2024 Schedule

[Justafan]

Tom said he was not a proponent of pursuing transfers. He would much rather build the program from the ground up.

He said that at an event last spring. There may or may not be a sense of urgency now.

[Local82]

Excellent PL team schedule. Credit to the AD.
I’m not crazy about NEC games but two top Ivies balance it and the NEC squads are regional.

[HFO]

Tom said he was not a proponent of pursuing transfers. He would much rather build the program from the ground up.

He said that at an event last spring. There may or may not be a sense of urgency now.

Lehigh coaches do not have that luxury. A proven 5th year transfer who graduated would have real shot at admission up to June for most Lehigh grad programs. There are enough to choose from. They take 9 credits for NCAA rules.
It makes senses only if they come from superior programs and have talent in that they were starters or had significant playing time as backups. So most FBS programs and target guys from FCS Missouri Valley Conference or even Ivy who cannot do 5 years at same institution. There should be guys available. So more mature defensive and offensive linemen. Defensive backs. Possibly a very good WR. A stellar QB. Depth at LB.

Lehigh really could use about 10 graduate transfers to allow new coaches recruits to learn and physically develop from high school to elite FCS football level. Lehigh just does not have enough players on the roster that it can happen. So for a year or two, it absolutely need high level FCS/FBS grad transfers.

[lfnadmin]

My reading of the Patriot League bylaws seem to show that a 5th year grad student transferring in for one year is not eligible.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... 4_2023.pdf

Post-Baccalaureate. The Patriot League is committed to its founding principle of
providing intercollegiate athletics competitive opportunities for undergraduate
students. However, under special circumstances, the institution’s Policy Committee
representative may grant an exception to enable a student to compete as a graduate
student in their first year after earning the first baccalaureate degree. In order for
such an exception to be granted, the student must meet all of the following criteria:
a. Have NCAA eligibility remaining due to reasons of circumstances beyond their
control:
1. A life-threatening or incapacitating injury or illness suffered by a member
of the student-athlete’s immediate family (which is clearly supported by
contemporaneous medical documentation);
2. Extreme financial difficulties experienced by an individual upon who the
student-athlete is legally dependent and as a result of a specific event (e.g.,
layoff, death in the family); or
3. Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods).
b. Choose to pursue a graduate degree at the League institution from which they
graduated; and
c. Present sound academic rationale or documentation related to enrollment in a
post-baccalaureate degree program.

So if a student transferred to Lehigh as a senior, got a degree, and then chose grad school, that would be okay, but if, say a kid graduated from Villanova, had a year of eligibility in his back pocket and wanted to play and go to business school at Lehigh, he couldn't.

You can take exception to the rule but that's how it's written.

[RichH]

My reading of the Patriot League bylaws seem to show that a 5th year grad student transferring in for one year is not eligible.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... 4_2023.pdf

Post-Baccalaureate. The Patriot League is committed to its founding principle of
providing intercollegiate athletics competitive opportunities for undergraduate
students. However, under special circumstances, the institution’s Policy Committee
representative may grant an exception to enable a student to compete as a graduate
student in their first year after earning the first baccalaureate degree. In order for
such an exception to be granted, the student must meet all of the following criteria:
a. Have NCAA eligibility remaining due to reasons of circumstances beyond their
control:
1. A life-threatening or incapacitating injury or illness suffered by a member
of the student-athlete’s immediate family (which is clearly supported by
contemporaneous medical documentation);
2. Extreme financial difficulties experienced by an individual upon who the
student-athlete is legally dependent and as a result of a specific event (e.g.,
layoff, death in the family); or
3. Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods).
b. Choose to pursue a graduate degree at the League institution from which they
graduated; and
c. Present sound academic rationale or documentation related to enrollment in a
post-baccalaureate degree program.

So if a student transferred to Lehigh as a senior, got a degree, and then chose grad school, that would be okay, but if, say a kid graduated from Villanova, had a year of eligibility in his back pocket and wanted to play and go to business school at Lehigh, he couldn't.

You can take exception to the rule but that's how it's written.

Exactly so The senior transfer loophole does provide a path. Transferring into Lehigh is very difficult for all the applicants.

[JAD77]

Buried in the game notes for this week:

(Subject to Change)
Aug. 31 at Army West Point
Sept. 7 WAGNER
Sept. 14 at LIU
Sept. 21 PRINCETON
Sept. 28 BUCKNELL*
Oct. 19 at Yale
Oct. 26 FORDHAM*
Nov. 2 at Georgetown*
Nov. 9 at Holy Cross*
Nov. 16 COLGATE*
Nov. 23 LAFAYETTE* (160th meeting)

Two bye weeks??

