College sports

CAA football getting too big. What to do?

2009-06-11T19:08:00.003-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

The Colonial Athletic Association announced today what had been anticipated, that Georgia State's fledgling football program will begin conference play in 2012. The Panthers' first competitive season is 2010. Old Dominion plays its first football season this fall, heading toward a 2011 Colonial debut.

Their additions will push the CAA football membership to 14, which is too big a number, in my opinion, to have a very manageable and equitable schedule in which a fair league champion is crowned. Even the present format, with two six-team divisions in which divisional foes all play each other and then face three of the six from the other, leads to imbalance.

So what is the CAA to do? The natural inclination is to start lopping off its under performing programs that draw little interest, especially because Old Dominion and Georgia State are likely to be well-funded and well-attended from the get-go -- ODU especially. There is already a gap between the haves and have-nots in the CAA -- ever been to a game at Northeastern or Rhode Island? That could mean the heave-ho for Rhode Island. But Northeastern, which considered dropping football two years ago, is a CAA school, and so is Hofstra, though it is allegedly searching for other conference options. New Hampshire and Maine, geographically miscast in the CAA, are, nonetheless, competitive -- UNH in particular. Same with UMass.

Fordham's recent announcement that it plans to give scholarships will mean its disqualification from Patriot League championship contention. Could that mean the formation of a new northern league that could peel a layer of teams from the CAA?

Somewhere, somehow, something needs to give.

Delaware didn't need Shinskie this time

2009-06-10T07:25:00.004-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

David Shinskie, the most prized quarterback recruit of K.C. Keeler's tenure as University of Delaware coach, is finally going to play some football. But it won't be for the Blue Hens. With Pat Devlin in town and under center for the next two seasons, there's really no need for Shinskie, now 25, who, with his pro baseball career having come to an end in May, signed with Boston College this week.

You may remember Shinskie as the catch of Keeler's February, 2003, recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Mount Carmel (Pa.) High product threw for 6,334 yards during a high school career in which he was 41-6 as a starter and won two state championships. He chose UD's scholarship offer over others from I-A schools such as Michigan State, Indiana and Toledo. Rivals.com rated him as the nation's 37th-best senior quarterback. Of the top 44, Shinskie was the only one not to sign with a I-A school.

But that June, the hard-throwing Shinskie was chosen in the fourth round of baseball's first-year player draft by the Minnesota Twins. He was 1-5 with a 3.11 ERA on a young team, striking out 48 and walking 17 in 36 innings as a high school senior. But he had velocity that made him a top prospect. I went up there and saw him pitch one afternoon. It was impressive.

Shinskie angered Delaware coaches by signing for much less, $250,000 as I recall, than he said was his minimum. So he went off to play baseball and Delaware continued on with its football life, winning the 2003 NCAA title with senior Andy Hall, then turning to transfer QBs Sonny Riccio and Joe Flacco, neither of whom likely would have ended up at Delaware if Shinskie had become the four-year starter all expected.

That baseball career ended, after six seasons in the Twins' chain and a couple months in the Toronto Blue Jays' system, with Shinskie's May release (see stats here). He'd gotten as high as Double-A. And now he can go play football at Boston College, which is great for him, and just fine for Delaware.

Elena to play -- basketball, that is -- for the Blue Hens

2009-06-02T07:34:00.003-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

You heard it here first, as Delaware is expected to announce today that Elena DelleDonne, the 2008 consensus national high school player of the year as an Ursuline Academy senior, will join its women's basketball team this season.

And shouldn't that make the next four years a treat? Delaware was already close to turning the corner, with a talented young roster and ex-Ursuline guard Kayla Miller, a transfer from George Washington, set to become eligible at mid-season in 2009-10. The addition of DelleDonne, who had originally signed with UConn before taking her much-publicized break from basketball and playing a season of volleyball at UD, really raises Delaware's talent level, and should help coach Tina Martin land some top-notch recruits.

Remember, this is a program that won at least 19 games eight straight seasons from 1999-2000 through 2006-07, and was one of three CAA schools to land in the NCAA Tournament that last year, doing so as an at-large selection. DelleDonne is certain to help swell attendance at the Carpenter Center to women's basketball records.

The focus on UD women's basketball is about to become significantly greater, including greater national interest, and it should be fun to see how it all turns out.

Blog rules change

2009-05-19T10:24:00.002-04:00

Because a few readers consistently and recklessly violate the terms of use as far as comments are concerned, we've had to change the rules on this blog. Comments will not be posted until an administrator approves them.

If you have questions or comments about UD, DSU or other college sports topics, fire away. If you want to wage personal attacks on fellow readers, News Journal writers, or anyone else for that matter, please go elsewhere.

