Every once in a while I like to bring a different voice to this blog. The following essay was written by Chris Mooney, a former University of Delaware football player/2004 grad/Facebook friend. Chris was very offended when, last year, I used my ESPN.com platform to accuse our alma mater of exercising racism by refusing to play Delaware State College in football. Both schools are I-AA, both are in a tiny state—a natural rivalry, me thinks.
We’ve had some heated exchanges, yet Chris seems like a good guy with great passion. We just don’t see eye to eye on this one.
Anyhow, Chris attended last Saturday’s first-ever regular season meeting between the schools. Here’s his take:
University of Delaware 27, Delaware State 17. Surprised? So am I. Most people who follow 1-AA football, including Jeff Pearlman, were too. Not at the outcome, but at the less-than-expected margin of victory. (*JEFF’S NOTE: INDEED, I THOUGHT THE HENS WOULD WIN BY 40ish)
After all, UD is a member of the most competitive 1-AA conference in the nation, the CAA, a conference that has already beaten 4 1-A opponents this season. The Blue Hens have captured six national titles, most recently in 2003. In addition, UD has finished as national runner-up four times (including 2007), won 15 conference titles, advanced to the NCAA Tournament 19 times, been named Lambert (Eastern) Cup champion 19 teams, and ECAC Team of the Year 11 times. Del State, on the other hand, hasn’t. DSU recently made its first-ever FCS playoff appearance in 2007, when it was knocked off by UD, 44-7. UD has four QB’s who have started NFL games, including Rich Gannon and Joe Flacco. UD has three coaches in the college football Hall of Fame. DSU, on the other hand, doesn’t.
So what? That is all in the past. On Saturday DSU proved to many people that it could at least compete on the same field with UD. I was at the game on Saturday and the stadium was filled close to capacity. But not because DSU was the opponent. UD regularly fills its 22,000 seat stadium with passionate fans, no matter who the opponent is. Not many people expected to be in their seats past halftime. They were wrong and so was I.
There is absolutely no reason DSU shouldn’t replace West Chester on the annual schedule. WCUPA is a division 2 school from nearby Pennsylvania who has won exactly 3 times in 41 tries, with the latest victory coming in the early 1990’s. A 1-AA win for UD at least counts towards playoff considerations at the end of the season. But let’s note fool ourselves, this is not a rivalry. Not yet, at least.
The game was scheduled, in my opinion, due to allegations of racism at UD. Racism. Really?? The most valuable takeaway from my 5 years of college football, and there were many, was the sense of unity and trust I felt with my teammates. We had players from all different backgrounds and ethnicities, from all over the country. But we all had one thing in common: Commitment. I made a lot of sacrifices with my teammates, which developed an indescribable bond and I consider all my former teammates family. We had a brotherhood and a camaraderie that is impossible to break. In my five years at UD, we were led by 4 black captains and I never even thought about that until I decided to write this piece, because we just didn’t see color on the football field. I guess that’s why I have such difficulty with the accusations of racism at UD.
Some people claim this game will be fun. Ok, I can buy that. Potentially. If DSU continues to build its program and improve, its possible. Bear in mind, however, that the majority of players from both schools hail from outside the state of Delaware and rarely do the two schools compete for recruits. So, in order for this game to have real significance to the players, DSU has to not only compete, but win a game first.
Legendary former UD coach Tubby Raymond, who won 300 games in his career, summed up my reasoning best when asked on ESPN in 2007 during the first-ever match up between these two Delaware teams, why they never played in the past. His response: He simply pointed to the scoreboard.
That’s the mentality at UD. Elitist, maybe. But racist, no!
September 25th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
elitist? Pearlman? NOOOOOO