University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Finally Return Home; Face CAA Foe Maine for Parents & Family Weekend
10/7/2016 8:11:00 AM | Football
DELAWARE “Blue Hens” (2-2, 0-1 CAA) vs.
MAINE “Black Bears” (1-3, 0-1 CAA)
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 • 3:30 p.m. • Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium (22,000) •
Newark, Del. • Parents & Family Weekend
GAME PREVIEW:
Blue Hens Finally Return Home; Look for First CAA Win of Season Against Maine
NEWARK, Del. -- Two teams looking to pick up their first Colonial Athletic Association victory of the season square off this Saturday when Delaware hosts Maine as part of Parents and Family Weekend at Delaware Stadium.
Delaware (2-2, 0-1 CAA) returns home to the friendly confines of Delaware Stadium for the first time since a season-opening 56-14 win over Delaware State way back on Sept. 1. The Blue Hens will be looking to bounce back from their second straight loss last Saturday when Delaware fell to No. 7 James Madison in their league opener in Harrisonburg, Va. The Dukes broke away from a 7-7 tie midway through the second quarter by scoring 33 unanswered points on the way to the 43-20 victory.
Maine (1-3, 0-1 CAA), led by first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak - the youngest head coach in the nation at the NCAA FCS level at age 30 - snapped a three-game losing streak and picked up its first win of the season with a 35-31 triumph over Bryant at home. The Black Bears, who opened CAA action with a 31-20 setback to James Madison back on Sept. 24, rallied from a 21-0 deficit in the second quarter and trailed 31-14 in the third quarter before completing the comeback.
The Black Bears visit Delaware Stadium for the first time since 2012. Maine has downed the Hens three straight times overall, including a 62-28 win in Orono, Maine in the most recent matchup in 2013.
DELAWARE HEAD COACH
Dave Brock (Salisbury State '94) - 19-20 (.487) all-time at Delaware and overall (4th season)...11-14 (.440) in CAA play...13-8 (.619) at Delaware Stadium...0-1 all-time vs. Maine...22nd head coach in Delaware football history...native of Moorestown, N.J. and a veteran of 24 collegiate seasons as an assistant coach...came to Delaware after serving one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under then coach Kyle Flood at Rutgers where team posted a 9-4 record, won a share of the Big East title, and advanced to the Russell Athletic Bowl in 2012...also coached at Boston College, Kansas State, North Carolina, Temple, Hofstra, Salisbury State, and Western Connecticut State...played linebacker at Ferrum (Va.) College before earning degree from Salisbury (Md.) State University in 1994...he and wife, Karen, have five children - Henry, William, Richard, Kate, and Maggie.
DELAWARE-MAINE SERIES
Series Record: Delaware leads 23-10 (33 total meetings)
First Meeting: Delaware defeated Maine 62-0 on Nov. 11, 1972 at Delaware Stadium
Streaks: Maine has won 3 straight meetings
At Newark, Del.: Delaware leads 13-5 (Maine won last meeting; Delaware has won 3 of the last 5)
At Orono, Maine: Delaware leads 10-5 (Maine has won two straight)
Last Delaware Win: Won 26-7 on Oct. 9, 2010 in Orono, Maine
Last Maine Win: Won 62-28 on Oct. 5, 2013 in Orono, Maine
BLUE HENS RETURN HOME......FINALLY
The Blue Hens will return home this week to host Maine and will make only their second home appearance and first since a 56-14 win over Delaware State in the season opener on Sept. 1.
Delaware football embarked on a rare three-game road swing that started Sept. 10 when the Hens traveled to Easton, Pa. to take on Lafayette, included a Sept. 17 game at Wake Forest, a bye week on Sept. 24, and a road game Oct. 1 at James Madison.
Delaware played three straight regular season road games in the same season for the first time since 2004 when the Hens traveled to Navy (34-20 loss), James Madison (20-13 loss), and Richmond (23-14 win) in consecutive weeks.
It also marked the first time Delaware has gone four straight weeks without a home game at Delaware Stadium in the same season since Sept. 7-28, 1991 when the Hens played three straight road games at Massachusetts, William & Mary, and Rhode Island before a bye week. Prior to that, the last time that happened was Oct. 22-Nov. 14, 1949 when the Hens, then playing at Wilmington Ball Park, won four straight road games over Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Bradley, and Washington & Lee.
DELAWARE TO CELEBRATE PARENTS AND FAMILY WEEKEND
The University of Delaware will celebrate one of the most festive weekends of the year this week as UD holds its annual Parents and Family Weekend throughout campus.
In addition to the Delaware vs. Maine football game, among the other activities being held are:
• “Major Mania” on Friday from 2:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. in the Trabant University Center multi-purpose rooms
• Friday Night Comedy Show featuring Emmy Award winning Wayne Brady – live at the Bob Carpenter Center beginning at 8 p.m (Sold Out)
• “Student Life Café” on Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Perkins Student Center
• Family Fest Tailgate – food, fun and festivities for the whole family at the UD Athletics Complex (1-3 p.m.)
• UD Associate in Arts Program (AAP) students, families, faculty and staff will join AAP group seating at the Family Fest Tailgate
• Home athletics events include women's soccer vs. UNCW (Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.) and vs. College of Charleston (Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.); cross country hosts Blue & Gold Invitational at White Clay Creek State Park (Oct. 8 at 10 a.m.); and the No. 10 ranked field hockey team takes on Michigan (Oct. 8 at 4 p.m.) and vs. Hofstra (Oct. 9 at 1:30 p.m.)
Click HERE for Complete Game Notes