Thanks,
Jason Levine
Sports Editor
The News Journal

Potential offensive line transfer takes a peek at Delaware

2009-05-13T18:59:00.002-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

The depth on the University of Delaware's offensive line was one of the concerns the coaches had coming out of spring practice. One quick way to make it better, and not put too much of a burden on a talented group of incoming freshmen, is to seek help via transfer. One potential candidate is in for a visit today, according to his former high school coach. It's 6-foot-3, 290-pound Gino Gradkowski, who has spent the last two seasons at West Virginia and could bolster the Hens at guard or center.

The Pittsburgh native was a three-time all-conference and two-time All-State pick at Seton-La Salle and played in the Big 33 all-star game, which is definitely a feather in one's helmet. Seton-La Salle coach Greg Perry said Gradkowski felt a change of scenery was needed after last year's WVU coaching staff changes and plans to look at Delaware, Youngstown State and perhaps some other schools. But if his visit to Delaware goes well, the way these things happen, he may not need to take another trip.

Gradkowski's older brother, Bruce, is a former Toledo standout quarterback who started 11 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a rookie in 2006 and is now with Oakland.

"He's a real athletic boy, he moves well, has good feet and finishes plays," said Perry, whose father, Herbert, lives in Elkton, Md. There are other ties, too, as the Gradkowski and Perry families have close links with Pittsburgh resident Jon Herrman, who just completed his UD career as a starting offensive lineman, and his family.

Maybe those bonds are about to become stronger.

Opportunity to steer UD's athletic growth prompted Muir's move

2009-05-12T08:36:00.004-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Much has been made of UD president Patrick Harker's ambitious "Path to Prominence." The athletic portion of that is a grand and expensive vision that involves better facilities and more competitive teams. It was the opportunity to steer Delaware down that path that inspired Bernard Muir, Georgetown's athletic director since 2005, to ditch that prestigious job at the Washington, D.C., Big East school for the AD's post at Delaware in the collegial serenity of Newark.

Muir comes with rave reviews from those who worked with him at Notre Dame before he went to Georgetown, such as former Delaware basketball coach Mike Brey and associate head coach Sean Kearney. The Washington Times did report today that Muir's relationship with Georgetown president John J. DeGioia may have become "strained" after he interviewed for AD vacancies at Duke and Northwestern. One could infer that the situation at Georgetown, a private school with an urban campus and a football program that has not been competitive in the I-AA Patriot League, was not ideal and he was seeking something better.

On Monday during his UD introduction, Muir didn't say anything negative about the place he was leaving, but only spoke glowingly about the possibilities that exist at the place where he was coming, and UD coaches such as Tina Martin, Monte Ross and K.C. Keeler each said they were impressed with his passion.

Delaware expected to introduce new AD Muir

2009-05-11T08:47:00.004-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

It seems to be quite a compliment to the University of Delaware that the man sources have told The News Journal will be named athletic director today, Bernard Muir, is leaving a position that most would deem superior to the one he is accepting. Muir is presently the athletic director at Georgetown, a prestigious post for which he was chosen at age 36 after several years as a deputy AD at Notre Dame.

The Delaware AD job was widely viewed as very attractive in college athletic circles, and for UD to snare a man of Muir's pedigree, it truly is. It'll be interesting to hear him speak today about his reasons for leaving the Big East's Hoyas for the Colonial Athletic Association's Blue Hens, who, judging by this piece, are getting someone whose career vision has always been quite clear.

Breaking thoughts (May 8)

2009-05-08T10:46:00.002-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Rumors have been coming from Long Island for months that Hofstra was considering ditching the Colonial Athletic Association, feeling it was an odd geographic fit. Newsday reports today that this is indeed true. Hofstra apparently has no interest in returning to America East, and the Atlantic 10 appears full. So where do they go? The MAAC maybe? We'll see. But Delaware greatly value's Hofstra's rivalry and location in the CAA and would likely hate to see it go.

Delaware has put a tight lid on its search for a new athletic director, though, as we reported earlier this week, Indiana's M. Grace Calhoun is an apparent candidate. Some I've spoken to have been surprised by her emergence, noticing a lack of fund-raising experience in her bio. But she does have an Ivy League background -- Brown graduate, former Dartmouth associate AD -- that works in her favor. Another person I'd heard may be a candidate, Duke senior associate AD for external affairs Boo Corrigan, told me today he is not interested in the position, which he lauded, after having just arrived at Duke last year from Notre Dame.

Kim Ciarrocca said she'll take some time to decide if coaching UD women's lacrosse is too much of a burden for her family, in which husband Kirk, former UD football offensive coordinator, was recently promoted from wide receivers coach to co-offensive coordinator at Rutgers. The Ciarroccas, who still live in Delaware though Kirk sometimes stays in New Jersey, have benefited greatly from the help of extended family in caring for their two elementary school-age children. Kim's UD team lost 8-7 to Towson at William & Mary in the CAA title game last week, closing her fifth season.

