College sports

11 days till Maryland

2008-08-19T22:33:00.002-04:00

I thought I'd post a few observations from UD's training camp as the Hens continue to prepare for the season opener:

*The defense is still way ahead of the offense. UD's defensive line could be dominating this season. Ronald Talley is healthy and huge. Look for sophomore Demetrius Hester to have a huge season at DT spot. If Matt Marcorelle can stay healthy, he will terrorize offenses because the Hens will line him up wherever they see a mismatch and let him use his speed to get to the QB.

*The defense will have to be dominating because the offense is going to struggle with consistency. In the scrimmage Sunday, there were too many mistakes. There were three turnovers. Sure, there were some nice plays. But the offense also went 7 straight series without getting a first down. Not a good sign with Maryland coming up.

*Who's the QB? Neither Rob Schoenhoft nor Lou Ritacco has separated himself. Schoenhoft had some really nice throws in the scrimmage. He also threw a duck that Mark Duncan came back to catch for a 27-yard gain. He also threw one of those interceptions that drive coaches crazy _ driving for the go-ahead field goal late in the game. Keeler is already on the record saying he wants the QB to "manage the offense," so that INT had to upset him to no end. Ritacco, on the other hand, didn't do much better when he had a chance. He seems to be a better runner, and Schoenhoft the better passer. This final week of training camp could be interesting.

*Players who have shined: On defense, Hester, the LB corps has looked really good, and Fred Andrew, Charles Graves, Anthony Bratton and Anthony Walters are as solid a secondary as you'll find. On offense, watch out for Martwain Johnston. If he can eliminate the drops, he could be the Hens' most gifted receiver, and that's saying something considering they have Aaron Love, Mark Duncan and Kervin Michaud. Jonathon Smith is a beast at RB. He is great in goal-line situations, and at 6-3, 230, he has the speed to break some runs up the middle too. Philip Thaxton had a nice 58-yard run in the scrimmage. Junior Jabbie needs to get healthy.

*A battle that hasn't had much attention is at punter. Michigan State transfer Ed Wagner can really boom some kicks. But Stuart Kenworthy has been steady throughout his tenure at UD. If the offense struggles, we might be seeing a lot of these guys.

And then there were two...

2008-08-14T11:22:00.002-04:00

K.C. Keeler narrowed the competition at quarterback to Ohio State transfer Rob Schoenhoft and redshirt freshman Lou Ritacco. That leaves Sean Hakes as the odd-man out. It makes sense simply because Hakes only arrived on campus two days before training camp began on Aug. 4, while Schoenhoft went through spring practice and Ritacco is in his second season with the team.

Schoenhoft and Ritacco took the snaps during UD's morning practice Thursday, especially during the controlled scrimmage in which the offense went against the defense.

So now that the competition is down to two, Keeler has 16 days to name a starter for the Maryland game on Aug. 30. Who's it going to be? At this point, it's still hard to say. Schoenhoft would have to be the favorite. He has the pedigree, being a major college recruit and he was in the running for the Ohio State job before last season. By the end of the season, Schoenhoft was down to third string, and he was playing tight end while the Buckeyes practiced for their bowl game last January. And with prized recruit Terrelle Pryor coming in this season, the writing was on the wall.

Schoenhoft has played in front of 100,000 people before, while Ritacco hasn't played in front of anyone. That could loom large with UD's opener at Maryland's Byrd Stadium, which seats 51,500. But Schoenhoft hasn't separated himself from the other two quarterbacks during the preseason. Ritacco has held his own. But again, he's a freshman. Hakes just didn't have enough time to learn the offense.

Now would be a good time for either Schoenhoft or Ritacco to start separating himself.

End of an interesting era

2008-08-13T22:04:00.003-04:00

DOVER - Allen Sessoms resigned today as president at Delaware State University. He'll be leaving for the same job at University of the District of Columbia. His last day at DSU is Aug. 31.

I'd say it's a bad day for athletics at DSU.

Athletics there had no bigger supporter than Sessoms himself. Not many colleges, let alone small ones like DSU, have their sports programs fully appreciated by their man in charge.

He was a lightning rod, no doubt. But that's because he tried to be honest in an environment that thrives on spinning the truth. While most alumni hated his way of conducting business, Sessoms helped DSU out of the dark ages and listened to people who know athletics while he tried to build a department that had, to that point, fallen short on every level.

