Archive For The “2017” Category

LFN’s Top Blog Reads of 2017

By |

LFN’s Top Blog Reads of 2017

We’re approaching the end of 2017, and it’s been an interesting year where Lehigh football fans have experienced a multitude of emotions: anger; sadness; redemption, and, finally, joy.

As you all know, the Mountain Hawks came back from the precipice of a disastrous season to come back and win back-to-back Patriot League championships and back-to-back FCS Playoff appearances.

In that vein, I thought I’d share the best and most-read LFN pieces from last season, from No. 10 to No. 1.

Going through all my stuff from the past year, these were the pieces that really stood out to me.
Read more »

Read more »

LFN’s Top Blog Reads of 2017

By |

LFN’s Top Blog Reads of 2017

We’re approaching the end of 2017, and it’s been an interesting year where Lehigh football fans have experienced a multitude of emotions: anger; sadness; redemption, and, finally, joy.

As you all know, the Mountain Hawks came back from the precipice of a disastrous season to come back and win back-to-back Patriot League championships and back-to-back FCS Playoff appearances.

In that vein, I thought I’d share the best and most-read LFN pieces from last season, from No. 10 to No. 1.

Going through all my stuff from the past year, these were the pieces that really stood out to me.
Read more »

Read more »

Pelletier, Casey, Mayes, And Lehigh Offense Put On A Show In 59-29 Loss To Stony Brook

By |

Pelletier, Casey, Mayes, And Lehigh Offense Put On A Show In 59-29 Loss To Stony Brook

(Photo Credit: Alec Turner c/o Lehigh Athletics)

For those that care about these things, Lehigh entered the first round FCS playoff matchup 21 1/2 point underdogs.

And if we’re being fair, that was probably the right number.

The Seawolves were 9-2, nationally ranked with seven conference wins in the tough CAA and one of their losses coming to a very strong FBS team in South Florida.  In contrast, unranked Lehigh came into the game 5-6 and only were here because they upset Colgate 41-38 on the road and won enough Patriot League conference games to win the autobid.

Yet a young Lehigh team was game to put their best foot forward and to have a heroic sendoff for potential NFL prospect senior WR Troy Pelletier, and in that, the game was a rousing success.

With junior QB Brad Mayes expertly picking apart one of the top defenses in FCS, time after time he’d find Troy for reception after reception, each one highlighting his impressive skill set as an audition for the next level.

It wouldn’t be enough to win the game, but it was enough to keep the Mountain Hawks within striking distance until the Seawolves would pull away in the 4th quarter.

It was also enough to establish Troy as the all-time greatest receiver in Patriot League history.
Read more »

Read more »

Pelletier, Casey, Mayes, And Lehigh Offense Put On A Show In 59-29 Loss To Stony Brook

By |

Pelletier, Casey, Mayes, And Lehigh Offense Put On A Show In 59-29 Loss To Stony Brook

(Photo Credit: Alec Turner c/o Lehigh Athletics)

For those that care about these things, Lehigh entered the first round FCS playoff matchup 21 1/2 point underdogs.

And if we’re being fair, that was probably the right number.

The Seawolves were 9-2, nationally ranked with seven conference wins in the tough CAA and one of their losses coming to a very strong FBS team in South Florida.  In contrast, unranked Lehigh came into the game 5-6 and only were here because they upset Colgate 41-38 on the road and won enough Patriot League conference games to win the autobid.

Yet a young Lehigh team was game to put their best foot forward and to have a heroic sendoff for potential NFL prospect senior WR Troy Pelletier, and in that, the game was a rousing success.

With junior QB Brad Mayes expertly picking apart one of the top defenses in FCS, time after time he’d find Troy for reception after reception, each one highlighting his impressive skill set as an audition for the next level.

It wouldn’t be enough to win the game, but it was enough to keep the Mountain Hawks within striking distance until the Seawolves would pull away in the 4th quarter.

