Though an FCS, Blue Hens are formidable
After high-profile opening games in huge stadiums the last two seasons – facing Ohio State (2009) and Maryland (2010) — Navy goes undercover this year, playing host to FCS Delaware.
The Midshipmen are taking the Blue Hens lightly, however. Delaware made it to the FCS title game last year, losing to Eastern Washington, 20-19. The Blue Hens also have beaten bowl-bound Navy squads twice in the tenure of coach K.C. Keeler, who enters his 10th season.
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“I don’t like playing Delaware. I’ve been pretty vocal about it,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “We are fortunate at the Academy to play [schools] from different conferences. Delaware’s as good as anyone we play.”
In 2007, a Delaware team led by current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco outscored Navy, 59-52. In 2003, Delaware sent Navy’s first sellout crowd in four years home unhappy with a 21-17 victory.
The Blue Hens enter this time in transition at quarterback after the graduation of Pat Devlin, now of the Miami Dolphins. Tim Donnelly, a 6-4 junior, and Trevor Sacek, a 6-6 sophomore, are competing for the job.
“We will have a starting quarterback in place sometime before 3:30 on Saturday,” Keeler joked on Monday. “We might even have a competition. Whoever gets out there first, we’ll name the starter.”
One player Navy is sure to see plenty of is sophomore running back Andrew Pierce, who rushed for 1,655 yards last year, a season after sitting out, waiting for a promised scholarship to play for the Blue Hens.
“They have a big line too,” said Navy junior linebacker Matt Brewer. “We’re gonna have to swarm to the ball – no hesitation, full throttle.”
As an FCS team, Delaware can accept transfers from FBS teams and plug them into the lineup immediately. NCAA rules require players who transfer between FBS teams to sit out a season. Delaware has been one of the most aggressive FCS teams, gaining players in this fashion including starting tight end Ryan Cobb, a redshirt freshman who arrived from Virginia, and starting cornerback Travis Hawkins, a sophomore from Maryland, who joins a loaded defense that returns eight starters.
“Let’s just say they’re a talented group,” Niumatalolo said. “We as a staff know we’ve got our hands full. Maybe if you’re not from this area, maybe you don’t realize how good they are. And the [Colonial Athletic Association], that league’s upset people over the years.”
The only question on Saturday, would a Delaware win even be considered an upset?
