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The purpose of the Blue Hen Touchdown Club is to acknowledge the achievements of the University of Delaware's football team and its' individual players.  The club membership stands at approximately 250 Blue Hen faithful. Men and women, both young and, well, not so young comprise our group. The one thing that we all have in common is our devotion to the Fightin' Blue Hens.

During the season, the club meets weekly. Luncheons are held at the Bob Carpenter Center on the second floor.  Doors will open at 11:15 am.  The offensive, defensive and special teams players of the previous week's game (as selected by the coaching staff) are honored at the luncheons. There will be a member of the coaching staff speaking, as well as an alumni player or other special guest.  Coaching staff also provide an offensive and defensive preview of what to expect for the upcoming game of the week.

The club also holds an annual dinner to honor our graduating seniors.

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Our History

by

Harold Heitmann

History of the Touchdown Club

Back in 1946 when Blue Hen coach Bill Murray had his team on a winning streak that would ultimately reach 30 games without a loss, there was no booster organization.  It was that year that the late George Sargisson of R.P.&S decided the university needed a touchdown club to support the team. 

George began to contact fans and business owners and the club was formed in 1946.  Luncheons were held at the Old Hub Tea Room in Wilmington.  As membership grew, club leaders, Clem Hallam and Al Roberson invited the Delaware senior football players to the first banquet as guests.  This tradition has continued ever since.

In 1953, the most valuable senior player award was first presented.  With the start of platoon football, the award was expanded to recognize both offensive and defensive players. 

The Taylor Memorial Trophy was moved from the university athletic banquet to the Touchdown Club banquet in 1954.

1972 started the awarding of the outstanding offensive lineman at the banquet and in 1973 the unsung hero aware began.  Harold Heitmann started the most valuable player award for each game in 1982 and the Newark Elks Lodge scholar athlete began in 1984.  The Vincent "Winnie" Mayer outstanding senior end award was established in 1983. 

Since 1946, Touchdown club members have witnessed many football thrills.  During this same time period, the members have volunteered many hours to promote Delaware football and increase interest in the game itself.

                  Below is the all time winningist 1AA FCS college football schools

                                                        W                    L                   W %

  1.  Yale                                        871                 354                71.1

  2.  Harvard                                838                 383                68.7

  3.  Pennsylvania                        824                 466               63.9

  4.  Princeton                               791                391                 66.9

  5.  Fordham                               755                 458                66.2     

  6.  Delaware                               663                 425                60.9

  7.  Dartmouth                            661                 441                60.0

  8.  LaFayette                             659                 564                53.7

  9.  Lehigh                                   659                 568                53.7

10.  Cornell                                  628                 485                56.3

              THE BLUE HEN TOUCHDOWN CLUB WOULD LIKE.

              TO HONOR THE PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE

              WILMINGTON & NEWARK TOUCHDOWN CLUBS

              WILMINGTON TOUCHDOWN CLUB – 1946

1946      F. J. Haggerty                                   1972      Albert chknside

1947      F. J. V. Haggerty                              1973      Robert W. Kramer. Jr.

1948      John N. Russo                                  1974      William B. Barlow

1949      John N.Russo                                   1975      Richard Sincock

1950      William D. Kelleher                           1976      Thomas J. Mason

1951      Thomas D. Wingate                          1977      Al C.Conway

1952      James W. Nichols                             1978      H. Hummell Sapp

1953      George Sargisson                              1979      Martin Finerty

1954      Stacy Jones                                       1980      Steve Sincock

1955  *William L. Gerow  (1959-1981)          1981      Mike Fay

1956  *M. T. Pete Lowe (1946-1958)            1982  *Harold J. Heitmann (1982- 

                                                                                    1996)

1957      F. Tuckerry Mulrooney                      1983      Harold J. Heitmann

1958      Thomas H. Hannan                            1984      Larry A. Wharry

1959      Russell F. Hurley                                1985      John D. Kelley

1960      James H. Hutchinson                          1986      Paul Seitz

1961      Harry Stat                                          1987      Ferris Lee

1962      B. Gary Scott                                     1988      HaroldTiffany

1963      William H. Kelley                               1989      Joe Lank

1964      Glenn Dill                                           1990      Bill Laurentis

1965      Walter 3. Cuppock                            1991      Bill Laurentis

1966      Robert 3. Ruth                                   1992      Lee Wood

1967      Byron Sarnonisky                               1993      Lee Wood

1968      Will lam L. Kappa                              1994      Lee Wood

1969      Joseph F. Fitzgerald                            1995      John B. Taylor ,IV

1971      Joseph C. Dilts

1972      Donald R. Carmichael

*Executive Directors

                            NEWARK TOUCHDOWN CLUB – 1956

1956      Winnie Mayer                                 1977      Ronald W.Knox             

1957      Winnie Mayer                                 1978      Roscoe Exley

1958      Wilson Worrall                               1979      Marty Finerty

1959      Wilson Worrall                               1980      John Suchanec

1960      Eric Mayer                                     1981      Harry Kamerer

1961      Francis Neide                                 1982      Thomas Braune

1962      Harold Swendson                           1983      Bernie Dworsky

1963      Billy Murray                                   1984      Howard Halloway

1964      Paul Jaquette                                  1985      David Biloon

1965      Al Priestley                                     1986      RandolphLindelI

1966      Earl Lynch                                      1987      Bruce Hubbard

1967      Bob Pilnick                                     1988      David Rash

1968      Sam Diehl                                       1989      David Rash

1969      Gib Young, Jr.                                1990      Bob Siemen

1970      Art Mayer                                      1991      Randolph    Lindell              

1971      Bill Vaughn                                     1992      Ken Schilling

1972      Piet Van Ogtrop                             1993      Rick Scully

1973      Ralph Orendorf                              1994      Robert Cox

1974      Bill Thompson                                1995      Mike Wollaston             

1975      Jim Garvin, Jr.

1976      Leo Loder