University of Delaware Athletics
Celebration of Champions: 2000 National Semifinalist Football
12/10/2020 10:14:00 AM | Football
The 2000 University of Delaware football team claimed the Atlantic-10 championship, featured the conference's defensive player of the year, 18 all-conference selections, and four All-Americans, as well as an appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA Semifinals.Â
It was legendary head coach Tubby Raymond's 35th year in charge of the Blue Hens, on his way to claiming his ninth and final conference championship. The year started with eight-consecutive victories, including an 84-0 pounding of West Chester on Sept. 23, the second-most points scored in a single-game in program history.
After a one-point setback against New Hampshire Nov. 4, the Blue Hens finished the regular season strong with a pair of victories, including a 59-42 Battle of the Blue win over Villanova to secure the conference championship. Delaware then hosted a pair of playoff games, defeating Portland State in the opening round, followed by a win over nearby Lehigh the following week. Â
Offensively, the Blue Hens were led by senior quarterback, and current Chicago Bears head coach, Matt Nagy who was named to the A-10 First-Team and an All-American selection after throwing for 3,436 yards, a UD record at the time before it was broken in 2007 by Joe Flacco, with 29 touchdowns, still first in program history.. Nagy holds the program's all-time career lead in passing yards with 8,214 and touchdown passes with 58.
The A-10 Defensive Player of the Year was linebacker Brian McKenna, who also received All-American laurels. He was credited with 109 tackles in his senior season and compiled 341 during his time in Blue and Gold, where he ranked fifth in program history at the end of his playing days, now eighth in the UD record book.Â
Other 2000 All-Americans included senior center Jeff Fiss, who also was named an A-10 First-Team performer, and classmate defensive end Mike Cecere, another conference first-teamer.Â
The 2000 Blue Hens set program records that still hold today in points in a season with 572, touchdown passes in a season with 30, and safeties in a season with three (tied for first in program history). Delaware also racked up 3,610 yards during the year to rank second all-time and scored 75 touchdowns on the year, also second in the UD record book.Â
The team's co-leaders in receptions with 58 were Jamin Elliot and Brett Veach, the current general manager for the defending Super Bowl Champions, Kansas City Chiefs.Â
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It was legendary head coach Tubby Raymond's 35th year in charge of the Blue Hens, on his way to claiming his ninth and final conference championship. The year started with eight-consecutive victories, including an 84-0 pounding of West Chester on Sept. 23, the second-most points scored in a single-game in program history.
After a one-point setback against New Hampshire Nov. 4, the Blue Hens finished the regular season strong with a pair of victories, including a 59-42 Battle of the Blue win over Villanova to secure the conference championship. Delaware then hosted a pair of playoff games, defeating Portland State in the opening round, followed by a win over nearby Lehigh the following week. Â
Offensively, the Blue Hens were led by senior quarterback, and current Chicago Bears head coach, Matt Nagy who was named to the A-10 First-Team and an All-American selection after throwing for 3,436 yards, a UD record at the time before it was broken in 2007 by Joe Flacco, with 29 touchdowns, still first in program history.. Nagy holds the program's all-time career lead in passing yards with 8,214 and touchdown passes with 58.
The A-10 Defensive Player of the Year was linebacker Brian McKenna, who also received All-American laurels. He was credited with 109 tackles in his senior season and compiled 341 during his time in Blue and Gold, where he ranked fifth in program history at the end of his playing days, now eighth in the UD record book.Â
Other 2000 All-Americans included senior center Jeff Fiss, who also was named an A-10 First-Team performer, and classmate defensive end Mike Cecere, another conference first-teamer.Â
The 2000 Blue Hens set program records that still hold today in points in a season with 572, touchdown passes in a season with 30, and safeties in a season with three (tied for first in program history). Delaware also racked up 3,610 yards during the year to rank second all-time and scored 75 touchdowns on the year, also second in the UD record book.Â
The team's co-leaders in receptions with 58 were Jamin Elliot and Brett Veach, the current general manager for the defending Super Bowl Champions, Kansas City Chiefs.Â
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