Lehigh Football Nation

(Photo courtesy No Doc Loans) As the full extent of the cost crisis in higher education hits home, colleges and universities have to make extremely tough choices. Dartmouth College recently made one this past weekend - one that affects all students currently attending the Hanover, NH college, but also the members of the football team: Dartmouth College announced Monday that it is restoring loans to the aid packages of students from families whose incomes exceed $75,000 -- ending a no-loans policy that was announced with much fanfare two years ago. Dartmouth will continue to exclude loans from the aid packages of those with smaller family incomes and will continue to be "need blind" in admissions, meaning that financial need will not be taken into consideration in admissions decisions.  Looks like some kids may need to refamiliarize themselves with a new type of institution - banks.  (more)

It started out as a rumor.  The Citadel faithful, home of former Lehigh head football coach Kevin Higgins , were unhappy with their disappointing 4-7 record in the 2009 season.  Higgins, according to this article in the Charleston Post & Courier ,   was going to take a "hard look at things" after their final game of the year, an ugly 13-6 loss to Georgia Southern.    The "hard look" actually ended up with Higgins' defensive coordinator (Lehigh veteran Issac Collins , who promptly was named head coach at Division III Widener ) and offensive coordinator (former Lehigh player and offensive mastermind, Dave Cecchini ) being shown the door. Today, however, came the bombshell from the Morning Call 's Keith Groller .  Citing a reliable "source close to the Citadel", the rumor is that something "is in the works" to bring Cech back to Lehigh.  (more)

Two weeks ago at this time I wrote the following about DB Tracy Porter after his franchise-saving interception of QB Brett Favre : Favre made a mistake, but Porter made the play.  He saw the low throw, and saw precisely what he needed to do - anticipate, and get both hands under the ball.  The announcers seemed to put all the blame on Favre - a knock on him that he can't get it done anymore, that maybe he's a bit to arrogant.  That may be - but Mr. Porter deserves a boatload more credit than anyone his given him. I'll remember the coin flip in overtime, the pass interference call, the gutty drive, the leap by RB Pierre Thomas to get the first down, and the 40 yard FG by K Garrett Hartley .  But the image I'm going to have of this game forever is going to be Porter's interception - stepping in front of that low pass, both hands under it, and then taking off in a fit of adrenaline, giving the Saints a chance to win the NFC championship. It's incredib...

The picture to your left is me, on November 8th, 1992.  Fresh out of Lehigh and working in Connecticut, I paid a visit to my grandparents up in Marblehead and that afternoon took in a Saints game. The Jim Mora -led Saints were well on their way to another postseason appearance at this point.  At 6-2 - and only with losses versus the powerhouse Eagles and 49ers at this point in the season - the trip to 0-8 New England promised to be a pleasure trip right before a brutal trip to San Francisco.  For a Saints fan like myself, it most definitely was.  (more)

Despite the amount of "signing day" hoopla" - and there will be some more next week -there's an awful lot of winter sports taking center stage this weekend, with the final home wrestling duals before the EIWA championships and two huge basketball games this weekend - if any of them get played due to the impending "storm of the century".  (At least down here, closer to Philadelphia, that's what they're calling it.) There's that football game in Miami, too, yet to play as well.  But before that, we have a ton of huge events at Stabler.  Let's all hope the snow holds off and we can "play two" at at Stabler, shall we?  (more)

My intent for today's blog posting was to comb the world-wide-interwebs for pictures of signing day ceremonies involving Lehigh players - which ended up being a harder assignment than you may imagine. For example, take the picture on your left there (courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer ) of the graduating class of St. Xavier Prep, which was called "one of the best senior groups in more than two decades" .  How hard is it to identify incoming DL Nigel Muhhamed , standing first from the left, with his Lehigh cap? I didn't find too many other pictures - but I did find some press articles detailing some of the incoming recruiting class that is scheduled to be announced sometime next week.  All of that is detailed below.  (more)

For many football teams across the nation, tomorrow is indeed "signing day".  High school auditoriums right now are getting festooned with bunting, perhaps, or at a bare minimum streamers.  Some are preparing highlight reels to air as the athletes - with local press in tow - sign pieces of paper committing themselves to a school. Though Patriot League schools are not committed to announce their recruiting classes on "signing day" - and, as a matter of fact, sometimes get some gems by being patient and waiting until after signing day to get more athletes - there are some thoughts I'm having as we find out exactly the names of the incoming football recruiting classes of 2014.  (And, of course, you can keep track of the my ongoing list the the confirmed Patriot League recruiting classes here .)  (more)