The rivalry lives on: Lehigh alumni keep game-day traditions alive

Every year, Lehigh alumni return to campus for the annual Lehigh-Lafayette game. What they all share is a love for the people, the school and the tradition. 

Pete Antico, ‘87, has built a tailgate that’s become a trademark — one students and alumni from varying class years stop by. 

The tailgate began in the early 2000s with his wife and kids. As a member of Theta Xi, a formerly recognized Fraternity that’s no longer active, Antico reconnected with older brothers, and they started gathering annually. 

“I started putting our flag up for my fraternity,” Antico said. “It was up about 20 feet, and I would just tell people, if they want to come, look for the flag.” 

Now, 100 to 150 people attend his tailgate, many of them being from recent graduating classes.

The tailgating tradition has passed through generations, something many alumni hope to continue. 

Brook Paster, ‘01, has been attending Le-Laf games since childhood. Her parents have tailgated since the mid-‘70s. Her father, ‘73, also went to Lehigh, as did her grandfather, ‘49, and two cousins. Her family has returned often, especially for alumni soccer games.

She said her mom has typically been the tailgate provider, with a whole specific setup. 

When Paster was young, her family would stop by the fraternity house her father was in. She said the same house chef was still there.

“In hindsight it’s kind of wild to think about but, it was a true family,” Paster said. “That (chef) took care of those guys and then got to know all of us and fast-forward, then I ended up a (first-year) at Lehigh.”

Jamie Sorcher Pitzer, ‘88, a former cheerleader, also returns whenever she can. Her husband played football at Lehigh, and she recently took over running her group’s tailgate from friend Kellie Fisher, ‘88, along with two other former classmates. 

The community grew, and so did the food. With ‘80s music blasting, a buffet and even a mini bar, she said the party never stops. 

A similar trend happened with Antico’s group. Their tailgates run for so long that they invested in a TV to watch the game from the parking lot rather than head inside. 

As much as the tailgate brings people together, the moment on the field after the game has become its own rite of passage. All three alumni have witnessed or joined fans storming the field after a Lehigh win. 

Paster was always invested. Sorcher Pitzer experienced the mayhem on the field as a cheerleader. And Antico even secured a piece of the goalpost for his fraternity — with some scuffling involved.

“We’re the last ones in the lot,” Antico said. “Every year it’s pitch black, and there’s still probably 15 or 20 of us, and then a couple of us go back to my house afterwards, and then we wind up going out in my town.”

There’s preparation involved, too. Pastor said it used to be simple as showing up early. Now, alumni must find and reserve a spot, make sure everyone has a ticket and ensure there’s room to sit together. 

“It’s like having a party except you put it all in your car and then you put it all in a field,” Paster said. “And then you just hope to God that it’s nice weather so that you can spend time with family and friends before and after the game.”

Antico said the logistics — packing, food preparation and coordination — take about a week. 

No matter the amount of planning or conditions, Sorcher Pitzer said the effort to sit in the stands is worth it. 

She said the last game that happened in Lehigh’s old Taylor Stadium in 1987 was the coldest game on record.

“The windchill was – 17 (degrees),” Sorcher Pitzer said. “I say all that because there really isn’t weather or anything that could keep me away. My body clock is just kind of set for Lehigh-Lafayette.”

Despite the sometimes harsh weather, Antico said the outcome is always worth it.

“It’s just crazy to think about how it’s not just a school,” Paster said. “It was a place where a lot of really fun memories took place.”