The game was a happening; someday the Hornets are going to sting the Hens

Scores of people, regardless of college affiliation, just wanted to see Delaware State at Delaware be a respectable football game. I spoke to many Blue Hen fans who, at the very least, wanted Delaware to fall behind for awhile and experience, then contemplate the scary fact that they could lose. The long past of this not-scheduled, obvious and natural in-state rivalry has nothing to do with the players on the field.

Last Saturday was “Jump Street” for a game that doesn’t seem to harness the rivalry emotions that are formed over a long time, but rather it was about pageantry and bands, halftime performances and meeting people you haven’t seen for awhile.

I watched the game from the Delaware State sidelines with my longtime friend and former Hornet head coach Bill Collick. We talked about all kinds of things and once in awhile football was the subject.

The Delaware State halftime show was “off the hizzy” performed in front of the Delaware home stands which gave it a standing ovation. The Delaware band moved more xylophones and big drums onto and off the field than seems possible in 10 minutes.

That game was a happening and someday the Hornets are going to sting the Hens. Speaking of which yellow jackets were attacking people and photographer Dan Cook got stuck on the lower lip, which does sound funny unless it happens to you.

TRAILGATING - Coach George Glenn and I walked the tailgate gauntlet before last Saturday’s game at Delaware which is always a treat but not really that much fun if you’re not drinking or trying to get fat or at least put yourself in a condition of gastric distress for a three-hour football game.

George ran into Jimmy Gambacorta, former owner of Gambacorta Motors in New Castle who now lives on Old Landing Road. Jimmy was finishing a joke: “A pair of jumper cables walks into a bar and the bartender says, ‘I’ll serve you guys, just don’t try to start anything.’”

We visited with Edgar Johnson, retired Delaware athletic director, and down the line met new athletic director Bernard Muir. Muir, 40 years old, is a former captain of the Brown basketball team and worked in athletic administration at Notre Dame and Georgetown. Joanne Reihm insisted Bernard get his picture taken with coach Glenn and me, and when she told him that we were downstate VIPs he seemed to find that fact a little too uproariously funny.

Later, at the Brian Donahue tailgate - “Hey, we got sandwiches,” we ran into Mark Moore, former starting linebacker on the Delaware national championship team with his son Mason. Coach Donahue, Mark’s high school coach, insisted on being in the background of the picture.

SNIPPETS - Erin Bailey scored both Wesley goals in regulation as the Wolverines went on to defeat Mary Washington in overtime 3-2, snapping the Eagles’ five-game winning streak. Wesley improved to 7-0, the best start in school history

The University of Maryland women’s soccer team, with former Cape player Lydia Hastings at striker, defeated Brown 3-1 to conclude its nonconference schedule 8-0.

The Terps, ranked ninth in the country, will open play in the ACC Thursday, Sept. 24, on the road at No. 5 Florida State.

Hannah Pepper had her first two-goal varsity game as Cape improved to 2-0 on the season with a 5-0 Saturday night win at Dover. Jacki and Kaci Coveleski also scored along with Caroline Judge.

Judge caught a swinging stick to the face which required stitches and had to leave the game early. The Vikings run the gauntlet this week traveling to Delmar for a 4 p.m. game Tuesday, Sept. 22, then hosting Sussex Tech Sept. 24 - the varsity game beginning at 7 p.m. under the lights - then a 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 game versus Middletown at the University of Delaware’s Rullo Stadium. A visiting Middletown team knocked 15-0 Cape from an unbeaten season last year.

Sussex Tech is 3-0 on the young season having outscored opponents 19-1. Maxine Fluharty has eight goals over three games. This is the week when the good teams play teams that can play back.

The Gottaloveit Boys and Girls fall ball lacrosse camp will be held at Rehoboth Elementary School with elementary, junior high and high school divisions. There will be 11 sessions held on Tuesday and Wednesday nights beginning at 5:15 p.m. and lasting until 6:30.

Games will be played on Sunday afternoons. The cost is $85 dollars. Contact Coach KK at coachkk@aol.com for all pertinent information or just ask Maxine in the middle of the field hockey game at Cape.

This is Big Loser Boy off to a middle school game.