2014 Patriot League Awards

[smallcollegefbfan]

http://www.patriotleague.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112514aad.html

2014 All-Patriot League Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Nebrich, Fordham (Sr., QB)
Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Byers, Bucknell (Sr., LB)
Rookie of the Year: Chase Edmonds, Fordham (Fr., RB)
Coach of the Year: Joe Susan, Bucknell


First-Team All-Patriot League
OFFENSE
QB: Mike Nebrich, Fordham (Sr.)
RB: Chase Edmonds, Fordham (Fr.); Ross Scheuerman, Lafayette (Sr.)
FB/HB: Ed Pavalko, Colgate (Sr.)
WR: Sam Ajala, Fordham (Sr.); Will Carter, Bucknell (So.); Tebucky Jones Jr., Fordham (Sr.)
TE: Dan Light, Fordham (Sr.)
OL: Ned Daryoush, Lehigh (Sr.); Julie'n Davenport, Bucknell (So.); Mason Halter, Fordham (Sr.); Garrick Mayweather, Fordham (Jr.); Lonnie Rawles, Bucknell (Sr.); Matt Stolte, Fordham (Sr.)
RS: Brian Wetzel, Fordham (Sr.)
PK: Jonah Bowman, Colgate (So.); Michael Marando, Fordham (Sr.)


DEFENSE
DL: Demetrius Baldwin-Youngblood, Bucknell (Sr.); Brett Biestek, Fordham (Gr.); Alec May, Georgetown (Sr.); DeAndre Slate, Fordham (Sr.)
LB: Nick Alfieri, Georgetown (Sr.); Evan Byers, Bucknell (Sr.); Austin Hancock, Fordham (Sr.); Lee Marvel, Bucknell (Sr.)
DB: Mike Armiento, Colgate (Sr.); Jordan Chapman, Fordham (Sr.); Jared Roberts, Lafayette (Sr.); Matt Smalley, Lafayette (Jr.); Ian Williams, Fordham (Sr.)
P: Austin Devine, Lehigh (Jr.)


Second-Team All-Patriot League
OFFENSE
QB: Peter Pujals, Holy Cross (So.)
RB: Jo'el Kimpela, Georgetown (Jr.); C.J. Williams, Bucknell (So.)
WR: Troy Pelletier, Lehigh (Fr.); Brian Wetzel, Fordham (Sr.); Jake Wieczorek, Holy Cross (So.)
TE: John Quazza, Colgate (Jr.)
OL: Jay Knighton, Holy Cross (Sr.); Zack Mazur, Lafayette (Sr.); Joe Mizera, Fordham (Sr.); Mike Roland, Georgetown (Sr.)
RS: John Maddaluna III, Colgate (So.)


DEFENSE
DL: Abdullah Anderson, Bucknell (Fr.); Tim Newton, Lehigh (Sr.); Jordan Richardson, Georgetown (Sr.); Victor Steffen, Colgate (Jr.)
LB: Colton Caslow, Lehigh (So.); Kyle Diener, Colgate (So.); Kris Kent, Colgate (Sr.); De'Nard Pinckney, Fordham (Sr.)
DB: Jake Dixon, Fordham (Sr.); Clayton Ewell, Bucknell (Jr.); Ettian Scott, Georgetown (Jr.)
P: Joe Pavlik, Fordham (So.)
Notes: Because of ties in the voting, there are six OL, two PK and five DB on the first team.

[DFW HOYA]

Six selections from Georgetown vs. five from Lehigh and three from Holy Cross.

[PAllen]

It's never a good year when your punter is the best player on your team.

[bison137]

Fordham had 13 position players on the 1st team - 11 of whom are seniors. Add in two senior specialists and they have 13 seniors on 1st team. Other than Nebrich, can any others return.

FU also had 4 seniors on 2nd team, plus a soph punter.

[smallcollegefbfan]

It's never a good year when your punter is the best player on your team.

Probably 2nd best behind Daryoush.

[Pards Rule]

Good job by Ross Scheuerman!!

[bison137]

Breakdown by schools and class for the 49 position players (sr/jr/so/fr)

Fordham: 15/1/0/1
Bucknell: 4/1/3/1
Colgate: 4/2/0/0
Georget'n: 4/2/0/0
Lafayette: 3/1/0/0
Lehigh: 2/0/1/1
Holy Cross: 1/0/2/0

Only 9 frosh/sophs on either team. Shows how important experience/strength is. As the scholarship frosh and sophs become juniors and seniors, the league should be quite a bit better.

