The LEHIGH Lafayette Rivalry

If you are lucky enough to be a member of the Lehigh family or are unfortunate enough to attend or graduate from Laugh-ayette, you live and breathe the Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry.  

While this rivalry comes to a head the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year at the annual football game, the rivalry is deeper than that.  Both schools hold a deep hatred for each other that begins at move in day (or before) and continues after graduation.  

Since my dad went to Lehigh, I have grown up with stories of the rivalry, games at Taylor Field, tearing down the goalposts, and the occasional fight with Lafayette students.  

While the days of stealing each other's mascots and tearing down the goal posts are gone (for the most part), the rivalry and Lehigh Laf week in particular are still the best part of going to Lehigh.  

Bed races, students singing Goblet (audio), the Marching 97 interrupting class, alumni walking around campus, and just a few intoxicated students are all staples of the week. 

The Marching 97 entertained me while I caught up on emails on Friday morning.  They were joined by Burt and Ernie, who were two of the many characters walking around campus.

My bed race team this year, which was with Student Senate.  We won by forfeit the first round then lost to Club Baseball.  

As a proud Lehigh student, this is by far my favorite week to be on campus.  There is no other time of the year that has so much pride, fun, and traditions packed into one week.  

Other, newer Lehigh traditions are the Kickoff Carnival on the front lawn and Lafapalooza, which is a concert on Thursday.  I helped plan the kickoff and had to pie our Senate President Sarah Thomson at the pep rally before the concert (if you're reading this, I'm sorry Sarah!).  

On the day of the game, it is much better to skip out or not drink too much at mocos and tailgates so that you can actually enjoy the game.  Alumni and student tailgates were not as big this year as they were at Lehigh because of stricter rules and space restrictions, but the game was still amazing.  (also because of the fact that WE WON, won the Lehigh Lafayette Giving Challenge, and won the Green Challenge) While neither school has released stats yet, the Express-Times reported that arrests were not as bad as previous years.  

Storming the field after the game

Also, before the game it was announced that the 150th game will be played at Yankee Stadium in two years.  I'll be a senior then and am very excited to not only have the game in my teams stadium but to have it nationally televised.  

Finally, some pictures of my family after the game (plus my brother's friend Nick)