Dotting the northern tip of Delaware and just an hour between Baltimore and Philadelphia lies the home of the Blue Hens. The primary artery of town is Main Street, which bustles with restaurants and bars brimming with pregame activity. Nods to the University of Delaware are omnipresent giving definition to the town’s connection to their beloved team. The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens boast a deep football history illustrating how grit and determination can build a program. Championship success has elevated this proud program from Division 2, to FCS, to the present FBS level. Spending a football gameday in Newark provides plenty of evidence that they belong.
The pulse of gridiron gamedays beats to the sound of the UD Marching Band. Over 300 members strong, this unit is as much a part of the football experience as the men in shoulder pads and winged helmets. From the early day festivities to the on-field postgame performance, this ensemble is consistently dynamic in their sound and style. They provide the soundtrack to pregame while the team is welcomed during The Flight Path, the customary team walk that takes place just outside the stadium. The band continues to entertain to flocks of supporters with the fight song and previews of the halftime show. The energy never wavers during the game as the powerful melodies surge through the pounding hearts in Delaware Stadium.
YoUDee serves as the Blue Hen mascot, and he is as unique as they come. Sharing the same representative as Delaware’s state bird, this revered symbol of spirit hypes up the action throughout the day. Included in the festivities are three live blue hens called The Birdgade. Housed in their own trailer known as The Roost complete with a faux football field and goal posts, fans can visit these feathered figures in tailgating areas before the game. Blue hens aren’t actually blue, though a seemingly blue tint is how they acquired their name. However, they are aggressive creatures whose history connects back to Revolutionary War days. As a result, “Fightin’ Blue Hens” is the more suitable moniker for Delaware.
Once inside Delaware Stadium, royal blue and gold fanatics fill the seats ready to wildly amplify their voices. Scores by the home team bring more than cheering. A crisp and vibrant sound rings from behind the corner of the field. The historic College Bell has been a feature on campus since 1834. It was originally used to awaken students and ready them for class. Now, it tolls in celebration of crossing the endzone. Having been restored numerous times over the years, this Delaware icon is a tribute to the tenacity and loyalty of this successful football program.
Newark, Delaware might not ring a bell for the casual college football enthusiast. But, this place contains all the history and vivacity that make a college town vibrate on gamedays. It’s a challenge to find a more steadfast collection of fans. They’ve been through everything from shaky transitions to championship glory. Blue Hens are known for their furious strength in battle. That same energy transfers to the loyalty of Delaware’s fanbase. Football gamedays in Newark explode with frenzied supporters and deep rooted tradition. College football is fortunate to claim the Fightin’ Blue Hens.
