New Official Blue Hen Sports Site Coming

I was hoping the UD Athletics site was on the verge of an overhaul after seeing the recent redesign of the main UD site. The above image is all the info. available, but I'm hoping the new site will launch prior to this Saturday's big matchup with Maryland in College Park.

BlueHens.com will be the new address for the site.

Cuff an Under-the-Radar Favorite

That according to CBS Sports. Here's what Clark Judge had to say about Omar in an article listing the top 12 under-the-radar draft prospects:

Omar Cuff, RB/KR, Delaware: A first-team All-American choice, he ran for 1,984 yards last season and produced a nation-high 39 touchdowns -- including a CAA-record seven in one game. Good, huh? Now hear this: He had a team-record 73 scores while at Delaware, a school that recruited him as a defensive back.

The guy works hard, has decent speed, is elusive and is an effective receiver -- with 55 catches in 2007, including three games with seven each. Some people like to compare him to Brian Westbrook because of his Division 1-AA background, but Westbrook was a third-round draft choice. Cuff won't be as fortunate.

Check out the article here: CBSSports.com

UD Commissions Athletic Facilities Study

Delaware has hired HOK Sport to put together a study to discover the best way to improve UD's sports facilities.

Read the article here: delawareonline.com

If they're looking for opinions, here's mine: Tear down the Tub. Build a brand new Delaware Stadium with increased seating and all the finest amenities. Then parlay the excitement of a new stadium into a jump to the FBS. Real simple, right?

Omar Cuff in SI.com

Omar got a nice picture and write-up from a fan as part of SI.com's "Fans' Overlooked Draft Prospects" list.

Check out the page here: SI.com

Flacco Buzz Continues

With the NFL Draft a little over two weeks away, the press machine is starting to ratchet up once again. This week's SI has a small piece on Joe Flacco and how his stock has continued to rise.

Check out the article here: Sports Illustrated

Mason Takes CAA Tourney Crown

George Mason will look to re-create some of the magic they made a couple years back as they go dancin' with the CAA automatic bid. I had higher hopes for the Hens after handling Drexel in the first round. But a beat down at the hands of UNCW ended any hopes for a miracle run, and ended the season. But overall, I believe we'll look back and say this was the season that turned this program around. Monte has his kids believing in themselves and more importantly going out and competing at a high level every single night.

Let's compare some numbers:
2006-07 Final Overall Record: 5-26
2007-08 Final Overall Record: 14-17

2006-07 Final CAA Record: 3-15
2007-08 Final CAA Record: 9-9

9 more wins overall is a great effort. I was really hoping for 10, but I'll take it.

So I want to congratulate this team for righting the ship. Next year we move into the upper echelon of the CAA...I hope.

It's Tourney Time

Well the brackets are set for the men's tournament in Richmond this Friday, March 7th. I was hoping we would roll into the tourney on a nice little won streak after the impressive win at Toledo and at home against Hofstra. But after getting dropped at Towson to end the regular season that just didn't happen. Regardless, I strongly feel that the Hens have a shot at making a run to the finals and facing VCU there. And who's to say that we can't catch a break and have someone upset VCU. That's the beauty of the conference tourneys. Anything can happen. Now it's time to start thinking about our old friends Drexel.

Here are the first round matchups:

Friday, March 7

Game 1: No. 8 Hofstra vs. No. 9 Towson (Noon)

Game 2: No. 5 William & Mary vs. No. 12 Georgia State(2:30 p.m.)

Game 3: No. 7 Delaware vs. No. 10 Drexel (6 p.m.)

Game 4: No. 6 Northeastern vs. No. 11 James Madison (8:30 p.m.)

This is really my favorite time of the year. Two weeks, 31 automatic bids up for grabs. It just doesn't get any better.

For schedules for all of the conference tourneys click here: ESPN

Rutgers Poaches Hens Offensive Coordinator

UD's offensive coordinator, Kirk Ciarrocca has accepted a position as wide receivers coach at Rutgers University. Best of luck to Kirk. But I wouldn't mind him regretting this decision if it means that UD and/or the CAA makes the leap to the FBS. I can dream, can't I?

Check out the full story here: delaware online

Update: Brian Ginn has been promoted from WRs coach to offensive coordinator/QB coach.
Check out that story here: delaware online

2007 Football Attendance

This is interesting if you're into this kind of thing. Delaware ranked 3rd overall in the FCS in 2007, behind App. St. and Montana.

Check out the full list here: FCS Attendance Report

Flacco Featured in the Daily News

Now this is a rarity. A Blue Hen featured in an article in the New York Daily News. It's a pretty good read, but more than anything it's just fun to have Flacco appear in one of my local rags.

Check the article here: Daily News

BracketBuster Win

Great road win for the Hens against Toledo for the annual BracketBuster game. Toledo is a real tough place to earn a road victory. Solid effort to end the two game skid and improve to 12-15 overall. Hofstra up next.

Check the game recap here: UDel Sports

Flacco Fever on CNNSI

Here's a good article about Flacco at the Combine. Plus it's pretty fun to see him on the main page of CNNSI's NFL section.

Check the article: CNNSI.com