[Lehigh'98]

This is a good clue about the available talent issues at Lehigh. Compare this to say, 2011 and it's pretty obvious that the depth of talent just isn't there anymore.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

It would have probably been easier to mention the Fordham players that weren't on the 1st team offense.

It's a pretty good clue that a team is pretty damn good if their QB, RB, their top four receiving targets (including the TE), and even the damn kicker is 1st team All-Patriot. xlolx Not to mention a couple of O linemen.

[Fordham]

Yep - our offense has been special. Our D could have really turned a corner (even more than it did) but for some really big injuries.

[Gater]

Colgate is actually 3/2/1/0

Colgate's return specialist and kicker are both sophomores.

[bison137]

Colgate is actually 3/2/1/0

Colgate's return specialist and kicker are both sophomores.


As noted in my post, I was only looking at position players.

[Gater]

As noted in my post Colgate's split is 3/2/1/0.

[Pard4Life]

Jared Roberts can take a red shirt for LC. Pards are well positioned with young guys on D. Offense has me concerned but we will find a replacement for Ross. Mayfield and DeSean Brown and have looked really good.

[carney2]

I did this for the Ivys, so the same for the Patriot League: more than 30% of the league's starters made all-league.

The Ivys number exceeded 40%, but they include Honorable Mentions in their awards list.

[BucBisonAtLarge]

Carney, can you give a two-year and four-year review on the Patsies?

[World]

ha!

10 of Fordham's 11 starters on Offense made FIRST TEAM

very unusual

[bison137]

ha!

10 of Fordham's 11 starters on Offense made FIRST TEAM

very unusual



Actually 8 of 11. Two starting OL and one starting WR didn't make it.

In total, the PL offensive team consists of 13 position players, btw, since they take 2 RB, 3 WR, and 1 HB/FB.

[Pards Rule]

Jared Roberts can take a red shirt for LC. Pards are well positioned with young guys on D. Offense has me concerned but we will find a replacement for Ross. Mayfield and DeSean Brown and have looked really good.

Im sending Frank a letter with potential recruit from South Jersey!

[The Boogie Down]

Actually 8 of 11. Two starting OL and one starting WR didn't make it.

In total, the PL offensive team consists of 13 position players, btw, since they take 2 RB, 3 WR, and 1 HB/FB.

9 if you count place kicker, Michael Marando, 10 if you count return specialist, Brian Wetzel. Oddly, Wetzel is our leading receiver but only made it as a 2nd team WR while Sam Ajala and Tebucky Jones Jr. both made the 1st team. In all 10 of 11 offensive position starters made 1st or 2nd team all-league. Very unusual indeed although in fairness its been a down year for the league as a whole.

[bison137]

9 if you count place kicker, Michael Marando, 10 if you count return specialist, Brian Wetzel. Oddly, Wetzel is our leading receiver but only made it as a 2nd team WR while Sam Ajala and Tebucky Jones Jr. both made the 1st team. In all 10 of 11 offensive position starters made 1st or 2nd team all-league. Very unusual indeed although in fairness its been a down year for the league as a whole.



Obviously. But the question and answer were only talking about the 11 position players.

[The Boogie Down]

But the question and answer were only talking about the 11 position players.

No doubt! But not having the league's leading receiver, in terms of both catches and yards, on the league's first team is also unusual. Then again I'm biased enough to think that Pistol Pete Maetzold shoulda gotten second team honors!

[bison137]

No doubt! But not having the league's leading receiver, in terms of both catches and yards, on the league's first team is also unusual.


I didn't see nearly enough of Fordham this year to judge which of their three WR's should have been left off the 1st team. If you go purely by numbers, Ajala would drop to second team and Wetzel would move up - especially if you look at the numbers just from league play. Was Wetzel better than Ajala this year, purely based on play at WR?


Receptions per Game:

1 Brian Wetzel 6.6
2 Tebucky Jones 5.8
3 Will Carter 5.3
4 Sam Ajala 5.1

Receiving Yards Per Game:

1 Will Carter 95.9 yards
2 Brian Wetzel 93.3 yards
3 Tebucky Jones 87.5 yards
4 Sam Ajala 84.1 yards

Yards Per Catch:

1 Carter 18.1 ypc
2 Ajala 16.5 ypc
3 Jones 15.2 ypc
4 Wetzel 14.1 ypc

TD's Per Game:

1 Jones .92 TDs/G
2 Carter .90 TDs/G
3 Wetzel .77 TDs/G
4 Azala .25 TDs/G


In league play, which likely carries more weight with the coaches when they vote, it looked like this:

Receptions per Game:

