Blue Hens / Wolverines

[GatorGrad]

http://www.onlineseats.com/upload/sports/800_spt_Delaware-Blue.jpg

Amazing how similar these uniforms / helmets are to Michigan's. Not only the helmet design, but the colors, except for the different shades of blue. The helmet design started at Princeton originally, right? Who had this uniform first (after Princeton) - Michigan or Delaware?

[Blue Hen]

Princeton , indeed, was the first to use that helmet design, back in the early 1930s ( leather / Black & Orange). HC Fritz Crisler then went on to U of Michigan and installed that scheme there ( w/color change, of course) Long time U of Del FB coach, Dave Nelson , was a player on Crisler's Michigan team and brought that helmet design to Hillsdale College and Maine (where he coached) and eventually to Delaware in 1951.
Like you pointed out, there are minor differences. Michigan uses Maize and a darker Navy Blue with no striping on the pants. Delaware uses Maize and a lighter Royal Blue and adds a Blue pin stripe down the leg.
Coolest, most identifiable helmet scheme in CF....imo.


University Of Delaware Fight'n Blue Hens - 6 time National Champions !!!!

2 Real , 4 Mythical

[GatorGrad]

Thanks for the history on that. I agree that the helmet is the best design in college football. Now what's the history of Delaware's National Championships? I assume the two real were during the playoff era. What years were the others?

[Blue Hen]

DII NCAA National Champ- 1979
D1AA NCAA National Champ - 2003

1946, 1963, 1971, 1972..... college division 'poll' national champs.


Gotta brag on that 03 championship team. It might be the most dominant march through a CF playoff ever :


1st rd ) Delaware 37, Southern Illinois 7
Quarterfinals ) Delaware 37, Northern Iowa 7
Semi-finals ) Delaware 24, Wofford 9
Championship ) Delaware 40, Colgate 0

96 Marshall can make a 'most dominant' arguement too.



also, a correction - Delaware did away with the pin stripe on the pants, so they look exactly like Michigan's now.