July 22, 2014

Submit Your "My Rivalry" Story
|
Have a great Lafayette-Lehigh story? Want to check out great stories from other Lafayette alumni and fans? Here's your chance. Post your story, photos or video, and use #MyRivalry on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The best stories will be featured as we count down to Rivalry 150. Submit A My Rivalry Story | Story Archive
|
Playing in the Lafayette-Lehigh rivalry game is definitely an experience that I reflect on frequently. During my freshman season, several injuries in the defensive backfield pushed me into the starting lineup. Needless to say, I was overcome by excitement and nervousness. Here I was - a freshman starting in one of the most storied rivalries in all of college football. The pregame jitters really hit me as the team bus took us from our hotel in Phillipsburg through the crowded streets of College Hill, which were crowded in what seemed like an endless sea of maroon and brown.
To this day, I still get chills when I think about running out onto the field for the game. The crowd of 13,000 felt like 70,000+. Unfortunately, during each of my 4 years at Lafayette, we fell short against Lehigh, and I left the Hill with a sour taste in my mouth.
Fast forward to this past season (2013). I returned to the sideline for Lafayette-Lehigh, only this time not as a player, but rather as one of the photographers working the game. I had one of the best seats in the house as the team overcame a season filled early on with frustration to beat Lehigh handedly at Goodman Stadium, and win the 2013 Patriot League Championship. The moment was bittersweet and redemptive for me given that I was unable to experience any of the prior victories in person. I felt blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to take in the moment as a proud member of the Lafayette football family, while at the same time capturing some of the photos that will forever document the achievements of the 2013 Patriot League Championship team.
Kenya Allen '02