
- Rozovsky wins prestigious NSF Early Career Award
- UD students meet alumni, experience 'closing bell' at NYSE
- Newark Police seek assistance in identifying suspects in robbery
- Rivlin says bipartisan budget action, stronger budget rules key to reversing debt
- Stink bugs shouldn't pose problem until late summer
- Gao to honor Placido Domingo in Washington performance
- Adopt-A-Highway project keeps Lewes road clean
- WVUD's Radiothon fundraiser runs April 1-10
- W.D. Snodgrass Symposium to honor Pulitzer winner
- New guide helps cancer patients manage symptoms
- UD in the News, March 25, 2011
- For the Record, March 25, 2011
- Public opinion expert discusses world views of U.S. in Global Agenda series
- Congressional delegation, dean laud Center for Community Research and Service program
- Center for Political Communication sets symposium on politics, entertainment
- Students work to raise funds, awareness of domestic violence
- Equestrian team wins regional championship in Western riding
- Markell, Harker stress importance of agriculture to Delaware's economy
- Carol A. Ammon MBA Case Competition winners announced
- Prof presents blood-clotting studies at Gordon Research Conference
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, programs announced
- Stay connected with Sea Grant, CEOE e-newsletter
- A message to UD regarding the tragedy in Japan
- More News >>
- March 31-May 14: REP stages Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor'
- April 2: Newark plans annual 'wine and dine'
- April 5: Expert perspective on U.S. health care
- April 5: Comedian Ace Guillen to visit Scrounge
- April 6, May 4: School of Nursing sponsors research lecture series
- April 6-May 4: Confucius Institute presents Chinese Film Series on Wednesdays
- April 6: IPCC's Pachauri to discuss sustainable development in DENIN Dialogue Series
- April 7: 'WVUDstock' radiothon concert announced
- April 8: English Language Institute presents 'Arts in Translation'
- April 9: Green and Healthy Living Expo planned at The Bob
- April 9: Center for Political Communication to host Onion editor
- April 10: Alumni Easter Egg-stravaganza planned
- April 11: CDS session to focus on visual assistive technologies
- April 12: T.J. Stiles to speak at UDLA annual dinner
- April 15, 16: Annual UD push lawnmower tune-up scheduled
- April 15, 16: Master Players series presents iMusic 4, China Magpie
- April 15, 16: Delaware Symphony, UD chorus to perform Mahler work
- April 18: Former NFL Coach Bill Cowher featured in UD Speaks
- April 21-24: Sesame Street Live brings Elmo and friends to The Bob
- April 30: Save the date for Ag Day 2011 at UD
- April 30: Symposium to consider 'Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface'
- April 30-May 1: Relay for Life set at Delaware Field House
- May 4: Delaware Membrane Protein Symposium announced
- May 5: Northwestern University's Leon Keer to deliver Kerr lecture
- May 7: Women's volleyball team to host second annual Spring Fling
- Through May 3: SPPA announces speakers for 10th annual lecture series
- Through May 4: Global Agenda sees U.S. through others' eyes; World Bank president to speak
- Through May 4: 'Research on Race, Ethnicity, Culture' topic of series
- Through May 9: Black American Studies announces lecture series
- Through May 11: 'Challenges in Jewish Culture' lecture series announced
- Through May 11: Area Studies research featured in speaker series
- Through June 5: 'Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera' on view in Old College Gallery
- Through July 15: 'Bodyscapes' on view at Mechanical Hall Gallery
- More What's Happening >>
- UD calendar >>
- Middle States evaluation team on campus April 5
- Phipps named HR Liaison of the Quarter
- Senior wins iPad for participating in assessment study
- April 19: Procurement Services schedules information sessions
- UD Bookstore announces spring break hours
- HealthyU Wellness Program encourages employees to 'Step into Spring'
- April 8-29: Faculty roundtable series considers student engagement
- GRE is changing; learn more at April 15 info session
- April 30: UD Evening with Blue Rocks set for employees
- Morris Library to be open 24/7 during final exams
- More Campus FYI >>
4:03 p.m., Oct. 23, 2008----If the purpose of Homecoming is to combine football with reunions of old friends, then the get-together at the home of Shirley Nelson last week was a perfect example of the occasion.
As an early kickoff to Homecoming weekend on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 16, the widow of former University of Delaware head football coach Dave Nelson hosted dozens of alumni who had played for her husband in the 1950s. A regular event, the gathering drew former teammates who reconnect each year at the party, as well as others who said they stay in touch more often and a sprinkling of those who were attending for the first time.
All said they had one overriding reason for joining in this year--to honor the memory of Coach Nelson and reminisce about his legacy.
“We all remember him fondly. He was a very good coach, smart and innovative, and I think we all respected the lessons he taught us in life and football,” said John Allen, who graduated in 1954 and played on the team as what he now calls “an also-ran” in the 1952 and '53 seasons. “When he invented the Wing-T, he became famous all over the country. It was really remarkable for a school of Delaware's size.”
Allen recalled hearing Nelson take phone calls from coaches at such schools as Iowa, Notre Dame and Louisiana State, all seeking his advice and input on their own attempts to try the novel offense.
David M. Nelson was the Blue Hens head coach from 1952-65, UD athletics director from 1951-84 and the first dean of what was then the College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation. A member of the College Football and Delaware Sports halls of fame, he is remembered not only as the father of the Wing-T but also as the country's foremost authority at the time on college rules.
Among those attending this year's reunion were a former player who went on to coach at the college and NFL levels, a one-season player for the Philadelphia Eagles and John Walsh, who graduated in 1958 and coached vice presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (a 1965 UD graduate and former football player himself) when Biden was in high school at Archmere Academy.
Paul Mueller recalled graduating in 1953 as an ROTC member and being given the option, as the Korean War was winding down, of delaying his entry into active military service until February. He did so and spent those months as a reserve member of the Eagles. When their season ended, he went on active duty and never returned to the gridiron. He said, however, that football has remained a family activity.
“We usually come to the last Delaware home game,” he said. “This year I have 32 tickets just for my family. I'd come to more games, but my Saturdays are spent going to see the [10] grandkids play sports.”
Someone who did make football a career for about 12 years after leaving UD was Larry Catuzzi, who played for the Blue Hens in the late '50s, graduating in 1958 and then earning a master's degree in 1966. Catuzzi coached at such schools as the University of Dayton and Ohio State and with the Baltimore Colts before becoming an investment banker.
“This is the first one of these reunions I've been to,” Catuzzi said, adding that he came to Homecoming this year primarily to mark his 50-year class reunion. “There are a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time. It's been fun.”
John Borresen, who played in the 1951-53 seasons and helped plan the reunion, said the team had smaller rosters in the 1950s, probably resulting in more close friendships among players over the years. “We lived together [in Mechanical Hall], so we got to know each other well,” he said. “A lot of us have stayed in contact.”
UD Athletics Director Edgar Johnson also stopped by the get-together and shared with the former Blue Hens some of the University's plans for growth and improvements in athletics facilities.
As for Shirley Nelson, she said of the many alumni her husband coached over the years, “They're all my boys.”
Article by Ann Manser
Photo by Duane Perry