1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Last updated

1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football
ConferenceIndependent
Record9–3
Head coach
CaptainEd Braceland
Home stadium Delaware Stadium
Seasons
  1980
1982  
1981 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 8 Lafayette   9 2 0
No. 7 Delaware ^   9 3 0
No. 6 Tennessee State ^   9 3 0
Southeastern Louisiana   8 3 0
Lehigh   8 3 0
Nicholls State   5 5 1
Northwestern State   4 6 0
Bucknell   4 6 0
Northeastern   3 7 0
James Madison   3 8 0
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Delaware ended the regular season ranked No. 7 in the nation, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In their 16th year under head coach Tubby Raymond, the Hens compiled a 9–3 record (9–2 regular season). Ed Braceland was the team captain.

Starting the year on a three-game winning streak, the Hens were ranked No. 1 in the first two weeks of the weekly rankings. Though they dropped out of the top 10 in the middle of the year, a strong ending to the season saw them climb back to No. 7 in time to qualify for the eight-team playoff.

Delaware played its home games at Delaware Stadium on the university campus in Newark, Delaware.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12 at Western Kentucky W 38–14 13,000 [1]
September 19 Temple
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE
W 13–7 22,379 [2]
September 24 at Princeton No. 1 W 61–8 10,110 [3]
October 3 Lehigh No. 1
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE (rivalry)
L 21–24 22,784 [4]
October 10 UMass No. T–7
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE
W 38–15 19,581 [5]
October 17 Youngstown State No. T–6
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE
L 21–24 18,645 [6]
October 24 Rhode Island Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE
W 35–15 20,135 [7]
November 7 at Penn W 40–6 10,117 [8]
November 14 Maine No. T–10
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE
W 42–35 16,743 [9]
November 21 West Chester No. 8
  • Delaware Stadium
  • Newark, DE (rivalry)
W 31–14 17,767 [10]
November 27 at Connecticut No. 7 W 35–26 5,084 [11]
December 5 at No. 1 Eastern Kentucky No. 7 L 28–35 8,100 [12]

Related Research Articles

The 1986 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware in the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. It was the program's first year as a member of the Yankee Conference, after having been an independent for the previous 16 seasons. Delaware was led by Tubby Raymond, who was in his 21st season as head coach of the Fightin' Blue Hens. Quarterback Rich Gannon was a senior, and followed this season with an 18-year NFL career. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1985 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 20th-year head coach Tubby Raymond, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled a record of 7–4. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1994 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Yankee Conference during the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 29th-year head coach Tubby Raymond, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 7–3–1 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing third in the Yankee Conference's Mid-Atlantic Division. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1997 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 32nd-year head coach Tubby Raymond, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 12–2 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, placing second in the A-10's Mid-Atlantic Division. For the sixth time in seven sessions, Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where the Fightin' Blue Hens beat Hofstra in the first round and Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual national runner-up, McNeese State, in the semifinals. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1972 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Tubby Raymond, Fightin' Blue Hens compiled a record of 10–0. The team the played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1973 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. The Hens completed the 85th season of Delaware football, and their first as members of the reorganized NCAA Division II. The Hens played their home games in at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. The 1973 team was led by coach Tubby Raymond. The team finished the regular season with an 8–3 record and made the inaugural NCAA Division II playoffs. However, the Hens lost to Grambling, 17–8, in the first round, the Boardwalk Bowl.

The 1974 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season. The Hens completed the 86th season of Delaware football. The Hens played their home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. The 1974 team was led by coach Tubby Raymond and finished the regular season with a 10–1 record to make the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Hens lost to Central Michigan, 54–14, in the Division II Championship Game, the Camellia Bowl.

The 1971 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their seventh season under head coach Tubby Raymond, the team compiled a 10–1 record and was voted No. 1 in the AP and UPI small college polls. The season concluded with a victory over C.W. Post in the Boardwalk Bowl.

The 1975 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by Tubby Raymond, who was in his 10th season as head coach of the Fightin' Blue Hens. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. They finished the season with a record of 8–3, but failed to qualify for the postseason.

The 1976 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by Tubby Raymond, who was in his 11th season as head coach of the Fightin' Blue Hens. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. The Hens lost to Northern Michigan in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs and finished the season with a record of 8–3–1.

The 1977 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1977 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by Tubby Raymond, who was in his 12th season as head coach of the Fightin' Blue Hens. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. The Hens missed the playoffs, finishing the season with a record of 6–3–1.

The 1952 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1952 college football season. In its second season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled a 4–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 134 to 122. Paul Mueller was the team captain. The team played its home games at Wilmington Park in Wilmington, Delaware, and for the final two games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1954 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 265 to 81. Dan Ford was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1959 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware in the Middle Atlantic Conference during the 1959 college football season. In its ninth season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled an 8–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 286 to 95. Mark Hurm was the team captain.

The 1982 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Delaware ended the regular season ranked No. 3 in the nation, and made it to the Division I-AA national championship game, where the Hens lost by 3 points.

The 1962 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware in the Middle Atlantic Conference during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. In its 12th season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled a 7–2 record, won the MAC University Division championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 219 to 76. John Scholato was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1965 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware in the Middle Atlantic Conference during the 1965 NCAA College Division football season. In its 15th and final season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled a 5–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 213 to 152. James Mueller was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1967 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware in the Middle Atlantic Conference during the 1967 NCAA College Division football season. In its second season under head coach Tubby Raymond, the team compiled a 2–7 record, finished in fourth place in the MAC University Division, and was outscored by a total of 222 to 178. Art Smith was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1969 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware in the Middle Atlantic Conference during the 1969 NCAA College Division football season. In its fourth season under head coach Tubby Raymond, the team compiled a 9–2 record, won the MAC University Division championship, defeated North Carolina Central in the Boardwalk Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 383 to 156. Joe Purzycki was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1970 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season.

References

  1. Tomashek, Tom (September 13, 1981). "Hens Ride 38-Point First Half to Victory". Sunday News Journal . Wilmington, Del. p. D-1 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Simmons, Bill (September 20, 1981). "Delaware Massacres Princeton". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 9-D via Newspapers.com.
  3. Shister, Gail (September 27, 1981). "Delaware Overcomes Owls, 13-7". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 1-D via Newspapers.com.
  4. Simmons, Bill (October 4, 1981). "Lehigh Rallies from Big Deficit, Beats Delaware". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 9-F via Newspapers.com.
  5. Monahan, Bob (October 11, 1981). "UMass Thumped". Boston Sunday Globe . Boston, Mass. p. 71 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Tomashek, Tom (October 18, 1981). "Hens Fall to Youngstown 24-21". Sunday News Journal . Wilmington, Del. p. D-1 via Newspapers.com.
  7. Tomashek, Tom (October 18, 1981). "Hens Climb from Hole, Overtake Rhode Island". Sunday News Journal . Wilmington, Del. p. D-1 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Simmons, Bill (November 8, 1981). "Delaware Routs Penn to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 9-F via Newspapers.com.
  9. Simmons, Bill (November 15, 1981). "Delaware Fights Off Unrelenting Maine in Last Minute, 42-35". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 9-E via Newspapers.com.
  10. Simmons, Bill (November 22, 1981). "Delaware Keeps Its Streak Alive, Whipping West Chester State, 31-14". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 10-E via Newspapers.com.
  11. Tomashek, Tom (November 28, 1981). "Dougherty Rushes Hens Past UConn". The News Journal . Wilmington, Del. p. B-1 via Newspapers.com.
  12. Simmons, Bill (December 6, 1981). "Delaware Knocked Out of Playoffs". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. p. 9-E via Newspapers.com.