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Subject: Say no to the Blue Hens
Posted by: blue hen
- [16322314] Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 14:49
Is race the reason Delaware won't play Delaware State?
by Jeff Pearlman, ESPN.com
Dear Delaware football recruit:
On behalf of alumni across the nation, I would like to congratulate you on being recruited to play football at the University of Delaware. As you know, our Blue Hens are six-time national champions and perennially one of the top Division I-AA programs in the country. We have produced dozens of NFL players, ranging from Rich Gannon and Scott Brunner to Ivory Sully and Mike Adams. With our explosive passing attack, I am confident that a wide receiver like you could thrive here.
I also have been informed, however, that you are a student of character, decency and open-mindedness. That, more than anything, is why I am writing this letter: to urge you (and your fellow recruits) not to attend my beloved university.
That's right. Say no to the Blue Hens.
Allow me to be blunt. The University of Delaware's persistent refusal to face Delaware State University in football is cowardly, pig-headed, self-righteous and, worst of all, oozing with racism. As you might know, the two schools -- separated by a mere 50-minute drive from Newark to Dover -- are both ranked in the top 25 of Division I-AA polls. For more than 30 years now, Delaware State has tried to arrange a football game with Delaware, only to be rebuffed time after time. "Name the place and the day, and we'll be there," Rick Costello, Delaware State's athletic director, told me recently. "Delaware-Delaware State would be great for the state, for the students, for ticket sales and school spirit. It's a natural, isn't it?"
You would think so. But within the Delaware athletic department, a law has been established that the Blue Hens will never, ever, ever, ever, ever schedule the Hornets. "We're interested in exploring, but there's no flexibility," Edgar Johnson, the school's athletic director, once told me. "Anyhow, when you begin playing each other it becomes divisive."
I know. Mississippi-Mississippi State. Georgia-Georgia Tech. UCLA-USC. Washington-Washington State. Oregon-Oregon State. UNLV-Nevada. Texas-Texas A&M. Virginia-Virginia Tech. Florida-Florida State. Arizona-Arizona State. Duke-North Carolina. All in-state rivalries, all tearing apart the fabric of regional bliss.
"What a joke," Al Lavan, Delaware State's football coach, told me. "I've been a part of many state rivalries in my career, and they're better than bowl games. Anyone who thinks otherwise has no idea what he's talking about.
"No," says Lavan, "there has to be more to this than just that."
Read the rest... |
| 1 | Perm Dude
ID: 39858209
Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 15:11
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Ohio State rarely plays in-state schools as well, but it is more to do with the fact that they want to be known as the only real football power in the state and don't want people to have to choose sides.
I don't see anything in the Delaware flap that indicates racism of any kind.
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| 2 | Seward Norse
ID: 297412913
Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 15:27
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From what I've been told, Delaware plays Delaware st. in the other sports, just not football. Doesn't seem like racism to me.
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| 3 | Seattle Zen
ID: 49112418
Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 18:18
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I think this is a very well written article and I agree with the premise: Delaware is avoiding Delaware St. because the Blue Hens are afraid of being waxed by the lesser, historically black college and until Delaware comes clean about why they won't schedule Delaware St., you certainly may assume the worst.
I remember strolling through Druid Hill park in Baltimore one day and stumbling upon a baseball game between Coppin St. and Delaware St. What was so sad was the state of the field. They were playing on this huge expanse of crappy grass with no outfield wall and right field sloped way, way down. I've seen few high school baseball diamonds that were in as abysmal shape as this. I guess since "separate but equal" has been deemed unconstitutional, there is no more pretense towards "equal", its simply "inferior".
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| 4 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Fri, Sep 21, 2007, 10:06
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To go along with this well...
Last night at 1am there was a shotting on DSU's campass. I heard all of the Cops drive by to get there. Since the Race track is right across the street who knows when they will figure out what exactly happened.
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| 5 | holt
ID: 587112719
Sat, Sep 22, 2007, 03:49
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SZ, how many years ago was the Coppin St. game you're referring to? They play at Joe Cannon Stadium now. Delaware State's stadium is called "Soldier Field". It looks a little high schoolish but the playing field is pretty decent.
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| 6 | Seattle Zen
ID: 86541617
Sat, Sep 22, 2007, 10:56
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Somewhere around 1993-4. I'm glad to hear that they are playing in a place called a stadium.
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| 7 | Seattle Zen
ID: 49112418
Mon, Nov 19, 2007, 11:45
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Reason #65,356 why football playoffs make sense:
Delaware finally faces Delaware St.
GO STATE!
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| 8 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Mon, Nov 19, 2007, 11:58
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The first time since I moved out here that Del State is a better team than Del. Dover will be hopping this Friday, good thing i'm off and don't have to go out in the traffic.
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| 9 | Seattle Zen
ID: 49112418
Mon, Nov 19, 2007, 12:11
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"Traffic" and "Dover" in the same sentence!
LMAO!
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| 10 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Mon, Nov 19, 2007, 12:25
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Considering we don't have many roads what do you expect? Try being in Dover for one of the Races when the Cities population just doubles inside the Racetrack.
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| 11 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Fri, Nov 23, 2007, 15:53
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This is turning out to be a good game to watch... :'P
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| 12 | Jag
ID: 14828255
Fri, Nov 23, 2007, 19:58
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I have a friend who is a graduate from Delaware and when I told him about this post, he thought this was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard. He has had Omar Cuff to his house for dinner on many an occassion and has utter a racial comment in my presence. He doesn't want to play Delaware St., because is a small school with a stadium that only holds 3000 people, my backyard can fit more than that. With the limited amount of games played in college football it makes since to play larger colleges for both money and prestege. Delaware does play State in every other sport, where scheduling is not an issue. This thread shows how some are quick to cry racism when none exists and others are quick agree with absolutely no grasp of the facts.
44 to 7 Ya, those Ass Kickin' Chickens were really scared!
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| 13 | C1-NRB
ID: 5932328
Wed, Nov 28, 2007, 13:26
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Was that our own blue hen on "Outside the Lines" a few weeks ago? I meant to ask then, but couldn't get to a computer.
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