Lehigh University Athletics
With Threatt in charge, Lehigh is ready to perform
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
of The Morning Call
Several times during the Pete Lembo Era, Lehigh's ''Brown and White'' spring football game offered a glimpse into the battle for the starting quarterback position.
No such intrigue is in store today when the Mountain Hawks conclude their spring drills at 12:30 p.m. at Goodman with the ''Brown and White'' intrasquad scrimmage.
Lehigh fans, and everyone else associated with the program, know that the QB spot belongs to soon-to-be-junior Sedale Threatt, who led the team to a 4-1 finish last season after Mark Borda was injured.
The curiosity this time is how Threatt will perform in the system installed by new head coach Andy Coen, who is completing his first spring program after being hired on Jan. 3 to replace Lembo.
Coen, who worked on the same Lehigh coaching staff with Lembo under Kevin Higgins in the late 1990s, said many things will remain the same, but also promised a variety of different sets. He said he would like to establish a more rugged personality that may emphasize the running game a little more.
So has Threatt had any problems adjusting to the new coach or new philosophy?
''Not really,'' he said during a break at a recent practice. ''The coaches have kept it pretty basic. It's not really that different. We're still going to run the ball, we're still going to throw the ball. The new staff wanted to set a tone and part of that was trying to emphasize a tough mentality.
''That's nothing new either. The tougher guy is always going to win the game. You can be smarter than the other guy, but it usually comes down to brute strength.''
Threatt was a source of strength in the second half of last season, completing 81 of 156 passes for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 371 yards and two scores.
Coen, who was the offensive coordinator at the
He is impressed by Threatt as an athlete, but even more by him as a person.
''Sedale would be the first one to tell you that he needs to keep improving, but obviously, he's a very talented and smart young man,'' Coen said. ''He's very serious about what he does. He's all business on the field, which I like. He's got great leadership skills and the guys respond to him.
''It's going to be different for him being the starter from the start of the season, but Sedale will handle it. Knowing him, he probably thought he should have been the starter last year. He has that kind of confidence and attitude.''
Threatt said he wanted to upgrade his ''entire game'' before the Sept. 2 season opener against
''I especially wanted to work on my drop back, my precision, my accuracy,'' he said. ''We're going to have, basically, a new corps of receivers and they're going to be staying here over the summer and I will be here, too, working on different things. You'll find me down at the CVS or wherever. I'll be here.''
Despite the electricity he provided in rallying Lehigh to a 28-21 overtime win over Yale and solid victories over Bucknell, Colgate, Georgetown and Fordham, Threatt was unplugged by Lafayette in the season finale.
While most will focus on the 37-yard TD pass with 38 seconds left that gave the Leopards a 23-19 win, the Mountain Hawks' offense was just as culpable for the heart-breaking setback.
Threatt, made uncomfortable by
''I can't tell you how many times I've sat in a room and watched that game on film,'' Threatt said. ''You only get better from learning from what you did wrong. There are plays I'd like to have back. But now it's on to next year.''
In many ways, that new year begins today.
And, the spring ''game'' is expected to be played even if it rains. Lehigh SID Jeff Tourial said Friday that the Goodman Stadium turf is in excellent shape, and, barring a thunderstorm or the type of deluge that marred last year's Holy Cross game, the team will go through the planned 80 to 100 plays and play for about two hours.
No admission will be charged.
Those who stay home can hear the game on the school's athletic Web site.
This story originally appeared in the Saturday, April 22, 2006 edition of The Morning Call. Used with permission.
