Patriot League Week 0 & 1

[crusader11]

Courtesy of 5dimes --

Week 0

Colgate v. Villanova - No Line

Week 1

Colgate +16.5 at Air Force

Holy Cross +20.5 at Navy

Fordham +7.5 v. Central Connecticut

Lafayette +14.5 at William & Mary

Bucknell +40.5 at Temple

Lehigh +3 v. St. Francis PA

Georgetown -4.5 at Davidson

--

In past years, believe we have done the honor system when tallying standings. I'm happy to run things for the 2019 season.

Pick the above games straight up, not ATS.

Good luck.

[bonarae]

Let's get the ball rolling for the PL this season. My picks:

Week Zero
Colgate

Week 1
Air Force
Navy
CCSU
W&M
Temple
Lehigh
Georgetown

[Gangtackle11]

Colgate was 7 point fav at some sportsbooks.

[maninthehighcastle]

Week 0


Villanova


Week 1


Air Force
Navy
Central Connecticut
William & Mary
Temple
Lehigh
Davidson

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Courtesy of 5dimes --

Week 0

Colgate v. Villanova - No Line

Week 1

Colgate +16.5 at Air Force

Holy Cross +20.5 at Navy

Fordham +7.5 v. Central Connecticut

Lafayette +14.5 at William & Mary

Bucknell +40.5 at Temple

Lehigh +3 v. St. Francis PA

Georgetown -4.5 at Davidson

--

In past years, believe we have done the honor system when tallying standings. I'm happy to run things for the 2019 season.

Pick the above games straight up, not ATS.

Good luck.

Lehigh getting 3 against St. Francis? I like Lehigh to win outright by 7-10 pts.

Georgetown should easily cover the 4.5 they're giving Davidson imo.

[Fordham]

Week 0

Colgate

Week 1

Air Force

Navy

Fordham

William & Mary

Temple

Lehigh

Georgetown

[dbackjon]

Week 0

Villanova
Week 1

Air Force

Navy

Central Connecticut

William & Mary

Temple

Lehigh

Georgetown

--

[ngineer]

Surprised to see Lehigh getting 3 versus SFU. I'm taking the good guys by 10.

8/24 'gate over 'nova (The Battle of the Apostrophes!!)

8/31 Air Force gets rocky for 'gate
Navy sails away
Fordham bedevils CCU
Bill & Mary in a "Laugher"
Temple...Jus' beCOS
Lehigh 21-10 in the Gilmore debut. Defense returns to Goodman.
Hoyas by 17 over 'Pete'

[RichH2]

0
Gate but points will be hard to come by for both
1
Gate. Have no idea but going PL

Navy Crusaders may cover if a QB shows up

Fordham

W&M. Pards.likely to cover

Temple. Bison hard put to cover.

Lehigh. Should not be close but probably will be

Hoyas. Cupcake

[jayhawkdaddy]

Week 0

COLGATE v. Villanova

Week 1

Colgate at AIR FORCE

Holy Cross at NAVY

FORDHAM v. Central Connecticut

Lafayette at WILLIAM & MARY

Bucknell at TEMPLE

LEHIGH vs. St. Francis (PA)

GEORGETOWN ​at Davidson

[SUPharmacist]

Villanova
Air Force
Navy
Fordham
William & Mary
Temple
Lehigh
Georgetown

[Sader87]

Fordham and Lehigh are home dogs against CCSU and St Francis??? Dear God...

[Fordham]

Fordham and Lehigh are home dogs against CCSU and St Francis??? Dear God...
it's warranted for our match up imo. CCSU is strong and supposed to be the top competition v Duquesne for the NEC title. Add in that anyone who saw us play last year can't be too confident and I'm surprised it's not a higher spread.

[aceinthehole]

Fordham and Lehigh are home dogs against CCSU and St Francis??? Dear God...

The NEC arrived years ago while the PL was napping - glad you have finally noticed.

:)

[TheValleyRaider]

FOOTBALL!!

Glad to be back, hopefully carney surfaces this season. Now we'll see how this goes if someone is actually tracking the numbers. I think I've done well enough in the past, looking forward to stacking up. I'll save the Week 1 picks for the actual Week 1, so just one today.

Villanova at Colgate Colgate Happy 150th season everyone. Very cool to be the first D-I team to get this year started. Interesting matchup too, given the Wildcats are probably better than their recent record would suggest. Lots of new faces for the Raiders, and I'm guessing the offense will be a little more vanilla (which I feel is the typical pattern in season-openers). I'll feel much better about predicting where this team will be after seeing them with a game under their belts, but for now I'll say their experience and home-field carries them past a tough CAA foe.

[ngineer]

it's warranted for our match up imo. CCSU is strong and supposed to be the top competition v Duquesne for the NEC title. Add in that anyone who saw us play last year can't be too confident and I'm surprised it's not a higher spread.

Yes, I have read that CCSU is picked to be the #1 challenger to Duquense in the NEC, so I would at least call the game at FU a toss up. I think the Lehigh spread is based upon our lousy record last year and the well publicized loss of Bragalone and Mayes to graduation. We edged SFU last year by 2 points and blocked a potential game winning FG late in the fourth quarter last year. What is under the radar is that Lehigh's defense does look to be much improved based upon reports from practice. Remains to be seen and this is result of too many unknowns for both FU and LU. Lehigh will have a good sense, real quick, as to how good they with SFU, Villanova and Cal-Davis out of the box.

[Fordham]

Yes, I have read that CCSU is picked to be the #1 challenger to Duquense in the NEC, so I would at least call the game at FU a toss up. I think the Lehigh spread is based upon our lousy record last year and the well publicized loss of Bragalone and Mayes to graduation. We edged SFU last year by 2 points and blocked a potential game winning FG late in the fourth quarter last year. What is under the radar is that Lehigh's defense does look to be much improved based upon reports from practice. Remains to be seen and this is result of too many unknowns for both FU and LU. Lehigh will have a good sense, real quick, as to how good they with SFU, Villanova and Cal-Davis out of the box.

Agreed with all of that but there's nothing in that update or one I could provide on Fordham's off season and camp that would change the line at this point. Both teams just need to show up, play and win before we'll get any respect back. Fwiw, I do think Gilmore is a good coach and will have Lehigh competing at the top of the PL in short order. That said, I'm also bullish on Fordham, particularly with how much talent Coach Conlin has added in the past year. Again, though, we'll see ...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Agreed with all of that but there's nothing in that update or one I could provide on Fordham's off season and camp that would change the line at this point. Both teams just need to show up, play and win before we'll get any respect back. Fwiw, I do think Gilmore is a good coach and will have Lehigh competing at the top of the PL in short order. That said, I'm also bullish on Fordham, particularly with how much talent Coach Conlin has added in the past year. Again, though, we'll see ...

Fordham's schedule is tough for a team coming off a 2-9 record. The added transfers should certainly help. Conlin and Decker need to get the offense going. It was dreadful last year. Demorat has potential and the RB's are good but the OL still might be a work in progress. Rams lost top 3 pass catchers (Caddle, Longi, Searight) but there is good talent in the wings. Rams have arguably the best group of LBs in FCS. DL is a TBD but the size and potential are there, secondary should be good.

I look at Fordham and Lehigh in a similar light. Both have Top 40, maybe Top 25 talent but can the staffs put the pieces in place so that each can reach their potential? Lehigh's schedule is considerably easier than Fordham's which helps.

[BucBisonAtLarge]

Colgate
Air Force
Navy
Fordham
William & Mary
Temple
Lehigh
Georgetown

[crusader11]

A little bit more than 48 hours to kickoff. Bump.

[Fordham]

Fordham's schedule is tough for a team coming off a 2-9 record. The added transfers should certainly help. Conlin and Decker need to get the offense going. It was dreadful last year. Demorat has potential and the RB's are good but the OL still might be a work in progress. Rams lost top 3 pass catchers (Caddle, Longi, Searight) but there is good talent in the wings. Rams have arguably the best group of LBs in FCS. DL is a TBD but the size and potential are there, secondary should be good.

I look at Fordham and Lehigh in a similar light. Both have Top 40, maybe Top 25 talent but can the staffs put the pieces in place so that each can reach their potential? Lehigh's schedule is considerably easier than Fordham's which helps.
completely on the same page. I'm most confident about the DL. We added Juco 300lb NT Conte who should be a nice space eater to help free up Greenhagen and Cunningham. All other guys on the DL return as well so we'll have depth to keep a good rotation going this year as well. Word is that incoming frosh Moore is a stud at LB also. If so, our front 7 will be fantastic. It really all comes down to the OL. Coach Conlin has taken over responsibility for that group and if he can get them to above average we will surprise this year. If not, every game will be a struggle.

For Lehigh I see talent there and an experienced, disciplined coach who is likely to get alot out of it. I see them becoming competitive very quickly and riding the D to do so in a similar way to Fordham. Can't wait for the opener!

