Expectations are up for the University of Delaware football team under a new head coach.
The Colonial Athletic Association preseason football poll is out and the Blue Hens’ conference foes appear to feel they’ll be much improved under first year coach Danny Rocco.
After finishing 10th in the 12 team league a year ago with a 2-6 CAA record, UD is picked to finish 5th this year in voting by the league’s head coach coaches and media relations directors.
Rocco is well known in the CAA after guiding Richmond to back-to-back 10 win seasons and 3 straight NCAA playoff berths before moving to Delaware last spring.
Defending national champ James Madison was voted the CAA pre-season favorite with Richmond second.
The CAA also released its pre-season all-conference team. Three Hen seniors landed on the squad - offensive lineman Brody Kern, defensive lineman Bilal Nichols and linebacker Charles Bell.
UD opens its 2017 season Thursday night August 31th at home against Delaware State.