Coach Chris Rogers
As an all-league player at Iowa Central Community College and a starter at Sam Houston State University, Chris Rogers turned his playing expertise on the offensive line into a rising coaching career. From coaching in high school to the community college level, Coach Roger’s career burst through as the tight ends coach and then the offensive line coach at SHSU before joining Ryan Carty’s staff at Delaware in December 2021.
Asked about his gameplan as the OL coach and run game coordinator, Chris simply said having his guys block as many defenders as possible allowing #21 (Marcus Yarns) to beat the last guy. It is conceivable that the blocking scheme may be a bit more complicated but Coach stated that if you have good players who play fast and execute well you will win. The key to his line’s success this year though has been the mutual love shown from coach to players and players to coach. Through these feelings a level of trust has been established and the players have bought into the offense’s concepts.
Because of their busy schedules, the BHTC headline coach usually leaves after speaking to continue to prepare for Saturday’s game. However, Coach Rogers took the time to listen to the next speaker, a former great Delaware offensive lineman for whom Coach Rogers said he wished had remaining eligibility, Gino Gradkowski.

Gino Gradkowski
A fourth-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens out of Delaware who owns a Super Bowl ring, Gino expressed his admiration of the job that Coach Rogers is doing with the OL and the overall excitement that Coach Carty’s staff has brought back to Delaware football. He stated that the staff makes football alums feel very much at home. It also seemed appropriate to Gino that Patrick Shupp, a starting guard, won the BHTC Offensive MVP award on the day that he was speaking to the club. As to playing in the NFL, Gino thought it was crazy that he was drafted so high (or at all) but gave credit to his OL coach at Delaware, Damian Wroblewski, who is now at James Madison and his own passion for the game and for wanting to be a pro. On an interesting note in a league that does not have a plethora of players from Delaware, Gino played with a Delaware graduate on each of the four stops in the NFL, Joe Flacco, Mike “Pops” Adams, Zach Kerr, and Paul Worrilow. A very humble man who feels his induction into the Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame this year is undeserved rather saved his comments for Jerry Oravitz, our Senior Associate AD for Football, who he feels should be inducted due to his dedication to the University and to UD Football. Well, Gino we agree with your sentiments about Jerry but know that your induction into the Hall is truly well-deserved. But your induction into the Hall is so appropriate, not only your football accomplishments, but your accomplishments in life!

Hampton MVP’s:

Special Teams MVP, #17 Jourdan Townsend

Next Meeting: Thursday, 10/26/2023. Bob Carpenter Club. Doors open at 11:00, food served at 11:15. Program at Noon.

Speakers:

Assistant Coach/Defensive Line, Sam Daniels