1 Brian Wetzel 6.7
2 Will Carter 6.3
2 Tebucky Jones 6.3
4 Sam Ajala 3.8

Receiving Yards Per Game:

1 Will Carter 112.3 yards
2 Brian Wetzel 85.7 yards
3 Tebucky Jones 77.2 yards
4 Sam Ajala 60.0 yards



Yards Per Catch:

1 Carter 17.7 ypc
2 Ajala 15.7 ypc
3 Wetzel 12.9 ypc
4 Jones 12.2 ypc


TD's Per Game:

1 Carter .83 TDs/G
1 Wetzel .83 TDs/G
3 Jones .67 TDs/G
4 Ajala .33 TDs/G




R

[carney2]

Carney, can you give a two-year and four-year review on the Patsies?

I am retired. All requests must run thru LFN's office which is closed due to a disaster in New York.

[carney2]

Im sending Frank a letter with potential recruit from South Jersey!

Your nephew the jinx, or that moth eaten Muppet?

[Fordhamanhattan]

Ajala got a lot more double coverages than Wetzel.

[bison137]

Ajala got a lot more double coverages than Wetzel.


In that case, then the coaches apparently got it right. Bucknell for much of the year had only one real WR, so Carter was almost always doubled. Makes a difference.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

IMO, I really feared Wetzel the most when Lehigh played Fordham. You know you need to have good zone or double coverage on Jones Jr. and Ajala. If you do, Wetzel plays the Wes Welker role perfectly, getting open underneath and also occasionally slipping open deep for touchdowns.

When everyone was healthy there were truly an impressive number of weapons. Add Light to the mix and then it was a royal headache. He'd almost always be covered by a linebacker and at 6'5 it was always a mismatch.

[Fordhamanhattan]

Wetzel 2nd team all Patriot league, third team all American.

[bison137]

Wetzel 2nd team all Patriot league, third team all American.


Did he make 3rd team on a legitimate All-American team, or just College Sports Madness? In any event, Wetzel did make 1st team All-PL as a returner.

[Fordham]

Safe to say that there will be no coaches let go in the PL this year? I know we may still face turnover based upon whatever opportunities come about for Coach Moorhead but I wasn't sure if Gilmore, Coen or (possibly) Tavani might have been in trouble this off season. I would assume that if they were so inclined to act, the schools would have acted by now in order to get as quick a jump as possible, right?

[Sader87]

Safe to say that there will be no coaches let go in the PL this year? I know we may still face turnover based upon whatever opportunities come about for Coach Moorhead but I wasn't sure if Gilmore, Coen or (possibly) Tavani might have been in trouble this off season. I would assume that if they were so inclined to act, the schools would have acted by now in order to get as quick a jump as possible, right?

The only possible move I could see happening is if Gilmore were to go to Columbia.

I don't see it happening but ya' nevah know.

[Fordham]

The only possible move I could see happening is if Gilmore were to go to Columbia.

I don't see it happening but ya' nevah know.
That thought is what made me think of the fact that no one had been let go yet. It still reinforces that none appear to be getting pushed out.

[Sader87]

If Gilmore had coached at Holy Cross pre-Patriot League he almost assuredly would have been fired after this year....the PL is a different animal.

He and his staff deserve to be fired on game management alone ovah the last 3 seasons...just brutal.

[Fordham]

Agreed - he's become particularly adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[carney2]

Safe to say that there will be no coaches let go in the PL this year? I know we may still face turnover based upon whatever opportunities come about for Coach Moorhead but I wasn't sure if Gilmore, Coen or (possibly) Tavani might have been in trouble this off season. I would assume that if they were so inclined to act, the schools would have acted by now in order to get as quick a jump as possible, right?

It's the Patriot League way. More and more it looks like a job for life league. Can anyone come up with a list of Patriot League football coaches who have been fired? It has to be a very short list.

[Pards Rule]

It's the Patriot League way. More and more it looks like a job for life league. Can anyone come up with a list of Patriot League football coaches who have been fired? It has to be a very short list.

Believe it or not LC in the 35 years I have been following the program had one end of my frosh year - Neil Putnam. Bill Russo resigned at the end of the season 1999.

- - - Updated - - -


Safe to say that there will be no coaches let go in the PL this year? I know we may still face turnover based upon whatever opportunities come about for Coach Moorhead but I wasn't sure if Gilmore, Coen or (possibly) Tavani might have been in trouble this off season. I would assume that if they were so inclined to act, the schools would have acted by now in order to get as quick a jump as possible, right?

No way with Frank. Not after the #150 win at Yankee Stadium, 27-7.

