# 1979 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

The 1979 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. In their 14th year under head coach Tubby Raymond, the Blue Hens compiled a 13–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 546 to 228, and defeated Youngstown State, 38–21, in the Zia Bowl to win the Division II national championship. The team also received the Lambert Cup as the best Division II team in the east.
The Blue Hens were led by a high-scoring offense that averaged 39 points per games. They defeated Merchant Marine, 65–0, setting a school record with eight rushing touchdowns. It was at the time the second-highest margin of victory in school history, trailing a 93–0 victory over William & Mary in 1915.
Quarterback Scott Brunner tied the school record with 24 passing touchdowns. After the season, Brunner received first-team Division II Kodak All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He was also named the All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Player of the Year. Other key players included:
The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware, and led Division II football in attendance, with 19,644 attendees per regular season home game.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 8 | at Rhode Island | | Meade StadiumKingston, RI | W 34–14 | 7,141 |
| September 15 | West Chester | | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE (rivalry) | W 42–6 | 18,975 |
| September 22 | Temple | | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE | L 14–31 | 22,068 |
| September 29 | Merchant Marine | No. 2 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE | W 65–0 | 17,081 |
| October 6 | Lehigh | No. 2 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE (rivalry) | W 21–14 | 20,636 |
| October 13 | at Villanova | No. 1 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA (rivalry) | W 21–20 | 14,500 |
| October 20 | C.W. Post | No. 1 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE | W 47–19 | 20,343 |
| October 27 | William & Mary | No. 1 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE (rivalry) | W 40–0 | 19,728 |
| November 3 | Maine | No. 1 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE | W 31–14 | 18,679 |
| November 10 | at No. 2 Youngstown State | No. 1 | Rayen StadiumYoungstown, OH | W 51–45 | 13,142 |
| November 17 | at Colgate | No. 1 | Andy Kerr StadiumHamilton, NY | W 24–16 | 5,000 |
| November 24 | No. 6 Virginia Union | No. 1 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal) | W 58–28 | 14,357 |
| December 1 | No. 5 Mississippi College | No. 1 | Delaware StadiumNewark, DE (NCAA Division II Semifinal) | W 60–10 | 13,787 |
| December 8 | vs. No. 2 Youngstown State | No. 1 | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM (NCAA Division II Championship Game—Zia Bowl) | W 38–21 | 4,000 |
| Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Honors

After the season, senior quarterback Scott Brunner earned American Football Coaches Association first-team All-America honors, Associated Press (AP) second-team All-America honors, All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Year honors, and first-team All-ECAC honors. Guard Herb Beck earned AP first-team All-America honors. Fullback Bo Dennis, tight end Jaime Young, center Mike Donnalley, linebacker Mike Wisniewski, cornerback Vince Hyland, and safety Guy Ramsey earned AP honorable mention All-America honors. Dennis, Young, Beck, Donnalley, Wisniewski, Hyland, Ramsey, and kicker Brandt Kennedy earned first-team All-East (ECAC) honors.