Not all of Sessoms' visions, like a new arena and stadium for football or taking football to Division I-A, were achieved, but you know what? The guy tried. Harder than anyone had historically. And selling DSU around here isn't easy.

I recall him, after watching the men's basketball team play at the indoor court and football field at Northern Arizona University in the NIT Tournament in 2006, believing his own school could achieve something just like it.

He was probably crazy to think it out loud, as it drew sharp criticism. But it was that type of fervor for sports which Sessoms brought, and now, will be missed at a school in desperate need of a consistent vision. - Kris Pope

The UD quarterback quandary

2008-08-11T09:59:00.005-04:00

This is Martin Frank. I'll be blogging on UD while Tresolini is fighting through the smog in China.

K.C. Keeler said he will narrow the QB competition from 3 to 2 by either Tuesday or Wednesday. Ohio State transfer Rob Schoenhoft, redshirt freshman Lou Ritacco and junior college transfer Sean Hakes are the three candidates. It would seem that Hakes would be the most likely one eliminated because he only arrived on campus the day before training camp started and he had the most to learn. Schoenhoft went through spring drills and Ritacco is in his second season with the program.

The game against Maryland is 19 days away, and Keeler needs to get the two main quarterbacks enough repetitions so they feel comfortable enough with the offense. He made sure to add that just because someone gets eliminated this week doesn't mean that person doesn't have a chance to be the QB. That makes sense because after the Maryland game, UD has a bye until it faces West Chester (yes, we know that game should be replaced by Delaware State) on Sept. 13.

After all, if the quarterbacks struggle against Maryland, the Hens have two full weeks to reopen the competition. Bottom line is the competition could last well past the Maryland game.

When asked to describe the quarterbacks during the first week of practice, Keeler said simply: "Inconsistent."

So for those of you hoping to see the second coming of Joe Flacco, forget it. Here's Keeler's philosophy on the competition: "I was talking to Flacco's dad, and one of Joe's frustrations is that he's throwing 30 balls in practice whereas here he was throwing 130 balls in practice [with UD] because he wasn't sharing reps. That's one of the things we have to be conscious of because there's a point where we're going to have to go down to 2. Going down to 2, I think, doesn't mean that third one can't play for us. It's just that he can't play at Maryland because we really need to get a guy ready. The guy we've got to get ready is the guy who's not going to make mistakes, who's going to manage the game, lead the team and also make some critical plays. It's going to be a lot different than the Joe Flacco and Omar Cuff Show that we once had."

It's funny because before Keeler said that about all the throws the QBs make in practice, Schoenhoft was saying that he has never thrown that many balls in practice in his life, especially at Ohio State.

"We throw the ball a lot more [at UD]," Schoenhoft said. "It's something your arm's got to get used to. My arm is still getting used to it because you don't get any time off in our practices. You're throwing every single time you get the ball."

His arm might be getting even more work pretty soon.

Another transfer in Hens' nest?

2008-07-26T11:37:00.002-04:00

Delaware has added eight I-A transfers since the end of last season and could land a significant ninth before football camp opens Aug. 4 if defensive lineman Brandon Gilbeaux, a starter last year at Syracuse, decides on UD. His father, Craig Sr., tells me Delaware is one of several schools he is considering as he wants to be closer to his Washington, D.C. home. James Madison is another.

Gilbeaux, who is 6-foot-3 and 276 pounds, played end at Syracuse but would likely fit in at tackle at Delaware, which returns ends Matt Marcorelle and Ronald Talley. But he received an academic suspension from Syracuse this spring resulting from his failure to rectify an incomplete grade in one class. The tragic death of his uncle and 15-year-old cousin, with whom he was very close, in a March airplane crash was personally crushing and affected his progress. He would not be eligible to play at Delaware -- or anywhere else -- unless he was academically eligible, but summer school classes at Syracuse have apparently put him back on the right academic path.

"Brandon is academically eligible," his father said. "This includes GPA and degree percentage. Brandon is in the process of completing an incomplete, which will remove him from spring semester academic probation at Syracuse. Brandon had a great experience at Syracuse, but for personal reasons, he wants to be closer to home and is considering a couple of universities along the I-95 and I-81 corridors."

If he comes to Delaware, Gilbeaux makes a strong defense even better. But does having so many transfers upset, enhance or not affect team chemistry? Opinions?

