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

NFL Scouting Combine

Now that the Combine is in full swing, I figured it was time to post a few things about our boy Joe Flacco and how he's doing out in Indy.
Here is Flacco's official NFL Combine page: NFL.com

Some interesting blog posts about Flacco on the Hashmarks blog:
Flacco has entered the building
Flacco: Bring on the criticism

An excerpt from the second post: "I'm sick of hearing myself talk about it," he said. "I don't think I have too much to prove at this point. We played pretty good competition. We made it to a national championship, but no one wants to talk about that."

Here is the main link to the ESPN Hashmarks blog: Hashmarks

The NFL also has a new widget which I've embedded below. Grab it if you want it.

Mason Exacts Revenge

After letting a 19 point second half lead slip away to the Hens earlier in the season, the Patriots would not allow Delaware to climb back into last night's game. Mason defeated UD 70-58 to bring their record to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in league play. Delaware on the other hand dropped to 11-15 overall and 8-8 in the CAA. At this point it's going to be very difficult to get to that .500 mark. But first things first. A tough BracketBusters matchup against Toledo on Saturday.

Check out the recap of the Mason game here: UDel Sports

Photo Credit: University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens Official Athletics Website

Flacco Featured on ESPN's First Take

Joe Flacco was interviewed today by Dana Jacobson on ESPN's First Take. Joe discusses his final preparations before heading to the NFL Combine.

Flacco Featured on SportsCenter

This was featured on SportsCenter last night. It's a must see for any UD fan. It's a really nicely produced piece on Flacco. Scott Brunner, who is helping Flacco to prepare for the NFL combines and the draft is part of the piece as well.

Dragons Down Hens

Well the up and down season continues for the men's hoops team. The Hens were beaten at home by the Drexel Dragons by a score of 62-60. This was a hard fought game, but one in which the Hens were constantly digging themselves out of holes. That and some poor shooting ultimately doomed UD. That .500 record is still achievable. Next up is a real tough test at George Mason.

Check out the game recap here: UDel Sports

Photo Credit: Mark Campbell