1951 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

The 1951 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1951 college football season. The team compiled a 5–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 173 to 109. John DeGasperis was the team captain.[1][2] The team played its home games at Wilmington Park in Wilmington, Delaware.

1951 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–3
Head coach
CaptainJohn DeGasperis
Home stadiumWilmington Park
Seasons
← 1950
1952 →
1951 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 13 Virginia     8 1 0
Maryland State     7 1 0
Arkansas State     10 2 0
Stetson     8 1 2
Florida State     6 2 0
Northeast Louisiana State     6 2 0
Texas Southern     7 3 1
Miami (FL)     8 3 0
Tampa     7 3 1
Delaware     5 3 0
Memphis State     5 3 0
Sewanee     5 3 0
McNeese State     5 4 1
Louisville     5 4 0
Chattanooga     6 5 0
Grambling     4 5 1
Navy     2 6 1
Delta State     1 8 0
Rankings from AP Poll

David M. Nelson was hired as the program's head football coach in February 1951. He head previously served as the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Maine.[3] Nelson served as the head coach until 1965 and as athletic director until 1984.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22LehighW 7–0 8,500 [4]
September 29at Connecticut
L 14–27 7,500 [5]
October 6West Chester
  • Wilmington Park
  • Wilmington, DE (rivalry)
W 47–20 7,000 [6]
October 13Pennsylvania Military
  • Wilmington Park
  • Wilmington, DE
W 46–2 5,332 [7]
October 20Temple
  • Wilmington Park
  • Wilmington, DE
L 7–13 8,300 [8]
October 27Muhlenberg
  • Wilmington Park
  • Wilmington, DE
W 21–7 5,500 [9]
November 10at LafayetteW 25–7 6,000 [10]
November 17at BucknellL 6–33 7,000 [11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Delaware Yearly Results (1950-1954)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "2012 Blue Hens Football Media Guide". University of Delaware. 2012. p. 158. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "Delaware Selects David Nelson As Grid Coach". The Gazette and Daily. February 26, 1951. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Levin, Marty (September 24, 1951). "Delaware Wins Grid Start from Lehigh Eleven, 7-0". Wilmington Morning News. Wilmington, Del. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Ruck, Don (September 30, 1951). "Irv Panciera Paces Connecticut Eleven to 27-14 Upset Victory over Delaware". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. sect. IV, p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Katzman, Izzy (October 8, 1951). "Delaware Flashes Surprise with Offense Outburst". Journal–Every Evening. Wilmington, Del. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Delaware Romps over PMC, 46-2". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. October 14, 1951. p. S2 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Dell, John (October 21, 1951). "Temple Rallies, Beats Delaware for 4th Straight". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Delaware's Blue Hens Claw 21-7 Win over Mules". Sunday Call-Chronicle. Allentown, Pa. Associated Press. October 28, 1951. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Delaware Passes Whip Lafayette". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. November 11, 1951. p. S2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bucknell Wins, Sets Record; 1st Unbeaten Year Since '18". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. November 18, 1951. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.