NEWARK, Del. – While college football history is made Saturday Sept. 19 when the Fightin’ Blue Hens of the University of Delaware face the Hornets of Delaware State University for the first time in the regular season, kicking off the ‘Route 1 Rivalry’ of the state’s only Division I football programs, players and fans at Delaware Stadium will see a flyover by a Delaware Air National Guard C-130 aircraft manned by aircrew from the 166th Airlift Wing in New Castle, Del.

The flyover is scheduled to occur at the playing of the last note of the National Anthem, between 12 noon and 12:05 p.m., just prior to the kickoff.

“Our aircrew and our entire unit leadership are proud and honored to have a chance to perform this aerial display of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft during this historic athletic event,” said Col. Jonathan Groff, 166th Airlift Wing Commander. “The C-130 is the workforce of the Delaware Air Guard and the Air Force, and our aircrews are always happy when we get a chance to do a flyover in view of so many fellow citizens. This Saturday’s inaugural in-state football matchup is a great chance to tip our wings over the gridiron of Tubby Raymond Field.”

Over 100 unit Airmen and two of the unit’s C-130 aircraft are currently performing combat and aeromedical evacuation missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Southwest Asia, and other unit Airmen are preparing to go on overseas missions through early 2010. The unit’s Airmen fly missions at home and abroad to assist our fellow citizens and support American warfighters.

FAST COMPARISON FACTS:

* Delaware Stadium: erected in 1952, attendance record of 23,619 v. Temple on Oct. 27, 1973
* Delaware Air National Guard: founded in 1946, with a membership of 1,100 Citizen-Airmen
* Tubby Raymond Field: Holds 22 football players during game time, plus half-a-dozen referees
* Lockheed C-130H aircraft: Flown by five-person aircrew; maximum capacity 92 troops or 42,000 pounds

DELAWARE STATE – DELAWARE SERIES HISTORY:
Saturday’s contest will mark the second meeting between Delaware State and Delaware. The first meeting between these two teams took place during the first round of the 2007 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. UD leads the series history, 1-0. Nearly 50 miles separate the state’s only two Division I programs. This contest will kick off the “Route 1 Rivalry” which is slated to continue in 2012. Delaware State began football in 1912, while Delaware first fielded a football squad in 1896. The winner of this Saturday's contest will be awarded the inaugural "First State Cup".

Contact: Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey
Public Affairs Specialist, 166th Airlift Wing
Cell 302-593-2126, or office 302-323-3369
E-mail: Benjamin.Matwey@denewc.ang.af.mil