[The Boogie Down]

completely on the same page. I'm most confident about the DL. We added Juco 300lb NT Conte who should be a nice space eater to help free up Greenhagen and Cunningham. All other guys on the DL return as well so we'll have depth to keep a good rotation going this year as well. Word is that incoming frosh Moore is a stud at LB also. If so, our front 7 will be fantastic. It really all comes down to the OL. Coach Conlin has taken over responsibility for that group and if he can get them to above average we will surprise this year. If not, every game will be a struggle.

For Lehigh I see talent there and an experienced, disciplined coach who is likely to get alot out of it. I see them becoming competitive very quickly and riding the D to do so in a similar way to Fordham. Can't wait for the opener!

+1 to you and the previous Owl writeup. If you're right about Moore that will make 3 stars at LB in a row. Almost 4 if, for different reasons, Max Roberts had panned out.

[Leopard Loyalist]

Week 0

Villanova at COLGATE

Week 1

Colgate at AIR FORCE
Holy Cross at NAVY
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT at Fordham
Lafayette at WILLIAM & MARY
Bucknell at TEMPLE
St. Francis (PA) at LEHIGH
GEORGETOWN ​at Davidson

[crusader11]

Colgate

Air Force
Navy
Fordham
W&M
Temple
Lehigh
Georgetown

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Had Colgate on the Wedge

Air Force 51 Colgate 17 - Air Force is expected to be a middling FBS team this year. Colgate might end up being a middling FCS team....
Navy 49 Holy Cross 24 - Ditto for Navy and Holy Cross
Fordham 28 Central Connecticut State 24 - The Rams need this one.
William & Mary 37 Lafayette 14 - Most accounts have the Leopards in dumpster fire mode as the season dawns.
Temple 59 Bucknell 10 - This will be a laugher.
Lehigh 30 St. Francis 20 - Need to show things are headed in the right direction under Gilmore against a struggling team.
Georgetown 42 Davidson 17 - Hoyas should roll.

[DFW HOYA]

Not that they're bragging or anything...

https://twitter.com/NovaFootball/status/1165359756544024576

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Not that they're bragging or anything...

https://twitter.com/NovaFootball/status/1165359756544024576


Rhetorically speaking, funny how Bucknell can get a game with Temple but all Georgetown can hope for is Davidson and Catholic.







Soon to be 35-4! Absolute domination. At least Lehigh was one of the four!

[bonarae]

Will Colgate be 0-2 to start the season? Almost 100% sure.

Will 'Gate's losses open the door for the other PL teams to steal the autobid? Not quite.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Will Colgate be 0-2 to start the season? Almost 100% sure.

Will 'Gate's losses open the door for the other PL teams to steal the autobid? Not quite.

Colgate has a bye after Air Force then at W&M then home against Maine. They need to show they can win games if they want to be taken seriously....

[Go Green]

Colgate has a bye after Air Force then at W&M then home against Maine. They need to show they can win games if they want to be taken seriously....

Their week 5 opponent is pretty good, too.

:)

[Sader87]

HC spanked Nova twice in the late '80s before the Sader's program was essentially gutted by PL restrictions.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

HC spanked Nova twice in the late '80s before the Sader's program was essentially gutted by PL restrictions.

As opposed to the Villanova program that was shutdown then resurrected by their administration just a few years prior to those Holy Cross wins?

The Sader's program was hurt by their administrations decision to join the PL. The PL move had nothing to do with Holy Cross's fall. All the blame falls on Father Brooks and the BOT decision to move the athletic program to the conference. They knew full well what the parameters were; Father Brooks was instrumental in setting them. Not sure why Holy Cross continues to struggle relative to other PL teams the last 3 decades. If they're not careful it will be 6 losing seasons in 7 years after this year. The league really needs they and Lafayette to turn it around.

Lehigh was kicking Delaware's butt before joining the PL. Thankfully Lehigh was not "gutted" by the move to the PL due to a quality administration. But it definitely resulted in 6-7 years of national obscurity and getting hammered by the likes of Delaware, Idaho and UMass

[TheValleyRaider]

Inauspicious beginning to the season. Oh well. Getting back on the horse and all that.

Colgate at Air Force Colgate Gluttons for punishment? It's a tough turnaround to go from a not-good-enough showing at home out to face an FBS foe in the thin air. Raiders got dumped in CO Springs a few years ago, though that team did finish 4-8. This year is probably a bit better, though a long way to go to see just how much. I expect a better effort after getting game one under their belts, but there is no rest for the beaten. At least not until next week's bye.

Holy Cross at Navy Navy Classic Patriot League showdown (in other sports). HC continues its stepped-up schedules. I hear Annapolis is lovely to visit, and the Middies are coming off their worst season since 2002, so if the Crusaders feel they are ready to take the next step, this is an intriguing opportunity. I don't think that it will actually happen (nor will it say anything about HC's league title chances), but no reason not to feel hopeful until the season actually starts.

Central Connecticut at Fordham Central Connecticut I'm usually higher on the Rams than others, though it remains to be seen how this coach matches up with his predecessors. Is he in the Moorhead/Clawson class, or the Masella/Breiner type? The Blue Devils have been solid recently, and while I like to be optimistic about the PL, I'm feeling very "show me" in the early going this year. This would be a good win for a team with 2 a year ago.

Lafayette at William & Mary William & Mary The signs out of Easton aren't great. Really, that's the rumbling of the fanbase rather than actual news, but they're as good a source as I'm going to get. Garrett has his work cut out for him in Year 3, but like with Fordham I'll believe this is going in the right direction when I see it. W&M isn't a great CAA team, but I don't know how to pick Lafayette to beat them.

Bucknell at Temple Temple I like the Cecchini hire for the Bison. He had some success at Valpo, another school where football takes a backseat to basketball, and is familiar with the PL from his time at Lehigh. Susan did get this program within sniffing distance of the League title, which could be plausible again in a season or two. That's in the future though. Temple is pretty good, and will probably give them a rough ride to start. But think of the future...

St. Francis at Lehigh Lehigh This is the one I feel most uncertain about. Gilmore feels like an uninspired hire, but he knows the League and Lehigh, and has had success at both. Certainly he can't help but improve the Hawks' defense. How much of the recent struggles in Bethlehem were the result of Coen's health? Hard to say, and while there will need to be some rebuilding, Lehigh is never too far away from competing in the Patriot League. St. Francis is not afraid to travel and face big teams, but has taken a step back from their 2016 league title team. One OOC win the last 2 years for the Hawks, and it was these Red Flash in Bethlehem. Two in a row?

Georgetown at Davidson Georgetown Good vibes in DC, as the Hoyas ably avoided the basement in 2018. Some of that was certainly due to other PL schools falling off, but credit to the Hoyas for playing better ball and slowly building a better roster. At the very least, the defense remains tough. They'll need it against a Davidson team that gathers yards and points. If Georgetown is going to stay out of the basement again, they'll feel much better about those chances with a win in North Carolina.

[Go Green]

Georgetown at Davidson Georgetown Good vibes in DC, as the Hoyas ably avoided the basement in 2018. Some of that was certainly due to other PL schools falling off, but credit to the Hoyas for playing better ball and slowly building a better roster. At the very least, the defense remains tough. They'll need it against a Davidson team that gathers yards and points. If Georgetown is going to stay out of the basement again, they'll feel much better about those chances with a win in North Carolina.

Georgetown was nowhere near the basement last season.

[RichH2]

FWIW. Massey picks


SFU 24 LU 23
GU. 35. Davidson 28
Temple 45. Bucknell 3
Navy 40. Cross 15
AFA. 28. Gate. 14
CCSU 28. Fordham. 21
W&M 21. Pards 7

[carney2]

Courtesy of 5dimes --

Week 0

Colgate v. Villanova - No Line

Week 1

Colgate +16.5 at Air Force

Holy Cross +20.5 at Navy

Fordham +7.5 v. Central Connecticut

Lafayette +14.5 at William & Mary

Bucknell +40.5 at Temple

Lehigh +3 v. St. Francis PA

Georgetown -4.5 at Davidson

--

In past years, believe we have done the honor system when tallying standings. I'm happy to run things for the 2019 season.

Pick the above games straight up, not ATS.

Good luck.

Air Force covers the spread vs. Colgate.

Navy does not cover vs. Holy Cross.

FORDHAM handles CCSU easily.

W&M doesn't have to do much to beat a John Garrett team.

Temple: Cecchini will get this ship righted, but not this week.

Lehigh should handle St. Francis, but I don't know why.

Georgetown: no one should ever lose to Davidson.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I'm interested to see what type of attrition Holy Cross and Colgate experience given the cut blocks their defenses will face. I know Cam Rohr and Wheeler got nicked up last year against Army. Lehigh iirc had a couple of guys banged up against Navy last season.

[ngineer]

'gate goes into the "wild Blue Yonder" for an 'altitude adjustment'. Shot down 38-17.

Cross gets a 'frigate lesson' from the Middies. Torpedoed, 35-14

CCSU says FU to the Rams and lives up to preseason hype, 27-21

Mary tries on the Leotards and doesn't even need Bill, 31-10

Bison think it's "Chic(k)" to go to Temple, but they don't cash in their chips. TU, 45-14.