Blue Hens' spring game notables

2009-04-28T09:12:00.003-04:00

So who jumped out at you in Delaware's spring game Friday night? Certainly, there are plenty of candidates.

Quarterback Pat Devlin, who completed 24 of 31 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown?

Tailback Jerry Butler, the once-ballyhooed Wisconsin transfer who missed 2007 with a knee injury and then could never get his wheels turning in 2008, when the Hens needed a backfield game-breaker? A 75-yard scamper keyed his 103-yard effort on seven carries. And he did return two kicks for TDs last year. "He did some things," Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said. "There were some runs earlier when he made some moves and I thought he was finishing off some runs. You can see he has that explosiveness. He has to learn to finish off his runs. Run more physical. Don't try to make every play the 100-yard touchdown. You've got to put your shoulder down and get two or three and in the course of he game you're going to break those."

Tight end Josh Baker, whose return from a discipline suspension should boost the offense? He had four catches for 87 yards.

How about unheralded wideouts Mark Schenauer (4 catches, 56 yards, one TD) or Fritz Steuber, who hauled in a 75-yarder among his three receptions?

Do you like that Delaware's best offensive lineman, Corey Nicholson, played with enough passion in a spring intrasquad game to engage in some late-game fisticuffs with his defensive opposites?

On defense, how could you not notice number 98 Chris Morales, unleashed after a year out with shoulder surgery? His 10 tackles included four for lost yardage.

In a linebacking corps still missing some injured players, doesn't the play of Concord graduate Paul Worrilow, just in from Coffeyville CC, make you feel better about Delaware's defense? He also had 10 tackles.

Will there be many I-AA safeties better than Charles Graves, who had three interceptions Friday? And how good will Delaware's secondary be when Anthony Bratton returns this fall from his knee surgery to the other safety slot and Anthony Walters and Tyrone Grant are manning the corners? Keeler said safety Sean Scanlon also had an excellent spring.

And how comfortable did kicker Jon Striefsky (53-, 51-, 47-, 32- and 43-yard field goals) and punter Ed Wagner (60- and 51-yard boots) look?

Wishing it was August on a raw April afternoon at Delaware Stadium

2009-04-11T23:19:00.004-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Spring University of Delaware football scrimmages, such as Saturday's in damp, chilly Delaware Stadium, leave many yearning for the closer-to-the-real-thing versions of August preseason camp, when the weather is hot and so is the competition for playing time with games approaching.

So spring scrimmages must be observed with more of a detachment corresponding with the time of year. It is, after all, April.

But a few sights do stick out from today, such as QB Sean Hakes hitting TE Trevor Mooney on a couple 40-yard strikes down the middle of the field and some shifty running by freshman walk-on David Hayes, who is seeing some first-team action (He was No. 28 for those in attendance). His three touchdown runs included a 26-yard scoot. We'll feature him in The News Journal and on www.delawareonline.com Monday or Tuesday.

One of the notable features of new offensive coordinator Jim Hofher's revamped offense is direct snaps to the running back with the quarterback lined up as a wide receiver, a set Bowling Green, where Hofher was QBs coach last fall, sometimes showed. It looks like Delaware's QBs -- Pat Devlin and Hakes -- will be expected to run some in Hofher's schemes.

"We came into the stadium for a reason," coach K.C. Keeler said after the scrimmage. "We wanted to see the kids really get after it and compete. I thought they got after it and competed. The offense surprised me a little bit compared to where we were [Friday]. I walked off the field with coach Hofher [Friday] making sure he wasn't going to trek back to Bowling Green because we're going up against a pretty good defense and sometimes you get a little frustrated. At the same time, I thought the offense did some good things. Both quarterbacks showed some poise. I thought we ran the ball. The offensive linemen are coming along. So it was good."

Hens lose promising guard and Concord grad Burrows to knee injury

2009-04-10T20:36:00.004-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

University of Delaware football coach K.C. Keeler believes Sam Burrows has all-conference potential. Unfortunately for Burrows, his knees have been all-rehab.

A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in spring drills this week will cost the Concord High graduate what was shaping up as a starting job in UD's offensive line at guard. The 6-foot-3, 286-pound Burrows will have reconstructive surgery and almost certainly miss the 2009 season.

A torn ACL in his right knee prior to his senior 2005 season at Concord caused him to miss that whole year and commenced a long struggle back.

"It's a real shame because Sam had a great five days," Keeler said. "He's a 300-pounder and we want to get big and physical again someday and he was what we were hoping to play with. He had not only established himself as a potential starter but a potential all-conference kind of kid. I really think he could be that kind of guy. He was also doing a great job leading."