Ledsome jams with Joba

2008-07-18T14:47:00.002-04:00

Lest anyone believe we're not contemporary web watchers here on The News Journal college sports blog, take a peek at this: It's UD basketball player Jim Ledsome playing a little Guitar Hero with his close friend Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees pitcher and Ledsome's pal from the University of Nebraska, which Ledsome attended before transferring to Delaware in January of 2007. Thanx SI.com for leading us to it.

Ex-Blue Hen Mike Koplove picked for U.S. Olympic baseball team

2008-07-17T08:36:00.002-04:00

Former University of Delaware pitcher Mike Koplove, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, was among the 23 players named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team Wednesday. While many Blue Hens have made their mark professionally, Koplove included, he'll be the first to play baseball in the Olympic Games. He certainly gives the U.S. team an element of experience.

Koplove, 31, is one of 12 pitchers on the roster, which will have one more player added in the next week. Through Wednesday, the side-arming right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.40 ERA and seven saves in 35 games. He'd struck out 36 and walked 15 in 47 2/3 innings.

The Philadelphia native (Chestnut Hill Academy) spent just one season at UD, 1998, after transferring from Northwestern. He was chosen in the 29th round of the amateur draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks after going 5-1 with a 4.60 ERA in nine games (eight starts) and striking out 42 batters in 43 innings for Delaware.

Koplove spent all or part of six seasons with Arizona from 2001 through 2006, pitching in 76 games in 2004 (He was not on the 2001 World Series roster but did pitch in the 2002 postseason). He was released after the 2006 season and spent 2007 in the Indians' system, including five games with Cleveland. In 222 major league games, he has a 15-7 record, 3.82 ERA, two saves and 175 strikeouts in 254 2/3 innings.

Another QB prospect and a basketball transfer for Hens

2008-06-27T08:45:00.009-04:00

It was obvious during University of Delaware spring football practice that quarterback candidates Rob Schoenhoft and Lou Ritacco, while certainly possessing fine ability and potential, also had some question marks. Schoenhoft, the recent Ohio State transfer, has some awkward throwing mechanics that UD coaches have been trying to correct but hurt his efficiency. Ritacco is simply young, just a true freshman in the spring. It made one wonder how effective UD's offense might be this fall, especially with a rebuilt offensive line.

Delaware coaches must be concerned, too, as they seem intent on improving the depth and competition at the position -- a very wise move, in my opinion. Another potential transfer -- Sean Hakes, who spent a year at Akron before transferring to Orange Coast Community College in California -- is visiting now and could join the cast. His mother, Dana, said from their home near Forth Worth this morning that Hakes has been very impressed with everything about UD and a decision about whether or not he'll come will be made after he returns home. It sounds very likely.

The left-handed Hakes, 20, sparked Nolan Catholic High to a 22-4 record and Texas state titles in 2004 and 2005. He was viewed as one of the nation's top 50 QB prospects by some services but also athletic enough to perhaps be a college safety. He left Akron, which he'd chosen over Bowling Green and Colorado State, prior to his red-shirt freshman year because of offensive changes resulting from a coaching switch, his mother said. At Orange Coast, he shared QB duty on a 5-5 team last fall, completing 47 of 109 passes (43.1 percent) for 606 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He also had 65 carries (third on the team) for 45 yards and one TD. Hakes had planned to attend Mount San Antonio College, a two-year school in California, this season, Dana Hakes said, before Delaware contacted him recently. Delaware had also been in touch last winter but didn't have an available scholarship. He has three years of eligibility left.

As for basketball, UD fans have been getting a little rammy with the lack of recruiting news coming from that camp, though they really shouldn't. Delaware is in fine shape for this coming season, with transfer guard Jawan Carter becoming eligible and big freshman Adam Pegg expected to provide an immediate boost. It's 2009-10 and beyond that the Blue Hens need to build for, and they took a step in that direction today when 6-8 power forward Hakim McCullar, who spent his freshman season at Rhode Island last year, said he is transferring to UD.

Breaking thoughts (June 24)

2008-06-24T12:37:00.002-04:00

The contract the University of Delaware awarded football coach K.C. Keeler last week doesn't guarantee he'll be at UD through its conclusion, in 2017. But it certainly does reward -- at least one would assume, without knowing the dollar figures -- Keeler's genuine passion for all things Blue Hen and make him want to stay. It also recognizes his determination and commitment to keeping UD among the I-AA elite while seeing to it that its athletic facilities, which are not up to snuff, are brought up to a level to match the football team's long-time excellence. That has been a personal mission of his for a while and UD's investment in him must mean they share that vision.