[carney2]

Believe it or not LC in the 35 years I have been following the program had one end of my frosh year - Neil Putnam. Bill Russo resigned at the end of the season 1999.

Let's narrow this down. Let's confine it to the Patriot League and it's short-lived in name only predecessor the Colonial League. So, rephrasing:

How many Patriot League football coaches have been fired since 1986?

At this point we have

BUCKNELL = ?

COLGATE = ?

FORDHAM = ?

GEORGETOWN = ?

HOLY CROSS = ?

LAFAYETTE = 0

LEHIGH = ?

Others = ?

[RetiredRam]

Let's narrow this down. Let's confine it to the Patriot League and it's short-lived in name only predecessor the Colonial League. So, rephrasing:

How many Patriot League football coaches have been fired since 1986?

At this point we have
BUCKNELL = ?
COLGATE = ?
FORDHAM = ?
GEORGETOWN = ?
HOLY CROSS = ?
LAFAYETTE = 0
LEHIGH = ?
Others = ?

Fordham = 2 - Foley/Massella, though they may have "resigned" when handed a resignation letter that was already typed out.

[Pards Rule]

Fordham = 2 - Foley/Massella, though they may have "resigned" when handed a resignation letter that was already typed out.

I think I heard that Russo was cognizant that after the 99 Lehigh game he would be facing the same situation as he had an acrimonious relationship with the AD, Eve Atkinson, and choose to pre-empt that move by announcing earlier that week that the Lehigh game would be his last at Lafayette as he was resigning after the game.

[Sader87]

HC= 1 (in the Colonial/Patriot League era). Alumnus Pete Vaas went 6-5, 3-8, 3-8 and 2-9 from 1992-1995. Largely a victim of HC transitioning to non-scholarship imo.

His successor, Dan Allen, who took ovah when BU dropped football didn't have too much success during his tenure 1996-2003 and tragically became fatally ill at the end of his tenure.

Gilmore took ovah in 2004.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Let's narrow this down. Let's confine it to the Patriot League and it's short-lived in name only predecessor the Colonial League. So, rephrasing:

How many Patriot League football coaches have been fired since 1986?

At this point we have

BUCKNELL = ?

COLGATE = ?

FORDHAM = ?

GEORGETOWN = ?

HOLY CROSS = ?

LAFAYETTE = 0

LEHIGH = ?

Others = ?

Lehigh = 0. Hank Small took over when Whitehead retired, Hank Small retired when Kevin Higgins took over, Lembo was promoted when Higgins went to the NFL's Lions, Lembo left to coach Elon, Coen ever since.

[bison137]

HC= 1 (in the Colonial/Patriot League era). Alumnus Pete Vaas went 6-5, 3-8, 3-8 and 2-9 from 1992-1995. Largely a victim of HC transitioning to non-scholarship imo.

His successor, Dan Allen, who took ovah when BU dropped football didn't have too much success during his tenure 1996-2003 and tragically became fatally ill at the end of his tenure.

Gilmore took ovah in 2004.


HC may have had no choice because of Allen's disease - but dozens of reports, including those from his own players, said he was fired.

[Southsider]

Lehigh = 0. Hank Small took over when Whitehead retired, Hank Small retired when Kevin Higgins took over, Lembo was promoted when Higgins went to the NFL's Lions, Lembo left to coach Elon, Coen ever since.

Time for some new blood.........

[DFW HOYA]

How many Patriot League football coaches have been fired since 1986?


Georgetown = 0.

Scotty Glacken (98-94-2, 1970-92) was not retained inasmuch as Georgetown was moving to a full time head coaching position and Glacken, a VP at a Potomac, MD investment firm, wasn't able to go full time.

Bob Benson (72-64, 1993-05) left on his own but the pressure came from the athletic director, not the fan base.

Kevin Kelly (23-64, 2006-13) took the Ball State DC job knowing that a 23-64 record wasn't helping his future head coaching prospects if he was let go at some point.

[carney2]

So we have a lot of firm zeroes and a few coulda/pressured/maybes. The number at this point is ZERO. The Patriot League way.

[Franks Tanks]

Fordham fired coaches. Pretty sure Masella and they guy before him were let go.


Was the guy at Colgate before Biddle fired?

Lafayette fired Putnam in 1980!

[Fordham]

Foley was let go on the field after the last game at Albany that year. Pretty sure Massella was too

[TheValleyRaider]

1986-1987: Fred Dunlap
1988-1992: Mike Foley
1993-1995: Ed Sweeney
1996-2013: Dick Biddle
2014-: Dan Hunt

Dunlap and Biddle retired. Foley and Sweeney were before my time as well, though I'm pretty sure Sweeney was let go. Not really sure at all about Foley, though he had 1 winning season in his 5 years (and it wasn't the last one...)

