How long have you been a UD football fan? Poll

[72 Hen]

My father, who was a big fan of all Delaware sports, took me to my first football game in 1959. I was 10 years old and I became a fan that very day. Delaware Stadium in 1959 had a capacity of about 8,000. I remember the stadium being pretty full that day and thought that was a really big crowd.

We played the Lehigh Engineers that day. Dad told me it was I big rivalry game. We won 12 to 7 and I couldn't wait for the next game. I remember watching us beat Marshall. Dad said they were in another conference. I wasn't sure what that meant but I remember being impressed. I remember us beating Temple 62 to 0. Still remember that score. We went to every home game and also took trips to Lafayette and Bucknell.

A few more memories of 1959. More often than not we would go for 2 points after a touchdown. I remember learning about a play called the double reverse. I loved that play and how hard it was to see who had the ball. It was perfect and I miss it today. I still remember the names of some of my favorite player like Otto Fad, Jack Turner and Mark Hurm. I remember the leather helmets and high top spikes. Dad would sometimes complain that stands were filled with older people and we needed more young fans to come to the games. At the end of the season I remember Dad telling me that we were the Middle Atlantic Conference champs and finished #4 in the small college polls. I wasn't sure what that meant but I thought it was pretty cool.

Back then I was given a card called the Quarterback Club. Show that at the ticket window and your ticket cost 25 cents. Sixty seven years later and I sill remember the 1959 season when I was hooked on Delaware football.

[BlueHenAlum]

Have enjoyed reading everyone's stories so far. My first exposure to Delaware football was going to a few games while attending the University (graduated in 1991). Kept an eye on UD for the next few years while trying to get my career started. After the 1995 NFL season, I stopped watching the NFL because of Modell pulling the Browns out of Cleveland. Then in the summer of '96, my father passed away and I kind of stepped away from sports altogether for awhile (my Dad and I were always watching games and playing basketball together throughout my entire life). After a couple of years, I began to realize how much I missed watching sports. It was either '98 or '99 when my work situation (and life in general) stabilized and I bought season tickets for football and have been attending ever since. My younger brother (who never attended UD) accompanies me most of the time which has been a blessing for me as it has evoked many of the bonding memories that I had with my father while we make memories of our own.

One of my ideas for retirement is to move to Delaware so that I can enjoy attending some of the other UD sports. I enjoyed my time while attending UD, but many of you have also played a small part in generating that idea for me because of the wonderful times and experiences that you share here. So thank you for that and keep up the great work!

[pikecreekbill]

I attended my first UD FB game in 1969 with a friend who was a student at the time. Early the following year I entered the Air Force. After my first assignment I was sent to Japan for a two year stint. I was there for part of the 71 season and the magical 72 season and most of 73. I remember listening to the football scores on the Far East Network and how they always gave the Delaware score. Along with the score they would usually state the UD was number 1 in Small College Football. I even went so far as to make a poster with a map of DE and stating they were number 1 in Small College football. I did this prior to attending a USO show with Bob Hope as the MC. Bob noticed the poster and ask me what Small College meant I answered a Division below Division 1. He then mentioned something about USC. It was very cool!!!!

[HENJOHN]

More Great stuff guys. Keep it coming.

[Ramblinrec74]

Started going to UD Football games in the fall o0f 1967. May have went to few before that, but not consistently. Fall 1967 I was a Frosh at Newark High School on the Tucker, Hayman, & Swann Teams. We used to play at 10:30 AM, then the whole team would change and head over to Delaware Stadium. Back then we had Newark Alumni playing for UD: Conway Hayman, Dickie Kelly, Pat Walker, Gerry McCormick, etc. We continued that tradition throughtout High School. Played here from 1971 - 1974 on some Great Delaware Teams, collectively going 40 wins vs 7 losses which included bowl games and playoffs. During that time we had two National Championships, lost in quarterfinals, and were Runner-up to National Champions. Have been in the stands ever since!

[Ramblinrec74]

I forgot Pat Walker on that list of Newark Alumni playing for UD!

[dovetail]

I graduated in 1966, got married in September 1968. During the Reception I sneaked out to the parking lot to get a score in what I remember of the UD and West Chester game. New wife wasn't happy. I started following the Blue and Gold when I was a pre-teen.

[GoArmy]

1970’s

[Section J]

My pop took me to my first game in 1969. Can't remember the opponent or the outcome.

Season tickets since 1989, transitioned to the funnest section in the stadium shortly thereafter.

Both my boys were in the stadium in utero, and the romance with Mrs. J began on October 20, 1990, when UMass quarterback Gary Wilkos suffered a fractured cervical vertebra.

Funny the things you remember.

[piovoso]

Dave Nelson was coach. 1960.

[mpwerrell]

Came to UD for grad school in 1976. Bought season tickets (half price for grad students) in Section J, next to last row. My wife and I and eight other folks bought 6 tickets to share in section L starting in 1979. For some in the group itwas only a social thing so we ended up attending most of the games.
We moved to section E with four seats in 1984 and have remained there ever since (chair backs were the “greatest thing since sliced bread”).

[Gannonfan]

I graduated in 1966, got married in September 1968. During the Reception I sneaked out to the parking lot to get a score in what I remember of the UD and West Chester game. New wife wasn't happy. I started following the Blue and Gold when I was a pre-teen.

Did you blame it on her for scheduling a wedding that conflicted with a Delaware home game??

[dovetail]

Doesn't matter - we won!

[77HEN]

Started in the late 70’s when I rematriculated at UD after partying too much some years earlier. My wife entered grad school (chemistry) and I was an undergrad (chem eng) and we got an apartment in South Gate Garden apartments across from Del Stadium (and just south of the Chrysler plant). We started going to all the games and my dad would come down from Wilmington and meet us. Often he would bring subs from Casapullas, we loved them. We would walk across the street and tailgate with members of his sisters’ (two of them) families. One of my cousins was a RB who played for Tubby and has some stats in the record books. We also would walk across the street in the spring and watch mens lax in the grass field along 896 while sitting on the post and rail fence there. That’s when I started watching UD LAX.

We took a break from UD football while we worked at our careers and raised our one child. We returned when she graduated and went off to college in 2002. We started back just in time to be on board for the 2003 NC season. We kept our season tix until we moved out west in 2015. We had gone to Chattanooga for the two NC games and also to Frisco. We made a few games in Newark while we were visiting from out west and then renewed our season tix on our return in 2023.

BH football is like home for us. We love going to the games, it’s so easy to get in and out and watch the athletes do their thing. Go Hens!

[HENJOHN]

Its hard to convey to some the sense of tradition and subsequent pride in being a Bluehen fan for a long period of time. I have 7 and 11 year old Grandsons who play multiple sports so getting them to come to UD games is the most rewarding thing for me. I was able to go on the field with my grandsons before the Middle Tenn game and the thrill we all got was priceless. Interaction with players, AD Skolnick, Jerry O and even Referees was something they'll never forget.

They've also been on the Jumbotron numerous times for dancing, dancing shirtless and just having fun. I even brought my oldest to a TD CLUB Lunch and the guys were all very accepting and courteous. All great memories for them but also me. I hope everyone gets to experience thrills like this while being a fan for a long period of time.