Don't be surprised if UD soon signs men's basketball coach Monte Ross to a new contract, which seems warranted based on the rapid signs of improvement the Blue Hens showed this year, Ross' second, and a bright immediate future. Much will be expected of the Blue Hens in the Colonial Athletic Association this season.

CAA moves quickly, adds UMass, PSU in men's lax

2008-06-16T13:12:00.003-04:00

The Colonial Athletic Association, already one of the country's most competitive men's lacrosse leagues, will get better in 2010 with today's announcement that Massachusetts and Penn State will join Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson that spring. That is not a league for the faint of heart.

Realignment was necessary after the Big East, which includes CAA associate member Villanova, and the Northeast Conference, with CAA associates Sacred Heart and Robert Morris, recently announced they'd sponsor lacrosse beginning in 2010, taking away three CAA teams. The CAA needed to have six to maintain its automatic NCAA Tournament berth. Massachusetts and Penn State will move from the ECAC.

St. Joseph's, Loyola and Ohio State were also rumored as possibilities, and CAA commissioner Tom Yeager said in today's announcement that other options are still being considered. UMass is an ideal fit, as the Minutemen are already CAA members in football. I'd heard there was high-level resistance at some CAA schools (not Delaware) to Penn State and Ohio State because of the massive budgets available from their huge football incomes. Apparently, it wasn't enough to keep out the Nittany Lions, who've never been a lacrosse powerhouse, but have been to a pair of recent NCAA tournaments. Ohio State's distance away from the other schools was likely its biggest obstacle.

Carolina on lacrosse minds

2008-05-30T09:31:00.003-04:00

Delaware lacrosse coach Bob Shillinglaw said he has not been contacted by the University of North Carolina regarding its coaching position, which became vacant with this week's firing of John Haus, and is busy recruiting. Shillinglaw is a Carolina graduate but was not sought out when UNC hired Haus, also a former Tar Heel. The Baltimore Sun reported a couple possible candidates this week while mentioning Shillinglaw. But Inside Lacrosse did not have Shillinglaw on its list of possible successors to Haus, who was 58-52 in eight years as UNC coach, including no ACC wins the last four years, and never guided the Tar Heels past the NCAA quarterfinals in three tournament appearances. The program is widely regarded as a sleeping giant in lacrosse circles.

In other UD coaching news, Tina Martin will have an opening on her staff soon with assistant Melissa Dymek having accepted a position at Akron to be closer to her fiance in Cleveland. The ex-Richmond guard has been with Martin for four seasons.

More playoff teams in FCS; BCS stubbornly sticks with two

2008-05-02T14:27:00.003-04:00

The NCAA has approved budgetary changes that will allowed its Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) playoffs to expand from 16 teams to 20 in 2010, when the Northeast Conference and Big South become the ninth and 10th leagues to earn automatic bids for their champions. The NCAA also ruled that, for the next two years, NEC and Big South champions can qualify automatically if they have at least eight Division I wins, including two over teams from automatic-bid leagues, and have an average rank of 16th or higher in the Sports Network media poll, the coaches poll and the Gridiron Power Index computer ranking. Such a method could benefit defending NEC champion Albany, which plays its first four 2008 games at Massachusetts, Hofstra, New Hampshire and Delaware.

When the 20-team tourney kicks in, it presumably means first-round byes for 12 teams. With the tournament now stretching five weeks instead of four, the championship game will be the Friday before Christmas, unless the NCAA changes scheduling so that teams must finish their regular seasons a week earlier than they do now and the tournament starts sooner. That would make scheduling more difficult, however, unless the NCAA moved the start of the season ahead one week.

But while the FCS was adding teams, Division I-A's Bowl Championship Series was resisting the public outcry for playoffs because the school presidents and conference commissioners don't even want a four-team format beyond the present BCS title game.

They don't realize what they're missing.

Breaking thoughts (April 27)

2008-04-27T22:14:00.004-04:00

Delaware tailback Omar Cuff (Tennessee Titans) and offensive tackle Mike Byrne (Miami Dolphins) each signed free-agent contracts after the NFL draft tonight. Cuff had an outside shot to get picked, but sometimes the freedom of free agency is better. Jim Ulrich, the agent for both, believes Tennessee is the best opportunity for Cuff to make it, and the Titans like his versatility as a back with power-running ability who can also be a dependable receiver, he said. Baltimore, Seattle and Philadelphia were among the other interested teams. The Dolphins had been in communication with Byrne for several months and may look at him at center, which he played in high school and early at UD. Arizona had also made a sincere pitch, led by offensive line coach Russ Grimm.

