TOWSON, Md. - It has been 25 years since the Tiger football team has been in a playoff game.

That long drought comes to an end this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when the Tigers will take on the Engineers, I mean the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh at Johnny Unitas® Stadium. The Tigers come in with a 9-2 record and the Colonial Athletic Association championship. Lehigh comes to Towson with the Patriot League title and a 10-1 record.

Many would think that Towson is just happy to be here. Many couldn’t be more wrong. This is a staff and team that is expecting to win. Not just this week but also next week. And the week after. And the week after that. 

I had a chance to speak with quarterback Grant Enders and safety Jordan Dangerfield this week. Both are extremely focused on the task of taking on Lehigh.

Enders has done a great job of running this diverse Tiger offense. Because running back Terrance West has made a mockery of the record books, most who have not watched Towson this year think all the Tigers can do is run. For those who have followed more closely, nothing could be further from the truth. 

Enders has the ability to sit in the pocket and find his targets. He is also elusive enough to run around the pocket and find his man. Enders feels that this week the Tigers will have to be balanced. Lehigh is a team that ranks in the seventh in the nation against the run. But. those numbers are skewed. Because the Mountain Hawks are a high powered offense, they have built up leads. Obviously when that happens, teams need to throw to catch up.

Lehigh quarterback Chris Lum is third in the nation in total offense. But, Lum has been prone to the turnover; he has thrown 16 interceptions this year. Don’t think that the Tigers defense hasn’t noticed.

When I spoke to Dangerfield this week, the junior first team All-CAA safety told me that one of the keys to the game for the Tiger defense will be to force turnovers.

Linebackers Alexander DiSanzo and Kenton Powell both have three interceptions. Last year, the Tigers' entire defense had just two interceptions.

This game should be a barnburner. The campus is buzzing and there is no place else to be in Baltimore this weekend than "The U."

I have to take a minute to talk about the job that Senior Associate Director of Athletics Mike Harris and his staff did this past weekend. For anyone who was at the Towson-Oregon State men’s basketball game this past Saturday, it's most likely an experience they will never forget. 

When you have a situation like the Tigers had with the President of the United States coming to your arena, it can be nothing but a nightmare. But, in talking to dozens of folks the last couple of days, I haven’t heard one person have a complaint. Harris and his crew made the day a joy for everyone.

Towson was a proud host of President Barack Obama and his family.

Sunday was also a big day for the Towson women’s basketball team. Coach Joe Mathews saw his crew move to 4-1 with a win over crosstown rival UMBC. The story in this game late was the possibility of Krystal Parnell getting a triple double, which is something that I don’t believe has ever been done by a Tiger basketball player - male or female.

Parnell had 20 points with a career-high 10 rebounds and seven assists; a great effort to say the least. Coach Mathews' team could be making a lot of noise in the CAA this season.

It will be a busy day Saturday for yours truly. The football playoff game kicks off at 3:35 pm.  At 7:30 p.m., the men's basketball team will play its annual early CAA game of the year at the Towson Center. In the past, it seems like this early game is always against Hofstra. This year, first-year Coach Paul Hewitt brings the Patriots of George Mason to Towson. 

Don’t forget - if you go to the Tiger football game, your playoff ticket will get you in free to the Towson vs. George Mason hoops game.

How lucky am I? I get to broadcast both on WNST. To make me even luckier, I get to work with two Tiger Hall of Famers in the same day - football with Ron Meehan and basketball with Vince Angotti. I can't wait.

Programming Note: Join me and Damon Lewis this Thursday night at Bill Bateman’s for another edition of Tiger Talk from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Damon and I will have men’s basketball Coach Pat Skerry in the first 30 minutes and football Coach Rob Ambrose for the second part of the hour. Come on out to Bateman’s; it’s a blast. If you can't make it, you can listen to Tiger Talk on WNST-AM 1570 or right here at TowsonTigers.com.