Lehigh takes on the Pope and baptizes the season with wafer thin victory, 24-22.

Hoyas visit John Davidson and win Hollywood Squares, XXX-0.

[crusader11]

Air Force

Navy

Fordham

W&M

Temple

Lehigh

Georgetown

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

From TheWedge

http://thefcswedge.com/a-look-at-what-is-happening-around-the-country/patriot-league-week-2-preview-3/

[Gangtackle11]

Air Force 38 Colgate 14
CCSU 28 Fordham 24
Navy 38 Holy Cross 20
W&M 49 Lafayette 13
Temple 56 Bucknell 3
St.Francis 21 Lehigh 20
Georgetown 24 Davidson 10

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Game Day!

Club Championship weekend so I have work. Going to try and do my best to keep track of the games.

[aceinthehole]

Are the PL games streamed on Stadium open and free, or do I need to register and pay?

Looking forward to catching a little bit of SFU-Lehigh and of course, CCSU at Fordham.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

SFU muffs and early punt, Lehigh gets inside the 10 but settles for a FG

3-0 Lehigh

[RichH2]

SFU muffs and early punt, Lehigh gets inside the 10 but settles for a FG

3-0 Lehigh

LU offense. Meh. OL getting beat off line. D front 7 pretty good. 2ndary not so much. Playing zone so far. No man coverage . D is better. O hasnt shown much so far.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh blocks a punt a for a TD!

10-0 1:46 1Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh is way, WAY more physical to start the season. They're actually hitting people....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh drills a 44 yard FG. Hawks look pretty solid....

13-0 4:15 2Q

[DFW HOYA]

Georgetown 0
Davidson 13
11:26 2nd

[aceinthehole]

Lehigh up 13-0, but has only scored on special teams (2 FGs and a blocked punt returned for a TD).

SFU has missed 2 FGs :(

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Georgetown 0
Davidson 13
11:26 2nd

Ugh...Davidson's offense is legitimately tough to defense. Hoyas need this one though...

[CHIP72]

Are the PL games streamed on Stadium open and free, or do I need to register and pay?

Free and no registration - just search for "Patriot League Network" and you can find the Central Connecticut State/Fordham game later.

[CHIP72]

From watching the St. Francis/Lehigh stream, it sounds like Lehigh has upgraded its public address system (was able to hear the PA announcer fairly clearly on the stream) and looks like they’ve added a video board behind the north end zone in front of the locker rooms.

[RichH2]

1st half. D is much better. Front 7 doing well.
We have FG kicker in Henning.
O has a few good plays but overall not much to see. SFU stuffing the box relying on man coverage. DL has beaten Lehigh's OL pretty consistently.
Still 13-0 at half. Could be worse.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

1st half. D is much better. Front 7 doing well.
We have FG kicker in Henning.
O has a few good plays but overall not much to see. SFU stuffing the box relying on man coverage. DL has beaten Lehigh's OL pretty consistently.
Still 13-0 at half. Could be worse.

Need to step on the Red Flashes throat in the third quarter. Can't let them hang around.

[RichH2]

Oh, Goodman virtually empty. Ugh.

[DFW HOYA]

Georgetown 0
Davidson 20
Halftime

Awful. Hoyas give up 266 yards in the first half.
Georgetown's offense? 37 yards in the air.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh looks like they'll be without #71 Rosen for a while. Carried off the field after really being rolled up on...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

SFU 75 yard TD pass! Guy was wide open...

13-7 Lehigh 3:34 3Q

[DFW HOYA]

Three Davidson turnovers rally the Hoyas.

Georgetown 20
Davidson 20
1:58 3rd

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh 13 St. Francis 7 End 3Q

Lehigh has 1st and goal inside the Red Flashes 10 to start the 4th....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Monaco with a bad int...ugh. Nearly a 95 yard pick 6....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Hoyas!

20-20 start of 4Q

[RichH2]

Ugly game so far. LU O pretty much shut down. OL not very good. QB is worse. So inconsistent.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Ugly game so far. LU O pretty much shut down. OL not very good. QB is worse. So inconsistent.

SFU defense was solid last year. The pick at inside the 10 was horrible. 3 points there is probably the game given how the Lehigh D has played against the SFU "O"....

[DFW HOYA]

Georgetown 20
Davidson 27
4:54 4th

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple TD!!

7-0 Owls 11:41 1Q

SFU moving the ball with about 2 minutes left down 6...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Red Flashes! Lehigh with a dreadful second half. Gilmore teams notoriously struggle in close games...

14-13 SFU 1:17 4Q

[DFW HOYA]

Davidson converts two fourth down plays in final 2:00. The odds of a winning season at Georgetown have taken a nose dive.

Georgetown 20
Davidson 27
Final

[aceinthehole]

SFU wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEC starts the 2019 season 1-0 vs. the Patriot League.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

SFU wins 14-13 as Lehigh's misses a FG as time expired. Lehigh kicker drilled it when SFU calls timeout then missed it when it mattered. Going to be a long year again for Lehigh...

Temple 14-0 5:14 1Q

[aceinthehole]

SFU holds Lehigh to 11 yards rushing in the game. Wow!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple 21 Bucknell 0 2:01 1Q
Air Force 7 Colgate 0 10:55 1Q

The PL may be heading towards an epically awful opening Saturday...

[DFW HOYA]

The PL may be heading towards an epically awful opening Saturday...

But in Center Valley....

https://i2.wp.com/louisvillecoopers.com/wp-content/uploads/remain-calm.jpg

[RichH2]

But in Center Valley....

https://i2.wp.com/louisvillecoopers.com/wp-content/uploads/remain-calm.jpg

+1

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple 28 Bucknell 0 11:45 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Navy 10 Holy Cross 0 5:56 1Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Bucknell scores! wow!! but they miss the XP....

28-6 Temple 8:13 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Air Force

Falcons 14-0 12:11 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Air Force

21-0 Air Force 12:11 2Q

Bucknell gets a FG

Temple 28-9 2:41 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple strikes quickly!!

35-9 Owls 1:02 2Q

[Sader87]

HC just missed a chip shot FG 10-0 about 10 in 2nd

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

HC just missed a chip shot FG 10-0 about 10 in 2nd

Holy Cross is hanging tough despite their QB struggling...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Air Force! Colgate is getting beat up on for the second straight week...

Falcons 28-0 2:08 2Q

Navy TD

17-0 Middies 7:29 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Air Force scores again. Colgate putting forth their best "Parents Day Cupcake" performance....

35-0 Air Force1:57 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Cross!

17-7 Navy 1:48 2Q

[Sader87]

TD HC...nice drive...17-7

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Navy scores before half

24-7

Bucknell adds a FG

Temple 35-12 9:38 3Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Owls!!

42-12 Temple 5:13 3Q

Colgate-Air Force is currently in a weather delay....

[PAllen]

I'd like to start hearing the reasons that Sterrett should keep his job.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Temple!!

49-12 Owls 14:53 4Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Air Force 41 Colgate 0 11:23 3Q
Navy 31 HC 7 10:56 3Q

Ugly performances but to be expected I guess given how bad the league appears. These FBS games are especially embarrassing. Don't schedule games you have no chance to compete in. I don't think Colgate has come within 10 pts of a FBS team outside of Buffalo in 2003 in 30+ years.

[Sader87]

HC has been scrappy but still a year away.....31-7 mid 3rd

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Air Force! Colgate is awful. Hunt has a lot of work to do before W&M in two weeks...

49-0 Falcons 3:53 3Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

HC has been scrappy but still a year away.....31-7 mid 3rd

Holy Cross has been a year away for 25 years. Everyone in the PL needs to step up and win!! Navy is not a very good FBS team.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Owls!!
Temple 56 Bucknell 12 5:56 4Q

Colgate scores!
Air Force 48 Colgate 7 0:09 3Q

Navy Scores!
38-7 Middies 2:04 3Q

[CHIP72]

One positive Bucknell can take out of their loss to Temple is their special teams, particularly coverage teams, played well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pards Rule]

Temple covers!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple 56 Bucknell 12 Final

Good solid showing to start the year for Temple. This game really had no business being played. Hopefully the $$ was worth the beating for the Bison....

[aceinthehole]

Central marches down the field with some great OL push and 2 huge rushing plays for a TD and 2-point conversion.

CCSU 8, Fordham 0

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Navy!!

45-7 14:52

This is surprisingly bad. Navy is not a very good team this year. Holy Cross better step up their game for Syracuse. Must be able to put a product on the field capable of competing with the schedules they choose.

[Leopard Loyalist]

Lafayette answers William and Mary field goal with a TD run by QB Cole Northrup. Leopards up 7-3!

[Leopard Loyalist]

W & M fumbles on kickoff. Leopards recover at the 27 yard line!

