Football season has arrived.
The University of Delaware opens its 2023 schedule against Coastal Athletic Association rival Stony Brook on Thursday.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at LaValle Stadium on Long Island.
How to follow
Delawareonline.com will have live coverage from the game, with frequent updates including photos and video, beginning two hours before kickoff through to its conclusion with postgame reaction.
How to watch
Subscription service Flosports.com will be streaming the game.
Fans wishing to attend in person must cope with the drive through the New York Metropolitan area to reach Stony Brook, located more than halfway across Long Island on its north coast. It’s nearly 200 miles from the UD campus in Newark and travel time varies greatly depending on traffic and departure time.
Single-game ticket prices range from $12 to $25 and can be purchased in advance online. The ticket office number is 631-632-WOLF.
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How to hear
The game will air on WDSD (94.7), which begins its 25th season as the Blue Hens’ flagship radio station. Scott Klatzin calls the action with Nick Alessandrini providing analysis. The broadcast begins an hour before kickoff at 6.
Student radio station WVUD (91.3) is also airing the game with Daniel Steenkamer and Michael Boyer calling the action.
What’s the challenge?
Aspiring to compete for the CAA title and an FCS playoff berth, 22nd-ranked Delaware can ill afford a defeat in a conference game to start the season.
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Stony Brook was 2-9 last year, its worst in 24 Division I seasons. But the Seawolves have new offensive and defensive coordinators and a revamped roster with numerous Division I transfers.
Delaware has prevailed in just one of three previous visits to Stony Brook. The hosts have long had a reputation for playing very physical football with an offense spearheaded by a strong running attack.
Coach Chuck Priore said that won’t change with a new offense in place.
“Maybe a few different ways of doing it, maybe some different formations, but I’m an O-line guy, so we’re not too far away from trying to be physically tough in the pits,” Priore said.
That will be a challenge for the Blue Hens’ rebuilt defense.
Delaware will also have a quarterback making his first career start for the Blue Hens in Ryan O’Connor or Zach Marker, though both will certainly play. A veteran UD offensive line will have to hold up against a Stony Brook defensive front that has “tremendous depth,” Priore said.
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Who is a player to watch for Stony Brook?
Quarterback Casey Case is a transfer from Buffalo, where he played in three games but didn’t throw a pass in three seasons. Case won the job in spring practice and “our kids have a lot of confidence in him,” said Priore, who praised his smarts, ability to throw the football and extend plays.
Who is a player to watch for Delaware?
Jackson Taylor, one of Division II’s busiest tacklers during three seasons at West Chester, make his Delaware debut as part of a rebuilt defense aiming to build its own sturdy reputation.
What does UD coach Ryan Carty say?
“It’s a tough trip, but I think we’re up for it. I know coach Priore. I played against them multiple times when I was at the University of New Hampshire. I know how hard it is to play there. I know how hard-nosed and tough and physical and how much they fly around at Stony Brook. I know last year was an anomaly. So we are prepared to get a pretty big fight on Thursday and we’re excited about it.”
What does Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore say?
“The reality of it is, it’s worrying about us. They’ve got good players. I know they graduated a lot of players. They’ll have a good quarterback even though they graduated a great one [Nolan Henderson]. They’ll be physically strong on both sides of the ball. Hopefully [Carty] feels the same about us. And we’re both CAA teams that recruit top players.”
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