| 1979Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football | |
|---|---|
NCAA Division II national champion | |
Zia Bowl, W 38–21 vs.Youngstown State | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 13–1 |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Ted Kempski (12th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Delaware Wing-T |
| Base defense | 5–2 |
| Captain | Jim Brandimarte |
| Home stadium | Delaware Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1Delaware ^ | – | 13 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Towson State | – | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 4Morgan State ^ | – | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Washington | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholls State | – | 8 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States International | – | 8 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| American International | – | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10Santa Clara | – | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky State | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southeastern Louisiana | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central State (OH) | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Connecticut | – | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Madison | – | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Chester | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Connecticut State | – | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff | – | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1979 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was anAmerican football team that represented theUniversity of Delaware as anindependent during the1979 NCAA Division II football season. In their 14th year under head coachTubby Raymond, the Blue Hens compiled a 13–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 546 to 228, and defeatedYoungstown State, 38–21, in theZia Bowl to win the Division II national championship. The team also received theLambert Cup as the best Division II team in the east.[1]
The Blue Hens were led by a high-scoring offense that averaged 39 points per games. They defeatedMerchant Marine, 65–0, setting a school record with eight rushing touchdowns. It was at the time the second-highest margin of victory in school history, trailing a 93–0 victory over William & Mary in1915.
QuarterbackScott Brunner tied the school record with 24 passing touchdowns.[2] After the season, Brunner received first-team Division II Kodak All-America honors from theAmerican Football Coaches Association (AFCA).[3][4] He was also named the All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Player of the Year.[2] Other key players included:
The team played its home games atDelaware Stadium inNewark, Delaware, and led Division II football in attendance, with 19,644 attendees per regular season home game.[7]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | atRhode Island | W 34–14 | 7,141 | [8] | ||
| September 15 | West Chester | W 42–6 | 18,975 | [9] | ||
| September 22 | Temple |
| L 14–31 | 22,068 | [10] | |
| September 29 | Merchant Marine | No. 2 |
| W 65–0 | 17,081 | [11] |
| October 6 | Lehigh | No. 2 |
| W 21–14 | 20,636 | [12] |
| October 13 | atVillanova | No. 1 | W 21–20 | 14,500 | [13] | |
| October 20 | C.W. Post | No. 1 |
| W 47–19 | 20,343 | [14] |
| October 27 | William & Mary | No. 1 |
| W 40–0 | 19,728 | [15] |
| November 3 | Maine | No. 1 |
| W 31–14 | 18,679 | [16] |
| November 10 | at No. 2Youngstown State | No. 1 |
| W 51–45 | 13,142 | [17] |
| November 17 | atColgate | No. 1 | W 24–16 | 5,000 | [18] | |
| November 24 | No. 6Virginia Union | No. 1 |
| W 58–28 | 14,357 | [19] |
| December 1 | No. 5Mississippi College | No. 1 |
| W 60–10 | 13,787 | [20] |
| December 8 | vs. No. 2 Youngstown State | No. 1 |
| W 38–21 | 4,000 | [21][22] |
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After the season, seniorquarterbackScott Brunner earnedAmerican Football Coaches Association first-teamAll-America honors,Associated Press (AP) second-team All-America honors, All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Year honors, and first-team All-ECAC honors.Guard Herb Beck earned AP first-team All-America honors.Fullback Bo Dennis,tight end Jaime Young,center Mike Donnalley,linebacker Mike Wisniewski,cornerback Vince Hyland, andsafety Guy Ramsey earned AP honorable mention All-America honors. Dennis, Young, Beck, Donnalley, Wisniewski, Hyland, Ramsey, andkicker Brandt Kennedy earned first-team All-East (ECAC) honors.[24]