Burrows, 21, has sophomore eligibility in 2009. Keeler said that, if Burrows can eventually return, Delaware will petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility for medical reasons.

"It's a huge loss for us and I feel so bad for the kid because of the sacrifices he's made to come back from the injuries he's had," Keeler said. "He's going to rehab and try coming back."

Right now, Delaware's first offensive line looks like Rob McDowell, who started last year at guard as a true freshman, playing center, Corey Nicholson moved from tackle to guard with Will Nagle at the other guard, and Kevin Uhll and Shea Allard manning the tackles. Newark High graduate Chad Davis is the sixth man right now, playing primarily guard but also getting back-up reps at center.

Breaking thoughts (April 2)

2009-04-02T08:13:00.003-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Sounds to me as if Virginia Commonwealth made an insightful hire in 32-year-old Shaka Smart as its new men's basketball coach. Smart, an assistant at several places but most recently at Florida, replaces Anthony Grant, who made the inevitable move up and landed at Alabama.

This Richmond Times-Dispatch story includes widespread praise of Smart as someone with intellect and coaching acumen that should play well at VCU, where expectations are through the roof after three straight CAA regular-season titles.

As for the job vacancy closer to home, Indiana deputy AD Tim Fitzpatrick seems as qualified as anyone to be the next Delaware athletic director, and he told me he's interested in the job. He also made sure to say Delaware will get a flood of qualified candidates, which is good for UD. It certainly needs an energetic, visionary leader.

Delaware's baseball team is off to a strong start at 16-8 overall and 4-2 in the CAA, with Delaware State visiting this afternoon. The Blue Hens are back to their old selves, leading the Colonial with a .332 batting average, and are just getting solid enough pitching to win, though it will certainly have to improve. A big three-game series with Georgia State looms at Hannah Stadium this weekend. See my feature on sweet-swinging 3B Carlos Alonso, a JUCO transfer from California who nobody but Delaware wanted, in The News Journal and on www.delawareonline.com Friday.

While Bob Shillinglaw's men's lacrosse team is having trouble getting going at 3-7, the Blue Hens have a great, if challenging, opportunity Saturday at Giants Stadium. They play Hofstra in the third game of the Big City Classic. National powers Virginia and North Carolina, then Syracuse and Princeton, square off in the first two games, with the crowd expected to approach 20,000. Delaware is the only one of the six not ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Lacrosse could also be affected by NCAA's sports wagering ban

2009-03-27T16:13:00.005-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Don't forget about lacrosse.

Lost among the football controversy over the NCAA's edict, announced Wednesday, that Delaware schools would not be permitted to host NCAA championship events should legal sports wagering be set up in the state was its possible effect on lacrosse.

Delaware Stadium hosted the NCAA men's lacrosse finals in 1984 and 1986. While those are now held at NFL stadiums to accommodate the much larger crowds, the NCAA had spoken to Delaware about hosting one of its quarterfinal double-headers once artificial turf was installed to replace the present grass surface sometime in the next few years, Delaware lacrosse coach Bob Shillinglaw said.

Shillinglaw was saddened Wednesday to learn that may not happen because of the addition of sports wagering. The NCAA held a first-round double-header at Delaware Stadium in 2002, though those games are now at campus sites.

"The NCAA begs us every year to play at our stadium because of our location," Shillinglaw said. "We're right off I-95 and we'd treat it like a football game. You'd probably be looking at a crowd of 18,000 to 20,000. It'd be a huge benefit to the university."

The apparent unawareness of Nevada officials about a similar rule for their state and other inconsistencies is curious and one that Delaware government officials are now looking into.

My bracket's done. Who do YOU like in the NCAA Tournament?

2009-03-18T22:47:00.005-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Finally finished my annual NCAA Tournament eve exercise of filling out the brackets and whom did I anoint?

How about Louisville on one sheet and North Carolina on the other?

There'll, obviously, be no limb climbing from this NCAA tourney bracketeer. As I noticed when I was done, I had very little in the way of long shots doing much. But I couldn't resist a couple mild stretches. I had Wake Forest in the Final Four on one sheet, Washington in the Final Four on the other.

Last year's tournament followed so true to form that maybe it's scaring people off this year, and the four No. 1 seeds were such obvious choices, as were the four No. 2s.

I did like some early upsets, No. 12 Western Kentucky over No. 5 Illinois in the South, in particular. No. 11 Dayton over No. 6 West Virginia in the Midwest, and No. 11 Utah State over No. 6 Marquette in the West, seem fathomable. None of the lower four seeds jumped out at me -- watch my Cinderellas Washington (against Mississippi State) and Wake (against Cleveland State) fall victim -- so I played it straight there.

