Archive For September 9, 2015

My FCS Top 25 Vote, Week 1, 2015

By |

My FCS Top 25 Vote, Week 1, 2015

One last bit of house-cleaning to finish up before tackling the James Madison preview in earnest: below the flip, check out my FCS Top 25 vote below.

It could have been one of the hardest Top 25 votes I’ve ever done.  For example, which FCS team that upset an FBS team was I going to leave off?  Montana went 1-1 in their two games – where should they be ranked?  Finally – how much was I going to punish some teams (I’m looking at you, Villanova) for losing to FBS squads?
Read more »

Read more »

Family Visit To New Britain Promising For 2015 Season

By |

Family Visit To New Britain Promising For 2015 Season

It didn’t get a lot of publicity, but the theme of this year’s 2015 Mountain Hawk team was voted to be “family” by the members of the squad.

And indeed, “family” was how the game felt out in New Britain, Connecticut, where Lehigh took care of business against Central Connecticut State, 20-14.

The Blue Devils averaged 3,078 fans per home game in 2014.  With a Friday night opening, the presence of a lot of family members, and a healthy-sized Lehigh contingent, packed Arute Field held more than 5,100 people in the stands.

Everywhere you looked at the game there was family.  Including my dad.
Read more »

Read more »

Lehigh Defense Exorcises 2014 By Helping Beat Central Connecticut 20-14

By |

Lehigh Defense Exorcises 2014 By Helping Beat Central Connecticut 20-14

It’s a season where Lehigh is supposed to be turning the page from a disappointing 2014.  Every player interviewed so far has said so, from senior TE Chris Ruhl, junior QB Nick Shafnisky and the rest of the team.

In a strange sort of way, 2014 was buried by a different sort of numeric combination.

The Mountain Hawks would win their first game of the year by the poetic score of 20-14, in the process finally putting the final shovelfuls of earth on top of last year’s disappointing season.

It’s not so much the win but the way it was won – won with a strong defensive effort that very nearly shut out the Blue Devils in the first half, won with a game-clinching drive that ate up the clock when a stalled drive might have opened the door for more, won with a kicking game that turned in critical points that were the difference between winning and losing.

Last year, Lehigh found ways to lose.  Tonight, the young Mountain Hawks found a way to come together and finish the game when it was on the line.

Not a bad way to bury the corpse of last season.
Read more »

Read more »

Game Breakdown: Lehigh at Central Connecticut State, 9/4/2015

By |

Game Breakdown: Lehigh at Central Connecticut State, 9/4/2015

We break down the Central Connecticut State game – and we give our fearless prediction, below the flip.

Thinking of openers and CCSU this week made me think of Lehigh’s 2013 season.

That was an epic overtime game, where Lehigh overcame a 20 point 4th quarter deficit to overcome the Blue Devils in double overtime 51-44.

While most probably remember the record-breaking receiving day from WR Lee Kurfis, I dug deeper.
Read more »

Read more »

Game Preview: Lehigh at Central Connecticut State, 9/4/2015

By |

Game Preview: Lehigh at Central Connecticut State, 9/4/2015

Offseasons are long after season-ending losses to Lafayette, but it seems like no game after a Lafayette loss has been as anticipated as this one.

All offseason – and I’ve been as guilty of this as anyone – there’s always been question for the Mountain Hawk football team concerning a football game played last November:

“Did you actually watch a tape the 150th Rivalry game in Yankee Stadium last November?

“What was your reaction?  Did you toss the DVD out the window, or set it on fire?”

“Do you think about that loss every day, or simply once a week?”

This Friday up at New Britain, Lehigh football players and their fans will finally have something to talk about that doesn’t involve that infernal game in the Bronx last November.

Oddly enough, they are facing a team that comes from a similar place.  The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, 3-9 last season and in their second season under head coach Pete Rossamondo, wants to erase the memory of a six-game slide that doomed their 2014 season.

Read more »

Read more »

NCAA Should Stop Sun Belt’s Madness Of Taking Schools Unqualified For FBS

By |

NCAA Should Stop Sun Belt’s Madness Of Taking Schools Unqualified For FBS

Coastal Carolina is nuts.

The Sun Belt is crazy.

These will not be among the official statements you will be reading today in regards to Coastal Carolina’s whirlwind acceptance of their athletic program into the Sun Belt.

The Sun Belt did not make this decision because Coastal Carolina was the most qualified candidate.  They were not convinced by an impressive attendance number or a plan of action that stated exactly how the Chanticleers were going to be able to pay for an expensive, permanent upgrade to the costs and expenses of FBS football.

They picked them because they were in the right place, and were willing to go.

And that’s precisely why someone at the NCAA needs to put a stop to the the madness that is the current structure for drafting FBS teams.
Read more »

Read more »

Skip to toolbar