As we look forward to our first home game of the season on 9-16-
23, let’s quickly look back at the speakers from our last lunch.
Dan Watson
Deputy AD, Sport Performance and Campus Recreation
Dan provided the attendees with a compelling talk about how
different parts of the Athletic Department work together to provide
the best possible experience for all student-athletes at the
University of Delaware.
As a former athletic trainer for the football team, Dan explained
how critical it is for all aspects of an athlete’s care work together.
From nutrition and athletic training to medical care and strength
and conditioning, it is important that all groups are not pulling the
athletes in different directions. This cooperation even includes
analytics and psychology. Dan explained there are times when
the data from the Analytics team shows that an athlete may need
more work in real time and make suggestions to the coaches to
ensure he/she gets the additional work.
The Whitney Athletic Center allows the groups to accomplish
such synergy because they are all imbedded at the WAC.
Additionally, Dan commented on being anti-solo inviting
cooperation and research from other parts of the University. For
example, the newly patented mechanical hamstring device came
as a result of a University wide “Shark Tank” like contest. It
appears that Sports Performance is on the cutting edge!
Art Link
Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties Coach
Coach link talked about the task of replacing two excellent
safeties (Kedrick Whitehead and Noah Plack) and felt that the
team has replaced them with quality players. He mentioned KT
Seay, a freshman who enrolled last spring as well as returnees
Alex Villas, Christian Pierce, Tyler Davis, and Steven Rose, Jr.
In terms of Special Teams, linebackers coach Rocco Dimeco is
helping as he has had experience coaching Special Teams at
other universities. This help has allowed Coach Link to work
more with the safeties.
When asked about how players are chosen to play on special
teams, he pointed out three categories:
1. Some guys play special teams only. These include younger
players and players who have a knack for special teams
play. One of the latter category Link mentioned was Kaelin
Costello.
2. Back-up defensive backs.
3. Those players Coach Carty does not want participating on
Special Teams.
We meet again before the St. Francis University game. At last week’s lunch, before the loss at Penn State, we heard from Special Teams and Safeties Coach, Art Link, and Associate A.D. for Sports Performance, Dan WAtson.
This week we will hear from Assistant Coach, Linebackers, Rocco DiMeco and outstanding UD Sports Photographer, Mark Campbell. We expect Mark to share his memories and some of his iconic photos. This should be a good one!
We meet in the Bob Carpenter Club. Doors open at 11:00 AM, Food served at 11:15, Program at Noon.
Register and pay for lunch here:
https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/weekly-luncheon-reservation/
Last week’s Outstanding Performers:
#21 RB Marcus Yarns
#22 DB Nic Ware
#40 Punter, Ryan Kost
A few seats remain for the Towson bus trip on October 28th. Register and pay here:
https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/bus-trip-reservation-towson/
Plan on being at the Bob Carpenter Club on Thursday, September 7th. We expect to hear from Assistant Coach, Art Link (Special Teams/Safties) and Guest Speaker, Dan Watson, Deputy AD Sports Performance & Recreation (photo above).Please register and pay for attendance on our secure website. Doing so saves much time and effort for the Club. Thank you!
Art will review the performance of the team vs. Stony Brook, and provide a look ahead to the Penn State game.
Dan will review the advances in technology and techniques in sports performance.
Here is a review of our first meeting on August 29th:
The inaugural Blue Hen Touchdown Club lunch for 2023 featured
Head Coach Ryan Carty and Director of Athletics (yes, her official
title is a bit longer) Chrissi Rawak. Both answered numerous
questions and provided the lunch attendees with great
information. Their appearances brought some much needed
excitement to Blue Hen fans!
Coach Carty
1-2 freshmen on offense and 3-5 on defense will likely see
game action against Stony Brook.
With the changing rules (transfer portal etc.), Coach Carty
stated that there is more mass to evaluate. Since our
coaches do the bulk of the recruiting, they are even busier.
The kicking game will be better. Both kickers have strong
legs and have a field goal range of 50 yards. Alex Schmoke
the transfer from St Francis is also very good at placing
kickoffs when needed.
Rule Change: The clock will no longer stop temporarily after
first downs except in the last two minutes of each half.
Chrissi Rawak
The new video board is fantastic and was used for lacrosse
games in the spring as well as for the freshman event held in
the Tub this past weekend (it was also used for a family
movie event this summer!).
There was a 90% renewal rate for season tickets and 500
new season ticket holders.
The athletic department continues to bring a special
experience for each student athlete. The values created are
a large part of the recruiting process whether that process is
for first year students or transfers. Delaware has and must
embrace the transfer portal in order to win.