As for VCU, the only team in the field I've actually seen . . . the No. 11 Rams are a popular upset pick over UCLA in the first round in Philly, and Sports Illustrated has them going to the Sweet 16 by also beating Villanova. Don't bet on it. One win, maybe. Two? I'd be surprised. This VCU team isn't as good as the VCU team of two years ago that beat Duke. Remember, it lost to 13-19 Delaware and 7-25 UNC-Wilmington.

So who do you like? Who don't you like?

Breaking thoughts (March 13)

2009-03-13T09:32:00.002-04:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is getting a heck of a warm-up act in some of this week's conference tournaments. How about . . . That six-overtime Big East gem last night in which Syracuse, which, amazingly, never led until the last OT, topped UConn 127-117. Or Texas Tech's Mike Singletary scoring 29 straight points, the second longest streak in NCAA history, in Wednesday's 88-83 Big 12 quarterfinal win over Texas A&M. Or a guy named Dallas Green putting Robert Morris in the tournament by picking up a loose ball and firing in a game-winner in the Northeast Conference title game.

Too bad our four Delaware teams could offer little in the way of the aforementioned offense in their postseason excursions, which were all brief and unsuccessful. The Delaware men scored 41 and the UD women 37 in first-round CAA Tournament defeats. The Delaware State men managed a paltry 32 points and the Hornet women 56, which seems like an offensive explosion in this grouping, in MEAC first-round exits. Can anybody here shoot straight?

Speaking of Delaware and Delaware State and their historic first regular-season football game Sept. 19 and the upcoming 2012-2014 series . . . I asked Hornets coach Al Lavan if DelState had "an obligation" to improve its program to help make this rivalry work. Many said that Delaware's 44-7 rout in the 2007 NCAA playoff meeting was proof the schools shouldn't play.

"I felt that six years ago," Lavan responded, referring to his desire to make the Hornets more competitive in Division I-AA upon his hiring. "I feel that every single day. That game showed us how far we had come and where we were and where we need to go. And it was very clear. I felt that way prior to the game, but it was more succinctly put during the game. There's no question, in my mind, Delaware is the standard. I may not want it to be that way, but that's the fact. We've got to meet that standard."

Tis the season for postseason hoops as Blue Hens begin CAA Tournament

2009-03-06T11:19:00.004-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Delaware has one more chance to find the consistency that has eluded it throughout the men's basketball season and the search begins in about 45 minutes here at the Richmond Coliseum in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. The Blue Hens, seeded ninth, take on No. 8 Georgia State in the tourney opener.

As chronicled in today's News Journal, Delaware will be seeking its first back-to-back wins and victory away from the Carpenter Center in a couple months. And Georgia State seems to finally be living up to its preseason hype, with wins in six of its last nine games, including a 76-55 rout at Hofstra. In fact, Delaware coach Monte Ross said this week that it's hard to even take into account the teams' two regular-season meetings -- Delaware's 60-48 win Jan. 24 in Newark and Georgia State's 70-67 comeback win Feb. 7 in Atlanta -- because the Panthers are "a different team" now.

Certainly, much of Delaware's hopes rest on its ability to make 3-pointers. The Hens have attempted a school-record 675 this year. They've made 229 (33.9 percent). They shot 37.2 percent beyond the arc in the two games against Georgia State.

Delaware will have to be extremely disciplined and determined on defense, and hope it can get some high-percentage shots in transition off turnovers. And a big shooting day from point guard Brian Johnson, who has a 49.6 shooting percentage in CAA games, would be a boost.

By the way, reserve guard D.J. Boney, who missed the last two games with back trouble, has practiced the last couple days, is participating in pre-game warm-ups and is expected to play.

So let the games begin.

Blue Hens, Hornets to play at last!

2009-02-19T18:10:00.004-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

In men's basketball.

And you were expecting . . . ?

Delaware coach Monte Ross said the schools are close to an agreement in which they'd play in Dover on Dec. 1 of the 2009-10 season and back in Newark in 2010-11. They haven't met since 2000-01. Up to then, they'd played nine times in 10 years, with DSU winning the first game and Delaware taking all the rest.

As for that first Delaware-Delaware State regular-season football game many have wondered about, school officials have had positive discussions regarding a series of meetings several years down the road, Delaware AD Edgar Johnson said. He also didn't rule out DSU filling that Sept. 19 date this season created when Furman suddenly pulled out last week so it could be a highly compensated sacrificial lamb at Missouri that day instead.

"There's always a possibility," Johnson said.

Signing Day!

2009-02-04T10:27:00.004-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

They're just names now. Some will be gone in a year or two. Others will become centerpieces of future Delaware football teams and perhaps even play for national championships. Here's Delaware's 2009 list of high school recruits, announced today:

There'll be a Keeler Blue Hen Live! edition on www.delawareonline.com in which coach K.C. Keeler discusses his recruiting class and we'll have video clips of the players.

