Miley Cyrus, Vanilla Ice and the Lehigh University football team

Things are different with the Lehigh University football team this season.
Instead of sulking and having to pick themselves up from yet another close loss — something that plagued the Mountain Hawks the past two seasons — the players and coaches are high-fiving, dancing and singing in the locker room as Lehigh has improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League.

“It’s great. That’s the experience you want the kids to have,” fifth-year coach Andy Coen said. “The experience is so much better when you win. Our kids have been able to enjoy that more this year.”

After last Saturday’s 32-10 win over Bucknell, members of the media sat in the press room waiting for players and Coen to enter and all had the same, puzzled look on their faces. All right stop. Collaborate and listen...

Is that Vanilla Ice? Yes, it was.

According to senior linebacker Shane Ryan, whichever player gets into the locker room first after the game sets the tone with a song he selects. Last week was Vanilla Ice. Also heard throughout the season have been Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” and Whitney Houston.

When asked which player has Miley on his iPod, Ryan said, “I’m sure a few guys have it.”
Coen admitted he doesn’t have an iPod, but if he did, the players wouldn’t be listening to pop, rock or rap.

“Mine would have had a lot of Kenny Chesney on it,” Coen said.

Junior offensive lineman Troy McKenna laughed when asked about the music in the locker room during the weekly media luncheon.

“Winning’s great for everybody,” McKenna said. “It really says a lot about us as a team to win these close games and the comeback against Harvard really speaks of our character and identity as a team.”

The Mountain Hawks will certainly continue dancing and smiling should they beat Colgate (4-3, 1-1) on Saturday afternoon.