Random thoughts and newsy tidbits while waiting out Penn Relays lightning delays . . .
NFL mock drafts are just that, a mockery. Nobody knows where anybody is going, and the term "educated guess" is even dubious on many. But they are fun, aren't they?
Combing through the Internet, I've seen predictions of Delaware QB Pat Devlin going in the fourth round to the Chiefs, fifth round to the Eagles, sixth round to the Giants and seventh round to the 49ers. I'm sure I could do another search and find five other scenarios. That reflects the wide array of opinion on Devlin, whose football IQ is widely lauded while his arm strength has concerned some.
I asked UD coach K.C. Keeler today what teams he sensed had the strongest interest in Devlin. He mentioned the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, who each dispatched assistant coaches to eye Devlin during UD's Pro Day. The Redskins have also poked around quite a bit, he said, and Devlin did get a personal audition with the Eagles.
Delaware DB Anthony Walters also has a decent chance to be a late draft pick Saturday, while comrade Anthony Bratton, a safety, could be drafted but will certainly get a free agent look. So should LB Matt Marcorelle.
CAA Basketball Schedule Change
The Colonial Athletic Association announced conference basketball schedule plans for the next three years this week and there's a slight change for the Delaware men.
Each school has five opponents it plays every year home and away. The other six rotate, with two playing home-and-away in a season while there is just one game against the other four. That leads to 18 league games.
For the past six years, George Mason has been one of the UD men's full-time home-and-away foes, along with Drexel, Hofstra, Towson and Northeastern. But for the next three years, Delaware will play Georgia State twice instead of Mason, which actually makes the schedule easier. Drexel, Towson, Hofstra and Northeastern remain.
The women retained the same five -- Mason, Drexel, Towson, Hofstra and Northeastern.
The UD men will play Mason and UNC Wilmington home and away in 2011-12, ODU and VCU at home and William & Mary and James Madison away.
In 2012-13, JMU and ODU are home and away, UNCW and William & Mary are home and VCU and Mason are away.
In 2013-14, VCU and William & Mary are home and away, Mason and JMU are home and UNCW and ODU are away.
The UD women will play William & Mary and UNC Wilmington home and away in 2011-12, ODU and VCU at home and Georgia State and James Madison away.
In 2012-13, JMU and ODU are home and away, UNCW and Georgia State are home and VCU and William & Mary are away.
In 2013-14, VCU and Georgia State are home and away, William & Mary and JMU are home and UNCW and ODU are away.
Schools were allowed to request their five regular opponents and they were guaranteed to get three of them.
UD Track/XC continues impressive fight
The UD administration has agreed to mediation in the track and cross country team's fight, through the U.S. Office of Civil Rights, to have their teams restored: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110428/NEWS03/104280365
It'll be interesting to see how that turns out, because the only successful end result of mediation is an agreement and the only agreeable conclusion for the student-athletes is getting their teams back. Hard to imagine UD just saying, 'OK, here you go.'
But one certainly has to admire the determination of these students, to right what they feel is a wrong, and to seek avenues to reach that conclusion. However it turns out, other UD grads should be proud of their efforts. A good education is supposed to help develop people with that kind of determination and smarts to seek change.
These are some Fightin' Blue Hens, huh?