Timothy Breaker, defensive back, 6-0, 185, Glassboro High (N.J).
Nick Cattolico, offensive lineman, 6-4, 300, Delran (N.J.).
Adam Citko, offensive lineman, 6-5, 320, Archbishop Wood (Southampton, Pa.).
Walter Davis, running back, 5-8, 175, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach).
Kasseim Everett, def.back/running back, 5-11, 175, Roman Catholic (Philadelphia).
Brandon Heath, offensive tackle, 6-6, 305, West Chester (Pa.) Henderson.
Michael Hirt, linebacker, 6-1, 215, North Hills (Pittsburgh)
Thomas Huff, defensive end, 6-3, 245, Sherwood (Olney, Md.).
Leon Jackson, running back, 6-1, 185, Ed White (Jacksonville (Fla.).
Rob Jones, wide receiver, 5-10, 170, Armwood (Tampa, Fla.).
Bobby Kennedy, defensive tackle, 6-4, 285, Caravel Academy (Glasgow, Del).
Erle Ladsen, offensive lineman, 6-6, 275, Cardinal Hayes (The Bronx, N.Y.)
Cody Magill, tight end, 6-4, 250, Quince Orchard (Darnestown, Md.).
Michael Milburn, wide receiver, 6-4, 200, DeMatha (Bowie, Md.).
Lance Miller, defensive tackle, 5-10, 315, Mainland Regional (Somers Point, N.J.).
Cazavious Ray, linebacker, 6-1, 200, Booker (Sarasota, Fla.).
Trevor Sasek, quarterback, 6-6, 205, Spring-Ford (Limerick, Pa.).
Carl Smith, linebacker, 6-1, 205, Highland Springs (Richmond, Va.).
Irvin Titre, defensive lineman, 6-0, 300, Dwyer (Riviera Beach, Fla.).
Roderick Tunstall, defensive back/wide receiver, 5-11, 190, Glassboro, N.J.

Blue Hens lose prized receiver recruit to Virginia

2009-02-01T08:08:00.006-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Both the Richmond and Charlottesville papers reported this morning that Bobby Smith, a wide receiver from Richmond's Varina High who had verbally committed to the University of Delaware, will instead go with Virginia on signing day. UD coach K.C. Keeler and assistant Brian Ginn, who recruits Virginia, were worried enough about losing Smith that they'd planned to visit with him late last week. But, apparently, a UVa. offer was just too good to pass up.

Despite losing Smith, Delaware is still expected to announce a large and talented recruiting class Wednesday, highlighted by four offensive linemen (see unofficial list below). But first will come Monday's announcement that former Cornell and Buffalo coach Jim Hofher is going to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, which his employer last year at Bowling Green, Gregg Brandon, fully endorses.

Delaware is expected to also -- finally -- announce transfer quarterback Pat Devlin's addition this week. But Sean Hakes, last year's No. 3 quarterback who was passed over when injuries felled Robby Schoenhoft and Lou Ritacco, looks forward to putting up a fight for playing time in spring practice, he told me Saturday.

"I'm not shy of the competition," he said. "I've been playing this game since I was five. Devlin got beat out by a more athletic quarterback at Penn State [Darryl Clark], so I've got to be athletic and hone those skills."

Possible UD signees:

Timothy Breaker, defensive back, 6-0, 185, Glassboro High (N.J).
Nick Cattolico, offensive lineman, 6-3, 300, Delran (N.J.).
Adam Citko, offensive lineman, 6-5, 320, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.).
Walter Davis, running back, 5-9, 178, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach).
Kasseim Everett, def.back/running back, 5-11, 175), Roman Catholic (Phila.).
Brandon Heath, offensive tackle, 6-5, 305, West Chester (Pa.) Henderson.
Thomas Huff, defensive end/tight end, 6-3, 245, Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.).
Leon Jackson, running back, 5-10, 170, Ed White (Jacksonville (Fla.).
Bobby Kennedy, defensive tackle, 6-4, 285, Caravel Academy (Glasgow, Del).
Erle Ladsen, offensive lineman, 6-5, 285, Cardinal Hayes (The Bronx, N.Y.)
Cody Magill, tight end, 6-4, 250, Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Md.).
Lance Miller, defensive tackle, 5-10, 315, Mainland Regional (Linwood, N.J.).
Kenton Powell, linebacker, 6-2, 195, Seneca Valley (Germantown, Md.).
Cazavious Ray, linebacker, 6-1, 200, Booker (Sarasota, Fla.).
Trevor Sasek, quarterback, 6-5, 190, Spring-Ford (Pa.).
Carl Smith, linebacker, 6-1, 192, Highland Springs (Va.).
Roderick Tunstall, wide receiver, 5-11, 190, Glassboro, N.J.
Paul Worrillow, linebacker, 6-0, 246, Concord (Wilmington, Del.).