[Leopard Loyalist]

William & Mary holds. FG attempt no good.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Air Force 48 Colgate 7 Final

Colgate gets a much needed bye before heading to W&M in two weeks.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Navy 45 Holy Cross 7 Final

Surprised HC was not able to score more. Next week when they play UNH will be a good litmus test for the Crusaders.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Fordham! They go for two for some unknown reason and fail. Chasing points way too early...

8-6 CCSU 9:18 2Q

[aceinthehole]

Fordham with the TD, but missed the 2-pt conversion.

CCSU - 8
Fordham - 6

9:18 Q2

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU TD on a great play action fake!!

15-6 Devils 4:54 2Q

[aceinthehole]

CCSU chokes after stopping Fordham on 4th down and getting the ball.

Central drives inside the 5 yard line - False Start, QB sack, missed FG

CCSU - 15
Fordham - 6

Halftime

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lafayette 10 W&M 6 Half

Could the 'Pards be the PL team who prevents the dreaded o'fer?!?

[aceinthehole]

Fordham gets a FG to draw closer.

CCSU - 15
Fordham - 9

11:50 Q3

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M scores to start the 2nd half....

16-10 Tribe 9:34 3Q

[Southsider]

Lehigh football, as we once knew it, is done. The PL has finlly achieved what it set out to do. Destroy once proud programs. Cancel that score/video board order. LU won't need it as there will be no one left to see it. The overall talent gap I saw today was very clear, and it isn't in the PL's favor!
SAD, SAD, Sadddddddddddddd

[Sader87]

The Patriot League has been a disaster for Holy Cross football for 25+ years...glad the other schools are catching up now too :)

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh football, as we once knew it, is done. The PL has finlly achieved what it set out to do. Destroy once proud programs. Cancel that score/video board order. LU won't need it as there will be no one left to see it. The overall talent gap I saw today was very clear, and it isn't in the PL's favor!
SAD, SAD, Sadddddddddddddd

The move to scholarships has been a disaster. Outside of the "stars align" team that pops up every few years the PL is completely irrelevant nationally. The OOC results remind me of the SWAC in basketball. It's pathetic. For schools that aspire for greatness their perspective on sports (especially football) is a bleeping joke.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The Tribe woke up in the second half

W&M 30 Lafayette 10 8:52 4Q

[BNiche]

Fordham with the fourth down TD completion and it's tied in the Bronx with 1:53 left to go.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Tie game!! Go rams!!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU wins on a last second FG! CCSU 26-23...

The league's hopes no rest in a Lafayette comeback; down 13 with 3 minutes left

[aceinthehole]

Fordham ices the kicker twice. On the 3rd attempt with 0:01 left on the clock, CCSU hits the FG

CCSU - 26
Fordham - 23

FINAL

[BNiche]

Three chances for CCSU to kick the field goal. First chance, missed but Fordham called TO. Second time, made it but CCSU timeout. Third time a charm. CCSU on the game winning FG.

[aceinthehole]

Three chances for CCSU to kick the field goal. First chance, missed but Fordham called TO. Second time, made it but CCSU timeout. Third time a charm. CCSU on the game winning FG.

Actually, Fordham called both Timeouts to "ice" the kicker. He hit the upright and missed the first; it appeared he made the second; and he made the third attempt.

That is the second time today Patriot League coaches tried to "ice" the kicker and it backfired. In both cases, SFU and CCSU missed their first attempt. The both would make a subsequent kick to win the game.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

William & Mary 30 Lafayette 17 Final

The O'fer is complete! The PL is officially 0-8 after two weekends of play! Wow! This is truly embarrassing! The league has regressed to (perhaps past) where it was in the early to mid 90's. The league has to make to a decision imo as to what it wants to be. I have to believe the coaches "know" they're severely battling up hill. I've been following the league for 30+ years and never thought I would see it like this. No one in their right mind would have guessed the league would be in such poor competitive shape when scholarships were announced nearly a decade ago.

[BNiche]

Fordham ices the kicker twice. On the 3rd attempt with 0:01 left on the clock, CCSU hits the FG

CCSU - 26
Fordham - 23

FINAL

The Fordham PA system made it impossible for me to figure out from my seat what happened. Thank you for clearing it up. Congrats to CCSU!

[aceinthehole]

William & Mary 30 Lafayette 17 Final

The O'fer is complete! The PL is officially 0-8 after two weekends of play! Wow! This is truly embarrassing! The league has regressed to (perhaps past) where it was in the early to mid 90's. The league has to make to a decision imo as to what it wants to be. I have to believe the coaches "know" they're severely battling up hill. I've been following the league for 30+ years and never thought I would see it like this. No one in their right mind would have guessed the league would be in such poor competitive shape when scholarships were announced nearly a decade ago.

But you are "playing up" in nearly every game - FBS and CAA opponents. PL was home underdogs to the NEC, but lost both games by a FG - obviously not what PL fans expect, but those games could have gone the other way.

The NEC is 2-4 in Week 1.

2-0 vs. Patriot League (Lehigh and Fordham)
0-2 vs. Colonial (Stony Brook and #7 Maine)
0-2 vs. FBS (UConn and Buffalo)

Next week we will play 4 D-II opponents (CCSU-Merrimack, RMU-Kentucky St., Duquesne-Walsh; Wagner-E. Stroudsburg), and 4 FCS opponents.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Actually, Fordham called both Timeouts to "ice" the kicker. He hit the upright and missed the first; it appeared he made the second; and he made the third attempt.

That is the second time today Patriot League coaches tried to "ice" the kicker and it backfired. In both cases, SFU and CCSU missed their first attempt. The both would make a subsequent kick to win the game.

It was Lehigh who was attempting the game winner. He made the first, missed the second...

[aceinthehole]

It was Lehigh who was attempting the game winner. He made the first, missed the second...


Oops, you're right. Anyway, I hate the "icing" it is an anti-climatic way to end the game.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

But you are "playing up" in nearly every game - FBS and CAA opponents. PL was home underdogs to the NEC, but lost both games by a FG - obviously not what PL fans expect, but those games could have gone the other way.

The NEC is 2-4 in Week 1.

2-0 vs. Patriot League (Lehigh and Fordham)
0-2 vs. Colonial (Stony Brook and #7 Maine)
0-2 vs. FBS (UConn and Buffalo)

Next week we will play 4 D-II opponents (CCSU-Merrimack, RMU-Kentucky St., Duquesne-Walsh; Wagner-E. Stroudsburg), and 4 FCS opponents.

The PL needs to step up. The teams choose who they play. If you play a CAA or FBS team compete and win. The goal is to win. The PL has failed miserably at the #1 goal. There's no more excuses.

[ngineer]

Outcome of Lehigh game virtually same as last year. Down to last play only other team wins. I did see a lot of fight in the Lehigh team. Defense played spirited and made a number of very good plays. Yes, a few bonehead mistakes, were costly, but there is a lot to build off. Too many execution errors, which can be cleaned up. Even though a win at Villanova is unlikely, the key will be to see improvement. Next two weeks are very tough, so the key is to improve regardless of the score. The PL appears to be wide open this year.

[RichH2]

PL has yet to win a game in 2 weeks. FBS games aside, where Ls were not unexpected.PL lost both NEC games and a CAA match. While the NEC games were very close, nether PL squad could get a W. PL teams no longer out talent NEC teams. With redshirting NEC talent level is equal to or better than much of the PL. PL finds itself in a self created box of restrictions. At present we cant compete with any of our usual conferences.

[BNiche]

The PL needs to step up. The teams choose who they play. If you play a CAA or FBS team compete and win. The goal is to win. The PL has failed miserably at the #1 goal. There's no more excuses.

Not aware of the other PL teams, but Fordham has Ball State scheduled this year, Hawaii next year, and FAU the year after. I love my alma mater, but I don't see a win in any of those three games. Same with the CAA games - Richmond and Stony Brook this year and Stony Brook the following two years as well. I can be optimistic in a year or two, but I don't know...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Not aware of the other PL teams, but Fordham has Ball State scheduled this year, Hawaii next year, and FAU the year after. I love my alma mater, but I don't see a win in any of those three games. Same with the CAA games - Richmond and Stony Brook this year and Stony Brook the following two years as well. I can be optimistic in a year or two, but I don't know...

That's sad but rather indicative of the PL's current problem. If you felt the Fordham program was improving and had a chance at FCS national relevancy those would be reasonably winnable games. But sadly you don't believe it will happen and/or think it's possible. And you're most likely right....

[Sader87]

PL games against FBS schools are scheduled for PR, $$$, alumni involvement, recruiting etc...winning such games are way down on the list

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

PL games against FBS schools are scheduled for PR, $$$, alumni involvement, recruiting etc...winning such games are way down on the list

The PR in general is terrible. They're serving the purpose as the token cupcake brought in for the slaughter. That's not the type of pub you want.

Alumni involvement? In what capacity? And if there is an uptick it's only a couple of games here and there. There certainly wasn't much if any Colgate and Bucknell alumni involvement today.

The schools truly don't need the money that bad. The resources/facilities are there relative to FCS. That's not not the problem.