[Pards Rule]

Foley was let go on the field after the last game at Albany that year. Pretty sure Massella was too

On the field? How rude!!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I know no Bucknellians have chimed in, but I'm pretty sure their number is 0 too. Landis left on his own accord (though maybe he was pressured). Gadd retired due to health reasons (inoperable brain tumor) and Kotulski (later DC at Lehigh) was the interim coach before Landis took over.

Certainly no Steinbrennerian firings here.

[PAllen]

Lehigh = 0. Hank Small took over when Whitehead retired, Hank Small retired when Kevin Higgins took over, Lembo was promoted when Higgins went to the NFL's Lions, Lembo left to coach Elon, Coen ever since.

Lembo, although technically not fired, was certainly run out of town.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Lembo, although technically not fired, was certainly run out of town.

Hard to justify since he was 8-3 the season that happened. Having said that, though, he definitely had pressure to leave (because he didn't have a super rapport with the fans) and the realization that he wasn't ever going to be the beloved savior of the program - he would never be Kevin Higgins. He left for a better situation, and found one. I'm happy for him.

His team won that home OT playoff game vs. Hofstra and also nearly picked off JMU in their championship year. For that he's always OK in my book.

carney's point though is well taken - some of these guys have had "pressure" to perform and have chosen on their own to leave, but who have actually been fired? Foley and Masella are the only ones, truly.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

I think there will be some pressure on Coen to get things headed back in the right direction. Especially if a certain group of Crusaders, not from Worcester, continue to improve....

There's no reason Lehigh can't compete for the league next year if the coaching staff figures things out. It's not going to be very good imo. The DL size issue will finally be headed in the right direction and the LB's are good. It's on the coaches to get the QB position and defense sorted out.

[ace93]

On the field? How rude!!

He was not fired on the field. He was told they needed to have a meeting the next day. He knew what was coming, but not technically fired on the field.

I would be surprised if some other Fordham head coaches were not fired given how we never won until Clawson arrived. I think Larry Glueck was fired and possibly Nick Quartaro also. I take it back on Glueck and Quartaro, possibly contracts ran out on them and not fired.

[bison137]

I know no Bucknellians have chimed in, but I'm pretty sure their number is 0 too. Landis left on his own accord (though maybe he was pressured). Gadd retired due to health reasons (inoperable brain tumor) and Kotulski (later DC at Lehigh) was the interim coach before Landis took over.

Certainly no Steinbrennerian firings here.


Landis left on his own accord - but largely because he knew he was very likely to be gone after the next year. George Landis, their first PL coach, was let go - but there were other issues. Normally Bucknell does not "fire" coaches - just doesn't renew their contract if their performance has been poor.

[bison137]

Har

carney's point though is well taken - some of these guys have had "pressure" to perform and have chosen on their own to leave, but who have actually been fired? Foley and Masella are the only ones, truly.


HC fired two. Bucknell fired one, but mostly for an off-the-field issue.

[Franks Tanks]

I think there will be some pressure on Coen to get things headed back in the right direction. Especially if a certain group of Crusaders, not from Worcester, continue to improve....

There's no reason Lehigh can't compete for the league next year if the coaching staff figures things out. It's not going to be very good imo. The DL size issue will finally be headed in the right direction and the LB's are good. It's on the coaches to get the QB position and defense sorted out.

No QB
Decent, but not great OL
OC who has a long way to go
Historically bad defense
Possibly worst DL and DB's in the league (DL was especially pathetic)

Other than that, Lehigh should be right in the mix.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

No QB
Decent, but not great OL
OC who has a long way to go
Historically bad defense
Possibly worst DL and DB's in the league (DL was especially pathetic)

Other than that, Lehigh should be right in the mix.

You could do that exact same thing for Lafayette, Colgate, Holy Cross and Georgetown. Even Fordham has major question marks. The league will be extremely wide open next year....

Lafayette enters 2015 in marginally and mean marginally better shape than Lehigh. Hope can you objectively state that a program that has not had a winning record this decade is in significantly better shape than Lehigh? Especially when they're losing their best player? As a non-Lehigh grad I think both fans look too much at one another when they asses themselves. Is Colgate in worse shape because they lost to Lehigh this year? Absolutely not. If I'm Colgate I'm think I got a shot in 2015 too despite the fact they posted their first consecutive losing seasons in 20 years. Why don't you evaluate the Raiders?