Breaking thoughts (Tuesday, Jan. 27)

2009-01-27T16:54:00.010-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Greetings from courtside at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., where Delaware is trying to end a six-year drought in men's basketball tonight against George Mason. Recent history does not favor Delaware, which has not lost here by less than 10 points. The Blue Hens seem to think they match up well with the Patriots, and if their four-guard lineup gets hot from the perimeter, which it is very capable of, they can beat anybody in the CAA. But the Hens' 31.1-percent aim on 3-pointers in CAA games is too low and one reason they're 3-6 and now scrambling just to have a winning record. Mason isn't expected to have senior guard and 41-percent 3-point shooter John Vaughan, which aids the Hens' cause, even though he was out here shooting a little while ago.

The football staff continues to build what appears to be a large and impressive recruiting class for next week's signing day. In addition to those reported last week, a few more names that have surfaced since as likely UD signees are Leon Jackson (RB, Ed White High in Jacksonville (Fla.), Bobby Smith (a 6-6 WR from Varina High in Richmond, Va.), Carl Smith (LB from Highland Springs, Va.), Adam Citko (offensive lineman from nearby West Grove, Pa., and Archbishop Wood who received some I-A looks) and Cazavious Ray (LB from Booker High in Sarasota, Fla.)

As for what's going to happen with K.C. Keeler's coaching staff, that remains cloaked in secrecy. Sources continue to tell The News Journal that Keeler has been sizing up offensive coordinator candidates for a possible change at that key spot, including a proven prospect, former Cornell and Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher. Last year he was quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green. Keeler's only comment on the subject has been in regard to filling the spot left by wide receiver coach T.J. DiMuzio's departure, which he said he hoped to complete by Signing Day, and no changes have been announced in regard to Brian Ginn, last year's QB coach/OC.

Flacco week in Delaware . . . imagine if he's in the Super Bowl

2009-01-18T07:27:00.007-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Delaware football coach K.C. Keeler was besieged with interviewed requests last week to talk about Joe Flacco, who has deftly stepped from running the Blue Hens' offense to operating the Baltimore Ravens' as their rookie quarterback. An AFC title date with the Pittsburgh Steelers awaits tonight.

Flacco is a subject dear to Keeler's heart, and we spent some time talking about him, too.

"Joe is the epitome of character," Keeler said. "There's that story out there, I don't know if it's folklore, but the very first ballgame he played for the Ravens, mom and dad dropped him off at the ballpark. I can see Joe hopping out of the car and his dad [Steve] saying, 'Hey, Joe, get back in here and give your mom a kiss before you go to work. Have a good day.'

"His whole thing is, 'I wore blue and gold last year, I wear purple and black this year. It's still football,' " Keeler said. "It's like this national story that this kid is so poised and we go, 'Yeah . . . we knew that.' "

And now, he's on the cusp of the Super Bowl.

Ravens personnel had concerns about Flacco having played in NCAA Division I-AA against lesser competition and also having not been handed the leadership role of captain by his teammates. Keeler assured them that the Pitt transfer's skills were top-notch, which Ravens officials observed in workouts at UD, and his ability to guide a group was impeccable, even if he wasn't loud about it.

Ex-UD quarterback and NFL MVP Rich Gannon had also talked to Flacco about becoming more of a leader, through word and deed, his senior year, and Keeler said it showed.

"Joe just is himself," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said this week. "That's how he leads. He's very good at what he does. When you're a quarterback, you've got the ball in your hands and it probably makes you a natural leader. He doesn't try to be anything he's not. That's probably where it starts. He's genuine."

Flacco sparked Delaware to upset road victories over Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois in the NCAA playoffs in 2007 before the Blue Hens were overmatched in the title game against Appalachian State. He was the Ravens' first-round pick, and the 18th overall, in the April draft.

Keeler had predicted in July at CAA football media day, before Flacco got the Baltimore starting job because of an injury to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith's illness, that he would "bring a lot of success to that franchise." He isn't surprised it's happened sooner than most expected.

"My whole thing [with the Ravens] was that if this kid goes to USC we're having an argument about why he's not the first overall draft pick," Keeler said. "Look at his God-given ability, look at his poise, look at his intelligence and his great game-day decisions and the ice water in his veins and his character. He was a 10 in everything."

Keeler has a letter from Eric DeCosta, director of college scouting for the Ravens, with a handwritten note at the bottom that includes the admission, "Thanks for saving our franchise. Joe is even better than I thought."

