Lehigh, Eagles have forged enduring ties

BETHLEHEM - Through a dozen training camps at Lehigh University, where there's sometimes been too much traffic, too much heat or - for a few summers, at least - too much T.O, the relationship between the Eagles and Lehigh University has remained as warm and sunny as the typical weather.

"It's been an extremely positive experience," said Joe Sterrett, Lehigh's athletic director.

"Beneficial for both parties," said Eagles president Joe Banner.

Accompanied by even heftier doses of preseason's high spirits and high hopes, the NFL team's 13th training camp at Lehigh will officially begin today when rookies report.

Before it concludes, 17 days later, more than 100,000 Eagles fans will make the drive to the university's expansive Goodman Campus, new players and coaches will be indoctrinated into Andy Reid's complex system, local restaurants and shops will enjoy a welcome bump in business, and the team likely will make some converts in an area whose sports fans are as liable to root for New York's teams as Philadelphia's.

For its part, Lehigh will get valuable exposure in the Philadelphia market, an important benefit to a university locked in heated competition for the region's top high school students.

While more than a half-dozen NFL teams have foregone the traditional training-camp experience - preferring instead to practice at their in-season facilities - the Eagles remain committed to this leafy campus 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

"It's win-win," Sterrett said. "The level of awareness in our area about the Eagles has definitely grown, as has the awareness of Lehigh in the Philadelphia area. We're mentioned on the TV newscasts every night. Lehigh has become an extension of the Philadelphia area."

According to Banner, the chief reason the Eagles have opted to stay at Lehigh is Andy Reid.

"Andy is someone who recognizes value in the togetherness and focus a training camp can bring," said Banner. "Lehigh works so well because while it's away from our headquarters, it's still within an hour of the city and it's an easy back-and-forth."

NFL teams have different philosophies when it comes to summer camps. Those who don't want distractions or inconveniences stay at home. Some take advantage of nearby vacation areas. Others, as the Eagles appear to be doing, try to broaden their geographic sphere of influence.

The Lehigh Valley's football fan base, residents said, is split between the Eagles, Giants and Jets.

"In many way the people here are more connected to New York," said Lehigh history professor Jack Smith. "I think some of that has to do with the fact that it's easier to get to New York than Philly even though it's 30 miles further."

But Banner insisted that marketing was not a major factor in the choice of Lehigh.

"Certainly, it was a consideration, but not a driving force," he said.

Lehigh Valley officials said no one has yet done an impact study on the economic benefits training camp brings to the area.

"Some do better than others," said Dale Kochard, the university's assistant vice president for community and regional affairs, referring to area businesses. "The restaurants, of course. And you'll see Eagles memorabilia in a lot of the stores downtown and those closest to the fields.

"Because we're so close to Philadelphia, though, we don't see a lot of overnight stays," he said.

In recent years, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 fans a day have come to watch the Eagles work out. In 2004, the camp's youth program was scheduled for the same day as autograph sessions that included Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens.

"We had 25,000 people that day and we're just not set up to accommodate that many people," Kochard said. "Since then we've all been a little better about planning events."

The Goodman Campus, where the playing fields and other training facilities are located, is south of Bethlehem, on the Philadelphia side, so many visitors never even get into the two downtowns that flank the Lehigh River.

The relationship began when, in the early 1990s, Sterrett and then Eagles president Harry Gamble shared a dais at a local sports banquet.

Having coached at Lafayette, Gamble was familiar with Lehigh's campus. But Sterrett told him much had changed, that new athletic facilities had recently been installed on the other side of South Mountain. He suggested, half-jokingly, that perhaps the Eagles ought to think about moving training camp there.

"You know," Gamble said, "that's not a bad idea."

The Eagles began analyzing a possible move from West Chester, but before it was complete, the team was sold.

"A year or so went by and I wrote a letter to Joe Banner," recalled Sterrett. "He called and said he'd be coming up for a look. Once he got here, he was very interested."

The two parties signed a five-year commitment in 1997. Since its expiration, they have renewed on a year-to-year basis, with both sides agreeing to 15-months notice before any change can be made.

"We made some facilities improvements right away. And one of first things that had to be worked out was how to get the players from one side of the mountain [where the dormitories are located] to the fields and back," Sterrett said. "We arranged these elaborate shuttle schedules even though it didn't seem likely professional athletes would be taking a bus."

As it turned out, virtually all the players share rides back and forth.

Neither side would say how much money changes hands.

The Eagles don't pay to use the fields, but do agree to maintain and restore them. They're charged the standard rate for rooms and meeting facilities and, for obvious reasons, pay more for their meals than the average student.

They also pay a standard administrative fee to cover the costs of basic utilities, maintenance and other operations.

"From our point of view, it's very important for us, and schools like us, that we find ways to utilize our athletic facilities year round," Sterrett said. "But as far as profitability goes, there's not a lot in this."