1963 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1963 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football Middle Atlantic Conference University Division MAC 8–0 4–0 David M. Nelson 13th Paul Chesmore Delaware Stadium UPI small college national championLambert CupMAC University Division champion The 1963 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. In their 13th season under head coach David M. Nelson, the Blue Hens compiled an 8–0 record (4–0 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 290 to 76, and won the MAC University Division championship.2012 Blue Hens Football Media Guide University of Delaware 2012 159 August 8, 2020 https://issuu.com/udbluehens/docs/2012footballguide October 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221028015318/https://issuu.com/udbluehens/docs/2012footballguide dead After the season, Delaware was named by the United Press International (UPI) as the national small college football champion. Delaware outranked No. 2 Northern Illinois, receiving 18 first place votes (and 309 points) from the coaches to eight (and 285 points) for Northern Illinois.Delaware Is Named Small College National Champion The Childress (TX) Index December 4, 1963 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56981807/delaware-is-named-small-college/ Newspapers.com The Associated Press (AP), on the other hand, ranked Northern Illinois No. 1 (63 points) and Delaware No. 2 (53 points).Northern Illinois No One, To Play In Mineral Bowl The Index-Journal November 29, 1963 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56982629/northern-illinois-no-one/ Newspapers.com Delaware also won the Lambert Cup as the best College Division team in the east. Delaware halfback Mike Brown was selected by the AP as a first-team player on its 1963 All East team as well as its 1963 Little All-America college football team.Brown named All-East The Wilmington Morning News November 29, 1963 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56983225/brown-named-all-east/ Newspapers.comBrown Little All-America No. 1 Pick December 3, 1963 48 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-journal-brown-little-all-americ/166730953/ Newspapers.com Brown led the team and the MAC with 78 points scored (48 in MAC games) and 838 rushing yards (434 in MAC games).Bisons top three MAC departments The Wilmington Morning News November 21, 1963 52 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56982939/bisons-top-three-mac-departments/ Newspapers.com Due to the cancellation of the Bucknell game, Brown fell 36 yards short of the school's single-season rushing record. Paul Chesmore was Delaware's team captain. Other key players included quarterback Chuck Zolak.Delaware season over, game called The Wilmington Morning News November 23, 1963 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56984531/delaware-season-over-game-called/ Newspapers.com On October 5, 1963, the Hens established a MAC record with 505 yards of total offense. They eclipsed that record one week later with 596 yards against Lafayette. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. Schedule 1963 small college UPI Coaches y y y September 28 at Lehigh Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (rivalry) W 30-0 9,364 Cooley Labels Hens One of East's Best Hal Bodley September 30, 1963 25 Wilmington Morning News Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68792230/1963-delaware-lehigh/ October 5 1963 Gettysburg Bullets Gettysburg 2 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 64-18 10,100–10,110 Pro Career Aim of Blue Hens' Chuck Zolak Izzy Katzman Izzy Katzman October 7, 1963 19 Wilmington Morning News Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68794374/1963-delaware-gettysburg/ October 12 at Lafayette 3 Fisher Field Easton, PA W 61-0 4,000 Delaware Clubs Lafayette, 61-0, Gets 591 Yards The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Associated Press October 13, 1963 S3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56995606/delaware-clubs-lafayette-61-0-gets/ Newspapers.com October 19 at Ohio<ncg> 3 Peden Stadium Athens, OH W 29-12 15,000 Blue Hens Lay It on OU 'Cats 29-12 Associated Press October 20, 1963 5D The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68796710/1963-delaware-ohio/ October 26 at Connecticut<ncg> 2 Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT W 26-14 8,087 Delaware Struggles to Down UConns Bill Lee October 27, 1963 1C The Hartford Courant Hartford, Conn. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68797145/1963-delaware-uconn/ November 2 Buffalo<ncg> 2 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 34-6 10,500 Zolak Throws 3 TD Passes as Delaware Jars Buffalo Ron Smith November 3, 1963 S1 The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68798346/1963-delaware-buffalo/ November 9 Temple 1 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 32-23 10,100–10,183 Hens Glum Despite Win over Owls Izzy Katzman Izzy Katzman November 11, 1963 28 Wilmington Morning News Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68800346/1963-delaware-temple/ Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1963 Temple) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/690/stats/13015 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 18, 2022 November 16 at Rutgers<ncg> 1 Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 14-3 16,000–17,000 Delaware Shoves Rutgers to Losing Season, 14-3 Jimmie Fleming The Sunday Home News New Brunswick, N.J. November 17, 1963 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56981251/delaware-shoves-rutgers-to-losing/ Newspapers.com November 23 Bucknell 1 Lewisburg, PA Canceled Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1963 Delaware) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/180/stats/13015 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 15, 2024 Cancellation of Bucknell game The season finale against MAC University Division runner-up Bucknell was canceled following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The game had been heavily hyped, as Bucknell had a 3–1 conference record and could force a championship tie by winning. Initially, Bucknell announced the game would be played, but late on Friday night – after most other conferences and colleges had decided to cancel their games, but too late to catch the Blue Hens before they arrived in Western Pennsylvania – they reversed that decision. Bucknell offered Delaware the option to make up the game after Thanksgiving, but Delaware coach Dave Nelson declined, saying waiting that long, and playing a football game with a national tragedy so fresh in everyone's memory, would be "anticlimactic".Hens, Bucknell Respect Kennedy Evening Journal Hal Bodley Wilmington, Del. November 23, 1963 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45865392/63-bucknell-game-cancelled/ Newspapers.com References Delaware Category:Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Category:NCAA Small College Football Champions Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football