Top 3 Choices for Out-of-Region FBS games

[ngineerParticipant]

I think playing one lower to mid-tier FBS school a year is doable once we are fully on scholarhsip. I agree playing major FBS schools is out of the question. While the pay day may be very nice, the propensity for a lot of injuries is great. Heck, look what happened to our season last year against Yale when we lost half the OL and an RB. MAC schools, though not ‘sexy’, would be competitive, and so long as expenses and some pay-day is there they should be pursued, too. But more interesting to play and eastern school with whom fans are more familiar.

[lfnadminKeymaster]

I hear what everyone is saying, then I think “wow, playing LSU, though” and it all goes out the window. Playing LSU would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I think the key is frequency, and opposition. I don’t want to play LSU every year, or just play Ole Miss for the hell of it. But once every four years? That’d be something.

There are a few of those once-in-a-lifetime type games that could be really interesting. Stanford, for example.

[toddcuddParticipant]

And I hear that, too. Tough call. Would be awesome, as a fan. And I bet the players would jump at the opportunity too – once in a lifetime. Risk scares me though. If it were to happen, I’d probably buy a plane ticket…

[TMHParticipant]

I’m wondering if I would really enjoy myself. If I wanted to attend an LSU game, I assume I can get a ticket somewhere. I still remember 1993, a year we won the Patriot League. We stepped up an notch to face then FCS powerhouse Idaho. There was some excitement prior to the game but the game itself was a disaster 77-14. I don’t remember it being a particularly good time. This year’s team will be quite young and coming off an awful season. What they need more than anything is some confidence. NYC was a big stage too but it left a bad taste in a lot of mouths. In 2 years, this big fresman class will be mature and Navy would be an excellent test.

BTW, Joe Alleva, a classmate was at Duke over 30 years, 10 as AD. I don’t seem to remember him providing Lehigh with games in virtually any sport. It comes a little bit of a surprise given Joe Sterret succeeded him under center. Just saying.

[RichHParticipant]

Agree that an LSU type team would give us momey and a stomping. Like ngineer I hope we concentrate on more local matchups.By Navy ,we will have not only a full 60 but we will have 3 classes of players. Andy’s first class had some good talent but the next 2 ars markedly better. Learning the tricks of schollie recruiting.
Still not a fan of MAC games. Yes,we would be more competitive with them and perhaps win a few. They are still full schollie FBS with 85 rides. Would rather play some SoCon teams and kick their butts.

[toddcuddParticipant]

That “bad taste” sticks with me too, TMH. To get national attention and get embarrassed doesn’t do us any good, I don’t think. I wouldn’t want to see us do ANY FBS games until we get the ship righted again. Navy timing sounds good to me, and just the right kind of match-up, too. I apparently wasn’t paying attention at the time of the ’93 Idaho game you mentioned – right after I graduated. Sounds like I’m glad I wasn’t paying attention, too. I’m guessing that would join our FAMU PIG game in hoops among my all-time low points.
Any of this fun with FBS talk is predicated on playing good football again.

[sundayamqbParticipant]

It’s one thing to play Army; another to play LSU. Heck, Yale and UNH are dangerous games for LU right now.

2018 at Navy? By that time hopefully we’ll have an all-scholly team and kids who stick with the program for four years. If not, it will be ugly.

I’d still rather see Lehigh play top-flight academic schools — there are plenty to play in FCS — and have no scholarships. Call me old-fashioned.

[RichHParticipant]

Fantasies,such as the premise of this thread,are only tagentionally connected to reality
Reality Navy is a timely start vs PL member which can be competitive. By then all our upperclasse will be schollie.Mayes will know the O,which s/b very well stocked with experience and talent.Andy has appeared to get the knack of schollie recruiting. The last 2 classes are markedly better. Still would like to see an FBS every other year .

[RichHParticipant]

A point of reference,Fordham is playing Hawaii in 2020.

[vanParticipant]

wish you didn’t bring up that Idaho game, I was living in eastern WA at the time and attended that fiaso with spouse and kids, ugh

[lfnadminKeymaster]

Going after regional FBS matchups are desirable (and something I’d love Joe to pursue), but the original topic was out-of-market type of games. I think everyone would love to go to see Lehigh play Penn State because it’s a car ride and you get to taste what it’s like to see Penn State. Same with Temple, Boston College… It’s when you go out of the area, though, where you start to really get into environments that are interesting.

That’s why the MAC games don’t totally interest me. They’re lacking in “event”. LSU, Stanford in the Rose Bowl – those are events. Not a good chance of a win, but they’re events.

[RichHParticipant]

Agree on MAC,and events are better Ls than an L to Kent St. Just looking at the debris we are still dealing with from last season,I would opt,for now ,on starting FBS in 18 and then every other year onward. I like FU’s Hawaii trip. That would be an event.
Event games ,if Joe contiues to seek one,must be infrequent. What are the odds of escaping one of those without numerous injuries. A high cost for an event.

[CHIP72Participant]

I realize the out-of-region Division I-A/FBS game is more of a dream scenario than a realistic scenario (mainly because an out-of-region Division I-A team wouldn’t get much out of playing Lehigh; they’d be better served playing a Division I-AA team in their own region), but honestly I don’t have much interest in seeing Lehigh play an out-of-region Division I-A team, even a marquee program. I’d much, much rather see Lehigh play schools like Temple, Rutgers, or the eastern service academies if they are going to play Division I-A foes.

[RichHParticipant]

Out of region games,I would prefer meeting power FCS teams like UNI,NDSU et al. Rutgers would be ideal given our history with them.

[jimk72Participant]

We actually have a decent record against Rutgers, 30-43-1. We beat them three in row my soph thru senior year (69,70,71). And as late as 1975.

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