It doesn't help recruiting. There's absolutely no correlation imo. Winning helps recruiting. Great coaching staffs help with recruiting. Losing by 50 does not help recruiting.

I watched SDSU-Minnesota and paid close attention to UNI-Iowa State and JMU-WVU. They're playing to win. I love it!If HC, Colgate, Lehigh, Fordham etc. aren't interested in winning shame on them. Perhaps that mentality helps to explain why HC football has generally been mediocre to awful the last 25 years? They simply don't care in Worcester.

It's just frustrating to watch all the losing. The goal is to win. If you're not interested in winning then drop the programs and focus on something else.

Something has to change imo....

[Sader87]

15K HC fans at BC last year...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Do the odds suggest 0-14?

Week 2
Lehigh @ Villanova
Marist @ Georgetown
Lafayette @ Monmouth
Holy Cross @ UNH
Fordham @ Ball State
Bucknell @ Sacred Heart

[The Boogie Down]

That's sad but rather indicative of the PL's current problem. If you felt the Fordham program was improving and had a chance at FCS national relevancy those would be reasonably winnable games. But sadly you don't believe it will happen and/or think it's possible. And you're most likely right....

Sad and indicative indeed. I can't speak for the league as a whole but if Fordham can beat Temple and Army (even during bad years for them), they should at least be able to hang with Ball State. And they should probably roll over FAU. The fact that that's no longer the case shows how far the Rams have dropped and not how much Ball State and FAU has improved. So yeah, it is sad and indicative of Fordham's current problem.

But, after two horrific seasons, I do think the Rams are close to turning things around. As AceInTheHole said, today's CCSU game could have gone either way. We have mostly sophomores on O and mostly juniors on D. That's alotta talent that should develop together this year and next. Still light years behind where Fordham was just three years ago but, to go to your next post, it's not like they don't care in Rose Hill. It's not like they're not interested in winning.

The losing, including today's game, is frustrating but I don't think things will stay terrible. Again, can't speak for the rest of the PL, but I do think Fordham has the pieces to turn it around.

[Sader87]

Holy Cross has all the pieces in place, more than anyone in the PL really, we'll see how it plays out.

[Southsider]

Outcome of Lehigh game virtually same as last year. Down to last play only other team wins. I did see a lot of fight in the Lehigh team. Defense played spirited and made a number of very good plays. Yes, a few bonehead mistakes, were costly, but there is a lot to build off. Too many execution errors, which can be cleaned up. Even though a win at Villanova is unlikely, the key will be to see improvement. Next two weeks are very tough, so the key is to improve regardless of the score. The PL appears to be wide open this year.

Like the d back leaving his man so he could pursue the QB. Gave up the winning score. Stupid! Also, coaching still poor. First and goal from half yard line. Let's line up in the gun and hand ball off to back who is running sideways. Stuffed again! Put the damn QB under center with 2 backs and push his ass over the goal line. Bottom line, SFU more physical and talented across the board. The next 2 weeks will be very ugly.

[Pards Rule]

Lafayette to play Navy, Air Force! and Temple in next few years...Havent played Navy (a game I went to Annapolis to see) since October 1985!!

[PAllen]

Do the odds suggest 0-14?

Week 2
Lehigh @ Villanova
Marist @ Georgetown
Lafayette @ Monmouth
Holy Cross @ UNH
Fordham @ Ball State
Bucknell @ Sacred Heart

Yes.

[DFW HOYA]

Lafayette to play Navy, Air Force! and Temple in next few years...Havent played Navy (a game I went to Annapolis to see) since October 1985!!

Be thankful other teams return Lafayette's calls. Otherwise, you might be left filling your schedule with Davidson, Marist, and Division III schools.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Be thankful other teams return Lafayette's calls. Otherwise, you might be left filling your schedule with Davidson, Marist, and Division III schools.

A program as bad as Lafayette's has far more business playing Davidson and Marist than they do Air Force, Navy and Temple. The Leopards must really want to showcase how terrible they are.

[van]

pretty sure there is a win or two in there

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

pretty sure there is a win or two in there

Holy Cross-UNH is one where the PL team SHOULD have a legit shot. Chesney gets a UNH team playing their first game of the season with an interim head coach (former great UNH QB Ricky Santos). The Wildcats are coming of their worse season in 15 years. Time for the Crusaders to step up and start winning games under Chesney.

Marist at Georgetown is another one. It's in D.C. and Marist should be a step down from Davidson.

[Fordham]

I was there and I'm ok with the game yesterday. Disappointing last second loss but I think CCSU is a good team. Their QB is a fantastic game changer and their OL is very good along with some very good offensive talent. Their D is good but how they play will determine how good their season will be. Fordham kept fighting after a really bad start that I was afraid was going to be a blow out. Our O is vastly improved and Demorat is very good at QB, even though he still made some youthful mistakes. Running game looked good. Overall we're a dramatically better team than last year. While that's not saying alot, at least we're clearly moving in the right direction. Yesterday came down to the fact that while i do think we can be a good team we are not anywhere near the level where we can make major mistakes and recover from it and still win.

I'll be very curious to see how CCSU does the rest of the way and hats off to them for yesterday.

Yesterday I think we learned nothing from the Gate and HC games. Otherwise I think Lehigh and Fordham may both be moving in the right direction. I'm really not sure what to make of Lafayette's game but the biggest disappointment was clearly Gtown. Certainly a disappointing yet familiar start for the PL.

[van]

Fordham did a poor job of adjusting to the QB runs, D coaches need to take a hard look in the mirror

[Fordham]

Fordham did a poor job of adjusting to the QB runs, D coaches need to take a hard look in the mirror
?!? Did you just watch the first half? They had the perimeter for the entire half and I was frustrated that we weren't key'ing solely on making sure Winchester was covered. However, in the second half their only offensive score was a FG. That's more than a pretty good halftime adjustment imo against a really good O. If we had not made adjustments that game could have gotten away from us easily

[aceinthehole]

I was there and I'm ok with the game yesterday. Disappointing last second loss but I think CCSU is a good team. Their QB is a fantastic game changer and their OL is very good along with some very good offensive talent. Their D is good but how they play will determine how good their season will be. Fordham kept fighting after a really bad start that I was afraid was going to be a blow out. Our O is vastly improved and Demorat is very good at QB, even though he still made some youthful mistakes. Running game looked good. Overall we're a dramatically better team than last year. While that's not saying alot, at least we're clearly moving in the right direction. Yesterday came down to the fact that while i do think we can be a good team we are not anywhere near the level where we can make major mistakes and recover from it and still win.

I'll be very curious to see how CCSU does the rest of the way and hats off to them for yesterday.

Yesterday I think we learned nothing from the Gate and HC games. Otherwise I think Lehigh and Fordham may both be moving in the right direction. I'm really not sure what to make of Lafayette's game but the biggest disappointment was clearly Gtown. Certainly a disappointing yet familiar start for the PL.

Agreed. Replacing the school's all-time leading passer who just made a NFL roster was a huge question mark coming into the season, but the Georgia State transfer is a dynamic playmaker and a leader. I'm not concerned about QB play or the offense in general. We have a big, experienced OL, and a nice stable of backs and receivers. CCSU shouldn't have too much trouble putting points on the board if they play smart and aggressive.

While the secondary is our defensive strength and they did get a pick-6 last night, they are streaky bunch. Gave up some big passing plays and had a few pass interference and personal fouls. They need to do more to help out the team. Our interior defense is a weakness and Fordham took advantage. Rams had 190 yards on the ground at 5 yrds per rush. I'm afraid that some teams are going to pound the rock against us, then use the play-action and eat our lunch.

Central has 2 weeks to work on stuff against inferior opponents - Merrimack (home opener) and Valpo (away) - and should be 3-0 heading into their FBS game against Eastern Michigan. The NEC portion of the schedule is bookended by the toughest two games - 10/5 at SHU and the season finale 11/23 at Duquesne. CCSU lost to those teams last year at home by a total of 10 points.

We are definitely a contender for the conference title and a return to the playoffs, but we need to go on the road and beat the 3 of the top NEC teams (DUQ, SHU, and Wagner) to do it.

[TheValleyRaider]

Well, Colgate sucked yesterday, so there's that. No excuses, just a poor effort in a game where we needed to play very well to stay competitive. Certainly in need of the bye, but W&M in two weeks is an opportunity to get back on track.

FBS games are not the Patriot League's problem. Outside of some perennial favorites, most FCS teams struggle in those matchups. FBS teams are largely better. You want to play well, but those games aren't scheduled to prove teams/the League are nationally competitive. Losing to St Francis, to Davidson, those are problems.

[DFW HOYA]

Losing to St Francis, to Davidson, those are problems.

These are symptoms of a strategic failure by PL leadership which they are neither willing to admit nor address.

