Lehigh Mountain Hawks Football - History - Between The Wars

Between The Wars

The years between the end of World War I and the end of World War II were somewhat poor ones for Lehigh. Seven coaches came and went, managing a record of 73-124-17 (34%) during this time. Better days were coming though, in the form of a young head coach named William Leckonby. Leckonby arrived in time for the 1946 season and within a year, had the fortunes reversed. Leckonby’s teams won 16 of their next 27 from 1947–1949. This set the table for Lehigh’s first undefeated season, 1950. That team went 9-0, defeating Delaware, Carnegie Tech and Lafayette by a combined 125 – 0. Overall, the team outscored opponents by a score of 301 – 77. The team was led by the backfield tandem of Dick Gabriel and Dick Doyne. Gabriel’s name is still etched in the Lehigh record books having achieved 42 career touchdowns, 16 TD’s in a season and for having returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Leckonby’s teams would win 85 games in his 16 years as head man, and take the 1961 Lambert Cup in his final year. Leckonby’s teams managed seven wins over Lafayette, including a 17-14 going away present in 1961.