Patriot League Preview: Spiders Join A Wide-Open Patriot League Title Race
Even by the standards of the Patriot League, last season’s title race was one of the wildest in recent memory.
Lehigh Defense, Special Teams Denies Holy Cross In 10-7 Slugfest
WORCESTER, MA – Going into their game against defending champions Holy Cross, one of the big questions about the Lehigh Mountain Hawks was how they might respond to a close fourth quarter under the tension of a critical Patriot League contest. The Crusaders did not have those same concerns going in; after all, almost everyone.
LEHIGH AT HOLY CROSS 11/9/2024: Mountain Hawks’ Next Challenge Is To Defeat Defending Champions On the Road
The Mountain Hawks (5-3, 2-1 Patriot League) have three very important preseason goals to potentially achieve this week in their business trip to Worcester against Holy Cross (4-5, 3-0 Patriot League).
Tuesdays With The Patriot League Podcast: 9/24/2024
Enjoy the podcast “Tuesdays with the Patriot League” Podcast, originally aired on Twitter Spaces on Sept. 24th, 2024. Chuck BurtonChuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How.
The Richmond Spiders’ Patriot League Tale, Part Four: In the Wake Of I-AA Reclassification, An Upstart League Tries To Form
Richmond’s Rival, William & Mary, was going to be a founding member of the Colonial League, which is now known as the Patriot League. It was almost a done deal.
Using Punishing Run Game To Close Things Out, Holy Cross Survives Lehigh Upset Bid 28-24
Lehigh leaped out to 14-0 , 21-14, and 24-21 leads on Holy Cross in a spirited effort at Murray Goodman Stadium, but the Crusaders would ultimately find a way to beat the Mountain Hawks in a 28-24 victory in front of 3,528 fans on a warm November afternoon.
HOLY CROSS AT LEHIGH 11/4/2023: Game Preview And Fearless Prediction: In Holy Cross, Kevin Cahill Gets a Glimpse As To What He Wants Lehigh To Be Again
To the surprise of probably no one, head coach Kevin Cahill had plenty of good things to say bout Lehigh’s next opponent, the Holy Cross Crusaders.
2023 Patriot League Preview: Can Anyone Dethrone The Crusaders?
Holy Cross’ dominance over the last four seasons really means there is only one main question worth asking in terms of a Patriot League preview: Is it an impossible task for the other six teams to have any sort of shot to dethrone Holy Cross?
Lehigh At Holy Cross Game Preview, 11/05/2022: Mountain Hawks Have One Goal, To Stop The Coronation
WORCESTER, MA – Watching last week’s thrilling Holy Cross/Fordham game as someone who’s watched a lot of Lehigh football in my life, it was hard to not get flashbacks. The thrilling 53-52 win by Holy Cross (8-0, 4-0) over Fordham (6-2, 2-1) was unquestionably the game of the year in the Patriot League, if not.
FCS Playoff Round Two – Game Preview – Holy Cross Crusaders at #5 Villanova Wildcats
Villanova has never lost to a Patriot League school in the postseason; one of their victories came against Holy Cross in their national championship season in 2009 by a 38-28 score.
Sluka’s John Elway Impression Lifts Holy Cross To Last-Second 13-10 Win Over Sacred Heart
The 35 yard spiral from Sluka to Coker was on the money – and Coker came up with it and fell in the end zone, and with it, gave Holy Cross their first-ever FCS Playoff win in five tries.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Sacred Heart at Holy Cross
Holy Cross and Sacred Heart are both riding six-game win streaks into the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
Big Second Half Propels Holy Cross To Another Patriot League Crown
Holy Cross ran the ball well … and passed the ball well … and its defense did what needed to be done as the Crusaders overcame a 24-17 deficit by scoring 35 unanswered points on the way to defeating Fordham 52-24 on Nov. 13 in the Bronx.
FCS Playoffs ‘Til I Die: CSJ Picks The FCS Playoff Field, 11/11/2021
With two weeks to go, no autobid has been determined for the upcoming FCS Playoffs, and without the FCS Playoff Committee releasing their working list of seeds, FCS fans have been left to the sift through the chaos as to what the heck the FCS Playoff bracket might look like.
Fiery, Emotional Battle Between Holy Cross And Lehigh Ends With Crusaders On Top, 31-12
For three quarters, it didn’t really feel like a battle between a winless team (Lehigh, 0-8, 0-3) and a team still with an eye on a conference championship and an FCS Playoff appearance (Holy Cross, 6-2, 3-0).
Lehigh Football vs. Holy Cross: Drink of the Week, Scouting Report, Fearless Prediction
“Who are these guys?”
Everything You Need to to Know about The First Round Of the 2021 Spring FCS Playoffs Tomorrow: Streaming Info, Previews, Fearless Predictions
Find everything you need to know about this weekend’s FCS Playoff games, including full previews, and our staff’s predictions on how the games are going to go.