It was great to see Joe Flacco in his environment in Audubon, N.J., Saturday after the Ravens made the UD QB the 18th pick of the draft. It really seemed like a classic small-town-boy-makes-good story, and Flacco certainly got the hero's treatment, and reacted with his typical what's-all-the-fuss humility. He met the media in Baltimore today and the transcript reads like vintage Joe. Typically, he sounds confident without being arrogant, as he has a chance -- and the ability -- to win the Ravens' starting job. And it's great that he's so close by.

Delaware's lacrosse team hardly goes into the CAA playoffs on a good note, having been trounced 15-7 Saturday at Sacred Heart, which won just one other of its six CAA games. Delaware is the No. 3 seed in the conference playoffs -- just like last year, when it won the title and advanced to the NCAA Final Four -- and visits Hofstra Wednesday. Drexel hosts Villanova in the other semifinal. The title game is Saturday at the higher seed.

The UD men's basketball coaching staff thought it had a great shot at landing T.J. Robinson, the 6-7 forward from St. Thomas More (Conn.) who reminded them some of Herb Courtney. But Robinson signed with Long Beach State last last week. Look for Delaware's first spring signing to perhaps be an overseas player.

What about future UD football parking/ticket locations tied to donations?

2008-04-22T10:19:00.003-04:00

Sunday's story chronicling the University of Delaware's plans to implement preferred parking and seating plans for football based on financial gifts, as well as longevity and consistency as a season-ticket holder, certainly stirred some interest.

I must say, after researching the topic and realizing how many top-flight I-AA schools have moved -- or are moving -- in this direction, such as James Madison, William & Mary, Appalachian State, Montana and Northern Iowa, among others, I was a bit surprised by the level of outrage expressed by so many. UD needs additional sources of income for scholarship funding and major facility upgrades, and tapping into the most loyal followers is a popular method. It's probably overdue at UD. And nobody has to give. There are plenty of good seats and parking spaces for non-donors, too.

What it most clearly shows is how precious certain parking spaces and seating locations -- too precious perhaps? -- are to many people, especially when they include familiar fellow fans parked and seated nearby. Some of Delaware's most dedicated and die-hard supporters told me they may stop coming to football games, including Connie Cecil, the former Blue Hen Touchdown Club president who is as dedicated a fan as UD has, right down to her ubiquitous blue and gold outfits.

Amy Lovett Fad, 72, has been attending games at Delaware Stadium since it opened in 1952 with her family. They've sat in the same vicinity -- Section D, Row M -- near the 50-yard line most of that time. "It's not fair to the people who have had the seats," said Fad of the possibility of losing them to big-money donors. "I live on social security. Any money that I've ever been able to give to the Alumni Fund has been designated for football."

Fad's daughter Kathi Diaz said the policy is a slap in the face to long-time supporters: "It's going to alienate a lot of people. Start telling us we have to pay to retain those seats, we'll become road fans. We'll go William & Mary. We'll go to Richmond. We'll find something else to do when they're playing at home."

It's official: CAA member Georgia State adds football

2008-04-17T21:26:00.002-04:00

It's made sense for a long time, now it's finally going to happen. After years of wishing, a couple more of talking and another of serious fund-raising, Georgia State announced today it will field a varsity football team in 2010.

Georgia is crazy about football, even has spring football at the high school level. And with GSU being a large (27,000 enrollment) state school located in Atlanta -- the Panthers will play at the Georgia Dome -- it shouldn't have trouble attracting players or an audience.

It doesn't say when the Panthers will begin Colonial Athletic Association play, but 2012 is a good bet if Old Dominion's path is followed. ODU will field its first team in 2009 and join the CAA in 2011.

What remains to be seen is how GSU's addition affects the CAA, which would become a 14-team league. That's awfully big and some trimming may be in order. Georgia State would be the eighth full-time CAA member with football, joining Delaware, Hofstra, Towson, Northeastern, William & Mary, James Madison and Old Dominion.

The story in today's Atlanta paper sizes up the situation and has some kind things to say about Delaware.

What should be part of improved UD facilities?