The “302 Tour” this summer included 40 student athletes
from various teams and 15 coaches and staff to show
everyone that the University represents the entire state (or
302).
The next capital project (Phase 2) will be a remodel of the
entire north end zone; a new building on the other side of
that endzone which will house offices, locker rooms, and
conference rooms for 7 teams, including football; renovating
or replacing the existing field house. There will be a public announcement with details when a funding level is achieved.
Heidi Sarver, Director of the UD Marching Band, will be
retiring after this season.Heidi will be a guest speaker at one of our October meetings!
Art Link pictured below:
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware Football Head Coach Ryan Carty has announced the 2023 captains that will lead the Blue Hens during the upcoming season. The Blue & Gold will be led by a veteran group of defensive linemen Chase McGowan and Ethan Saunders, linebacker Dillon Trainer and offensive lineman Brock Gingrich. The four captains were chosen by a vote of their teammates and coaches.
McGowan is coming off his third-straight All-CAA selection with another strong campaign on the UD front line last season. The Stafford, Virginia native led the squad in both TFL (9.5) and sacks (5.0) while finishing with 30 tackles and was a constant presence in the opponents’ backfield with five quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. In 40 career games, McGowan has 63 tackles with 24.0 TFL and 15 sacks.
Saunders saw significant time in the defensive line’s main rotation last year, appearing in 12 of UD’s 13 games in 2022. He finished with nine tackles, including a season-high three tackles against Monmouth, as well as 2.0 TFL, and 1.5 sacks.
Trainer will look to step into a bigger role in 2023. He appeared in three games last year and has seen time in 22 games over his first three seasons in the Blue & Gold, totaling 21 tackles.
Gingrich has appeared in 23 games in his career with 17 starts at center over the past two seasons including all 13 games in 2022. He led an offensive line last year that helped the Delaware offense average 137.9 rushing and 274.5 passing yards per game. Heavily involved in the community, Gingrich was named a nominee for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team earlier this summer.
The Blue Hens open the 2023 season on Thursday, August 31 with a CAA road matchup at Stony Brook. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Seats remain available on the bus to Stony Brook with the BHTC. $75 for members, $80 nonmembers. Register on our secure payments page!
And, along with football, are the BHTC lunch meetings! The first lunch is Tuesday, Agust 29th. The Bob Carpenter Club doors opem at 11:00 AM. Lunch served at 11:15, program starts at Noon. We expect to get an outlook on all sports, and Football specifically from A.D. Chrissi Rawak and Head Coach Ryan Carty. We have a dynamic group of speakers in the following weeks. Stay tuned for updates!
Follow this website for dates of all meetings.
Please, if possible, register in advance for lunches on our payment site.
The gameday bus trips are still open, but only one seat remains for Penn State. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list, let us know. Departure time for the trips will be announced soon!
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have been forced to eliminate the Hampton trip. Refunds have been processed to those that had signed up.
Go Hens!
The PSU game has been announced as a Noon kick-off on September 9th. The UD Alumni Association is planning a pregame tailgate. The BHTC bus trip intends to leave Newark early, and arrive in time to attend the tailgate. Further details on departure timing will be released soon You can register here:
https://ud.alumniq.com/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/8547
Game tickets can be purchased here:
Be sure to become a BHTC member, or renew your membership for this year. All away game trips are now open, with one bus to each game. The game day trips are over 50% filled, so be sure to not miss out on the affordable and convenient way to see the Fightn’ Blue Hens on the road.
All memberships and bus trips can be purchased securely on this website. Go Hens!
Spring practice is well underway, and the Club is working hard as well, for our Fall activities.
The lunch schedule has been announced, and the game day bus trips are now open to 2023 paid members. Sign up for all three at a discount, or choose the individual game that you want to see. All trips are on full size Delaware Express coaches, but space is limited. Departure times will be announced once the game times are determined.
Remember that game tickets are not included. Also, bus tickets are not refundable, but are tranferable.
For those that have paid the 2023 dues, thank you! To conveniently pay your dues or sign up for a trip:
https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/
Photos, courtesy of Mark Campbell
It was a cold night outside but inside at Clayton Conference
Center on the University’s Laird Campus the temperature was
warmed by friendships, celebration, and everything Blue Hen.
34 senior athletes and senior interns from various support teams
within the athletic department were honored for their time at
Delaware.