In a comment this week that neatly summed up the foundation for his success, Flacco said: "I'm not afraid to fail, and that's what lets you go out there and play so loose."

Blue Hens lose basketball games, practice gear

2009-01-13T09:04:00.003-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Delaware's men's basketball team, in addition to trying to end a three-game losing streak, is now attempting to win back its practice gear.

Coach Monte Ross was so disillusioned with his team's play in Saturday's 75-72 loss at UNC-Wilmington that he said Monday the Blue Hens don't deserve to wear "Delaware" across their chests in practice. They'll get their practice gear back when he sees the commitment, concentration and attention to detail, particularly on defense, he expects.

Since upending VCU at home 81-79 on Jan. 3, Delaware has suffered narrow losses to Towson 62-61 at home and Hofstra 66-61 and UNC-Wilmington on the road. Each was winnable, but poor execution in key stretches doomed Delaware.

The loss at UNCW was particularly distressing because the Seahawks (4-13, 1-4) aren't very good and the Blue Hens are supposed to be. UNCW, which graduated most of its fine 20-13 team from last year, had lost a school-record 10 straight and has used some make-shift lineups because of injuries. One of its key players in the win over Delaware was forward Daniel Mercer, a walk-on who scored 10 points and made some important defensive plays.

Delaware sophomore forward Alphonso Dawson suggested complacency and overconfidence contributed to Delaware's demise. The Hens should have known better, despite being up 10 in the second half. Delaware's 20 turnovers (they also had 20 against Hofstra) included three in the final 75 seconds that made a three-point lead vanish.

Is it team chemistry? Is it too little depth, as Delaware is using an eight-man rotation and got just one point from the bench at UNCW? Ross aims to find out, and needs to fast. Co-CAA leader Northeastern (10-5, 5-0) visits Thursday night. Delaware has slipped to 7-10, 1-4.

"It's just a matter of us taking care of the basketball and shoring up some things and getting back on the right track here," he said.

There's a new quarterback in town for Blue Hens

2009-01-05T15:16:00.005-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

No official announcement has been made by the University of Delaware, because apparently Pat Devlin has not, for the moment anyway, registered for Winter Session classes -- the five-week, between-semesters term began today.

But the former Penn State starter-in-waiting did attend Delaware's football team meeting Sunday night at the Carpenter Center, which means the waiting is over for famished fans of the Blue Hens. Delaware has vastly improved its most important position.

The highly regarded Downingtown East High product has touched down at UD. Devlin, 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, will have two seasons, beginning this fall, to demonstrate the skills that allowed him to throw for a Pennsylvania high school record 8,162 yards.

Still no official confirmation from Delaware's next QB

2008-12-22T19:05:00.002-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Hopefully for Delaware, presumed future quarterback Pat Devlin is as elusive when it comes to dodging onrushing tacklers as he is in avoiding inquisitive reporters. Calls to his home Saturday night in anticipation of his visit Sunday to Delaware and Monday morning to see how it went -- very well, we hear -- haven't been returned yet.

So we'll continue to operate under the presumption that he's coming, as sources have told us is the case since the days immediately following his departure from Penn State.

UD is now going through the process of getting him admitted and enrolled, which will not be difficult because Devlin is an excellent student, and it's understandable -- if a tad unusual, based on what past transfers have done -- if he prefers to wait until that's all settled before talking to the local media. But I look forward to hearing his sentiments regarding coming to Delaware as much as UD fans do.

Oh boy, it's bowl season! And how about those Richmond Spiders?

2008-12-20T07:17:00.002-05:00

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

The Division I-A college football bowl season begins today, which just makes me want to . . . yawn?

Maybe it's because I've spent my life following schools that play in NCAA divisions that decide national championships the way you should, through playoffs, but I have a hard time getting excited about any bowl games until some of the biggies on and around New Year's Day. I have a hard time seeing how the schools' fans even get real fired up. The combined record of today's eight teams in the four initial bowl games is 58-38, and take away BYU's 10-2 and it's even more mediocre.

Wake me up when the Rose Bowl starts.

In Division I-AA (we still can't call it the FCS), they do it right, and Richmond sure did it right in its 24-7 rout of dreadful Montana last night in Chattanooga. Delaware's CAA rivals were impressive offensively (clever play calling and nice execution) and defensively (just plain sturdy) and won for classy first-year coach Mike London, who greatly benefited from predecessor Dave Clawson's fine recruiting. Anybody else besides me wonder why Montana seemed to abandon the run after having some success behind its big offensive line on its first series, which ended with a missed field goal?

It sure makes me look forward to Sept. 12 at Delaware Stadium. The Blue Hens' second game and CAA opener in 2009 is against those Spiders, who'll return many of the players from that team, including QB Eric Ward.