Pair of senior starters join Coen at final luncheon
11/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2008 Lehigh Football season comes to an end on Saturday with the 144th edition of the nation’s most played college football rivalry, as the Mountain Hawks head to Easton to take on archrival Lafayette. On Wednesday, head coach Andy Coen, along with seniors Sekou Yansane and Brendan Van Ackeren gathered at the Copperhead Grille on Airport Road in Allentown to discuss the upcoming game with the Leopards.
Below is the transcript from Wednesday’s luncheon.
LEHIGH HEAD COACH ANDY COEN
On reaching the end of the 2008 season: “It’s just amazing that the season has gone by so quickly. We always tell the guys at the meetings in the beginning of the year that you only have 11 of these and then it’s going to be gone before you know it.”
On last week’s game against Bucknell: “We went into the game coming off a tough loss the week before. The focus last week was to make sure all our seniors walked away with a victory in their last game at Goodman Stadium, and we were able to take care of that so that was nice.”
On senior wide receiver Mike Fitzgerald’s performance on Saturday: “Mike caught his 10th touchdown pass, and I don’t know if a lot of people know this, but it hasn’t been since 2001 with Josh Snyder that a Lehigh player caught double-digit touchdowns. I’m really happy for Mike. He’s had a career slowed by injuries, but he’s had a really good senior year.”
On senior kicker/punter Jason Leo’s performance: “Jason kicked a field goal that I thought was really important for him. It’s a part of his game that he has been struggling with a bit, but he was four-for-four with his extra point attempts so he left Goodman Stadium with a good feeling.”
On what the Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry means: “I certainly understand what it means to people, not only within our football program, but also within our community. This is my ninth Lehigh-Lafayette game, and I can remember my first very vividly. I can also remember the last two very vividly, so I’m hoping we have a better outcome this time.”
On Lafayette’s football team: “They are a very balanced offense. They’ve had some injuries at tailback – as have we – and they’ve played two quarterbacks this year. We’re not sure who they are going to be playing at quarterback, but their style of offense is very similar with both quarterbacks, so we will be ready either way. They’re a very good football team, so it’s going to be a big challenge. But it’s certainly a challenge we’re looking forward to.”
On how the young players will adjust to the rivalry: “The biggest difference is the energy and intensity is heightened. We’ve played good football teams such as Villanova, which is ranked in the top-ten, but even that wasn’t an environment like this will be. Its fun and the kids get used to it.”
LEHIGH SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER SEKOU YANSANE
On what it would mean if senior running back Matt McGowan plays on Saturday: “It would mean a lot. He’s the heart and soul of this offense. He fought back from injuries last year and we hope he can fight back again. But we understand if he’s not back there, as playmakers, we have to step up and make the plays.
LEHIGH SENIOR DEFENSIVE BACK BRENDAN VANACKEREN
On his view of the rivalry as a Bethlehem native: “Growing up in Bethlehem, I was always aware of the rivalry. I was always partial to Lehigh, being a Bethlehem native, but I was never able to go to a game because tickets were so hard to come by. I definitely understood what it was all about and it’s been great to be a part of it the last few years.”
Lehigh and Lafayette kick things off just after 1:00 on Saturday at Fisher Stadium in Easton. The game is sold out so fans wishing to check out the action can do so on WFMZ-TV, as well as Fox College Sports Pacific and Lehighsports.com. The game will also be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with pregame coverage getting underway at noon.
Video courtesy Service Electric 2 Sports
