BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Set to begin his second season at the helm, Lehigh head football coach Andy Coen has announced the Mountain Hawks 2007 schedule, which includes six home games and matchups versus seven teams that posted winning records in 2006. “This is a challenging schedule in both the non-league and league portions,” explains Coen, who led Lehigh to a share of its eighth Patriot League championship in his first year. “We’ll be facing tough opponents every week, taking on two scholarship schools, the defending Ivy League co-champions as well as an extremely competitive slate of Patriot League teams.”
Lehigh’s 2007 season gets underway on Saturday, September 8 on Volunteer Day at Goodman Stadium versus Atlantic-10 foe Villanova. The game marks the beginning of the 20th season at Goodman Stadium. “I’m very excited for our home opener as we begin the 20th season at Goodman, which has been the site of many great Lehigh victories throughout the years,” Coen explains. “Hopefully this season will be as exciting as ever as we welcome in six quality opponents, starting with Villanova who ended last season playing as well as any team in the nation.”
The Mountain Hawks defeated the Wildcats last year on the road 31-28 to give Coen his first victory as a head coach. “We had a nice win over them (Villanova) last year and it’s always exciting to play a team of their stature. We’re hoping for a great home crowd and a great performance from our program. A game like this can really help to set the tone of your entire season.”
Lehigh hits the road for the first time on September 15 when the Mountain Hawks head to New Jersey to take on the 2006 Ivy League co-champion Princeton Tigers underneath the lights at Princeton Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 6:00 and will be Lehigh’s first trip to the Garden State since downing the Tigers 28-13 in 2003. “This is a great opportunity for our fans to travel and come see us in action,” Coen said. “We’ve always had great support at Princeton and I look forward to seeing many friendly faces that night.”
The Mountain Hawks return home the next two weeks, welcoming VMI and Harvard to Bethlehem on September 22 and 29, respectively. Lehigh and VMI will meet for just the ninth time ever on Kids Day as the Mountain Hawks seek their fourth straight victory against the Keydets, while Harvard comes to Goodman Stadium on Community Day. “Harvard always has a very talented team and we expect nothing less from them again this year,” said Coen. In the Crimson’s last two trips to Goodman, the outcome has been decided by a total of just three points. Lehigh will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first-ever Lambert Cup team (1957) versus VMI, while the 30th anniversary of the 1977 National Championship team will take place against Harvard.
Two straight road trips begin the month of October as Lehigh heads to the Bronx on October 6 to face Fordham and then to New Haven, Connecticut to take on 2006 Ivy League co-champion Yale a week later. The Mountain Hawks close out the month with a pair of home games versus Holy Cross on Alumni Day and Georgetown on Family Weekend. Lehigh will welcome the Crusaders on October 20, while on October 27 one of the largest crowds of the season is expected for Family Weekend when the Hoyas make the trip up from Washington, D.C.
“I really believe the Patriot League race is wide-open right now,” explains Coen. “It’s going to be critical for us to have success in the early part of our Patriot League schedule, beginning with these three matchups in October.”
Two tough road trips begin the final month of Lehigh’s regular season as the Mountain Hawks head to Hamilton, New York on November 3 to face the Colgate Raiders. A week later, the Brown and White head west to take on Bucknell in Lewisburg. “November is a challenging month for us having to go to both Colgate and Bucknell,” explains Coen. “We then close out the regular season with the 143rd all-time meeting against Lafayette at Goodman Stadium, which is always a thrill for everyone associated with our football program.” The Mountain Hawks host the Leopards on November 17 as they look for their eighth win in the last nine tries against their archrivals at home.
Season tickets for the 2007 Lehigh football season go on sale on Friday, June 15, and single game tickets will be available beginning on Tuesday, June 26. The Mountain Hawks broadcast schedule will be announced soon.