A social hour allowed the players time to converse with club
members and other guests. Discussions were varied but there
was much talk about their futures. Those conversations included
athletes who will try to extend their careers in “the league”,
graduating players who are transferring to a new school, or some
who will move beyond football taking more traditional jobs.
Proud parents and family beamed as their sons were recognized.
A few players could not attend including All-American safety
Kedrick Whitehead but his sister stood in for her brother as he
received several awards. The awards included:
Nolan Henderson – Outstanding Offensive Player
Johnny Buchanan, Kedrick Whitehead – Co-Outstanding
Defensive Player
Ben Dinkel, Jake Reed – Co-Outstanding Special Teams
Player
Artis Hemmingway – Outstanding Lineman
Thyrick Pitts – Outstanding End
Justis Henley, Anthony Paoletti – Co-Unsung Hero Award
Thyrick Pitts – The Newark Elks Club honoring the top
scholar-athlete in the class
Nolan Henderson – The Taylor Memorial Award given to a
senior who made outstanding contributions to the program.
The Taylor award presentation was assisted by current running
backs coach and former Blue Hen All-American running back
Andrew Pierce. A former winner of the Taylor Award, Pierce was
also needed to lift the very heavy trophy!
Comments were given by both Athletic Director Chrissy Rawak
and Head Coach Ryan Carty. After listening to their appreciative
words, the temperature in the room got even warmer as their
sincere caring for the athletes and their devotion to the University
shone through.
Each player received a plaque from the club and their framed
jersey from the University.
The Blue Hen Touchdown Club once again extends our thanks to
each honoree and wishes them all the best of luck in the future.
Go Hens!
We look forward to our annual Senior Awards Banquet on February 3rd, 2023!
Registration remains open until January 20th. The Club solicits your attendance to honor our senior student athletes!
If you cannot attend, please consider being recognized as a Benefactor in our Banquet Program. It is only $25 for a single name listing, or $30 for a couple listing. This will help in the expenses in honoring a record 30+ departing players.
Please click on “EVENTS” for more information and to make payment. Thank you!
Was there a better way to complete the Touchdown Club lunch
series in 2022 than to hear from two All-Americans – Andrew
Pierce and Scott Brunner?
As the running backs coach on Ryan Carty’s staff, Coach Pierce
gave us some insight as to how the four backs (Cumby, Yarns,
Sprouls, Watson) are utilized. He looks to use a back who will
dominate in specific situations. The choice of back is also
dependent on the flow of the game. Unless Coach Carty desires
a specific back for a certain play, A.P. decides which back will
play when.
With the anticipated loss of our big back, Kory Sprouls, due to no
more eligibility, Coach Pierce mentioned both Jo’Nathan Silver,
who was red shirted this year as a freshman, and an incoming
back from New Jersey who he could not name due to recruiting
regulations who he hopes will fill that void. According to recruiting
sources that back is Saeed St. Fleur from Bergen Catholic High
School.
His most memorable moment as a Hen was when the team was
in victory formation in the playoff semifinals knowing they were
going to Frisco, Texas to play for the championship.
Scott Brunner the starting QB on the 1979 national championship
team has moved back to Delaware and spoke to the club for
about a half an hour. One club member remarked that he could
have listened to Scott for several hours. Many of us agree!
In a wide-ranging talk, Brunner explained that he came from a
football background (his Dad coached at Villanova and Temple)
but he chose Delaware over Navy and several Ivy League
schools.
As Jeff Komlo emerged as the QB starter for the Hens, Tubby
Raymond, who according to Scott had an obsession with tall
lanky receivers, asked Brunner to switch his position to receiver.
Brunner politely declined.
One of his favorite Tubby stories centered around Scott changing
a called play from the sideline in the huddle. Amidst widened
eyes from his teammates in the huddle, Brunner ran his play.
Upon returning to the sideline he heard Tubby call for Rick Scully
to warm up. A nervous Scully played a short series before
Brunner returned to the field.
On a 3rd down and 13. the play from the sideline came in using the
incorrect formation. Scott debated whether or not to change
the formation but ran the play as called resulting in a loss of
yardage. Scott then went over to Tubby and told him to “stay out
of my g**d*** huddle from now on!”
In terms of today’s game, Brunner stated that there really isn’t
anything new in football just techniques that are re-used in
different ways. One example, when mentoring and training QBs
for the pros he teaches them Wing-T footwork. Most college QBs
do not play under center and that changes in professional football.
But mastering the Wing-T footwork will get them ready for any
offense playing under the center.
We’ll need to invite Scott back so we can hear more!
Photos and write up, courtesy Mark Werrell