Governor Jack Markell cheers on the University of Delaware Blue Hen football team as they prepare to challenge Eastern Washington for the Football Championship Subdivision (Division 1-AA) national title Friday night, and discusses the example set by Blue Hen football coaches and players over the years.
Governor's Weekly Message
Gov. Markell cheers on the UD football team as it plays for the FCS-1AA national championship.
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Full text of Governor Jack Markell’s weekly message:
Go Hens!
What an incredible way to start the year – with our University of Delaware Fighting Blue Hens in the national championship!
I was lucky to be able to grow up just down the street from legendary Blue Hen football coach Tubby Raymond. Some of my earliest memories were of Tubby’s excitement and energy around what were some really legendary college teams.
And while he always wanted to win every game he played, and always fielded the best team he could – he wanted as much as anything to make sure that his players came away from their years at UD knowing what mattered most: that there was a set of values around UD football that in a lot of ways resemble the core convictions of our great state - commitment, courage, teamwork and the belief that no matter what the odds against you look like – you keep fighting forward together, for every inch -
until those inches became yards, those yards became points and those points become wins.
One of Tubby’s players – K-C Keeler – went on to take Coach Raymond’s place on the sidelines.
And while he changed the offense, K-C has kept those values.
The result’s been remarkable – in nine years, he’s taken the team to three national championship games.
And he’s done it by building great teams – great coaches and staff who are leading a team of athletes who never, ever quit.
Despite that strange red turf, the Eastern Washington Eagles are a great team – they’re fast, they’re focused and they’ve proven they can win. But we expect they’ll hit that wall of Blue Hens hard –and- we’ll have a great reason to celebrate.
Depending on when you hear this, you’ll either be sharing with me the excitement leading up to the kick-off or reflecting on the results.
Whether our team wins or loses (and of course, we hope they win), we are so proud they got to this moment. …keeping Delaware on the national college football stage and spotlighting another aspect of our small but great First State.
They’ve inspired pride – not just in their fellow students at one of the best universities in the country – but in people all over the state.
People who share that Blue Hen belief that – shared commitment, courage, teamwork and spirit are what make our state special and what keeps Delaware – fighting forward.