It was also enough to establish Troy as the all-time greatest receiver in Patriot League history.
Read more »

Read more »

Lehigh Battles Hard, But Gets Blown Out 59-29 To Stony Brook In 1st Round of FCS Playoffs

By |

Lehigh Battles Hard, But Gets Blown Out 59-29 To Stony Brook In 1st Round of FCS Playoffs

It was marginally better than last seasons 1st round loss to New Hampshire, but it still wasn’t close.After holding Stony Brook scoreless in the first quarter and battling back to a 24-14 deficit at halftime, Stony Brooks’ 2-play, 77 yard drive where Q…

Read more »

Lehigh Battles Hard, But Gets Blown Out 59-29 To Stony Brook In 1st Round of FCS Playoffs

By |

Lehigh Battles Hard, But Gets Blown Out 59-29 To Stony Brook In 1st Round of FCS Playoffs

It was marginally better than last seasons 1st round loss to New Hampshire, but it still wasn’t close.After holding Stony Brook scoreless in the first quarter and battling back to a 24-14 deficit at halftime, Stony Brooks’ 2-play, 77 yard drive where Q…

Read more »

Lehigh Battles Hard, But Gets Blown Out 59-29 To Stony Brook In 1st Round of FCS Playoffs

By |

Lehigh Battles Hard, But Gets Blown Out 59-29 To Stony Brook In 1st Round of FCS Playoffs

It was marginally better than last seasons 1st round loss to New Hampshire, but it still wasn’t close.After holding Stony Brook scoreless in the first quarter and battling back to a 24-14 deficit at halftime, Stony Brooks’ 2-play, 77 yard drive where Q…

Read more »

How Will I Watch Lehigh At Stony Brook in the FCS Playoffs This Weekend? Plus Playoff Picks

By |

How Will I Watch Lehigh At Stony Brook in the FCS Playoffs This Weekend?  Plus Playoff Picks

For whatever reason, you didn’t make the trip to Stony Brook, New York.  You’ve popped your popcorn, iced your Yuenglings, and put the meatballs in the crockpot – and then you panic.

How do I watch the game?  What is ESPN3?  Can I watch it on my TV?  Do I need to subscribe to something?  WHAT DO I DO???

Never fear.  LFN’s here to help.

Read more »

Read more »

How Will I Watch Lehigh At Stony Brook in the FCS Playoffs This Weekend? Plus Playoff Picks

By |

How Will I Watch Lehigh At Stony Brook in the FCS Playoffs This Weekend?  Plus Playoff Picks

For whatever reason, you didn’t make the trip to Stony Brook, New York.  You’ve popped your popcorn, iced your Yuenglings, and put the meatballs in the crockpot – and then you panic.

How do I watch the game?  What is ESPN3?  Can I watch it on my TV?  Do I need to subscribe to something?  WHAT DO I DO???

Never fear.  LFN’s here to help.

Read more »

Read more »

1st Round FCS Playoffs Game Preview: Lehigh at Stony Brook: Playoff Return To Long Island For First Time Since ’99

By |

1st Round FCS Playoffs Game Preview: Lehigh at Stony Brook: Playoff Return To Long Island For First Time Since ’99

I remember the last game Lehigh played on Long Island; I was there. 

It also happened to be a FCS Playoff, or back then, I-AA Playoff, game. 

It wasn’t against Stony Brook, who finished their very first season in I-AA that year with a 5-5 record and a win over St. John’s (NY), 28-6.

It was against a team that used to be the biggest college football program on Long Island – an East Coast independent, Hofstra, that was led by head coach Joe Gardi.  Like Stony Brook, Hofstra had transitioned to I-AA football, but they had done so much earlier, and even with the challenge of scheduling as an independent, had developed into a playoff team quickly.

Hofstra used to have a national presence on the football stage.  Jets fans marveled at the diminutive WR Wayne Chrebet, and fell in love with his story – the local boy who led the Dutchmen in receiving, but only was on the Jets because he hustled his way into a tryout.  Legend has it that the security guard at Jets training camp stopped him on the Hofstra campus, not believing that he could possibly be a NFL wide receiver at 5 foot 10 – despite his success on that same field.

That was a big part of the story of Hofstra’s football program, and 1999, when Lehigh played the Dutchmen in Long Island might have been Hofstra’s peak not only as a football program but as an athletic program.  Since then, Stony Brook has passed Hofstra in about every measurable way, but in 1999, Hofstra, who was still looking for a football conference after the Patriot League would still not offer them an invite, loomed as Lehigh’s opponent.

Read more »

Read more »

Skip to toolbar