last year, sponsored by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership. Congratulations to all the award winners: Program Awards: Alexander G. Hahalis (top lineman): senior OL Jimmy Kehs Barry Fetterman (courage, dedication): senior TE Joe Sutherland James P. McConologue (all football): senior C John Reese John C. Whitehead “Big LU” (leadership, performance): senior FS Ernest Moore Scholar-Athlete: senior WR Pete Donchez Archibald Johnson Cup (team MVP): junior LB Tim Diamond Position Awards: Offensive Line: senior OL Jimmy Kehs Offensive Back: senior QB Sedale Threatt Receiver: junior WR Sekou Yansane Defensive Line: junior DL Brian Jackson Defensive Back: senior DB Brannan Thomas Linebacker: sophomore LB M...

Yesterday over at the Big Green Alert blog Bruce released a riveting Q&A with Chris Lincoln, author of the riveting book " Playing The Game " about the cutthroat world of Ivy League recruiting. It's a highly recommended read. They talk about a plethora of subjects: the "Amaker Affair", next year's retirement of the executive director of the Ivy League, Jeff Orleans, and the new aid policies being put in place by Harvard and Yale. Of most interest to followers of the Patriot League is this juicy question: Whether it's a love-hate thing is debatable, but The Patriot League and Ivy League definitely have a relationship. Will this give the Ivies the clear upper hand and if so, would you anticipate the Patriots would finally add football scholarships? Adding football scholarships is expensive. At $45,000 a year per student-athlete, that’s $1.8 million a year for 40 players, $2.7 million a year for 60 players. How will Lehigh alumni feel about that? What...

In a game that was played four hours late in an entirely different venue, the Lady Hawks' domination by Holy Cross continued, this time with a heart-wrenching 46-44 defeat ending with a block of sophomore G Alex Ross at the buzzer. At 18-13, though, the season can't be considered a disappointment at all: and with only three graduating seniors, the future couldn't look brighter for next year. The big news out of the weekend comes from wrestling, where 157 lb senior Dave Nakasone upset top seed Jordan Leen to become the surprise individual EIWA Champion in that weight class. By doing so he punched his ticket for the nationals in St. Louis, along with 174 lb freshman Alex Caruso (4th place) and 184 lb sophomore Manuel Schubert (an amazing 4th place). With wild cards in 133 lb sophomore Seth Ciasulli (5th) and 149 lb junior Trevor Chinn (5th), Lehigh not only had one EIWA champion but also had five qualifiers for nationals - something that may have seemed impossible ...

First, congratulations to the Lady Hawks for enacting some revenge over Lafayette 62-51, avenging two regular-season defeats to the Leopards and advancing to the Patriot League semifinals. At 3:45PM Sunday, the Lady Hawks will take on the *other* team that swept them during the regular season: the Holy Cross Crusaders. And congratulations to the wrestlers still alive in the EIWA Championships: Winner's Bracket: 133 lb Seth Ciasulli 149 lb Trevor Chinn 157 lb Dave Nakasone Lower Bracket: 165 lb Matt Galante 174 lb Alex Caruso 184 lb Manuel Schubert Lots to root for on Sunday. Should be exciting! And - lo and behond - there is indeed a shot (a long one, but a shot) at six wrestlers at nationals.

Saturday and Sunday are packed with Lehigh sports to follow. Although the men's basketball team have been eliminated, the wrestling team is heading to Franklin & Marshall in nearby Lancaster, PA to wrestle in the EIWA championships. The games will be available with live audio from Lehighsports and live internet video from F&M , starting at 10:30AM Saturday with championship and consolation rounds starting 10:30AM Sunday morning. Historically, Lehigh has been a national power in wrestling and has won a whopping 34 team championships. Lehigh's team, loaded with underclassmen, could be a dark horse for the championship this year, but with daunting Penn and Navy teams in their way it will be a tough go. As important as the championships will be the opportunity to have Lehigh wrestlers qualify individually for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO later in March. Last year Lehigh qualified seven wrestlers and hope to do so again. This year, Lehigh is hoping to get (m...

As the season of the men's basketball team ended with a thud in a 64-61 overtime loss - again - to Army , an announcement from a mid-major basketball powerhouse concerning my favorite sport at Lehigh - football. Drake announced today that they will be traveling to Murray Goodman Stadium to be our home opener this year . Drake, out of the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, last year became the first-ever Division I non-scholarship team to beat a fully funded FCS scholarship team when they beat Illinois State 27-24 in their season opener last year. "We are excited about going to Bethlehem, Pa. to play one of the great Division FCS programs in this country," said first-year Drake coach Chris Creighton. "We are also happy to announce that Lehigh will be coming here to Des Moines in 2010." Teams from the PFL have made great strides recently, with Dayton ruining the homecoming of last year's Patriot League Champion Fordham 31-24 , so it should be more of a...