Photo: Delaware football coach K.C. Keeler said a Hens-Hornets game "would be great for the state." He said he was getting a greater say in nonconference scheduling. Coaching Record: 14-year overall college coaching record of 129-43-1 (.748), including a four-year record of 41-22 record (.651) at Delaware...led University of Delaware to the 2003 NCAA I-AA national title with a 15-1 record... By KEVIN TRESOLINI, The News Journal
UD coach addresses subject for first time
NEWARK -- The often-debated topic of if and when the University of Delaware Blue Hens and the Delaware State University Hornets should play their first-ever football game against each other had been off-limits for UD coach K.C. Keeler since his hiring in 2002.
That changed Monday.
"I think it would be great for the state, and then I wouldn't have to worry about every time we play a I-AA [opponent] outside of the conference having to have this discussion," Keeler said during his weekly news conference.
Though UD's football program began 36 years before DSU's, the two schools have each fielded a football team for the past 84 years. The two schools did not compete in any sport until 1991. They now traditionally meet in softball and baseball.
Delaware and Delaware State, both NCAA Division I-AA members in football, have never played because UD has been unwilling. Hens athletic director Edgar Johnson has said the schools will play, but has never offered a specific date.
Delaware is the only state in the country with at least two Division I football programs that have not played each other at least once.
The issue often comes up in weeks UD is facing a nonconference opponent. The Blue Hens face Monmouth, a Division I-AA foe, for the first time at 7 p.m. Saturday at Delaware Stadium.
Keeler had never been willing to comment publicly on the UD-DSU controversy. He'd often said that he was told two things when hired: Don't change Delaware's familiar blue-and-gold helmet design, patterned after Michigan's, and leave scheduling and questions about it to Johnson.
The issue, discussed in Delaware for more than 25 years, received national exposure last week because of a column on ESPN.com. This reporter was quoted in that column.
While there has been much speculation over the years as to why UD has refused to play historically black Delaware State, officials around the university traditionally have been reluctant to discuss the matter.
University of Delaware trustee Ruly Carpenter has told The News Journal that football scheduling is the responsibility of the athletics department and that the trustees are not involved.
On Monday, Keeler said that Johnson is giving him a greater say in nonconference scheduling.
Keeler's philosophy, he said, is to continue scheduling a Division II school every year, as UD has with West Chester annually since 1968, play a Division I-A foe every other year and seek I-AA opponents the Blue Hens can play at home.
"I want to play as many games in that stadium as I possibly can," he said, nodding toward Delaware Stadium from a view inside the neighboring Carpenter Center. "I don't want to be traveling all around the world to have to play people.
"If that means Delaware State figures into that, great. I think we'll play them sooner or later, but I know we're booked through 2011."
Delaware Stadium seats just over 22,000 fans. Attendance has averaged 22,280 in two home games so far this season. UD is the only Division I-AA program that has averaged more than 20,000 fans per home game in each of the last eight regular seasons. Eighteen of the last 21 regular-season games have been sellouts.
UD's ability to offer a financial guarantee is an incentive for teams to visit. Therefore, a game between the Hens and Hornets at Delaware Stadium would likely be more lucrative for both than if they played at DSU's 6,800-seat Alumni Stadium.
UD has an opening on its 2012 schedule and has spoken with several schools, but not DSU, Johnson said.
Told of Keeler's comments, Johnson would say only, "I think there are a lot of positives" about a UD-DSU meeting. He confirmed that he and Keeler have spoken more recently about scheduling philosophy.
UD President Patrick Harker, who took office this summer, told The News Journal he is giving the topic close scrutiny as he familiarizes himself with the university and its athletics.
Recently hired Delaware State Athletic Director Rick Costello said that Harker's hiring could signal more open-mindedness on UD's part, though he had not spoken with any UD officials.
UD coach addresses subject for first time
NEWARK -- The often-debated topic of if and when the University of Delaware Blue Hens and the Delaware State University Hornets should play their first-ever football game against each other had been off-limits for UD coach K.C. Keeler since his hiring in 2002.
That changed Monday.
"I think it would be great for the state, and then I wouldn't have to worry about every time we play a I-AA [opponent] outside of the conference having to have this discussion," Keeler said during his weekly news conference.
Though UD's football program began 36 years before DSU's, the two schools have each fielded a football team for the past 84 years. The two schools did not compete in any sport until 1991. They now traditionally meet in softball and baseball.
Delaware and Delaware State, both NCAA Division I-AA members in football, have never played because UD has been unwilling. Hens athletic director Edgar Johnson has said the schools will play, but has never offered a specific date.
Delaware is the only state in the country with at least two Division I football programs that have not played each other at least once.
The issue often comes up in weeks UD is facing a nonconference opponent. The Blue Hens face Monmouth, a Division I-AA foe, for the first time at 7 p.m. Saturday at Delaware Stadium.
Keeler had never been willing to comment publicly on the UD-DSU controversy. He'd often said that he was told two things when hired: Don't change Delaware's familiar blue-and-gold helmet design, patterned after Michigan's, and leave scheduling and questions about it to Johnson.
The issue, discussed in Delaware for more than 25 years, received national exposure last week because of a column on ESPN.com. This reporter was quoted in that column.
While there has been much speculation over the years as to why UD has refused to play historically black Delaware State, officials around the university traditionally have been reluctant to discuss the matter.
University of Delaware trustee Ruly Carpenter has told The News Journal that football scheduling is the responsibility of the athletics department and that the trustees are not involved.
On Monday, Keeler said that Johnson is giving him a greater say in nonconference scheduling.
Keeler's philosophy, he said, is to continue scheduling a Division II school every year, as UD has with West Chester annually since 1968, play a Division I-A foe every other year and seek I-AA opponents the Blue Hens can play at home.
"I want to play as many games in that stadium as I possibly can," he said, nodding toward Delaware Stadium from a view inside the neighboring Carpenter Center. "I don't want to be traveling all around the world to have to play people.
"If that means Delaware State figures into that, great. I think we'll play them sooner or later, but I know we're booked through 2011."
Delaware Stadium seats just over 22,000 fans. Attendance has averaged 22,280 in two home games so far this season. UD is the only Division I-AA program that has averaged more than 20,000 fans per home game in each of the last eight regular seasons. Eighteen of the last 21 regular-season games have been sellouts.
UD's ability to offer a financial guarantee is an incentive for teams to visit. Therefore, a game between the Hens and Hornets at Delaware Stadium would likely be more lucrative for both than if they played at DSU's 6,800-seat Alumni Stadium.
UD has an opening on its 2012 schedule and has spoken with several schools, but not DSU, Johnson said.
Told of Keeler's comments, Johnson would say only, "I think there are a lot of positives" about a UD-DSU meeting. He confirmed that he and Keeler have spoken more recently about scheduling philosophy.
UD President Patrick Harker, who took office this summer, told The News Journal he is giving the topic close scrutiny as he familiarizes himself with the university and its athletics.
Recently hired Delaware State Athletic Director Rick Costello said that Harker's hiring could signal more open-mindedness on UD's part, though he had not spoken with any UD officials.
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