Vol. 17, No. 34June 11, 1998

Hens open '98 season under the lights vs. UMass

The University of Delaware football team will open its 1998 season under the lights of Delaware Stadium at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3, as the Blue Hens take on Atlantic 10 Conference foe University of Massachusetts in the inaugural Conectiv Communications Kickoff.

The game, originally scheduled for Sept. 5, will be the season opener for both teams as Delaware, coming off a 1997 season that saw the Blue Hens post a 12-2 record and advance to the NCAA I-AA semifinals, looks to advance to postseason play for the seventh time this decade.

Massachusetts will be led by first-year head coach Mark Whipple.

"This is a great opportunity for us to bring the excitement of night football back to Delaware Stadium," Edgar N. Johnson, athletics, said. "We had great success with our first night game back in 1991, and moving this game from Saturday afternoon to Thursday night gives our students and fans the chance to attend the game before heading out for the Labor Day weekend. It should be a great college atmosphere once again."

This year's game will mark just the second collegiate night game in Delaware Stadium history and the first since Aug. 31, 1991, when Delaware defeated West Chester 28-0 before a crowd of 18,237 in the Texaco Star Classic. (The annual Delaware Blue-Gold High School All- Star football game also has been held under the lights at Delaware Stadium and will be again for the seventh straight year June 27.)

"We at Conectiv Communications are proud to join the University of Delaware as a corporate partner during the football and basketball seasons," Jeff Allen, Conectiv Communications executive vice president, said. "The Conectiv Communications Kickoff is part of an exciting yearlong relationship that will include the Conectiv Communications Hen House, which will have free activities for kids before all home football games."

Lighting for the event once again will be provided by Musco Lighting of Davenport, Iowa, which has provided the lighting for the annual Blue-Gold All-Star games and also for UD's first night game.

Head coach Tubby Raymond, among the top 10 winningest coaches in college football history with 270 wins, will welcome back 14 starters in his 33rd year at the helm of the Blue Hens. Also returning are All-American candidates Eddie Conti at spread end and Dale Koscielski at safety. Both missed all but the first three games of last season due to knee injuries.

Season tickets for the 1998 University of Delaware's six-game home schedule are currently on sale at the UD season ticket office, located at the Delaware Field House. Single game tickets will go on sale beginning Aug. 3. Call UD1-HENS for information.

The 1998 UD football schedule includes