2008-04-16T08:23:00.005-04:00

You've read that the University of Delaware has hired HOK Sports to devise a master plan for improving UD's athletic and recreational facilities. For varsity sports, the administration and coaches have agreed that it must start with better student-athlete services structures in the form of a bigger, better weightroom, an academic enrichment center and improved medical and athletic-training facilities. That's a smart foundation.

How about behind that? What do you want to see? Some things are obvious. Delaware Stadium desperately needs handrails, chairback seating, an elevator and a modern pressbox/luxury box structure, which I have long contended could quickly pay for itself with the lease of those suites. I wouldn't be surprised if the north end zone is eventually enclosed and becomes a site for some of those new weight-training, medical and academic-support structures. And Tubby Raymond Field will soon, I'm sure, be covered with Field Turf so it can be used more often and for more purposes (NCAA lacrosse? MLS exhibition games? concerts?).

But what else? Lights for Bob Hannah Stadium ? A gimme. More seats for the Carpenter Center? Hmmmmm. And let's not get too silly here (no hot tubs for Rullo Stadium).

Familiar situation for UD lacrosse

2008-04-14T13:31:00.002-04:00

Delaware's 11-8 men's lacrosse loss at Hofstra Saturday means the Blue Hens will likely have to reach the NCAA Tournament the same way they did last year -- on the road. It is not an easy path, despite the Blue Hens' ability to successfully travel it last year by winning at Drexel and Towson en route to the CAA crown. Ironically, if Delaware had won Saturday on Long Island, it would have been in the CAA driver's seat for home-field advantage for the conference playoffs -- semifinals April 30 and finals May 3, with the winner drawing an automatic NCAA Tournament berth. Now Drexel, because it has the tie-breaker over Hofstra, owns that status in league standings that look like this in the top four:

Hofstra 4-1, loss to Drexel
Drexel 3-1, loss to Delaware
Towson 3-2, losses to Hofstra, Drexel
Delaware 2-2, losses to Hofstra, Towson

Those four, which are or have been nationally ranked this year, are done playing each other. They have remaining games with the league's other three teams -- Villanova (2-2), Sacred Heart (1-3) and Robert Morris (0-4) -- and all three are capable of pulling an upset.

Speaking of CAA men's lacrosse, some change could come the next few years. The Northeast Conference, of which Robert Morris and Sacred Heart are full-time members, is considering adding men's lacrosse, which league members Quinnipiac (Great Western), Mount St. Mary's (Metro-Atlantic) and Wagner (Metro-Atlantic) also play in other leagues. Bryant University is moving into the league next year from Division II. A conference needs six members for an automatic NCAA berth.

And Syracuse, which has been the obstacle to the formation of a Big East lacrosse league, has been hinting at changing its tune. Other Big East members with men's lacrosse are Villanova (CAA), Georgetown (ECAC), Rutgers (ECAC), St. John's (ECAC), Notre Dame (Great Western) and Providence (Metro-Atlantic).

The CAA would need to have six members to retain its automatic NCAA qualifier. None of the full-time league members are adding the sport -- despite its popularity, meeting Title IX gender-equity requirements makes it difficult -- so the Colonial would have to look outside the league. Rumored candidates include St. Joseph's (Metro-Atlantic) and Loyola (independent).

If you're ranking the rivalries . . .

2008-04-05T10:58:00.002-04:00

Delaware's most noteworthy sports rivalries, to the typical UD fan, are likely Villanova in football and Drexel in basketball. Both are quite justified. The season-ending football series with Villanova is the perfect capper and has all kinds of regional bragging rights and good old state school vs. private Catholic school underpinnings. The Drexel-Delaware basketball rivalry, nearly 100 years in the making, is practically Big Five-esque in its history, tradition and strong feelings. In women's sports, UD-James Madison in basketball has taken on the kind nasty, we-don't-like-you edge that makes a rivalry delectable.

That is certainly the case with Delaware and Towson in men's lacrosse, which is as passionate and hotly contested a rivalry as there is in UD sports even though, to some, it's under the radar. Several times over the years UD coach Bob Shillinglaw has said "We don't like them and they don't like us," though there's no doubt there's immense respect between the warring parties. When they face-off within the hour here at Towson's Johnny Unitas Stadium, Delaware will be seeking just its 16th win in 48 all-time meetings. The Hens' long-time status as underdogs, fed by the fact that for a long time Towson gave scholarships and Delaware didn't, fueled UD desire. They are on more equal footing now -- in 2005 and 2007, both were NCAA Tournament teams. The fact that many of the players know each other, quite common in lacrosse but particularly prevalent here, contributes to the intensity and helps make this unsurpassed among UD sports rivalries.

