- Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
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Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 
University University of Delaware Conference(s) CAA NCAA Division I Athletics director Bernard M. Muir Location Newark, DE Varsity teams 23 Football stadium Delaware Stadium Basketball arena Bob Carpenter Center Baseball stadium Bob Hannah Stadium Soccer stadium Delaware Mini-Stadium Mascot YoUDee Nickname The Blue Hens Fight song The Delaware Fight Song Colors Royal Blue and Gold Homepage http://www.bluehens.com/ The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens represent the athletic teams at the University of Delaware. The Blue Hens compete in Division I in the NCAA. Although there are currently 23 varsity teams at Delaware, the University is reducing the number to 21.[1]
Contents
Sports
UD varsity sports compete in the NCAA Division-I (FCS for football). Delaware is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in all sports. Delaware was a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference in football until the 2006 season.
The Blue Hens have won four CAA Championships since joining in 2001: one each for the women's 2004 field hockey team, the 2007 men's lacrosse team, the 2007 women's volleyball team, and the 2010 football team (shared with William & Mary). (Unofficially, the women's rowing team has won the CAA title four times since 2001, placing second the other two times.)
In January 2011, UD announced that men's cross country and outdoor track & field teams would be reclassified to club status, while women's golf would be added.[1]
Football
Main article: Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens footballFootball is the most popular and most successful sport at Delaware. The Fighting Blue Hens football teams have won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA I-AA Championship. In 2007, the Delaware Blue Hens were the runners up in the NCAA I-AA National Championship game, but were defeated by defending champion Appalachian State. In 2010 they were once again runners-up, that time to Eastern Washington.
Former head football coaches Bill Murray, Dave Nelson and Harold "Tubby" Raymond are College Football Hall of Fame inductees. Delaware is one of only two schools to have three straight head coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Georgia Tech is the other).[2]
Lacrosse
Main article: Delaware Fighting Blue Hens men's lacrosseDelaware's only non-football NCAA National Championship came in 1983 for Women's Division I Lacrosse.[3] The 2007 men's lacrosse program reached the final four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history.
Figure Skating
Main article: University of Delaware Figure Skating ClubSoccer
Main article: Delaware Fighting Blue Hens men's soccerThe men's soccer team played in the 1968 and 1970 editions of the College Cup.
Nickname
The athletic teams at Delaware are known as the Fightin' Blue Hens with a mascot named YoUDee. YoUDee is a Blue Hen Chicken, after the team names and the state bird of Delaware. YoUDee was the 2002 UCA National Mascot Champion, was elected into the mascot hall of fame in 2006, and was the 2009 UCA Open Division Mascot National Champion.
Intrastate competition
In November 2007, it was announced that the University of Delaware and Delaware State University would have their first game against each other, the game being in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The game was played on November 23, with University of Delaware winning 44-7.[4] Delaware was the victor in the teams' first regular season match-up in September 2009. Future contests are scheduled for 2012-2014.
Fight Song
"The Delaware Fight Song" first appeared in the Student Handbook in 1933.[5] It was composed by alumnus George F. Kelly (Class of 1915).
References
- ^ a b http://www.bluehens.com/teams/mens-cross-country/stories/2011/january/011911.html
- ^ "Tubby Raymond named to College Football Hall of Fame". Udel.edu. 2003-04-25. http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2003/tubby042503.html. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ NCAA.com - The Official Web Site of the NCAA[dead link]
- ^ Tresolini, Kevin (2007-11-24). "Dominating: Cuff leads Blue Hens past Delaware State, 44-7". The News Journal (the News Journal). http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071124/SPORTS20/711240391/1002/SPORTS20. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- ^ "The History of the University of Delaware". University of Delaware. http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/history.html#motto. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
University of Delaware Colleges 
Athletics Colonial Athletic Association • Bob Carpenter Center • Delaware Fight Song • Delaware Stadium • Football (2011 • Coach) • Frazer Field • Fred Rust Ice Arena • Men’s Lacrosse • Men's Soccer • YoUDee
Campus Main campus: Newark
Satellite campuses: Dover • Georgetown • Lewes • Wilmington
Botanic Gardens • Delaware Biotechnology Institute • Disaster Research Center • Energy Institute • Images • University Museums at the University of DelawarePeople Alumni • Faculty • Patrick T. Harker (President) • Police
Student life Deer Park Tavern • Emergency Care Unit • Figure Skating Club • Greek life • The Lamplighter • The Review • Mainstreet Journal • Petal and Thorn • WVUD
Other Colonial Athletic Association Full members Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens • Drexel Dragons • Hofstra Pride • George Mason Patriots • Georgia State Panthers • James Madison Dukes • Northeastern Huskies • Old Dominion Monarchs • Towson Tigers • UNC Wilmington Seahawks • Virginia Commonwealth Rams • William & Mary Tribe
Football-only members Maine Black Bears • Massachusetts Minutemen • New Hampshire Wildcats • Rhode Island Rams • Richmond Spiders • Villanova Wildcats
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