[ngineer]

I was there and I'm ok with the game yesterday. Disappointing last second loss but I think CCSU is a good team. Their QB is a fantastic game changer and their OL is very good along with some very good offensive talent. Their D is good but how they play will determine how good their season will be. Fordham kept fighting after a really bad start that I was afraid was going to be a blow out. Our O is vastly improved and Demorat is very good at QB, even though he still made some youthful mistakes. Running game looked good. Overall we're a dramatically better team than last year. While that's not saying alot, at least we're clearly moving in the right direction. Yesterday came down to the fact that while i do think we can be a good team we are not anywhere near the level where we can make major mistakes and recover from it and still win.

I'll be very curious to see how CCSU does the rest of the way and hats off to them for yesterday.

Yesterday I think we learned nothing from the Gate and HC games. Otherwise I think Lehigh and Fordham may both be moving in the right direction. I'm really not sure what to make of Lafayette's game but the biggest disappointment was clearly Gtown. Certainly a disappointing yet familiar start for the PL.

Yes, the 'shocker' to me was the Hoya loss to Davidson. The outcomes of the other games were not surprises. Clearly disappointing that a couple of the winnable games went south (Fordham, Lehigh), but for first season games, not discouraging. The key is whether there will be improvement (as opposed to wins) this coming weekend.

[Bill]

Yes, the 'shocker' to me was the Hoya loss to Davidson. The outcomes of the other games were not surprises. Clearly disappointing that a couple of the winnable games went south (Fordham, Lehigh), but for first season games, not discouraging. The key is whether there will be improvement (as opposed to wins) this coming weekend.

ngineer,
I agree with your post...but wow, look at how far we've (LU and the PL in general) fallen. Our expectations have been beaten back over the years... there was a time not too long ago (or was it?) when losses to some of these teams would have had people circling the wagons. Now we expect not to really compete, and get less than 4500 fans at Goodman for a game when school is in session. Ouch.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Personally, i think St. Francis is a below average to straight up bad team. Losing to them at home is not good. There's no silver lining in losing to the Red Flashes. There's having a "rough" stretch and there's hitting rock bottom. Lehigh is looking at a 2-4 win season again. Not sure what the program's worst 3 year stretch is in the last 50 years but this might be coming close.

The league either needs to lift some of the absurd restrictions, go to the old model or PFL model or disband football and let each school decide what they want to do. The current situation is not working. The only way I see success at this point is when you have a veteran team that sticks together with a few true studs. That combo just doesn't happen very often. I also don't think the coaching staffs in the league are the best either. There's simply no Joe Moorhead, Dave Clawson, Kevin Higgins, Pete Lembo, Mark Duffner in the league right now. Dan Hunt is more Andy Coen than Dick Biddle imo. Good solid coach that's going to have a few really good years, a few too many middling ones and a couple real clunkers. The jury is still out on Chesney but the sample size is growing. See how he does against Ricky Santos.

The Gilmore hire for Lehigh just screams "blah". I just don't know what the ultimate goal was with him. I feel like a top tier FCS coach would have gotten more out the Mountain Hawks yesterday. At this point you need someone who can be creative and cutting edge in order to overcome these obstacles. This is an offensive driven era yet the offenses in the PL suck. I'd wager Joe Moorhead would get a .500 or better record out of every team in the league this year.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

ngineer,
I agree with your post...but wow, look at how far we've (LU and the PL in general) fallen. Our expectations have been beaten back over the years... there was a time not too long ago (or was it?) when losses to some of these teams would have had people circling the wagons. Now we expect not to really compete, and get less than 4500 fans at Goodman for a game when school is in session. Ouch.

I agree. The expectations must be raised if the league is going to be a "scholarship playoff" conference. I thought the goal was to go after the CAA. Not strive/accept a moral victory against a bottom tier NEC program. Otherwise go in another direction.

[bonarae]

So, where is the Week 2 pick'em for us to move on? xchinscratchx

Overall, the PL hasn't managed football well as a league administration.

[RichH2]

Personally, i think St. Francis is a below average to straight up bad team. Losing to them at home is not good. There's no silver lining in losing to the Red Flashes. There's having a "rough" stretch and there's hitting rock bottom. Lehigh is looking at a 2-4 win season again. Not sure what the program's worst 3 year stretch is in the last 50 years but this might be coming close.

The league either needs to lift some of the absurd restrictions, go to the old model or PFL model or disband football and let each school decide what they want to do. The current situation is not working. The only way I see success at this point is when you have a veteran team that sticks together with a few true studs. That combo just doesn't happen very often. I also don't think the coaching staffs in the league are the best either. There's simply no Joe Moorhead, Dave Clawson, Kevin Higgins, Pete Lembo, Mark Duffner in the league right now. Dan Hunt is more Andy Coen than Dick Biddle imo. Good solid coach that's going to have a few really good years, a few too many middling ones and a couple real clunkers. The jury is still out on Chesney but the sample size is growing. See how he does against Ricky Santos.

The Gilmore hire for Lehigh just screams "blah". I just don't know what the ultimate goal was with him. I feel like a top tier FCS coach would have gotten more out the Mountain Hawks yesterday. At this point you need someone who can be creative and cutting edge in order to overcome these obstacles. This is an offensive driven era yet the offenses in the PL suck. I'd wager Joe Moorhead would get a .500 or better record out of every team in the league this year.

Admittedly a rebuilding year for all but Gate and perhaps Hoyas. That said it is becoming clear that the current model for PL football has not and will not work. Do we try to return to the halcyon days of nonschollie teams and no roster caps? Worked quite well for us in the 90s and early 2000s. That niche no longer exists. Then there was no NEC and smaller CAA and a smug and complacent Ivy League. Currently the CAA is the top FCS conference. The NEC has essentially full scholarships and no roster caps or AI. The Ivies are no longer complacent with recruiting that rivals a lot of Pt teams. Lets not forget Monmouth a full schollie FCS team that wasnt a competitor back then.
A PFL model wont work in the Northeast for us forvthe same reasons unless our goal is to join that league.
The only viable option is to ease our restrictions.
Our admission standards are not going to be lowered or the AI scrapped.
Schollies have to be raised to the NCAA max of 63 .
Roster cap either raised or ended.
Redshirting at least in limited fashion allowed.
Mediocre coaching?
Too early to decide on Conlin Chesney Gilmore or Cecchini. Garrett? 3rd year in to the rebuild. This should be his make or break year. Admittedly I dont see much there but we'll see. Gilmore? Understand why Sterrett picked him I dont think it was the best long term choice. I am impressed with the change in culture and enthusiasm so far. Also, he has done very well recruiting. This year? Defense certainly improved. O has become much less vanilla and predictable. The failure on Saturday was execution not play calling.
I am not as down on SFU tho. Perhaps as owl says they are a middling team in the NEC. I think this is more telling of the overall depth of the NEC and the lack of any in the PL. That team was clearly more experienced and talented than Lehigh. One of the true benefits of redshirting.
This year I dont see more than 3 or 4 Ws at best. We do have a lot of talent but almost no depth. We dressed 9 OL for SFU and lost one of our best to injury. The skill positions are superb save at QB. He may improve but without an OL our O could be a repeat of last year.
The key to the PL's future awaits the Council of Presidents. Up to the them.

6

[Son of Eli]

How about ending athletic scholarships, eliminate roster caps, pick up an 8th team from a solid academic institution and enter into a season ending championship bowl game with the Ivy League?

[Son of Eli]

Possible 8th teams include:

Villanova
Davidson
Marist
Duquesne
Loyola
Fairfield University
Boston University
John Hopkins

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Admittedly a rebuilding year for all but Gate and perhaps Hoyas. That said it is becoming clear that the current model for PL football has not and will not work. Do we try to return to the halcyon days of nonschollie teams and no roster caps? Worked quite well for us in the 90s and early 2000s. That niche no longer exists. Then there was no NEC and smaller CAA and a smug and complacent Ivy League. Currently the CAA is the top FCS conference. The NEC has essentially full scholarships and no roster caps or AI. The Ivies are no longer complacent with recruiting that rivals a lot of Pt teams. Lets not forget Monmouth a full schollie FCS team that wasnt a competitor back then.
A PFL model wont work in the Northeast for us forvthe same reasons unless our goal is to join that league.
The only viable option is to ease our restrictions.
Our admission standards are not going to be lowered or the AI scrapped.
Schollies have to be raised to the NCAA max of 63 .
Roster cap either raised or ended.
Redshirting at least in limited fashion allowed.
Mediocre coaching?
Too early to decide on Conlin Chesney Gilmore or Cecchini. Garrett? 3rd year in to the rebuild. This should be his make or break year. Admittedly I dont see much there but we'll see. Gilmore? Understand why Sterrett picked him I dont think it was the best long term choice. I am impressed with the change in culture and enthusiasm so far. Also, he has done very well recruiting. This year? Defense certainly improved. O has become much less vanilla and predictable. The failure on Saturday was execution not play calling.
I am not as down on SFU tho. Perhaps as owl says they are a middling team in the NEC. I think this is more telling of the overall depth of the NEC and the lack of any in the PL. That team was clearly more experienced and talented than Lehigh. One of the true benefits of redshirting.
This year I dont see more than 3 or 4 Ws at best. We do have a lot of talent but almost no depth. We dressed 9 OL for SFU and lost one of our best to injury. The skill positions are superb save at QB. He may improve but without an OL our O could be a repeat of last year.
The key to the PL's future awaits the Council of Presidents. Up to the them.