Breaking thoughts

2008-03-29T16:56:00.004-04:00

Davidson shoving aside Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin to reach the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8 has been a sight to behold, but beating Kansas? That seems a stretch. Then again, so did George Mason beating UConn at the same juncture two years ago and the Patriots did that. Many comparisons have been made to Mason and Davidson. Keep in mind that Mason came out of a much more difficult conference, the CAA, which had two NCAA qualifiers that year (UNC Wilmington was the other), should have had a third (Hofstra) and also had an NIT Final Four team (ODU). That doesn't mean Mason was any better than Southern Conference Davidson, which was dominant in its league.

Watched Delaware lose to Brown 9-6 in lacrosse today. Two of Delaware's three losses have come to unranked (but very good) teams -- Stony Brook and Brown. That certainly won't help come NCAA Tournament selection time, if Delaware doesn't win the CAA and those two don't win America East (Stony Brook) and the Ivy (Brown). But it's the CAA games and tournament that will mostly decide Delaware's fate anyway. The Hens' next three games -- at Towson/Drexel/at Hofstra -- ought to be revealing.

Nationally in lacrosse, Maryland's 13-7 win over No. 1-ranked Virginia in College Park, televised on ESPN2, toppled the last remaining unbeaten in Division I. Should be a wildly unpredictable NCAA Tournament come May.

Basketball prospect sizes up Delaware

2008-03-21T18:35:00.004-04:00

Frank Ben-Eze, the much-ballyhooed Harvard recruit who recently said he would not be heading to Cambridge, apparently has Delaware on his list of possible destinations and paid an unofficial visit to UD today. The 6-foot-10 Ben-Eze is a native of Nigeria who starred at Bishop O'Connell High in Arlington, Va. He's drawing Big East and ACC interest, which indicates he is certainly someone who could help the Blue Hens. He is, however, coming off a knee injury that could likely sideline him next year. His Harvard recruitment and ex-UD assistant Kenny Blakeney's role was part of an interesting recent New York Times piece. Delaware's highly regarded engineering program is apparently of interest to Ben-Eze and, certainly, its basketball improvement makes the Hens a viable option for a top-flight recruit. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Ben-Eze was accompanied on today's visit by all-time leading Blue Hen scorer and recent UD Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Mike Pegues, an assistant coach at Bishop O'Connell under Joe Wootten.

See Richmond!

2008-03-08T17:39:00.003-05:00

If Delaware is going to become a serious contender for the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball title, which is not out of the realm of possibility as early as next year, it sure would help if the Blue Hens had a fan base willing to travel to see them play.

They don't right now, which puts them at a disadvantage here in Richmond at the CAA Tournament, where the four traditional league powers -- VCU, George Mason, Old Dominion and UNC-Wilmington -- are regularly urged on by large, noisy and supportive audiences and benefit from that advantage. Delaware has a smattering of fans for its quarterfinal game against UNCW tipping off here soon, but it numbers less than 100. The men of teal (UNCW) are being wildly and loudly lauded by several hundred.

The potential is there. Remember when Delaware went to Hofstra for the 2000 America East title game and UD fans took up more than 2,000 of the 5,000 seats? Believe me, Richmond's more fun than Hempstead, N.Y., even without an NCAA berth on the line. And Delaware football fans' willingness to travel is well known (when there are enough tickets for them, that is).

Home crowds this year at UD could have been much better, and for a school with Delaware's large enrollment, its student turnout was very disappointing (as was the level of opposing team pestering).

Delaware basketball has gotten much better. Its support should, too.

CAA Tournament on tap

2008-03-07T11:06:00.002-05:00

Hofstra and Towson are warming up for the first of four first-round CAA men's basketball tournament games. Delaware-Drexel is the third, at 6 p.m. here at the Richmond Coliseum, where they've removed the ice surface -- this doubles as a hockey arena -- but it's still freezing. That's OK, March Madness is about to commence, and there's no better time.