Bottom-line, Holy Cross and Lafayette have to get things turned around. You can't have losing records year after year and move the program and league forward. Lehigh and Colgate have to get their own crap turned around because losing in general is not accepted at those places.

[Franks Tanks]

You could do that exact some thing for Lafayette, Colgate, Holy Cross and Georgetown. Even Fordham has major question marks. The league will be extremely wide open next year....

Lafayette enters 2015 in marginally and mean marginally better shape than Lehigh. Hope can you objectively state that a program that has not had a winning record this decade is in significantly better shape than Lehigh? Especially when they're losing their best player? As a non-Lehigh grad I think both fans look too much at one another when they asses themselves. Is Colgate in worse shape because they lost to Lehigh this year? Absolutely not. If I'm Colgate I'm think I got a shot in 2015 too despite the fact they posted their first consecutive losing seasons in 20 years. Why don't you evaluate the Raiders?

Bottom-line, Holy Cross and Lafayette have to get things turned around. You can't have losing records year after year and move the program and league forward. Lehigh and Colgate have to get their own crap turned around because losing in general is accepted at those places.

Why does what Lafayette did in 2010 and 11 have an impact on next year? All those kids are gone, just as all the kids that played on those good Lehigh teams are gone (as well as many of the coaches). Lehigh is a mess, and to say otherwise is complete homer talk. Lafayette is a few players, most notably an OL, away from being a very solid team. Lafayette and Holy Cross took Bucknell to overtime while Lehigh got crushed. Lafayette crushed Lehigh in 150. Exactly why should we expect serious improvement from Lehigh next year?

Yeah we lost Ross Scheurman, but we have some good young backs coming back. They aren't #29, but our RB situation will be fine. We have nearly our entire defense coming back next year, including a few that were out injured in 2014, so the D had a chance to be excellent. Lehigh has a historically bad D with little indication that anything was improving as the year progressed. Your QB situation is a mess. It is possible that our 1st and 2nd string QB's are better than anyone Lehigh has on the roster.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Why does what Lafayette did in 2010 and 11 have an impact on next year? All those kids are gone, just as all the kids that played on those good Lehigh teams are gone (as well as many of the coaches). Lehigh is a mess, and to say otherwise is complete homer talk. Lafayette is a few players, most notably an OL, away from being a very solid team. Lafayette and Holy Cross took Bucknell to overtime while Lehigh got crushed. Lafayette crushed Lehigh in 150. Exactly why should we expect serious improvement from Lehigh next year?

Yeah we lost Ross Scheurman, but we have some good young backs coming back. They aren't #29, but our RB situation will be fine. We have nearly our entire defense coming back next year, including a few that were out injured in 2014, so the D had a chance to be excellent. Lehigh has a historically bad D with little indication that anything was improving as the year progressed. Your QB situation is a mess. It is possible that our 1st and 2nd string QB's are better than anyone Lehigh has on the roster.

2010 and 2011 matter as does 2014 because Tavani was the coach those years. How can you seriously sit there and say that Lafayette will turn it around next year. They underachieved this year. They should not have had a losing record this year based on most projections coming into the season. They did not compete well against the better teams on their schedule. It's not like W&M and SHU were some elite FCS teams. A team that entered the year with PL championship aspirations needs to do better than that. Lehigh got run in the OOC too but it was also more difficult than Lafayette's. Lafayette beat Lehigh to finish 5-6, so what? I don't understand how that is a reason for celebration or a real reason for optimism. What it Drew Reed's record as a starter? Is it even a winning one? You can't say that Lafayette's QB's are better than Lehigh has when we only saw Shaf. Did you make that same comment in 2009 before Lum took the field? You simply don't know. Likewise with saying you'll find a replacement for #29. The Lafayette passing attack did not find an answer for Wr Ross. That proved to be a major issue for the 'Pards this year. Replacing a kid who will get a shot at the NFL is not easily accomplished.

When you look at Lafayette's season as a whole it wasn't very good. If you want to draw all your conclusions from one game go ahead. I just think it's silly when you finished 5-6 for the second consecutive year and claim Lafayette is on the up-swing. If Lafayette had better teams these last two years I would have an easier time following you.

Lehigh is not a "mess". There is nothing indicating it's a mess despite other than a subpar season. There's been no signs of kids transferring or in-fighting within the staff. By your definition is Colgate a mess? They were a "mess" to finish the year, losing to the mess that is Lehigh. Or did they go through a major transition year with a new staff? Time will tell....

If anything, we're both delusion and neither program is headed anywhere with their current coaches....