6

Other conferences and teams have gotten better while other teams and conferences have weakened over the years. That's the ebb and flows of college football. I don't think the NEC or Monmouth or the IL should have anything to do with the Patriot League. The PL just needed to be moving along and making sure they remain competitive independently of everyone else. They thought the move to scholarships was "keeping up". Not realizing that some of the schools were pretty good at working within the confines of the need base model and larger roster sizes. Scholarships were never alone going to solve anything. I knew that from the start. History has shown there's plenty of bad scholarship programs. The PL is a league full of them.

Joe Moorhead took over a 1-10 team and went 6-5 in his first year. Ed Sweeney went 0-11 in '95 at Colgate. Dick Biddle came in went 6-5. Dave Clawson took over a program that was basically operating at a D2 level in 1990s. Went 0-11 in his first year, 3-8 in 2000 then started to take off with a 7-4 2001 season. I simply don't think anyone hired a home run. I thought Chesney might be that guy but I'm just not seeing much improvement in Worcester. Conlin had his chance to make a statement to open year two against a first time head coach and came up short. I have a hard time believing Garrett is the guy to turn Lafayette around. Sgarlata needs a winning season. He seems clueless about offense. A bit too much in the Joe Susan mold.

St. Francis was picked 6th in the NEC and are likely headed to their third straight losing season as well. No offense to St. Francis but they can't be a barometer for moral victories. If Lehigh battles Villanova for 4 quarters I'll be more inclined to accept one.

[Gater]

Colgate is doing fine. They are one of nine teams in the country to have made the final eight twice in the past four years. Hunt is a great coach. The recruiting class that just came in is really good. Last year, Colgate was down by seven against Army with two minutes remaining. Colgate ended up losing by 14. Army finished #19 in FBS and Colgate was playing without its starting, all-league QB. (So you are right Temple Fan, Colgate has not finished within 10 of an FBS school in forever.)

Colgate's first two games this year have been a mess. There were three missed snaps against Air Force. (Colgate's starting center didn't play and they were on the third string center for two of those.) There have been far more blown coverages on D and indecision and less physical play. Colgate is off this week and then goes to Bill and Mary. I'll be curious to see what changes by then. Feel like you might see more of Braasch and Thompson at LB and more of freshman Meyer on DL. The offense hasn't attempted a pass of more than about 25 yards, which I think will change. Offense is trying to be a little bit perfect right now, which is making it a little bit predictable. This might also just prove to be a down year for Colgate, which happens. But in general, Colgate is in a really good place. Hunt is going to win a lot of games. The Colgate president was named student athlete of the year when he was at Notre Dame and is very supportive of the program and athletics in general (apparently the thought the stadium scoreboard looked bad and just got a new one). The president also just added scholarships to sports where Colgate wasn't using the max. His reasoning is that if you are playing, you should play to win and the added expensive is pretty minimal. Colgate just built a 40 mil hockey arena (though the coach has been there since the '90's and has a losing record--which feels like it has to change). They are also redoing the whole athletics complex and the Trent Jones Sr. golf course and clubhouse. Colgate's president might not lead the push to go to 63 scholarships and red shirting, but I would imagine he would be on board with not making it harder for teams to compete for basically no reason. That being said, Colgate has already shown that PL teams can do well in the football scholarship era. Feel like Holy Cross and Fordham are moving in a better direction. Just always going to be hard for Georgetown. Lafayette feels like it just needs a change. Bucknell has to improve with new coach. The head-scratcher is Lehigh hiring someone who didn't win at the PL level and went 33-53 over his final eight seasons at Holy Cross, especially when Lehigh is now 8 games under .500 over the past five years (including the opener). Don't think you would notice the league being so far down if Lehigh was playing like the Lehigh teams of a decade ago. Also makes sense that you would have crowds being down at Lehigh. Can't imagine St. Francis and Merrimack are the biggest draws. Hopefully everybody starts playing better and the league moves in a better direction in general. Some things handicapping this league but these schools have a ton to offer kids looking to play football while getting a great education.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Colgate is doing fine. They are one of nine teams in the country to have made the final eight twice in the past four years. Hunt is a great coach. The recruiting class that just came in is really good. Last year, Colgate was down by seven against Army with two minutes remaining. Colgate ended up losing by 14. Army finished #19 in FBS and Colgate was playing without its starting, all-league QB. (So you are right Temple Fan, Colgate has not finished within 10 of an FBS school in forever.)

Colgate's first two games this year have been a mess. There were three missed snaps against Air Force. (Colgate's starting center didn't play and they were on the third string center for two of those.) There have been far more blown coverages on D and indecision and less physical play. Colgate is off this week and then goes to Bill and Mary. I'll be curious to see what changes by then. Feel like you might see more of Braasch and Thompson at LB and more of freshman Meyer on DL. The offense hasn't attempted a pass of more than about 25 yards, which I think will change. Offense is trying to be a little bit perfect right now, which is making it a little bit predictable. This might also just prove to be a down year for Colgate, which happens. But in general, Colgate is in a really good place. Hunt is going to win a lot of games. The Colgate president was named student athlete of the year when he was at Notre Dame and is very supportive of the program and athletics in general (apparently the thought the stadium scoreboard looked bad and just got a new one). The president also just added scholarships to sports where Colgate wasn't using the max. His reasoning is that if you are playing, you should play to win and the added expensive is pretty minimal. Colgate just built a 40 mil hockey arena (though the coach has been there since the '90's and has a losing record--which feels like it has to change). They are also redoing the whole athletics complex and the Trent Jones Sr. golf course and clubhouse. Colgate's president might not lead the push to go to 63 scholarships and red shirting, but I would imagine he would be on board with not making it harder for teams to compete for basically no reason. That being said, Colgate has already shown that PL teams can do well in the football scholarship era. Feel like Holy Cross and Fordham are moving in a better direction. Just always going to be hard for Georgetown. Lafayette feels like it just needs a change. Bucknell has to improve with new coach. The head-scratcher is Lehigh hiring someone who didn't win at the PL level and went 33-53 over his final eight seasons at Holy Cross, especially when Lehigh is now 8 games under .500 over the past five years (including the opener). Don't think you would notice the league being so far down if Lehigh was playing like the Lehigh teams of a decade ago. Also makes sense that you would have crowds being down at Lehigh. Can't imagine St. Francis and Merrimack are the biggest draws. Hopefully everybody starts playing better and the league moves in a better direction in general. Some things handicapping this league but these schools have a ton to offer kids looking to play football while getting a great education.

This decade has been about 3 teams being able to elevate themselves and the league to an extent. Lehigh in 2010 and 2011 then remained ranked for almost all of 2012 and 2013. Fordham with Moorhead from 2013-2015. Breiener had them in contention for an at-large in 2016. Now Colgate had the playoff run in 2015 and last year's Top 10 team. While Colgate has been good under Hunt (36-25) they haven't taken it to the next level. Granted, I think if they don't face NDSU last year there's a good chance they advance. Granted, I say the samething about Lehigh in 2011. We'll see how the rest of the year pans out for the Raiders but this year could end up being a 2016 like disappointment or they could shake up a rough OOC performance and take off in the playoffs like 2015.

[Southsider]

Colgate is doing fine. They are one of nine teams in the country to have made the final eight twice in the past four years. Hunt is a great coach. The recruiting class that just came in is really good. Last year, Colgate was down by seven against Army with two minutes remaining. Colgate ended up losing by 14. Army finished #19 in FBS and Colgate was playing without its starting, all-league QB. (So you are right Temple Fan, Colgate has not finished within 10 of an FBS school in forever.)

Colgate's first two games this year have been a mess. There were three missed snaps against Air Force. (Colgate's starting center didn't play and they were on the third string center for two of those.) There have been far more blown coverages on D and indecision and less physical play. Colgate is off this week and then goes to Bill and Mary. I'll be curious to see what changes by then. Feel like you might see more of Braasch and Thompson at LB and more of freshman Meyer on DL. The offense hasn't attempted a pass of more than about 25 yards, which I think will change. Offense is trying to be a little bit perfect right now, which is making it a little bit predictable. This might also just prove to be a down year for Colgate, which happens. But in general, Colgate is in a really good place. Hunt is going to win a lot of games. The Colgate president was named student athlete of the year when he was at Notre Dame and is very supportive of the program and athletics in general (apparently the thought the stadium scoreboard looked bad and just got a new one). The president also just added scholarships to sports where Colgate wasn't using the max. His reasoning is that if you are playing, you should play to win and the added expensive is pretty minimal. Colgate just built a 40 mil hockey arena (though the coach has been there since the '90's and has a losing record--which feels like it has to change). They are also redoing the whole athletics complex and the Trent Jones Sr. golf course and clubhouse. Colgate's president might not lead the push to go to 63 scholarships and red shirting, but I would imagine he would be on board with not making it harder for teams to compete for basically no reason. That being said, Colgate has already shown that PL teams can do well in the football scholarship era. Feel like Holy Cross and Fordham are moving in a better direction. Just always going to be hard for Georgetown. Lafayette feels like it just needs a change. Bucknell has to improve with new coach. The head-scratcher is Lehigh hiring someone who didn't win at the PL level and went 33-53 over his final eight seasons at Holy Cross, especially when Lehigh is now 8 games under .500 over the past five years (including the opener). Don't think you would notice the league being so far down if Lehigh was playing like the Lehigh teams of a decade ago. Also makes sense that you would have crowds being down at Lehigh. Can't imagine St. Francis and Merrimack are the biggest draws. Hopefully everybody starts playing better and the league moves in a better direction in general. Some things handicapping this league but these schools have a ton to offer kids looking to play football while getting a great education.

