Head football coach Tubby Raymond, who is entering his 35th season as head coach this fall, welcomes back a team that will feature plenty of experience but must build some depth, especially on the offensive line.

The Blue Hens, coming off their second straight 7-4 campaign in 1999 and their 12th straight winning season, begin pre-season camp Aug. 13 in preparation for the 2000 season opener on Sept. 2 at Rhode Island. The Blue Hens will take on The Citadel in their home opener at 7 p.m. Sept. 9.

"We would like to solidify our defense and upgrade our passing game to a more sophisticated level," says Raymond of the two goals he has set. "Our number one focus will be on the kicking game. We will work on it more than we ever have before. It cost us last year and we need to improve, but this is a team of exceptional promise. We've got a little bit of everything and, hopefully, we can build some depth in some key areas. We are excited to get started."

Raymond announced in May that senior linebacker Brian McKenna of South Orange, N.J., and senior halfback Craig Cummings of Ocean City, Md., were elected by their teammates as co-captains for the 2000 season.

Scott Collins, a transfer from Pennsylvania State University, is expected to take over the placekicking chores this fall.

Delaware, which narrowly missed out on an NCAA I-AA playoff bid in 1999, will feature a strong defense that ranked in the top half of the Atlantic 10 Conference in virtually every category a year ago.

In all, 31 players with starting experience return to the unit highlighted by All-American candidates Mike Cecere at defensive end and McKenna at linebacker. Cecere, a three-time All-Atlantic 10 pick, led the team with seven sacks in 1999 despite missing the final three games with a broken forearm. McKenna, a first team All-Atlantic 10 pick in 1999, led the team with 83 tackles, while intercepting three passes.

Other top defensive returnees include All-Atlantic 10 cornerback Tyrone Bowden (four interceptions), safeties Travis Blomgren and Bashawn Dixon, defensive linemen Femi Ayi and Mike Pinckney and linebacker Dan Mulhern, who led all NCAA I-AA linebackers with seven interceptions a year ago.

"I thought last year's defense would come of age and be a dominating thing," says Raymond. "We were stopped by so many injuries (only Pinckney started every game), but they give every indication we can get back to that. Surely, Cecere and McKenna give us two of the better defensive players anywhere."

Offensively, the Hens will be trying to gain more consistency after a season filled with injuries. Senior Matt Nagy, who was hampered with injuries most of the season, hopes to return to his 1998 form when he threw for 2,916 yards and 20 touchdowns and earned third team all-conference honors.

Second team All-Atlantic 10 halfback Butter Pressey (682 yards) returns as one of the league's top running backs along with proven performers Craig Cummings (423 yards) and Derrick Downs (9.4 yards per carry) at halfback and James O'Neal (598 yards) at fullback.

Jamin Elliott (47 catches for 850 yards) and Brett Veach (25-374) return as big-play receivers. The offensive line is not deep but has four of the better linemen in the league in All-Atlantic 10 center Jeff Fiss, guards Chris Phipps and John Ahern and tackle Jeff Dodge.