It's the end of an era of Blue Hen football. Following in the footsteps of recently retired head coach Tubby Raymond, Elbert Chance, another UD football legend, finished his volunteer career at the end of this season as Delaware Stadium announcer. Both considered icons of the Fightin' Blue Hen tradition, the two men have symbolized the University's gridiron program for the last half-century--Raymond directing the action on the field and Chance reporting the play-by-play from the press box.

Since 1953, the Delaware native and Newark resident has greeted hundreds of thousands of football fans with his distinctive voice and familiar welcome: "Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to Delaware Stadium, HOME OF THE FIGHTING BLUE HENS!"

In his familiar seat in the Bob Kelley Press Box, high above Tubby Raymond Field, Chance reminisced about his colorful University of Delaware career, which started when he came to the Newark campus in 1949.

In a way, Chance said, he never left the University, earning his bachelor's degree in dramatic arts and speech in 1952 and a master's degree in history in 1959. He joined the University's professional staff in 1952 as sports information director and assistant director of public relations. While working in that dual position, he assumed the announcer's role in the press box in 1953, the first full year the Blue Hens played all their home games in Delaware Stadium.

Known as the "Voice of the Fightin' Blue Hens" and also the "Voice of Delaware Stadium," Chance said he loves his announcing role as much today as he did when he assumed the volunteer position.

Counting playoff games and an average of six homes games each season, Chance announced about 300 home games for the Fightin' Blue Hens by the end of the 2002 season.

When asked to describe his announcer's role, Chance replied, "It's fun. It's nice to see the success of the team, and it's also nice to play a small role in the distinguished legacy of Delaware football."

Chance admitted that his announcing style is a bit more colorful than a strict recitation of statistics and the location of the football. "I don't try to be absolutely formal. I try to give the people information and add a little color.

"The hardest part of the job is to stay stable and calm when we're losing. People say they don't know how I stay calm in my play-calling when they know I don't feel impartial inside.

"I'm a native Delawarean. I'm a longtime resident of Newark. I have two degrees from the University of Delaware, and I had a very happy 33 years as an employee. As a result of being at the University, I've had a lot of opportunities that I otherwise wouldn't have had. You could say I've appreciated those opportunities, and I've tried to pay back, in ways that I could, some of the appreciation and loyalty I feel for the University."

Many consider Chance's vantage point the best in the house.

"It's a great seat. It's high up and on the 50, and you can't beat that," Chance said. "I can see everything. We see more than the coach does since he's at ground level."

Chance said his decision to retire was a combination of several factors, including a desire to spend more time with his wife, Prue, who said her husband has done the job long enough.

Raymond said he enjoyed hearing Chance's announcements during the game. "It was always comforting to hear his voice, and it was obvious he knew what was happening on the field," he said.

An avid golfer, accomplished singer, frequent traveler and prolific writer, Chance will have no problem filling up his fall Saturday afternoons.

In 1989, Chance wrote One Hundred Years of Delaware Football. This fall, the expanded hardbound version--One Hundred Plus: The Story of Delaware Football, containing more than 120 photographs--has been released. (See accompanying story.) He also has written a detailed history of Wilmington's movie theatres for the Historical Society of Delaware and a book about the Wilmington Blue Rocks, and he has a column that appears regularly in the Newark Post.

In his role as alumni director for many years, Chance has personally known and worked with thousands of University graduates. Many remain in regular contact with him.

"One of the best comments I ever heard," he said, "was while I was playing golf with a former football player, who told me, 'Whenever I hear your voice, I get cranked up to play.' Of course, I hope that's true."

--Ed Okonowicz, AS'69, '84M