[Franks Tanks]

2010 and 2011 matter as does 2014 because Tavani was the coach those years. How can you seriously sit there and say that Lafayette will turn it around next year. They underachieved this year. They should not have had a losing record this year based on most projections coming into the season. They did not compete well against the better teams on their schedule. It's not like W&M and SHU were some elite FCS teams. A team that entered the year with PL championship aspirations needs to do better than that. Lehigh got run in the OOC too but it was also more difficult than Lafayette's. Lafayette beat Lehigh to finish 5-6, so what? I don't understand how that is a reason for celebration or a real reason for optimism. What it Drew Reed's record as a starter? Is it even a winning one? You can't say that Lafayette's QB's are better than Lehigh has when we only saw Shaf. Did you make that same comment in 2009 before Lum took the field? You simply don't know. Likewise with saying you'll find a replacement for #29. The Lafayette passing attack did not find an answer for Wr Ross. That proved to be a major issue for the 'Pards this year. Replacing a kid who will get a shot at the NFL is not easily accomplished.

When you look at Lafayette's season as a whole it wasn't very good. If you want to draw all your conclusions from one game go ahead. I just think it's silly when you finished 5-6 for the second consecutive year and claim Lafayette is on the up-swing. If Lafayette had better teams these last two years I would have an easier time following you.

Lehigh is not a "mess". There is nothing indicating it's a mess despite other than a subpar season. There's been no signs of kids transferring or in-fighting within the staff. By your definition is Colgate a mess? They were a "mess" to finish the year, losing to the mess that is Lehigh. Or did they go through a major transition year with a new staff? Time will tell....

If anything, we're both delusion and neither program is headed anywhere with their current coaches....

Lafayette needs tweaks to get over the hump. A better OL, Reed looking more like he did in 2013, and our D playing to expectations will lead to a very good 2015. Nearly every player on the Lehigh D was below par last year, and your offensive staff and QB looked lost most of the year. The Lehigh D needs a complete rebuild, and the O needs to figure out an identify and a QB. We both have issues, but Lehigh's are far worse.

[carney2]

Lafayette enters 2015 in marginally and mean marginally better shape than Lehigh.

Lafayette is one offensive line away from being very good. Of course that's been the case since perhaps 2010, and certainly since 2012. Just another example of life in the Patriot League. Tavani is not held accountable for all the losing. And Stan Clayton, his offensive line coach, is not held accountable for year after year of dismal failures. Clayton has made no bones about wanting to be a head coach, but his resume is loaded with nonperformance. Best situation is that he heads out of town for another gig in 2015. Absent that, it's way past time for him to step up and do himself and his employer a big service. Yelling and cursing ain't getting it done.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Probably will compose a blog posting about it, but Lehigh's problem is... what, exactly? Lack of talent? Lack of effort? New coaching coordinators not up to the job? Injuries/depth? The perfect storm of the hardest schedule in years?

I think those thinking that Lehigh has become a dumpster fire is really just wishing. Having said that, no halfway-serious Lehigh football fan will put up with another 3-8 season. There's more talent at Lehigh than 3-8. Question is, how much better?

[heath]

Probably will compose a blog posting about it, but Lehigh's problem is... what, exactly? Lack of talent? Lack of effort? New coaching coordinators not up to the job? Injuries/depth? The perfect storm of the hardest schedule in years?

I think those thinking that Lehigh has become a dumpster fire is really just wishing. Having said that, no halfway-serious Lehigh football fan will put up with another 3-8 season. There's more talent at Lehigh than 3-8. Question is, how much better?
I'm sure you will post or compose a blog as all the intelligent, elite media types will do, and yes ,as usual it will be a dumpster fire of false info and rumors. Chuck, get to know the team and pulse of Lehigh and many more will take you seriously. 1/2 ass is gettn old

[Gate83]

1986-1987: Fred Dunlap
1988-1992: Mike Foley
1993-1995: Ed Sweeney
1996-2013: Dick Biddle
2014-: Dan Hunt

Dunlap and Biddle retired. Foley and Sweeney were before my time as well, though I'm pretty sure Sweeney was let go. Not really sure at all about Foley, though he had 1 winning season in his 5 years (and it wasn't the last one...)

Foley & Sweeney were both fired, deserved based on their records though under president Grabois neither one had any institutional support. That was our era for flirting with D3 football...

I also think we'll be pretty good next year. 5-2 when we had Melville healthy last year, in good shape along both lines. Starting the year Navy/UNH/Yale doesn't help though...

