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The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette

Lehigh-Lafayette

As one of the nation’s most long-standing and storied rivalries in college athletics, Lehigh versus Lafayette is among the most exciting and largest attended contests every year, no matter the sport. The two schools are located less than 20 miles apart from each other in eastern Pennsylvania and meet annually in most sports, either during the regular season or at the Patriot League Championship. Lehigh athletes and supporters are so passionate about this rivalry, they always claim their two favorite teams are Lehigh and whoever is playing Lafayette.

In fact, known as THE RIVALRY, the Lehigh-Lafayette football game is THE most-played college football rivalry in the nation. The two teams took to the gridiron in 1884, a mere one year after standardized football rules were established. The schools have met every year since 1897 and have not played in only one season since 1884. To this day, the much-anticipated game draws sellout crowds and national media attention, alternating home field advantage between Lehigh's Goodman Stadium and Lafayette's Fisher Field in Easton, PA.  Additionally, the week before the Lehigh-Lafayette football game is one of the most energized times on South Mountain. Students, faculty and staff proudly wear their brown and white and participate in Spirit Week, six days filled with campus and student activities that culminate with the gridiron showdown. One of the highlights of the week is the Friday Marching 97 Campus Tour, when members of Lehigh's infamous marching band weave their way through campus buildings, dining halls, classrooms, and even the library, serenading the campus community with all the traditional Lehigh fight songs.

This spirit, intensity of the competition, the importance of the results and yet the sportsmanship and mutual respect of the participants carries across all of Lehigh’s sports.  For Lehigh student-athletes, alumni and the campus community, the match-up of Lehigh-Lafayette in any sport is one of the most anticipated and often most memorable competitive events of any year, and of many college careers.

History of the two rivals in all sports they compete in shows that Lehigh has dominated the Lehigh-Lafayette series in recent years, including 28-5 in 2010-11, 23-8 in 2009-10; 22-8-1 in 2008-09; 17-13 in 2006-07; and a 24-10 record in 2005-06.

In 43 years of men's competition Lehigh has won 37 times while losing only twice. There have been six ties. The women's series is tied at 13-13.

2011-12 Lehigh– Lafayette Schedule

^Record since 1990