Well, we know how the game turned out the next evening! Here is the detailed report of our meeting, the day prior:
Head Football Coach Ryan Carty and Director of Athletics Chrissi
Rawak Speak at the Inaugural Blue Hen Touchdown Club Lunch for 2024
“Pressure is a Privilege”
Ryan Carty when asked about the move to the FBS.
“We are focused on what will not change”
Chrissi Rawak’s response to the changing environment of college
sports.
In a lengthy and thorough question and answer time, both Coach Carty and
AD Rawak amplified and confirmed the preparation that was accomplished
and their constant view forward to the inevitable changes yet to come in
college sports.
Understandably, Carty was focused on the game with Bryant University but
took time to talk about changes in recruiting. He and his staff have already
focused more nationally and the brand of Conference USA is bringing
greater recognition of Delaware among recruits. The key he said was to
push and compete for even higher levels of talent.
With the transition to CUSA, Carty admitted he was somewhat worried
about an 11- game schedule with no playoff or conference championship
goals at year end. He adamantly stated, however, that he was no longer
concerned as very few players transferred out and the team culture being
built over the past three years is even stronger now. Players want to join a
winning culture and UD is awesome to begin with. He stated that players
joining the team through the transfer portal have become some of the
biggest advocates for UD. The teams core values of Committed,
Relentless, Finish have been ingrained throughout the team.
Rawak emphasized that athletics is necessarily becoming more business-
like. She stated though that UD will not compromise its commitment to
each student’s education. When asked if the big money influence in
professional sports will affect college sports, she simply stated “…it’s
already here”.
The money influence has affected everything from staff decisions (ensuring
that Athletics staff have the right skill sets) to capital improvements. Rawak
stated they are not yet ready to announce publicly details on the North
Endzone project. But fund raising is ongoing and they are looking toward
other revenue streams from corporations and real estate development to
make the project a success. The influence of going bigger has attracted
donors like the Schell Brothers and the Starboard.
With the advent of games being televised nationally in 2025 via the ESPN
networks and CBS Sports Network, Rawak said she could not be happier
with UD’s move to Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision.
She “feels for” her colleagues in the CAA as there continues a trend for
less visibility and exposure at that level.
AD Rawak has led the department to go “0-30 mph rather than 0-60 mph”
like the Power 4 conferences in terms of NIL and private equity investment.
UD in consultation with its new Group of 5 colleagues will continue to
compete and win but not to jump. “We’re going to let the P4 make the
mistakes to clearly see the continuing changes,” she emphasized.
Many other topics were covered by both Coach Carty and AD Rawak. You
can get all the information directly from BHTC luncheon speakers by
attending the next club lunch. You can get further information including
time, dates, speakers, and cost simply by scrolling down. It’s great fun to
be able to speak with some interesting folks over lunch and celebrate the
Fightin’ Blue Hens each week.
Go Hens!
Photos: Mark Campbell
We are just three weeks away from UD’s home opener! On Wednesday, August 28th, the Touchdown Club will hear from Director of Athletics and Recreation, Chrissi Rawak, and Head Coach, Ryan Carty.
Coach Carty will give us a view of this year’s squad, and A.D. Rawak can inform us of progress towards our 2025 move to CONFERENCE USA.
The Bob Carpenter Club doors open at 11:00 AM. We will enjoy a “Lazy Summer Barbecue” buffet (BBQ Chicken and Sliced Brisket) at 11:15, then hear from our invited speakers at Noon.
Parking is possible in the small lot in front of the basketball practice facility (including handicap parking), as well as behind the BCC, between the soccer and softball fields. Please do NOT park in the Gold VIP lot in front of the stadium.
$26- Members $31 – Non-Members
Please reserve by Friday, 8/23/2024 PAYMENT LINK HERE: Weekly Reservation
For ALL weekly lunches (Pay for 10, Get 11) PAYMENT LINK HERE: All Weeks Luncheon Option
The Fightn’ Blue Hens’ final run through the CAA is fast approaching! Things to know:
– Our first meeting is on Wednesday, August 28th, prior to the Bryant University home opener on that Thursday. We expect to hear from Director of Athletics, Chrissi Rawak and Head Coach, Ryan Carty.
