University of Delaware Athletics
HALL OF FAME COUNTDOWN: George Schmitt (Football)
10/1/2015 1:22:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware will induct its 19th Athletics Hall of Fame Class in a ceremony next Friday, Oct. 2, at the Embassy Suites and follow with a special on-field halftime recognition on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Blue Hens host William & Mary in football at Delaware Stadium.
Today we continue the 10-day countdown to the event and will recognize one of the inductees each day until the ceremony.
DAY 2 (Oct. 1)
GEORGE SCHMITT (Football)
One of the top cornerbacks in Delaware football history, George was an All-American defender during his career for Hall of Fame head coach Tubby Raymond in 1980-82.
A native of Broomall, Pa., George was an instant standout in the Delaware defensive secondary and 
led his teams to combined record of 30-7, including NCAA national runner-up finishes in 1980 and 1982, ECAC Team of the Year awards all three seasons, and the Lambert Cup in 1981 and 1982. The 1980 team went 9-2 and finished as national runners-up while the 1981 squad was 9-3 and finished ranked No. 3 in the nation, and the 1982 team went 12-2 and advanced to the national title game.
He earned consensus first team All-American honors as a senior in 1982 and was later selected as the UD Co-Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year for 1983.
Possessing an uncanny nose for the football, he still owns school records for interceptions in a game (3 vs. Morgan State in 1980), season (NCAA-leading 13 in 1982), and a career (22) and once held UD marks for interception return yards in a season (202 in 1982) and career (296). George also led the team with six interceptions as a sophomore in 1980.
Following his outstanding career at Delaware, George was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft and played in all 16 games during his lone season in the league in 1983.
He earned his degree in agricultural business from Delaware in 1984 and has been employed for the last 26 years by CBRE Inc., serving as a First Vice President and specializing in transacting retail properties.
A resident of Malvern, Pa., George and his wife, Anne, have three daughters. Hannah played college lacrosse at Loyola (Md.), Natalie currently plays lacrosse at Penn State, and Isabelle will enroll in UD this fall and compete for the Blue Hen women's lacrosse team.
“It is with great joy that I receive this recognition and become part of the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame," said Schmitt. "This award serves as a reminder of how important football was to the development of my character. Delaware Football has been a manual, not only to myself but my teammates alike, to everyday experiences in the work world. Tubby's lessons taught us unforgettable experiences that we apply professionally each and every day, including consistency, hard work, and team work, just to name a few.
"A bond is created among your teammates because of the dedication necessary to compete at Delaware and to being a team contributor," he said. "It's that same bond that has the staying power beyond the game. The friendships developed through camps and seasons, not to mention winning seasons, is what really matters and what I cherish the most. This award recognition would not be possible without my teammates who contributed their unselfish play to achieve our success on the field.”
Day 10 (Sept. 23): Stephanie Barry (Volleyball)
Day 9 (Sept. 24): Omar Cuff (Football)
Day 8 (Sept. 25): Ken Dill (Men's Basketball & Tennis)
Day 7 (Sept. 26): Bruce Fad (Baseball & Football)
Day 6 (Sept. 27): Sarah Gause (Women's Basketball & Track & Field)
Day 5 (Sept. 28): Leah Geib (Field Hockey)
Day 4 (Sept. 29): Ted Kempski (Football)
Day 3 (Sept. 30): Joe Lank (Football, Baseball, Track & Field)
Day 2 (Oct. 1): George Schmitt (Football)
Day 1 (Oct. 2): Steve Shaw (Men's Lacrosse)
