Lehigh tabbed for third straight title; Spadola earns preseason honor
7/25/2012 7:14:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Winners of the last two Patriot League titles, Lehigh was tabbed for a three-peat Wednesday as the league held its annual media day at Green Pond Country Club. Senior wide receiver Ryan Spadola was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, highlighting a list of seven Mountain Hawks who were named to the inaugural Preseason All-Patriot League team.
Head coaches and select student-athletes from the seven league schools were in attendance to chat with media members and discuss the upcoming season. Lehigh was represented by head coach Andy Coen plus two of its four captains, Spadola and senior nose guard Sajjad Chagani.
Spadola was recently one of 20 FCS student-athletes named to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding player in the football championship subdivision. A preseason All-American and one of the top wide receivers in the FCS, Spadola followed a breakout sophomore campaign with an outstanding junior season, where he caught a school record 96 passes for a Lehigh and Patriot League record 1,614 yards. Spadola added 11 touchdown receptions and was named a first team All-Patriot League selection for the second straight year, while also becoming a two-time All-American, garnering first team All-America honors from the AFCA, Associated Press and the Sports Network among others.
“I'm humbled to receive this award and I'm looking forward to working hard all season long,” Spadola said. “I know I need to work harder day in and day out, take the extra steps and push myself a little more and do everything I can, not just to help myself, but to help the team as well.”
“All the accolades Ryan received last year and this preseason are very well deserved,” Coen added. “Ryan made big strides from 2010 to 2011 season and we saw him make big strides again this spring. He's going to play at a very high level this year.”All seven Mountain Hawks who were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team on Wednesday earned postseason All-League honors following the 2011 regular season. On offense, Spadola was joined by senior running back Zach Barket, senior tight end Jamel Haggins and senior offensive lineman Mike Vuono. All four men were first team All-League selections a year ago. Barket rushed for 706 yards and totaled nine touchdowns a year ago, while Haggins is Lehigh's third-leading returning receiver from last year behind Spadola and Barket with 322 yards and two touchdowns on 27 receptions.
Defensively, Lehigh is represented on the Preseason All-League team by Chagani and senior defensive backs Bryan Andrews and Billy O'Brien. All three players were second team All-League selections in 2011. In addition to Spadola's honor, Georgetown senior linebacker Robert McCabe was named the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Chagani said that one of the keys to Lehigh's recent success has been the commitment of players to stick around campus and work out on their own in the summer months, a tradition that has continued once again this year.
“We really wanted to focus on that because in past years it has helped us be successful,” Chagani said. “We have a bunch of guys on campus over the summer. There are about 40 guys around right now and a strong class of seniors who have been exemplary leaders for the group.”
In the preseason poll Lehigh garnered 60 points, including 11 of a possible 14 first place votes. Holy Cross was picked second with 46 points and one first place vote, while Colgate was selected third with 36 points. Georgetown received the other two first place votes and came in fourth with 33 points, followed by Lafayette (32) and Bucknell (15). Fordham was once again not eligible for inclusion in the poll because it will not be eligible to compete for the Patriot League Championship in 2012, and its games against League members will not count towards the final standings.
“Last year we made a big deal about the bulls-eye being on the back,” Coen said. “With this year's group it's important to realize that not only our expectations high, but everyone in the league feels the same way. Instead of previous years where we may have had to prove people wrong, we want to go out and prove people right. It's going to be real challenging. We have a great schedule. The league continues to become more of a league with parity. We have a lot of work to do.”
The preseason poll, awards and All-League team were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
The Mountain Hawks will be chasing their 11th league crown. Lehigh has won 21 games over the last two years including a FCS playoff victory in each of the last two seasons. Last year Lehigh finished with an 11-2 record that saw the Mountain Hawks win their eighth Lambert Cup. Lehigh defeated Towson 40-38 in the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. The Mountain Hawks also enter the new season having won 14 consecutive games against Patriot League opponents dating back to the 2009 season.
“This is what you live for as a football coach,” Coen said. “I had a great summer. The kids have had a great summer and Media Day kicks off the whole season so it's nice to be here. We've had great leadership and a group of guys committed to each other to try to win championships. We all know how hard it's going to be to try to win three in a row but we're excited.
Lehigh reports for preseason camp on Monday August 6 with its opening practice set for the following evening.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2012 season on Saturday, September 1 when they host the Monmouth Hawks at Goodman Stadium. Kickoff is set for just after 12:30. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting Lehighsports.com.
2012 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
|
Team (# of first place votes)
|
Points
|
|
1. LEHIGH (11)
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60
|
|
2. Holy Cross (1)
|
46
|
|
3. Colgate
|
36
|
|
4. Georgetown (2)
|
33
|
|
5. Lafayette
|
32
|
|
6. Bucknell
|
15
|
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Spadola, LEHIGH, WR
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Robert McCabe, Georgetown, LB
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