Fears Confirmed..

[UDan]

(Throw this all out the window if a particular sponsor is behind all the shenanigans. Half off at Klondike Kate's or something to the winner. I don't recall whether all of those type of timeout games have been sponsored in the past but I'm sure one or two have.)

I think they're always sponsored by a local business. That's where the prizes come from.

It (in-game "activation" or promo) doesn't happen without being a driver of sponsor revenue. And really, in some linear TV timeouts of a bemoaned length, it probably would be foolish not to take the chance to do a sponsored thing. But the levels of goofitude to them vary.

I would guess a surveyed sample would prefer sponsors on game-break activities rather than on game jersey patches.

[Caribbean Hen]

A couple things to say here
1) 2nd string SEC guys in the portal aren’t looking at Delaware as a top choice. They likely are looking for playing time at other P4 schools or the top end G5 schools like Boise state, Tulane, etc. (not that it’s impossible to land a big time recruit like this but it’s just rare)
2) The FBS guys in the portal that could be looking at Delaware are likely P4 guys buried on the depth chart or 2nd string G5 guys.
3) The FCS guys in the portal are looking at teams like Delaware as their top options. It’s a realistic option to get playing time at a higher level.

So when it comes to recruiting in the portal, the staff likely understand that unless a P4 player already has interest, it’s unlikely to win them over especially against teams that are much better than us. So why waste valuable and limited time going after unrealistic options when you can try and get the best of the talent available to you (buried P4, backup G5, and FCS/DII). Just my take.

Also you have to understand that they have to be a able to fill out a roster and it’s impossible not to recruit guys from lower levels to field a full team with depth to last a full college season.

We already have "2nd string" guys from P4 schools playing for us.

I wont speak on this comment lol.hahahaa

I am working currently with 6 portal guys. 2 -D2 starters, A P4 DL, 2 FBS WRS, and FBS kicker.
All accept the kicker have film.

All are VERY aware of UD. To be honest- We are alot more well known than I even think the staff realizes. I think there is a fear that we can not get or pay some of these guys. I beg to differ because the portal is rough. Rough beyond belief.

Another I know friend of my represents the FCS Offensive player Freshman of the year and he has not gotten 1 phone call or one offer. He will probably get picked for a G5 for somethings. And its hard to hide things things now- SSN- Delaware is a PERFECT example of this even at the lower FBS...

Really breezy ….. and cold outside

I would be curious to know who that player was

[bpacc55]

What were your ideas for improving game day experience?

* Ditch the minor-league baseball contests.
* Improve Wi-Fi OR read the out-of-town scores like they used to that people can't find on their phones because the Wi-Fi is poor.
* Keep the band in the stadium during games. No more celebratory music played after opponent does something well.
* Suggested that not every second has to be covered with an activity.
* Cater to football fans who want to watch the game instead of everybody else.

Expecting nothing from it but it was an outlet to vent. I passed on the concession/merch questions as all my consumption is done outside the stadium.

I went with:

- Improve band in-game music/sound/engagement. Said I went to the Navy/Temple game this year and was shocked how much more engaged the Temple band was. Heck, they were almost SEC-like with the amount of music they played in between snaps.
- Better planning of when they do play music. Sometimes they'd start something like "Sweet Caroline" or "Jump Around" during a replay review, and the stoppage would go short and they'd have to cut the music, sometimes before the refrain. Again, just understanding the game and how to tie things in would be great.
- I was fine with the activities/contests/video board games. If they do them well, it's harmless enjoyment and a good break when we get those 3 minute tv timeouts.
- I asked for live singers (music majors) to be brought back to sing the national anthems and alma maters. We have a fantastic music program at UD, no reason why they couldn't bring this back.
- and yes, BETTER WI-FI. I was at the Army/Navy game this year at M&T Bank and never had a WI-FI issue. ESPN App worked flawlessly and I sent out pics and videos and had no issues. No reason why they can't fix this at Delaware Stadium.

I've been one of the more vocal gameday experience guys here and this is it right here. The disappearing act of the UDMB is head scratching. It blows my mind that they spend an entire quarter on the practice field...practicing during a game. Marching bands are the heartbeat of the stadium for college football. We're on life support relying on a terrible DJ who has no idea how to pipe in music. They try every gimmick from every big school. Jump Around, Mr. Brightside, Sweet Caroline the list goes on. Those are traditions from other schools and UD executes them poorly. If you're going to play those songs, know that you need a TV timeout or a quarter break to do so. Not between downs.

The UDMB Drumline does some great stuff under the stands and in the parking lot, but during the game there seems to be none. Marching bands and drumlines bring so much energy. I wish UDMB understood this.

