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Blue Hen football season tickets sales brisk
2:02 p.m., Aug. 8, 2006--With the 2006 season opener against the Golden Rams of West Chester University just a month away, Fightin' Blue Hens football season tickets are selling at a near-record pace. As of Friday, Aug. 4, season ticket sales stood at 10,996, just 137 shy of the all-time record set last year when 11,133 season tickets were sold. Season tickets mean that fans of Delaware football have the best seats in Delaware Stadium when the Hens blitz their way on to Tubby Raymond Field at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, against the Golden Rams. The Hens look to build on a pair of solid late-season wins over the College of William & Mary and Villanova University, in hopes of returning to the top of the Atlantic 10 Conference standings and NCAA Division I-AA tournament action. With seven home games this fall, season tickets are a great buy and UD football is an event the whole family can enjoy, Edgar Johnson, director of athletics, said. “University of Delaware football continues to be an attractive value for all of our fans,” Johnson said. “We play in a very competitive conference, perhaps the best in I-AA football, and the games are always meaningful and exciting.” The Hens, who open preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 10, have been picked third in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll voted on by league coaches and media members. Offensively, the Hens are led by junior running back Omar Cuff, who has been selected to the 2006 The Sports Network preseason NCAA Division I-AA All-American football team. A big-time, multipurpose runner from Landover, Md., Cuff will challenge for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in Division I-AA football. Cuff, who rushed for 1,205 yards and 14 touchdowns while hauling in 414 passes for 41 yards last year, will be running behind an offensive line that returns six players with starting experience, as well as a deep group of talented tight ends. Senior Ryan Carty and transfer Joe Flacco are vying for the starting quarterback job, while sophomores Aaron Love and Kervin Michaud head the list of top receivers for the Hens. On defense, UD has an athletic and deep secondary led by returing senior starters Kyle Campbell, Rashaad Woodard and Roger Brown. KeiAndre Hepburn will lead the linebacker corps and Matt Marcorelle will pace the defensive line. Fans can see these players and the rest of the UD squad in action during seven homes games on Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium, including the season opener at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, against West Chester. Other home games include Albany (Freshman Family Weekend), Sept. 16; New Hampshire (Band Day), Sept 30; Hofstra (Homecoming), Oct. 14; Towson (Parents and Family Weekend), Oct. 28; William & Mary, Nov. 11; and Villanova (Hall of Fame Day), Nov. 18. Season tickets, which are still on sale, are $126 for the east and west grandstands and $91 for north end-zone seats. For information on ticket availability, call (302) 831-2257. For online ticket information or to purchase season tickets, media guides and away-game tickets, visit [www.udel.edu/sportsinfo]. Individual game tickets, which went on sale Aug. 1, are $19 for east and west grandstands and $14 for the north end zone. North end-zone tickets for fans ages 17 and under are $6. Tickets are available at the Bob Carpenter Center or by calling (302) UD1-HENS, and from Kent and Sussex Counties by calling 1-800-695-HENS. Tickets also can be purchased from TicketMaster online at [www.ticketmaster.com] or by calling (302) 984-2000 in Delaware or (215) 336-2000 in Pennsylvania. Parking prices are $10 per car, per game for general parking in designated nonreserved parking lots. RV parking, which must be purchased 72 hours before a game, is available at $60 per game. Group parking passes are available at $15 per car, with a minimum purchase of 20 group game tickets. Discounted group tickets are not available for the following games: Albany (Freshman Family Weekend), Sept. 16; Hofstra (Homecoming), Oct. 14; and Towson (Parents and Family Weekend), Oct. 28. For RV and group parking/tickets, call (302) 831-0606. To learn about promotions throughout the season, visit [www.udel.edu/sportsinfo]. Article by Jerry Rhodes |
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