Spring 2021 FCS Round 1 Playoff Preview: Holy Cross at South Dakota State
Holy Cross survived a season of long COVID pauses and a chaotic schedule the same place they were at the conclusion of the 2019 football season – Patriot League Champions. This time, however, they ended with a perfect 3-0 record.
Fearless Prediction: The FCS Playoff Bracket
After watching and following all spring, here’s my prediction of who’s in and who’s out of the FCS Playoff bracket this spring. The selection special is at 11:30 AM Sunday and will be unveiled on ESPNU.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Preview, 3/27/2021: Bucknell and Fordham Finally Get Their Spring Seasons Started
In a way it’s fitting during this strange season that two of the teams playing this weekend are in their season openers, while their opponents are coming off of two weeks off after winning their openers. It is a byproduct of this crazy Patriot League spring, and results in two fascinating games that are basically playoff games. And with no game film on Bucknell or Fordham, it feels like anything can happen.
New-Look Lehigh Shows Inexperience In 20-3 Defeat to Holy Cross
In a way, the opening drive which ended with zero Lehigh points summed up the entire afternoon.
QUICK RECAP: Defensive Slugfest Sees Holy Cross Over Lehigh 20-3
BETHLEHEM, PA – The Holy Cross Crusaders beat the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 20-3 at Murray Goodman Stadium in the first college football game contested by both schools in over 450 days.
GAME PREVIEW: Holy Cross at Lehigh, 3/13/2021
It is uncharted waters for both teams, with plenty of questions to answer playing an unprecedented Patriot League spring football season. But many of the principal contributors in that 24-17 game more than a year ago in Bethlehem will be suiting up tomorrow.
2021 CSJ Patriot League Spring Football Preview
It’s been a very, very long wait, but this weekend, finally, we have a weekend of Patriot League football to look forward to.
LEHIGH FOOTBALL: Excitement Is In The Air for an Historic Spring Football Season
“I’ve been very impressed with the enthusiasm and attitude across the board,” Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore told me. “Getting the opportunity to be on the field and to be working towards competitive opportunities has really motivated everyone. It just feels different out there this semester. There’s an excitement in the air whenever we’re on the field.”
The Long Wait Is Finally Over: Patriot League Announces Spring Sports Schedules, Including Football
Today, the Patriot League was the final FCS football conference to unveil their spring competition schedule to the public, as a part of their release announcing the schedules of twenty-two different sports being contested in the spring.
Lehigh Football: In Fall Like No Other, Head Coach Tom Gilmore And Staff Use Time To “Fuel The Desire To Play”
For months, fans, players, and Lehigh football head coach Tom Gilmore knew that this game wasn’t going to happen on this day. But Gilmore is trying to make the best of a difficult situation.
Five Burning Questions I Have About A Spring Football Season For the Patriot League
I have five burning questions on the issue that might help to give clarity on what a spring season for the Patriot League might look like.
Ivy League Football Plans Would Leave Huge Gaps In FCS Football Schedules
If these are the only two plans that are actively being considered by the Ivy League, it means that, effectively, all out-of-conference games involving Ivy League opponents are cancelled for the fall.
Patriot League Council of Presidents Announces Guidance On Fall Competition, Including Travel, Preseason Camp Restrictions
The Patriot League Office announced on Monday guidance regarding the 2020 fall competition, a list of principles to “guide the development of a Patriot League 2020 Athletics Plan.”
CSJ’s Ranking of the Patriot League’s 2020 Football Recruiting Classes: The Patsy Ratings
I’m proud to unveil this year’s edition of the Patsy Ratings.
FCS 1st Round Playoffs: Monmouth Overwhelms Holy Cross 44-27 For Hawks First-Ever Playoff Victory
Monmouth piled up 502 yards of total offense as the Hawks beat Holy Cross 44-27 in the first-ever FCS Playoff appearance for the program and the only head coach they have ever had, Kevin Callahan.
2019 FCS First Round Playoff Matchup: Holy Cross at Monmouth, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions
Though they tripped up against 4-8 Lafayette, behind a strong, young defense the Crusaders pulled off an early upset of New Hampshire early and used their defense to outlast their opponents. If this game is to remain close, Holy Cross will need to make this game a slow-down, field-position battle.
What Is Going On With Patriot League Football?
We are two weeks away from the end of the Patriot League regular season, and there is a very distinct possibility that the winner of the League is going to have a losing record.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Football Conference Game Previews: Week of 11/9/2019
Holy Cross will be trying to cement their hold on the top of the Patriot League standings when they host Lafayette this weekend. They could clinch at least a share of the title and FCS Playoff autobid if they win and Lehigh loses at Bucknell.