– Meeting attendance can be paid in full for the season (at a discount), or weekly. Please see our payments page. Payment in advance, rather than at check-in, is greatly appreciated.
– Memberships are still open. If you are unsure if you have already paid, PLEASE contact us at: russcrook32@gmail.com
– All three away game bus trips can be purchased as a package, or individually. Again, there is a discount by paying for all three trips as a package. We will NOT be sending a bus to the North Carolina A&T game. Please check the “Bus Trips” tab on our home page, for all the details!!
We look forward to seeing you on August 28th!
Please register now for the Member Special Away Game Bus Trips:
One discounted price for riding to Monmouth, Richmond and Villanova. Game tickets NOT included.
This is open to MEMBERS ONLY at this time. If seats remain, we will at a later date, open the Special to non-members, and possibly offer single game bus trips.
Please see the flyer with details, under the “Bus Trips” tab at the top of this page.
Reservations can be made here:
https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/bus-reservations/
Go Hens!
Much excitement surrounds the 2024 Fightn’ Blue Hen Football season, the final year in the CAA. Conference USA participation will occur on July 1st, 2025 with a whole new group of FBS opponents in 2025!
The Club board and members are planning for an interesting group of speakers at our weekly luncheons. For now, here is what you need to know:
Membership – 2024 membership remains open. For all of those that have already paid the renewal dues, thank you! If not, please head to our secure payments page: https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/
Note: if you are unsure if you have already paid your dues, please email: russcrook32@gmail.com
Advance Lunch Payments – “Pay for 10, get 11 lunches” is now open. Again, head to our payments page and scroll towards the bottom. https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/
Away Game Bus Trips – Details will be announced soon. Look for game day trips to Monmouth, Richmond and our last trip to Villanova. An email will go out as soon as details are finalized.
Senior Awards Banquet – The date has been set! On Friday evening February 7, 2025, we will honor our senior players. Please mark your calendars!
GO HENS!
The Blue Hen Touchdown Club honored our outstanding departing players. Pictured above is Taylor Memorial Award recipient, and Co-Defensive MVP, Chase McGowan. Also pictured is Assistant Coach Running Backs, Andrew Pierce, Presenter, Chip Taylor, and Bob Lundquist, former team captain and prior Taylor Memorial recipient.
Full report on the evening here:
https://bluehens.com/news/2024/2/4/football-seniors-honored-at-blue-hen-touchdown-club-banquet
Full photo gallery, courtesy of Mark Campbell here:
https://www.henshots.com/Football/2023/TD-Club-Banquet-2-2-24
Pictured below, Head Coach, Ryan Carty, Senior Associate AD, Jerry Oravitz, Athletic Director, Chrissi Rawak, and Jackson Taylor. Jackson was Co-Defensive MVP, as well as recipient of the Newark Elks Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award.
The Blue Hen Touchdown Club will be honoring our senior players, trainers and managers on Friday, February 2,2023. We will be recognizing a group of Blue Hens that brought 17 wins to us over the last two seasons.
On that evening, we will also hear from Director of Athletics, Chrissi Rawak and Head Football Coach, Ryan Carty.
Further information can be found here: https://bluehentdclub.com/events/
Please register and pay to attend here: https://securepayment.link/bluehentdclub/banquet-reservations/
Chrissi Rawak
Coach Carty
It was a thriller in the Tub on Saturday, as the Hens battled back to down Lafayette.
Next up is Saturday night at 9:00 EST vs. the Montana Grizzlies. For those of us not traveling to Missoula, we can watch on ESPN+ and listen in on WDSD 94.7 FM.
Blue Hen Touchdown Club MVP’s for Lafayette:
Offense – #4 QB Nick Minicucci
Defense – #12 DL Chase McGowan
Special Teams – #37 Alex Schmoke
Watch for details on the Senior Awards Banquet to be held Friday, February 2nd, 2024!
