1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football Independent 9–3 Tubby Raymond 16th Ted Kempski 14th Delaware Wing-T 5–2 Ed Braceland Delaware Stadium NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 28–35 at Eastern Kentucky The 1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Delaware ended the regular season ranked No. 7 in the nation, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. In their 16th year under head coach Tubby Raymond, the Hens compiled a 9–3 record (9–2 regular season). Ed Braceland was the team captain. Starting the year on a three-game winning streak, the Hens were ranked No. 1 in the first two weeks of the weekly rankings. Though they dropped out of the top 10 in the middle of the year, a strong ending to the season saw them climb back to No. 7 in time to qualify for the eight-team playoff. Delaware played its home games at Delaware Stadium on the university campus in Newark, Delaware. Schedule 1981 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee y y y September 12 @ Western Kentucky L.T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 38 14 13,000 Hens Ride 38-Point First Half to Victory Tom Tomashek September 13, 1981 D-1 Sunday News Journal Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56919492/1981-delaware-western/ September 19 Temple Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 13 7 22,379 Delaware Massacres Princeton Bill Simmons September 20, 1981 9-D The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56611957/1981-princeton-delaware/ September 24 @ Princeton 1 Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ W 61 8 10,110 Delaware Overcomes Owls, 13-7 Gail Shister September 27, 1981 1-D The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56919574/1981-delaware-temple/ October 3 Lehigh 1 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (rivalry) L 21 24 22,784 Lehigh Rallies from Big Deficit, Beats Delaware Bill Simmons October 4, 1981 9-F The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56628728/1981-lehigh-delaware/ October 10 UMass T–7 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 38 15 19,581 UMass Thumped Bob Monahan October 11, 1981 71 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54310605/1981-delaware-umass/ October 17 Youngstown State T–6 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE L 21 24 18,645 Hens Fall to Youngstown 24-21 Tom Tomashek October 18, 1981 D-1 Sunday News Journal Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56919810/1982-delaware-youngstown/ October 24 Rhode Island<hc> Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 35 15 20,135 Hens Climb from Hole, Overtake Rhode Island Tom Tomashek October 18, 1981 D-1 Sunday News Journal Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56919968/1982-delaware-uri/ November 7 @ Penn Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA W 40 6 10,117 Delaware Routs Penn to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive Bill Simmons November 8, 1981 9-F The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56637867/1981-penn-delaware/ November 14 Maine T–10 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE W 42 35 16,743 Delaware Fights Off Unrelenting Maine in Last Minute, 42-35 Bill Simmons November 15, 1981 9-E The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56920130/1982-delaware-maine/ November 21 1981 West Chester Golden Rams West Chester 8 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (rivalry) W 31 14 17,767 Delaware Keeps Its Streak Alive, Whipping West Chester State, 31-14 Bill Simmons November 22, 1981 10-E The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56920196/1982-delaware-west-chester/ November 27 @ Connecticut 7 Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT W 35 26 5,084 Dougherty Rushes Hens Past UConn Tom Tomashek November 28, 1981 B-1 The News Journal Wilmington, Del. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56920257/1981-delaware-uconn/ December 5 @ #1 Eastern Kentucky 7 Hanger Field Richmond, KY (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal) L 28 35 8,100 Delaware Knocked Out of Playoffs Bill Simmons December 6, 1981 9-E The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56920343/1982-delaware-eastern/ References Delaware Category:Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football seasons Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football Delaware