[PAllen]

Hard to justify since he was 8-3 the season that happened. Having said that, though, he definitely had pressure to leave (because he didn't have a super rapport with the fans) and the realization that he wasn't ever going to be the beloved savior of the program - he would never be Kevin Higgins. He left for a better situation, and found one. I'm happy for him.

His team won that home OT playoff game vs. Hofstra and also nearly picked off JMU in their championship year. For that he's always OK in my book.

carney's point though is well taken - some of these guys have had "pressure" to perform and have chosen on their own to leave, but who have actually been fired? Foley and Masella are the only ones, truly.

The guy couldn't beat Lafayette and got into the habit of chewing out boosters and 50 gamers. I'm glad he's been successful elsewhere, but Pete was not a good fit at Lehigh.

[ngineer]

The guy couldn't beat Lafayette and got into the habit of chewing out boosters and 50 gamers. I'm glad he's been successful elsewhere, but Pete was not a good fit at Lehigh.

In Lembo's five years at Lehigh he won 2 and lost 3. The third being that stupid hail mary pass. I agree Pete was not the perfect fit for Lehigh. He was 'prickly' with alumni who daned to question something that occurred the week before at the weekly luncheon. He was also quite young when he took over...perhaps a bit too young. He, though, was not fired. The Elon job was a great opportunity for him to do what he is doing--trying to get to the "big time" by climbing the rungs. Taking losing programs and making them winners. He was successful at Elon in doing that which got him to the MAC and Ball St. where his first two years were very successful for BSU. This year was a step back, but if they return to winning ways next year and the following, he will be on his way to 'another level' however that is measured.

[Pard4Life]

2010 and 2011 matter as does 2014 because Tavani was the coach those years. How can you seriously sit there and say that Lafayette will turn it around next year. They underachieved this year. They should not have had a losing record this year based on most projections coming into the season. They did not compete well against the better teams on their schedule. It's not like W&M and SHU were some elite FCS teams. A team that entered the year with PL championship aspirations needs to do better than that. Lehigh got run in the OOC too but it was also more difficult than Lafayette's. Lafayette beat Lehigh to finish 5-6, so what? I don't understand how that is a reason for celebration or a real reason for optimism. What it Drew Reed's record as a starter? Is it even a winning one? You can't say that Lafayette's QB's are better than Lehigh has when we only saw Shaf. Did you make that same comment in 2009 before Lum took the field? You simply don't know. Likewise with saying you'll find a replacement for #29. The Lafayette passing attack did not find an answer for Wr Ross. That proved to be a major issue for the 'Pards this year. Replacing a kid who will get a shot at the NFL is not easily accomplished.

When you look at Lafayette's season as a whole it wasn't very good. If you want to draw all your conclusions from one game go ahead. I just think it's silly when you finished 5-6 for the second consecutive year and claim Lafayette is on the up-swing. If Lafayette had better teams these last two years I would have an easier time following you.

Lehigh is not a "mess". There is nothing indicating it's a mess despite other than a subpar season. There's been no signs of kids transferring or in-fighting within the staff. By your definition is Colgate a mess? They were a "mess" to finish the year, losing to the mess that is Lehigh. Or did they go through a major transition year with a new staff? Time will tell....

If anything, we're both delusion and neither program is headed anywhere with their current coaches....

Well well...someone is wearing Brown-colored glasses.

The Pards are closer to making a breakthrough than you believe. Tavani is indeed our coach, but this year, our kicking game cost us a game or two due to suspensions and relying upon a walk-on. The OL continues to be a mess, but it was due to numerous injuries and consistent shuffling around. In fact, this year would have been the upswing year if not for our offensive issues. We were on the verge of blowing out Sacred Heart (yes really watch the tape) and beating Bucknell and Harvard. Sure WM was not as great as in the past but we had a lead on them at the half and it should have been more (again, kicking and offensive issues).

I am not worried about RB... the situation is different than at WR. We have already seen what Desean Brown and Kyle Mayfield can do, it's pretty impressive. They are not tanks like Schue but you can't replace that anyhow. The defense is already set and our DL should also be solid next year. Again, it all comes down to the consistency of our OL.

[JimboCBA72]

Personally,I would have placed Wetzel on the first team instead of Ajala. SA had some personal issues early in the season then suffered a hip pointer vs. HC. There were times when I thought he was disinterested and others when his body language sent all the wrong messages. I know he had another 1000 yd season but for my money, Wetzel was indispensable for us. He was absolutely clutch on third down and might have been our best blocking wideout. I am really going to miss watching this kid play.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

To me Wetzel looks like CFL material. SCFF might disagree but I love the kid's wheels too. I honestly feared him as a Lehigh fan.