Holy Cross Wins Battle For First Place In Patriot Over Lehigh, 24-17, A Year After It Was A Battle Of 1-6 Teams
For the players of both programs, it was more about demonstrating how much they had improved over that battle of 1-6 teams on a wet, rainy, homecoming game a year ago in Worcester. Both teams showed exactly how much more they were than those teams with losing records last year, and in the end, Holy Cross showed that they were one play better than the Mountain Hawks on this afternoon.
QUICK RECAP: Holy Cross Makes One More Play Than Lehigh In The Final Minute, Finishes Off Mountain Hawks In 24-17 Thriller
In the final minute, Holy Cross made one more play than Lehigh.
There Will Be Heat at Murray Goodman As Holy Cross and Lehigh Battle for the Patriot League Supremacy
November in the Lehigh Valley is known for potentially frosty temperatures, blazing red and yellow fall colors, and apple picking season.
Don’t expect anything chill at Murray Goodman Stadium this Saturday, where the combined heat of the Holy Cross Crusaders (4-4, 2-0) and Lehigh Mountain Hawks (4-3, 3-0) should be radiating from both teams.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews, How To Watch: Week of 10/26/2019
The Patriot League sees Fordham with a week off and features six conference members in action. Lehigh looks to get their conference record to 3-0, Holy Cross looks to keep pace and remain undefeated in league play, and Lafayette and Bucknell will do battle to see who can remain in the title race.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews, How To Watch: Week of 10/19/2019
This week, an unlikely battle for first place in the Patriot League is on the line in the Bronx, and Lafayette and Georgetown battle it out to see if they can get themselves into the league title race.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews And Streaming Links: Week of 10/12/2019
It’s a week with two Patriot League/Ivy League matchups and two Patriot conference matchups, as Fordham and Georgetown face off against one another in a battle to who can join Lehigh and Holy Cross atop the league standings.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews And Streaming Links: Week of 10/5/2019
Two enormous conference games loom this week, including one of the better Patriot League rivalry games in Lehigh at Colgate. Holy Cross at Bucknell also kicks off league play for both teams.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews: Week of 9/28/2019
League play starts next week, but the teams of the Patriot League need some help in out-of-conference this week if at all possible. As a conference, the Patriot League is a combined 4-20 out of conference, with one of those wins coming against a Division III school. With an FBS school, several daunting Ivies, and a CAA school, fans of Patriot League schools are hoping for upsets this week.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews: Week of 9/21/2019
Last week was a mixed one for the Patriot League. Georgetown overwhelmed a Division III team 69-0, while Fordham topped Bryant by double digits. The rest of the league was not so lucky, however, losing to two CAA schools (William and Mary, Villanova), a NEC school (Sacred Heart) and a Big Sky school (UC Davis). This week, the entire Patriot League faces daunting challenges against tough competition – three CAA teams and an Ivy League title favorite.
The Week That Was: Highlights of the Five Top FCS Games, Week Ending 9/7/2019
Most years, it’s FCS teams stunning FBS teams, but this week, it was non-scholarship FCS and sub-Division-I teams stunning FCS squads instead. In their home opener, non-scholarship Dayton (1-0) stunned Indiana State (0-2) 42-35. Flyer QB Jack Cook accounted for four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing, while RB Sean Prophit scored on a 13-yard.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Previews: Week of 9/7/2019
0-2 Colgate, who lost two extremely challenging games to Villanova and FBS Air Force to start the season, earn a well-deserved bye week, while the rest of the Patriot League enters action looking to achieve their first victories of the season. As a conference, the Patriot League is a combined 0-8 to start the year.
College Sports Journal Patriot League Game Previews: Week of 8/31/2019
Colgate, who hosted Villanova in Week 0, continues their Theater of Pain tour this week as they travel out to Air Force to take on the Falcons. The rest of the Patriot League kicks off their season this Saturday with a full slate of games
College Sports Journal Conference Previews: Patriot League
The 2018 Patriot League football produced two tiers of teams. The first tier was Colgate, who had the best defense in FCS, gave a bowl team all they could handle (Army-West Point), and upset perennial FCS powerhouse James Madison before falling to the eventual FCS National Champions North Dakota State. The second tier was… the other six teams of the Patriot League, who all ended with records under .500. In 2019, can anybody get to the Colgate tier?
2019 NCAA Division I College Football Team Previews: Holy Cross Crusaders
After a 1-6 start with an absolutely brutal out-of-conference schedule and an unfortunate loss to Colgate to start the season, Holy Cross under new head coach Bob Chesney ended the season on a 4 game winning streak to close promisingly at 5-6.
A Fresh Start and Busy 2019 Spring Season for Lehigh Football
The challenges of being a Division I football coach – the recruiting, the staff-building, even the organization of setting up the program the way Gilmore wants it – are clearly something that he relishes, perhaps even a bit more so now.
