Stunner!! UD fires KC Keeler!!

[89Hen]

Huh? The Keeler hire was exciting - former Hen, brash, cocky, had been to a slew of national title games while at Rowan (admittedly, not winning any of them) and a guy who just won year in and year out. There was a lot of excitement about Keeler taking over and it paid off two seasons later with the lifting of the trophy in Chatty. Heck, I remember the Spring game that first year had something like 6k people there and it was a happening. That ain't gonna happen this time.

Brock may end up being a very successful coach, but like I said, what ails the Blue Hen football program has little to do with the product on the field.

Gannon is right on. 89 you've been in touch with your feminine side way too long apparently. After watching the sludge of the end of the Tubby era there was a great deal of excitement, optimism & curiousity with KC coming in. The offense most fans UD grew up with was gone & we went 21st century ditching the Wing-T. KC talked a great game & delivered early on. '02-'04 were good times for him, then the roller coaster began.

I will disagree wit GF on one thing, part of the ail of Blue Hen football the past 5-6 years has been what goes on between the white lines - the Hens need to get better & win more games, period.

I don't think I said there was no "excitement, optimism & curiousity"... just that Keeler was NOT a big hire. Yes, he was a former Hen, but honestly, I don't recall him as a standout at UD. Rowan. We're talking Rowan. You guys are full of shit or getting senile if you think anyone was "blown away by the hiring of Keeler".

[GannonFan]

Gannon is right on. 89 you've been in touch with your feminine side way too long apparently. After watching the sludge of the end of the Tubby era there was a great deal of excitement, optimism & curiousity with KC coming in. The offense most fans UD grew up with was gone & we went 21st century ditching the Wing-T. KC talked a great game & delivered early on. '02-'04 were good times for him, then the roller coaster began.

I will disagree wit GF on one thing, part of the ail of Blue Hen football the past 5-6 years has been what goes on between the white lines - the Hens need to get better & win more games, period.

I don't think I said there was no "excitement, optimism & curiousity"... just that Keeler was NOT a big hire. Yes, he was a former Hen, but honestly, I don't recall him as a standout at UD. Rowan. We're talking Rowan. You guys are full of **** or getting senile if you think anyone was "blown away by the hiring of Keeler".

I can't speak to exaclty how good he was as a player as I was pretty young still, but he did have a decent shot at the NFL with the Eagles so he wasn't a nobody and the Hens did win a national title when he was a starting LB for them.

But as for the excitement, people certainly knew that he had a heckuva program at Rowan and his first Spring practice attracted easily double the normal attendance for that practice game and was easily up in the 6k to 7k range. For UD's level, that qualifies as a lot of excitement.

[bluehenbillk]

I can still remember Keeler's 1st game, home against Georgia Southern, Brian Ingram breaking away from defenders only to be phantom tackled by the 20 yard line stripe.

There was a top 5 game for intensity in the Tub for regular season games.

[Blue Hen Fanatic]

see below:

[Blue Hen Fanatic]

"89Hen"]"bluehenbillk"]"GannonFan"]
I don't think I said there was no "excitement, optimism & curiousity"... just that Keeler was NOT a big hire. Yes, he was a former Hen, but honestly, I don't recall him as a standout at UD. Rowan. We're talking Rowan. You guys are full of **** or getting senile if you think anyone was "blown away by the hiring of Keeler".

---------------------------------

Well, KC was a great linebacker at UD. No one that went to games back then would disagree. He also brought Rowan to 5 National Championship games. Anyone who can sneeze at that is clueless. And as far as fans being blown away with KC being hired back in 2002, I would agree that they were not blown away. However, the vast majority of the Fan base wanted him as their new coach, and when they offered it to Harvard's Murphy all hell broke loose. The fan base wanted KC and they got him. And most of them were damn glad after he brought them the program's first IAA Championship, and doing so in only his second year. And many FBH Fans are still confused as to why he was fired after bringing them to 3 National Championship games in his first 10 seasons. The vast majority of UD football fans, and I don't mean the small minority that post here, believe KC Keeler was a great Coach and are shocked at his firing from a new wet behind the ears Athletic Director that replaced Keeler with an unproven coach he knew from his last job. Ask anyone who really matters in this program and they will tell you the same.