{"id":77589,"date":"2015-11-17T20:17:30","date_gmt":"2015-11-17T20:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=77589"},"modified":"2023-04-14T18:59:07","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T18:59:07","slug":"behind-mic-ultimate-rivalry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/behind-mic-ultimate-rivalry\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Mic: Ultimate Rivalry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe Lehigh<\/a>–Lafayette <\/a>game is an integral part of a college education. The game provides thrills and excitement and instills an attitude that is essential to succeed in all walks of life. Traditions, pregame hype and celebrations are all as important as the game itself. No other football rivalry is quite like Lehigh-Lafayette. The traditions are pure and the festivities are genuine. Sportswriters are afraid to predict the winner, oddsmakers shy from a point spread and coaches don\u2019t have to worry about getting their players up for the game. Previous records, scores and games against common opponents are meaningless. It\u2019s one game\u2014all or nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preface Legends of Lehigh-Lafayette<\/span> \u00a0by Todd Davidson and Bob Donchez D&D Publishing Company, 1995<\/p>\n

As college football\u2019s most-played rivalry is set to be played this Saturday at Lehigh\u2019s Goodman Stadium, the quote continues to ring true.\u00a0 It was probably just as true on October 25, 1884 when the two teams took the field for the very first time.\u00a0 Who would have guessed back then that 150 more games would take place prior to this Saturday?<\/p>\n

Here are some facts about the rivalry:<\/p>\n

First Meeting<\/strong>: Oct. 25, 1884; Easton\u2014Lafayette 56, Lehigh 0<\/p>\n

Last Meeting<\/strong>: Nov. 22, 2014; Yankee Stadium\u2014Lafayette 27, Lehigh 7<\/p>\n

Series Record<\/strong>: Lafayette leads, 78-67-5 (.537) (150 games)<\/p>\n

In Easton: Lafayette leads, 41-29-5<\/p>\n

In Bethlehem: Lehigh leads, 37-36<\/p>\n

Neutral Site<\/strong>: Series tied, 1-1<\/p>\n

Lafayette won 27-7 in Bronx, N.Y. (Yankee Stadium) on Nov. 22, 2014 Lehigh won 16-2 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Nov. 25, 1891<\/p>\n

Largest Margin of Victory<\/strong> (Lafayette)<\/strong>: Nov. 18, 1944; Easton\u2014Lafayette 64, Lehigh 0<\/p>\n

Largest Margin of Victory (Lehigh)<\/strong>:Nov. 24, 1917; Bethlehem \u2014Lehigh 78, Lafayette 0<\/p>\n

Last Shutout<\/strong>: Nov. 22, 1980; Easton\u2014Lehigh 32, Lafayette 0<\/p>\n

Last Tie<\/strong>: Nov. 21, 1964; Easton, Lafayette 6, Lehigh 6 (100th meeting)<\/p>\n

Points Scored in Series<\/strong>: Lafayette 2,670; Lehigh 2,202<\/p>\n

Longest Lafayette Win Streak<\/strong>: 10 wins, 1919-28<\/p>\n

Longest Lehigh Win Streak<\/strong>: 7 wins; 1995-2001<\/p>\n

Miscellaneous Facts<\/strong>: The schools played each other twice per season from 1884-1901. They met three times in 1891 and did not meet in 1896, due to a player eligibility dispute between the two schools.<\/p>\n

Neither team is playing for a championship this year.\u00a0 In fact, Lehigh has a 5-5 record while Lafayette is a dismal 1-9.\u00a0 But, it does not matter to the players, the alumni, or the Lehigh Valley fans.\u00a0 This is Lafayette-Lehigh and that is all that is important.\u00a0 16,000 fans will attend and half will leave ecstatic and half will leave dissatisfied.<\/p>\n

If you do not have a ticket, tune in at 12:30 Saturday afternoon to RCNTV channels 4 or 1004; WBPH Channel 60, or GoLeopards.com<\/a> on the internet.<\/p>\n

Because\u2026it is the ultimate rivalry!<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. It all started with the Jets <\/a>losing to Buffalo <\/a>on Thursday night. The NFL has become totally unpredictable.\u00a0 On Sunday, Bears <\/a>killed the Rams<\/a>, the Redskins <\/a>beat the Saints<\/a>, the Dolphins <\/a>beat the Eagles<\/a>, the Bucs <\/a>beat the Cowboys<\/a>, the Jaguars <\/a>beat the Ravens<\/a>, and, (wait for it) the Lions <\/a>beat the Packers<\/a>.\u00a0 What!!!\u00a0 I bet (pun) they are dancing in Las Vegas!<\/li>\n
  2. As I write this, the Flyers<\/a> have won two of their last 10 and are 6-8-3, and the 76\u2019ers<\/a> are 0-11, and the Eagles now have a losing record of 4-5. It continues to be tough to be a Philadelphia fan.<\/li>\n
  3. We covered our first college basketball game this past Sunday and it is hard to imagine seeing a better game the rest of the year. Lafayette <\/a>took on St. Peter\u2019s<\/a> and went up by 17 in the first half, only to have the Peacocks come back to tie the game in regulation.\u00a0 In overtime, St. Peter\u2019s went up by 11 and, as people were filing out, Lafayette kept forcing turnover after turnover and came back to win 87-86.\u00a0 Check it out:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n