Mountain Hawks in national top 15 in both major polls

12/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football

Bethlehem, PA – Lehigh concluded another successful season, as evidenced by its share of the Patriot League football crown and return to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.  The Mountain Hawks posted their seventh consecutive eight-plus win season in 2004 – the longest such streak in the storied history of the program. The league title share is also the seventh P.L. title for the Brown and White, more than any other league school.

 

Lehigh registered a 5-1 mark during league play, and earned an at-large bid in the NCAA playoffs.  For the second consecutive postseason appearance, Lehigh earned the right to play at home.  The Mountain Hawks hosted Atlantic-10 co-champ James Madison at Goodman Stadium.  Although Lehigh fell 14-13 in a tightly-contested, physical affair, the pollsters took notice.

 

The Mountain Hawks finished the season ranked 14th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll, and 15th in The Sports Network survey.  The TSN poll is voted on by media members who cover I-AA football throughout the season. 

 

James Madison went on to win the national title, and the Dukes finished in the top spot in both polls.

 

Lehigh posted a 9-3 overall record in 2004.  The Mountain Hawks have the highest winning percentage of any team in Division I-AA (83.33%) over the last seven seasons.   

 

Sports Network Final Top 25

Team

1. James Madison

2. Montana

3. William & Mary

4. Sam Houston State

5. Furman

6. New Hampshire

7. Delaware

8. Eastern Washington

9. Southern Illinois

10. Georgia Southern

11. Western Kentucky

12. Hampton

13. Harvard

14. Jacksonville State

15. Lehigh

16. Cal Poly

17. Northwestern State

18. Wofford

19. Lafayette

20. Alabama State

21. Penn

22. South Carolina State

23. North Dakota State

24. Coastal Carolina

25. Northern Iowa


ESPN/USA Today Final Top 25

Team

1. James Madison

2. Montana

3. William & Mary

4. Sam Houston State

5. Furman

6. New Hampshire

7. Eastern Washington

8. Delaware

9. Southern Illinois

10. Georgia Southern

11. Western Kentucky

12. Hampton

13. Harvard

14. Lehigh

15. Cal Poly

16. Jacksonville State

17. Northwestern State

18. Wofford

19. Lafayette

20. Alabama State

21. Penn

22. South Carolina State

23. North Dakota State

24. Coastal Carolina

25. Northern Iowa

 

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