Lastly, there's PLENTY of room under the renovated stands to march under before the game. It was such a great tradition that they scrapped. Bring that back too.

[72 Hen]

IMO. all good points. I will add, cut the canned music by at least 75% and teach the band more more fight song music when we are driving the ball. Send our band leader to visit some schools that do things better. Too many years of going the same thing. We have a great band but they are handcuffed.

[Bluewyn Gold]

Exceptional points, Mr. BP & 72. I've noted this on the recent and past fan surveys.

While the canned music isn't my thing at all (I'm a child of the '50s), I do understand that we need to cater to a much younger crowd who appreciates more modern music in all its forms.

That said, college bands should be a featured part of any gameday experience. UD has a good one but we choose not to highlight it to the extent we traditionally have and should. It's beyond confounding.

It's a minor quibble, especially considering all the other things that the school has been doing right with the FB program. But, if you're asking my opinion, as UD has...

[Gannonfan]

Lastly, there's PLENTY of room under the renovated stands to march under before the game. It was such a great tradition that they scrapped. Bring that back too.

I would love if they found a way to march under the stands again. Easily one of the best traditions I remember from my childhood and then bringing my own kids there. Even if you can't do it under the renovated stands the East side stands are a copy of what the West side used to be so you could do it there. Just takes some initiative to do it.

[RalphD58]

I replied in the survey that a cool event would be to burn the YouDee costume at the 50 yard line and have a cool new Blue Hen logo, mascot, etc. emerge from the ashes.

[HENJOHN]

I replied in the survey that a cool event would be to burn the YouDee costume at the 50 yard line and have a cool new Blue Hen logo, mascot, etc. emerge from the ashes.

Ralph, I also commented on Youdee and suggested we go to the much more appropriate and Marketable Dick the Chicken. Hate the Youdee character

[RalphD58]

I replied in the survey that a cool event would be to burn the YouDee costume at the 50 yard line and have a cool new Blue Hen logo, mascot, etc. emerge from the ashes.

Ralph, I also commented on Youdee and suggested we go to the much more appropriate and Marketable Dick the Chicken. Hate the Youdee character

Yeah, it's time for a reboot. It's been 33 years of YouDee as the face of the university. I kid about the death of YouDee, he can stay as a masot, that's fine. Just get that damn head off evrything UD, it's ridiculous.

[FanSinceHighSchool]

Yeah, it's time for a reboot. It's been 33 years of YouDee as the face of the university. I kid about the death of YouDee, he can stay as a masot, that's fine. Just get that damn head off evrything UD, it's ridiculous.
===============================================================================================================================

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Cluck U]

I replied in the survey that a cool event would be to burn the YouDee costume at the 50 yard line and have a cool new Blue Hen logo, mascot, etc. emerge from the ashes.

Ralph is trying to get himself banned from the stadium!!

[bpacc55]

I replied in the survey that a cool event would be to burn the YouDee costume at the 50 yard line and have a cool new Blue Hen logo, mascot, etc. emerge from the ashes.

Ralph, I also commented on Youdee and suggested we go to the much more appropriate and Marketable Dick the Chicken. Hate the Youdee character

Yeah, it's time for a reboot. It's been 33 years of YouDee as the face of the university. I kid about the death of YouDee, he can stay as a masot, that's fine. Just get that damn head off evrything UD, it's ridiculous.

At the very least, they could at least make a new YouDee costume. They might be using the same one since he was introduced. He's more faded than a 1970 Chevy Pickup dashboard.

[CaliHen98]

* Ditch the minor-league baseball contests.
* Improve Wi-Fi OR read the out-of-town scores like they used to that people can't find on their phones because the Wi-Fi is poor.
* Keep the band in the stadium during games. No more celebratory music played after opponent does something well.
* Suggested that not every second has to be covered with an activity.
* Cater to football fans who want to watch the game instead of everybody else.

Expecting nothing from it but it was an outlet to vent. I passed on the concession/merch questions as all my consumption is done outside the stadium.

I went with:

- Improve band in-game music/sound/engagement. Said I went to the Navy/Temple game this year and was shocked how much more engaged the Temple band was. Heck, they were almost SEC-like with the amount of music they played in between snaps.
- Better planning of when they do play music. Sometimes they'd start something like "Sweet Caroline" or "Jump Around" during a replay review, and the stoppage would go short and they'd have to cut the music, sometimes before the refrain. Again, just understanding the game and how to tie things in would be great.
- I was fine with the activities/contests/video board games. If they do them well, it's harmless enjoyment and a good break when we get those 3 minute tv timeouts.
- I asked for live singers (music majors) to be brought back to sing the national anthems and alma maters. We have a fantastic music program at UD, no reason why they couldn't bring this back.
- and yes, BETTER WI-FI. I was at the Army/Navy game this year at M&T Bank and never had a WI-FI issue. ESPN App worked flawlessly and I sent out pics and videos and had no issues. No reason why they can't fix this at Delaware Stadium.

