1951 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

The 1951 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1951 college football season. The team compiled a 5–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 173 to 109. John DeGasperis was the team captain.^[1][2] The team played its home games at Wilmington Park in Wilmington, Delaware.

1951 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football
Conference	Independent
Record	5–3
Head coach	David M. Nelson (1st season)
Captain	John DeGasperis
Home stadium	Wilmington Park
Seasons ← 1950 1952 →

1951 Southern college football independents records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 13 Virginia			–					8	–	1	–	0
Maryland State			–					7	–	1	–	0
Arkansas State			–					10	–	2	–	0
Stetson			–					8	–	1	–	2
Florida State			–					6	–	2	–	0
Northeast Louisiana State			–					6	–	2	–	0
Texas Southern			–					7	–	3	–	1
Miami (FL)			–					8	–	3	–	0
Tampa			–					7	–	3	–	1
Delaware			–					5	–	3	–	0
Memphis State			–					5	–	3	–	0
Sewanee			–					5	–	3	–	0
McNeese State			–					5	–	4	–	1
Louisville			–					5	–	4	–	0
Chattanooga			–					6	–	5	–	0
Grambling			–					4	–	5	–	1
Navy			–					2	–	6	–	1
Delta State			–					1	–	8	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

David M. Nelson was hired as the program's head football coach in February 1951. He head previously served as the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Maine.^[3] Nelson served as the head coach until 1965 and as athletic director until 1984.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 22	Lehigh	Wilmington Park Wilmington, DE (rivalry)	W 7–0	8,500	^[4]
September 29	at Connecticut	Gardner Dow Athletic Fields Storrs, CT	L 14–27	7,500	^[5]
October 6	West Chester	Wilmington Park Wilmington, DE (rivalry)	W 47–20	7,000	^[6]
October 13	Pennsylvania Military	Wilmington Park Wilmington, DE	W 46–2	5,332	^[7]
October 20	Temple	Wilmington Park Wilmington, DE	L 7–13	8,300	^[8]
October 27	Muhlenberg	Wilmington Park Wilmington, DE	W 21–7	5,500	^[9]
November 10	at Lafayette	Fisher Field Easton, PA	W 25–7	6,000	^[10]
November 17	at Bucknell	Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	L 6–33	7,000	^[11]

References

1. . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
2. "2012 Blue Hens Football Media Guide". University of Delaware. 2012. p. 158. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
3. "Delaware Selects David Nelson As Grid Coach". The Gazette and Daily. February 26, 1951. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Levin, Marty (September 24, 1951). "Delaware Wins Grid Start from Lehigh Eleven, 7-0". Wilmington Morning News. Wilmington, Del. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Ruck, Don (September 30, 1951). "Irv Panciera Paces Connecticut Eleven to 27-14 Upset Victory over Delaware". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. sect. IV, p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Katzman, Izzy (October 8, 1951). "Delaware Flashes Surprise with Offense Outburst". Journal–Every Evening. Wilmington, Del. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Delaware Romps over PMC, 46-2". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. October 14, 1951. p. S2 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Dell, John (October 21, 1951). "Temple Rallies, Beats Delaware for 4th Straight". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Delaware's Blue Hens Claw 21-7 Win over Mules". Sunday Call-Chronicle. Allentown, Pa. Associated Press. October 28, 1951. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Delaware Passes Whip Lafayette". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. November 11, 1951. p. S2 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Bucknell Wins, Sets Record; 1st Unbeaten Year Since '18". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. November 18, 1951. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.