A Blue Hen playbook
Photos courtesy of Samantha Konspore, Micahel Akinbola and Abbey Thistle January 09, 2026
How UD talent is helping power a run for the Super Bowl
The New England Patriots, headed into their first postseason game this Sunday, are enjoying a banner year. Analysts point to young star power, an elite offense and inspired coaching — but that’s only part of the story. Behind this record-breaking campaign is another, unsung force: Blue Hen magic.
If this sounds like sacrilege coming from a school deep in Eagles country, put down your pitchforks (foam fingers?) and consider this: Several University of Delaware alumni work for the Patriots, and their Blue Hen values align seamlessly with the organization’s culture.
“There’s a lot of overlap between the institutions," said Sarah Jackson, a 2020 graduate who parlayed an undergraduate job with UD Football into an operations career with the Patriots. She assists with travel logistics, game-day workflows — even troubleshooting broken air conditioning systems on the team bus. “Both are places where high standards really matter.”
On the surface, the Georgian brick pathways of UD may seem far removed from the beer-stained risers of Gillette Stadium. But each place represents pride. Community. A shared connection to something larger than oneself.
Below is a closer look at some of the Blue Hen alumni working quietly behind the scenes — each one a key piece in the Patriots’ winning playbook.
Finding her sparkle
Samantha Konspore, Class of 2022, fondly recalls Sundays growing up in North Haven, Connecticut, watching Patriots’ games with her dad. “We bonded through all the Super Bowl wins, the parades — that was a really special time,” she said. So special, in fact, that Konspore yelled to team owner Robert Kraft from the stands a few years ago: I’m going to work for you someday!
Now, that dream has come true.
As the team’s cheerleading supervisor, Konspore wears many hats — coordinating community service initiatives, managing social media, accompanying the squad on overseas photo shoots, supporting mental health performance and wellness, booking outreach events, and leading fan engagement efforts. Through it all, she’s driven by a simple philosophy: “I try to add sparkle wherever I go,” she said. “If you can be a light for someone, that matters.”
It’s an outlook Konspore developed as an undergraduate at UD. An elite athlete who’d competed on a global stage, she’d been recruited by the Blue Hen cheer squad. But in Konspore's sophomore year, a devastating ACL tear ended her season early. She relied heavily on support not just from the University’s physical trainers, but a team of on-site psychologists who “became my rock.” The experience left an indelible mark.
“That holistic approach shaped me — it changed everything,” said Konspore, who now ensures that Patriot cheerleaders have access to that same, full-spectrum care. “Because of UD, this is ingrained into my philosophy."
Another formative campus experience came from Konspore’s time helping raise millions of dollars for the B+ Foundation as a member of UDance, which supports pediatric cancer patients. (One former patient is a 13-year-old girl Konspore still considers family, despite a major disconnect: “I try to respect her position as a Dolphins fan,” she laughs.)
This season, Konspore shared her passion for the charity with colleagues — “It’s my heart and soul” — and she was selected for the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats initiative. During a Monday night game against the Giants, she sported custom Nike Air Force 1s on the field, spotlighting the B+ Foundation and raising awareness for the cause.
Bringing some of this Blue Hen spirit to New England? It’s more than a professional calling.
“This feels like a full-circle moment,” Konspore said. “My childhood self would be proud; I’m walking past Mr. Kraft in the hallway all the time now. And I get emotional just talking about it.”
Bringing the joy
As the Patriots’ director of rehabilitation, Michael Akinbola has been to three Super Bowls. And he doesn’t take those experiences for granted — not even Super Bowl 52 against the Eagles, admittedly a “very confusing day” for the Philadelphia native. But those Lombardi trophies didn’t come easy.
As an undergraduate football player at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, Akinbola tore his right pectoral muscle during pre-season testing. His sense of identity felt broken, too.
“I was in complete emotional disarray,” he said. “But the athletic trainers on staff showed me a great deal of patience. They didn’t just help me fix my body — they helped me find myself again.”
The experience was transformative. Akinbola decided he wanted to provide this type of support for professional athletes one day, and he entrusted UD’s nationally ranked physical therapy program with his doctoral training. Under dedicated mentors, he thrived in the sports residency program, working with football, rugby, wrestling and lacrosse athletes from UD and the wider community.
“It wasn’t just about muscles or healing timelines,” said the 2011 graduate. “It was about understanding who the athlete is, what motivates them and how to help them get back to doing what they love. That became my template.”
Beyond the “top-tier, bar-none” technical knowledge gleaned during these experiential learning opportunities, Akinbola sums up his time at UD in one word: Fun. He recalls a special camaraderie between students and faculty — including that one professor who allowed students late entry to a lecture due to a crucial flag football game: “He wanted to know one thing afterward: Did you get the win?”
Today, Akinbola coordinates the care of 70 to 90 athletes, depending on the time of year. Overseeing a team that spans multiple medical and performance disciplines, he’s intentional about creating a collaborative environment — one that leaves room for fun, too. (Ask him about the weekly training-room polls that pit 300-pound men against one another in heated debates about the world’s best Halloween candy or hip-hop album or cereal.)
"If it's an enjoyable space with some laughter, that can make the environment more conducive to recovery, rehab and performance,” he said.
As for whether a little Blue Hen energy will help the team capture another trophy come February? That remains to be seen.
But, Akinbola said: “It certainly doesn’t hurt.”
Fostering tradition
Abbey Thistle is the Patriots’ senior director of event presentation and fan engagement — in other words, she brings the vibes. From coordinating ceremonies on the field to overseeing the cheerleaders, mascots, former players and video board content, she pulls fans into the heart of the action.
“People could stay home and watch the game on TV, but they choose to be here,” she said. “It’s important that we get the energy right.”
Thistle’s path to the NFL, like many, wasn’t a straight line. A history major at UD with an English minor, she never imagined working in professional sports.
“But my courses taught me how to read, write and think creatively,” said the 2021 graduate. “Those skills are the foundation for everything I do now.”
But what really prepared Thistle for this high-stakes position was the sense of tradition she found at UD. As a member of the marching band, she woke up at 5 a.m. for game days, relishing the sights, sounds and smells of a campus alive with energy. “I loved the feeling of being part of something bigger than myself,” she said. “That sense of community — the songs we played, the cheers we shared — it shaped how I think about bringing people together now.”
She’s carried that philosophy to Gillette Stadium, where every game-day detail is designed to foster connection.
“We created one tradition called Keeper of the Light,” she said. “Alumni, celebrities and other luminaries — they ring the bell before the team takes the field. It’s about honoring the past, celebrating the present and creating something people remember.”
Whether she’s planning a draft party, organizing a fan rally or orchestrating the perfect soundtrack for a pivotal third down, Thistle approaches her work with the same energy, creativity and pride she first discovered at UD.
“Being a Blue Hen taught me to give my all,” she said. “That’s what game day is all about.”
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