Offensive MVP Nick Minicucci
Defensive MVP Chase McGowan
Special Teams MVP Alex Schmoke
Photo Credits: Bill Bretzger, Delawareonline.com
Our final BHTC lunch was this past Friday. We had a lineup of speakers representing football, both basketball squads, and our MVP’s for the Campbell game. Next up for the Club will be the Senior Awards Banquet on Friday, February 2, 2024. Watch here for a full report of our meeting, to be updated soon!
Running Backs Coach, Andrew Pierce
Asst. Women’s Basketball Coach, Sam Pierce
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Martin Ingelsby
Offensive MVP, #54 OL Fintan Brose
Defensive MVP, #4 DB Khalil Dawsey
Special Teams MVP, #91 PK Nate Reed
Above, Defensive MVP Khalil Dawsey’s 100 Yd INT
UD’s 8th win at Campbell, leads to this week’s Villanova game, with everything on the line.
Campbell MVP’s:
Offense #54 Fintan Brose
Defense #4 Khalil Dawsey
Spec. Teams #91 Nate Reed
This week’s meeting (Friday, 11/17/2023) includes:
Andrew Pierce, Running Back Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
Sarah Jenkins, Women’s Basketball Coach
Martin Ingelsby, Men’s Basketball Coach
– BHTC vote for 2023 MVP’s
– BHTC vote for officers
– Final Red Ticket Drawing for MANY high quality items.
Lunch served at 11:15, program at Noon!
Full report on last week’s meeting, thanks to Mark Werrell:
After explaining what happened on the three big pass plays against the Hens in the Elon game, corner backs coach Corico Wright promised that “next time you’ll be very proud” of the defense. Certainly, we were proud as the Blue Hens came up with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a key fourth down stop versus Campbell.
Schematically, Delaware was able to, as Coach Wright stated, force their talented quarterback into a corner limiting his running ability and passing accuracy. Obviously, the game plan worked!
I’m sure that Corico did not want to have another “very stern” film session as they did after the Elon loss. Let’s hope that the film session after Campbell was, as coach quipped, “light and fluffy”!
Both Ben Deluca, head men’s lacrosse coach and Greg Mamula, head baseball coach, gave us updates on their teams. As Deluca seeks a national championship for the laxmen, he has brought in 14 freshmen and two transfers (Colgate and Fairfield) to do battle in the spring of 2024. Additionally, he has 12 verbal commitments from high school players for the 2024-25 year.
Ben commented that lacrosse is evolving into a nation-wide sport and is in fact the fastest growing sport in the country (even more than pickleball?). He is trying to schedule teams from the Big-10 and the Ivy League but most schools do not want to schedule the Hens because they know they could lose. He did, however, schedule Michigan at home, Penn at a yet to be determined place and Syracuse at a neutral site. I guess the “good old boy” network is breaking down a bit.
When interviewed for the UD job, he was sold with his first conversation with AD Chrissy Rawak and her vision of the direction of UD athletics. It also didn’t hurt that his wife is a former Blue Hen All-American lacrosse goalie!
Baseball coach Greg Mamula gave us information about the baseball stadium which is getting new turf and new wall padding. Additionally, due to a generous donor, UD was able to acquire TrackMan which measures everything that happens to a baseball (speed of pitches, speed of ball leaving the bat, rotation of pitches, etc.). This information can not only be used for internal analytics to help the team but the data goes directly to Major League Baseball. Recruits ask about this capability almost without exception.
Additionally, the team will now have visible pitch clocks that have sped up the game, a factor that Greg likes because he likes an up tempo game.
Delaware has 36 players on the roster including 10 from the First State. One of those local players is Tyler August who received scholarship offers from “everybody”. The son of former UD player Brian August, Tyler throws a 98mph fastball and will certainly be drafted into MLB when he is eligible. Greg is expecting big things from this young man!
Coach Ben DeLuca, Men’s Lacrosse
Coach Greg Mamula, Baseball Coach
Photos: Courtesy of Mark Campbel and Howdy Giles