It was a crisp, sunny day in October when hundreds
of UD football fans descended on Williamsburg, Va., home to the Tribe of William & Mary. Walking down the streets of historic Williamsburg, one could easily have thought it was Blue Hen country, said John Mayer of Newark. "Everyone we passed was from Delaware!"
Among those cheering the Fightin’ Blue Hens in their hard-fought battle against William and Mary were 220 alumni and friends who gathered for pre-game festivities at the Williamsburg Hospitality House. The UD Touchdown Club brought a busload, as did the Newark Country Club. Others made their own way to the event from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. The only requirement for attendance seemed to be a loyal devotion to the team.
"These people are completely immersed in University of Delaware sports," says Touchdown Club President David Biloon, EG ’71, of his contingent. "They’re a very fun group of long-time fans. They attend every game, and some of them are over 80 years old."
George Ziegelhofer of Newark and his wife, Frances, have attended home games for decades, and recently started traveling to away games as well. "In the 1950s,
I used to sneak into the stadium to see the games," the 76-year-old fan recalls with a sly smile. "We’ve been getting season tickets since the 1960s, though. And now we travel with the Touchdown Club to all away games."
Charles S. Joanedis, EG ’50, of Hockessin, Del., and his wife, Sylvia, have been season ticket holders for 35 years and travel to away games as well. Recipient of the University’s Medal of Distinction, Joanedis has participated in numerous fundraising campaigns and recruitment efforts. "He’s one of the University’s biggest volunteers," says Sylvia. "We’re going to move his bed over there soon."
After filling their plates with hearty helpings of chicken, ham, fish, salad, pasta, vegetables and apple cobbler, attendees got pumped up with a performance by the UD cheerleading squad and went off to the game with new seat cushions in hand (donated by Wilmington Trust).
Expecting an exciting game, the UD fans got that and more. A back-and-forth contest brought the Hens to a 45-45 tie before William & Mary’s winning touchdown brought the final score to 45-52. You can rest assured, however, that the loss won’t make a difference to these fans. "We love the University," says Joanedis.
–Sharon Roat, AS ’87