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Delaware Stadium received a makeover this summer, adding some large banners to the side facing Route 896 to honor the Hen’s most talented football players over the school’s history.
“[Athletic director Bernard Muir] really wanted to spruce up the stadium and at the same time, honor the great players we’ve had here before,” director of media relations Scott Selheimer said.
The new decorations at Delaware Stadium were hung to add more color and flair to the historic stadium, built in 1952, Selheimer said. The posters were put up a few days before the home game against Delaware State on September 19.
Delaware Stadium now contains a blue and gold banner hung across the student section that reads, ‘Welcome to the Cockpit,’ as well as a banner on the Bob Carpenter Center that reads in bold letters, ‘You’re in Blue Hen Country.’
“[The banners] add so much to the stadium and really add a lot of life and pizzazz to the place,” senior offensive lineman and co-captain Corey Nicholson said. “It's great to drive by this place and you can see them from the road. It definitely gives Delaware Stadium more energy and a great appearance.”
Senior Sam Hunter attended the game against Delaware State and compared the difference in the atmosphere to past games.
“It really makes you more into the game and it’s more intense,” Hunter said. “Having the school colors and logos all around an already all blue and gold crowd–it’s even crazier than it was before.”
Selheimer would not disclose the prices of banners, but said the university used Sport Graphics, based in Indianapolis, to make the banners. Muir contacted them because he liked the work they have done at other schools.
K.C. Keeler believes the banners are more than just pleasing to the eye.
“I walk by those banners every day on the way out to practice and it gives me chills every time,” he said. “They remind me of the great history we have here at the University of Delaware, the great players and great teams that have come before us. Our players know every time out that they are representing Delaware football and it’s a special thing.”
Six players are honored to represent Blue Hen football in the front of the stadium: Chuck Hall, Conway Hayman, Rich Gannon, Daryl Brown, Eddie Conti, and Joe Flacco. Selheimer said it was tough to choose just six out of 120 years of history comprised of thousands of successful players. Finding a cross-section of different eras and positions was also a part of the selection process.
“I think if we asked every single person in that stadium to come up with six people they think should be on there, there'd probably be 20 thousand different answers,” Selheimer said. “I mean I kind of put it like Mount Rushmore. We've only had 44 presidents and there's four on there —if you'd ask a thousand people, they'd probably give you one thousand different [answers] of who they think should be on there."
According to Selheimer, there is always going to be debate over the players that were chosen for the banners. However, he said the athletic department has received a lot of positive comments about the banners and decorations and how great of an idea they were.
Selheimer said although the stadium looks great as is, it is still a work in progress. He said other items, such as banners, will probably be added in the near future.
“On the east side of the stadium [near the scoreboard], we talked about doing even more banners of other players,” Selheimer said. Until then, fans have the new decorations to add some more school spirit to their experience.
“They did a tremendous job on the banners around Delaware Stadium,” Keeler said. “They really add to what is already a great atmosphere and a great venue for college football.”
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