Some other thoughts first. The UD women, as feared, fell to the No. 9 seed for their tournament next week in Newark. That means, if they do beat UNC-Wilmington in the first round Thursday, which they couldn't do in a regular-season meeting at home, their reward is a quarterfinal matchup with 16th-ranked, 16-time defending champion Old Dominion, against which UD is totally overmatched. The Hens have been competitive against everyone else in the league, and a seeding outside of ODU's early-round range might have given them an opportunity for an upset with the benefit of playing at home. Not now.

In men's lacrosse, No. 9-ranked Delaware could boost its NCAA Tournament hopes Saturday in its 1 p.m. Rullo Stadium showdown against No. 16 Albany. The Great Danes are 0-2, but those losses are to No. 1 Johns Hopkins 10-5 and No. 5 Notre Dame 7-6.
Looks like the best test yet for 4-0 Delaware, which then has to travel to 12th-ranked Georgetown Wednesday.

For all the talk about parity in the CAA, which is quite true, I'd be surprised if anyone besides VCU won this tournament. Delaware likes its draw, and should. The Hens are probably better overall than Drexel. They just have to neutralize 6-9 center Frank Elegar as best they can -- don't be surprised if several of Delaware's role post players use up some fouls in the effort -- not let Drexel's often inconsistent shooters hurt them and shoot well themselves, as they have recently.

Maybe more Irish for Blue Hens

2008-02-22T08:12:00.013-05:00

This tidbit didn't qualify for ink in today's UD notebook, so we'll move it here, because it's worth mentioning.

Delaware football is close to perhaps landing another former Notre Dame player, with running back Junior Jabbie having visited the UD campus last weekend.

In Delaware’s favor, it already has Jabbie’s former teammate Ronald Talley, a UD defensive end who transferred a year ago, and current teammate Leo Ferrine, a cornerback who is also graduating, expects to use his final year of eligibility at UD this fall.

In 12 games for the Irish last fall, Jabbie rushed for 35 yards on 10 carries, caught 14 passes for 123 yards and had three kickoff returns for 40 yards. He also had five tackles on special teams. Jabbie had earned some notoriety in Notre Dame’s 2007 spring game

He’d been recruited out of The Hun School of Princeton as a defensive back, where he played his first two years in South Bend, and chose Notre Dame over Penn State, Boston College, Maryland and Wake Forest.

Delaware is one of several I-AA schools the Parlin, N.J., resident is considering as a place to use his final year of eligibility as Jabbie, 23, is on pace to graduate from Notre Dame this spring.

Big win for UD lacrosse

2008-02-16T14:56:00.002-05:00

Word just arrived at halftime here during UD's men's basketball game that the Delaware men's lacrosse team beat Maryland-Baltimore County 15-7 down in Florida today. While it's hard sometimes to switch gears to lacrosse while basketball season is in full swing -- remember when lacrosse was just a spring sport? -- it's important to note that it's a key victory for the 14th-ranked Blue Hens, considering 18th-ranked UMBC's pedigree. This was a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament quarterfinal won by Delaware in Annapolis, and a positive early-season gauge for the Blue Hens. Curtis Dickson's five goals and Cam Howard's five assists keyed the Hens. When NCAA bids are handed out in May, this is the kind of win that could come in handy.

With VCU-George Mason, CAA takes center stage on ESPN2 tonight

2008-01-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

The Colonial Athletic Association has received unprecedented national exposure in men's basketball the last two years, which is why the two subjects of all that attention -- George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth -- will bring another dose tonight.

Their 7 p.m. showdown at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., will be televised on ESPN2, a true sign that the mid-major CAA, at least for a night, is a big-time league.

"This is a great match-up and we're excited to get our league some exposure on national TV," VCU coach Anthony Grant said this morning.

Nobody will forget Mason's stunning run to the NCAA Tournament's Final Four in 2006. VCU didn't last as long in 2007, but its first-round win over Duke was a headliner, and the Rams nearly ousted Pittsburgh in the second round.

Tonight's slip into the national spotlight comes in a year, however, in which the CAA's run of sending multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament is in peril. VCU (15-4, 8-1) is just 57th and Mason (14-6, 6-3) 60th in the RPI, and with the conference's overall strength down this year (14th among the 31 Division I leagues) those numbers won't get a whole lot better. But with the conference season just half over, there is still room for movement and the Feb. 23 BracketBusters -- pairings will be announced next week -- also provides an opportunity for teams to improve their RPI standings.

Obviously, the March 10 conference title game means everything in the CAA. But tonight's game is special, too.