Probably the only way to get a date with Army was by scheduling them that early - thereby neccessitating the two week bye.

[ngineer]

Buried in the game notes for this week:

(Subject to Change)
Aug. 31 at Army West Point
Sept. 7 WAGNER
Sept. 14 at LIU
Sept. 21 PRINCETON
Sept. 28 BUCKNELL*
Oct. 19 at Yale
Oct. 26 FORDHAM*
Nov. 2 at Georgetown*
Nov. 9 at Holy Cross*
Nov. 16 COLGATE*
Nov. 23 LAFAYETTE* (160th meeting)

Two bye weeks??

Probably the only way to get a date with Army was by scheduling them that early - thereby neccessitating the two week bye.

Well,, that gives Cahill two weeks to prep for his old employer! Game won't be a 'lock'.

[Old Timer]

My reading of the Patriot League bylaws seem to show that a 5th year grad student transferring in for one year is not eligible.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... 4_2023.pdf

Post-Baccalaureate. The Patriot League is committed to its founding principle of
providing intercollegiate athletics competitive opportunities for undergraduate
students. However, under special circumstances, the institution’s Policy Committee
representative may grant an exception to enable a student to compete as a graduate
student in their first year after earning the first baccalaureate degree. In order for
such an exception to be granted, the student must meet all of the following criteria:
a. Have NCAA eligibility remaining due to reasons of circumstances beyond their
control:
1. A life-threatening or incapacitating injury or illness suffered by a member
of the student-athlete’s immediate family (which is clearly supported by
contemporaneous medical documentation);
2. Extreme financial difficulties experienced by an individual upon who the
student-athlete is legally dependent and as a result of a specific event (e.g.,
layoff, death in the family); or
3. Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods).
b. Choose to pursue a graduate degree at the League institution from which they
graduated; and
c. Present sound academic rationale or documentation related to enrollment in a
post-baccalaureate degree program.

So if a student transferred to Lehigh as a senior, got a degree, and then chose grad school, that would be okay, but if, say a kid graduated from Villanova, had a year of eligibility in his back pocket and wanted to play and go to business school at Lehigh, he couldn't.

You can take exception to the rule but that's how it's written.

Exactly so The senior transfer loophole does provide a path. Transferring into Lehigh is very difficult for all the applicants.

And these rules are exactly why LU will be mediocre at best in the future. This league needs to get their heads out of their asses! The world has changed. You need to figure it out, or get out of the way.

[RichH]

My reading of the Patriot League bylaws seem to show that a 5th year grad student transferring in for one year is not eligible.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... 4_2023.pdf



So if a student transferred to Lehigh as a senior, got a degree, and then chose grad school, that would be okay, but if, say a kid graduated from Villanova, had a year of eligibility in his back pocket and wanted to play and go to business school at Lehigh, he couldn't.

You can take exception to the rule but that's how it's written.

Exactly so The senior transfer loophole does provide a path. Transferring into Lehigh is very difficult for all the applicants.

And these rules are exactly why LU will be mediocre at best in the future. This league needs to get their heads out of their asses! The world has changed. You need to figure it out, or get out of the way.

The problem is all the schools without grad schools. Don't expect any resolution short of ending the PL.

[Richb-3]

2 BYES..... AUGUST GAMES.

there are normally 11 Saturdays between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. But if Thanksgiving is on Nov 27 or 28, there are 12 Saturdays between those two major holiday. That means there are two bye weekends (sometimes NCAA has allowed FCS to play 12 games.) those are, of course the two years when the Saturday before Labor Day is in August.

This makes Scheduling at both College and HS, in all fall and winter sports, and other activities, CONFUSING.

Solution. Redefine Thanksgiving as the Thursday before the 4th Saturday of November. Date Range of Nov 20 thru Nov 26. (current is November 22 thru 28. Note, 75 years Thanksgiving was the last Saturday of November Starting after the Battle of Gettys burg. Before that it was erratic, sometimes, not happening, usually a Thursday, Usually November, but not always. Some times in some states but not others. So no real reason to not change the dates.

Note one, if the latest Thanksgiving is Nov 26, There are always at least 28 days of Christmas Shopping.

Note two. There are always 38 weeks from Labor day to Memorial Day, unless February 29 is a Sunday, once every 28 years.'

Note three. There are 14 weeks from Memorial day to Labor Day, Unless July 4 is a Saturday, 4 times in 28 years.