I've been one of the more vocal gameday experience guys here and this is it right here. The disappearing act of the UDMB is head scratching. It blows my mind that they spend an entire quarter on the practice field...practicing during a game. Marching bands are the heartbeat of the stadium for college football. We're on life support relying on a terrible DJ who has no idea how to pipe in music. They try every gimmick from every big school. Jump Around, Mr. Brightside, Sweet Caroline the list goes on. Those are traditions from other schools and UD executes them poorly. If you're going to play those songs, know that you need a TV timeout or a quarter break to do so. Not between downs.

The UDMB Drumline does some great stuff under the stands and in the parking lot, but during the game there seems to be none. Marching bands and drumlines bring so much energy. I wish UDMB understood this.

Lastly, there's PLENTY of room under the renovated stands to march under before the game. It was such a great tradition that they scrapped. Bring that back too.

There is absolutely no excuse why the UD marching band should be anything but top tier in terms of gameday experiences. We are one of a handful of marching bands that exceed 300 in total members. This puts us in a very elite class when it comes to marching bands. It's yet another example of how/why the UD is really in a position to succeed in this move to FBS. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, we seem to put zero resources into our band, so we end up with the current product we have every Saturday...let's freakin change all of this!!!!

[TokyoHens1]

Yeah, like everyone is saying, revamp our band and put on great display of UD pride! Also, have a pipe and drum corp!

[Cluck U]

I went with:

- Improve band in-game music/sound/engagement. Said I went to the Navy/Temple game this year and was shocked how much more engaged the Temple band was. Heck, they were almost SEC-like with the amount of music they played in between snaps.
- Better planning of when they do play music. Sometimes they'd start something like "Sweet Caroline" or "Jump Around" during a replay review, and the stoppage would go short and they'd have to cut the music, sometimes before the refrain. Again, just understanding the game and how to tie things in would be great.
- I was fine with the activities/contests/video board games. If they do them well, it's harmless enjoyment and a good break when we get those 3 minute tv timeouts.
- I asked for live singers (music majors) to be brought back to sing the national anthems and alma maters. We have a fantastic music program at UD, no reason why they couldn't bring this back.
- and yes, BETTER WI-FI. I was at the Army/Navy game this year at M&T Bank and never had a WI-FI issue. ESPN App worked flawlessly and I sent out pics and videos and had no issues. No reason why they can't fix this at Delaware Stadium.

I've been one of the more vocal gameday experience guys here and this is it right here. The disappearing act of the UDMB is head scratching. It blows my mind that they spend an entire quarter on the practice field...practicing during a game. Marching bands are the heartbeat of the stadium for college football. We're on life support relying on a terrible DJ who has no idea how to pipe in music. They try every gimmick from every big school. Jump Around, Mr. Brightside, Sweet Caroline the list goes on. Those are traditions from other schools and UD executes them poorly. If you're going to play those songs, know that you need a TV timeout or a quarter break to do so. Not between downs.

The UDMB Drumline does some great stuff under the stands and in the parking lot, but during the game there seems to be none. Marching bands and drumlines bring so much energy. I wish UDMB understood this.

Lastly, there's PLENTY of room under the renovated stands to march under before the game. It was such a great tradition that they scrapped. Bring that back too.

There is absolutely no excuse why the UD marching band should be anything but top tier in terms of gameday experiences. We are one of a handful of marching bands that exceed 300 in total members. This puts us in a very elite class when it comes to marching bands. It's yet another example of how/why the UD is really in a position to succeed in this move to FBS. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, we seem to put zero resources into our band, so we end up with the current product we have every Saturday...let's freakin change all of this!!!!

You are correct that changes are needed if our band is to become a major part of the football experience. Better leadership and more finances would be required to make significant changes.

UD has a large band, for sure. However, unlike other well known marching bands, there are no cuts at UD and there isn't as much organization/practice as other top marching bands. Unfortunately, that is obvious...and it was even more obvious when compare to DSU's band. DSU has a very athletic marching band and they do a lot of cardio presentations that would have left some of our band members in the ICU.

But, I'm all for kids getting out of their dorms and doing something positive, so we have a large band. Given their size (and lack of cuts), they don't practice as an entire group that often (which might be why they practice on the football practice fields during games).

Many of our band members are up to the task, especially the horn section, running up the steps to play in the aisles (love that, by the way...my out-of-town guests are always thrilled to have the band mingle with them in stands).

It would be a better atmosphere if our band played (in a coordinated way) throughout the game...just not sure they are up for it at this time.