This line has been repeated here over and over. Results have only gotten worse. Even when LU/Gate have 10 win playoff teams, they get spanked in tourney. Hell, the best D2 teams would trounce the PL. I like Owls idea best; drop FB as a league sport and let the schools go in whatever direction they want. PL FB has been a total failure.

[ngineer]

ngineer,
I agree with your post...but wow, look at how far we've (LU and the PL in general) fallen. Our expectations have been beaten back over the years... there was a time not too long ago (or was it?) when losses to some of these teams would have had people circling the wagons. Now we expect not to really compete, and get less than 4500 fans at Goodman for a game when school is in session. Ouch.

I think we as fans, have to recognize that, athletically, the NEC has been able to improve comparably to PL teams. By the PL's self imposed restrictions, we will always struggle to win against other conferences. Over the years SFU has played many other schools very tough and were respectable in the playoffs a few years back. The rest of FCS (except the Pioneer) have upped their games more than the PL has. Our expectations of having a consistent national presence from 10 years ago is a main culprit. The PL is not built for such programs. Schools such as Robert Morris, Duquesne, SFU, SHU, and Monmouth (former NEC) are continually looked down upon, when they shouldn't be. The expectations by some that LU should have hired a 'name' FCS coach is fantasy land thinking. Athletically, Lehigh alums have champagne tastes and a beer wallet, when it comes to football. Athletics are not designed to be a moneymaker and the spending will be akin to the academic departments. We have to recognize that we are in a rebuilding phase and give Gilmore a couple years to get the ship going in a different direction, but I think the PL also needs too rethink what they want to do with football. The other sports in the PL don't seem to have the problems football has and possibly because football costs so much money comparatively. Still I think it better to be in a league of like-minded schools rather than try and be independent or join another conference where we'd have the same problems we do now with other non-conference schools. Redshirting, academic indexes, cost of tuition all make recruiting that more difficult requiring fishing in much wider but shallower water. Attendance on Labor Day Weekend is not a good barometer. Many regulars I know were not there due to vacation plans and a ton of students go home. I do agree, though that the home schedule, this year, sucks with no big name opponent or rivalry game other than #155. We had a great run of success from 1997-2017 and are not used to some tough times as we now experience. We've had other droughts in the past and come back. I have met a lot of these players and they are a great bunch of kids who are going through a significant transition with a new coach and 40% are freshmen. Now, they are getting hit with academics. A lot for 18 year olds to drink all at once. One once compared it to drinking water from a fire hose. Let's give them some time and look for the improvement. We want them playing hard, together, to win. We may not see many victories this year, though if we stay healthy, I think we can be in the hunt for PL as the league looks wide open. Anywhere from 3-8 to 7-4 is possible. We need to see where we stand in the second week of October before coming to some judgements.

[Go Green]

Colgate is doing fine. They are one of nine teams in the country to have made the final eight twice in the past four years. Hunt is a great coach. The recruiting class that just came in is really good. Last year, Colgate was down by seven against Army with two minutes remaining. Colgate ended up losing by 14. Army finished #19 in FBS and Colgate was playing without its starting, all-league QB. (So you are right Temple Fan, Colgate has not finished within 10 of an FBS school in forever.)

Colgate's first two games this year have been a mess. There were three missed snaps against Air Force. (Colgate's starting center didn't play and they were on the third string center for two of those.) There have been far more blown coverages on D and indecision and less physical play. Colgate is off this week and then goes to Bill and Mary. I'll be curious to see what changes by then.

Sub the word "was" for "is" in the first sentence, and your post is spot on.

Colgate has certainly earned the right for a rebuilding year. Its very, very difficult to be competitive every year. Even Dartmouth had a stinker in 2016.

[ngineer]

Learned today that first Lehigh touchdown was not McCloskey's blocked punt return, but the earlier dive play that was ruled 'not in'. the League now confirms it was a touchdown...the replay equipment wasn't working at the time. The 'no TD' call resulted in Lehigh kicking a short FG, but that was a four point swing. To make matters worse, the "timeout" called by SFU to 'freeze' the Lehigh kicker was after the snap. Kick was good. Hope this is not an omen for the balance of the year. SMH.

[Gater]

Learned today that first Lehigh touchdown was not McCloskey's blocked punt return, but the earlier dive play that was ruled 'not in'. the League now confirms it was a touchdown...the replay equipment wasn't working at the time. The 'no TD' call resulted in Lehigh kicking a short FG, but that was a four point swing. To make matters worse, the "timeout" called by SFU to 'freeze' the Lehigh kicker was after the snap. Kick was good. Hope this is not an omen for the balance of the year. SMH.

That's pretty brutal. Who knows how the game swings if the first one if called correctly. The one at the end, you have your answer.

[RichH2]

I think we as fans, have to recognize that, athletically, the NEC has been able to improve comparably to PL teams. By the PL's self imposed restrictions, we will always struggle to win against other conferences. Over the years SFU has played many other schools very tough and were respectable in the playoffs a few years back. The rest of FCS (except the Pioneer) have upped their games more than the PL has. Our expectations of having a consistent national presence from 10 years ago is a main culprit. The PL is not built for such programs. Schools such as Robert Morris, Duquesne, SFU, SHU, and Monmouth (former NEC) are continually looked down upon, when they shouldn't be. The expectations by some that LU should have hired a 'name' FCS coach is fantasy land thinking. Athletically, Lehigh alums have champagne tastes and a beer wallet, when it comes to football. Athletics are not designed to be a moneymaker and the spending will be akin to the academic departments. We have to recognize that we are in a rebuilding phase and give Gilmore a couple years to get the ship going in a different direction, but I think the PL also needs too rethink what they want to do with football. The other sports in the PL don't seem to have the problems football has and possibly because football costs so much money comparatively. Still I think it better to be in a league of like-minded schools rather than try and be independent or join another conference where we'd have the same problems we do now with other non-conference schools. Redshirting, academic indexes, cost of tuition all make recruiting that more difficult requiring fishing in much wider but shallower water. Attendance on Labor Day Weekend is not a good barometer. Many regulars I know were not there due to vacation plans and a ton of students go home. I do agree, though that the home schedule, this year, sucks with no big name opponent or rivalry game other than #155. We had a great run of success from 1997-2017 and are not used to some tough times as we now experience. We've had other droughts in the past and come back. I have met a lot of these players and they are a great bunch of kids who are going through a significant transition with a new coach and 40% are freshmen. Now, they are getting hit with academics. A lot for 18 year olds to drink all at once. One once compared it to drinking water from a fire hose. Let's give them some time and look for the improvement. We want them playing hard, together, to win. We may not see many victories this year, though if we stay healthy, I think we can be in the hunt for PL as the league looks wide open. Anywhere from 3-8 to 7-4 is possible. We need to see where we stand in the second week of October before coming to some judgements.

+1 On point.

[RichH2]

Learned today that first Lehigh touchdown was not McCloskey's blocked punt return, but the earlier dive play that was ruled 'not in'. the League now confirms it was a touchdown...the replay equipment wasn't working at the time. The 'no TD' call resulted in Lehigh kicking a short FG, but that was a four point swing. To make matters worse, the "timeout" called by SFU to 'freeze' the Lehigh kicker was after the snap. Kick was good. Hope this is not an omen for the balance of the year. SMH.

Ugh! We can ill afford losing a W much less by zebra incompetence. Who knows how that TD could have changed our course in the game. Hopefully no one else will have that crew this year.

[PAllen]

Ugh! We can ill afford losing a W much less by zebra incompetence. Who knows how that TD could have changed our course in the game. Hopefully no one else will have that crew this year.

While a pretty pathetic display by the league and the zebras, Lehigh was playing St. Francis. There is no excuse for the game being close enough to matter.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

While a pretty pathetic display by the league and the zebras, Lehigh was playing St. Francis. There is no excuse for the game being close enough to matter.

I lean in your direction. The most egregious thing I saw last weekend was Monaco's INT inside the 10. To me, that was the game changer.