UD Honors Retired NFL Alumnus

[RadMann]

The attached link from UD student paper The Review notes Gannon's HOF induction:

Rich Gannon immortalized
By Steve Russolillo
Published: Tuesday, November 8, 2005

He had a stellar 17-year career in the NFL that featured five teams, three Pro Bowl appearances, one Most Valuable Player award and a trip to the Super Bowl. But this weekend marked a return to his roots when one of the most widely recognized athletes in Delaware history was enshrined in the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Former quarterback Rich Gannon returned to Delaware Stadium on Saturday to an emotional standing ovation from the sellout crowd. Delaware faithful certainly remmembered the three-year starting quarterback who played from 1983 to 1986. Gannon earned All-American honors and was the Yankee Conference Player of the Year in 1986.

He established an astounding 21 school records as quarterback while at Delaware, including career records in passing yards (5,927) and total offense (7,436.) Gannon was not just a pocket passer as he set the record for career rushing yards by a quarterback (1,509.)...."

http://www.udreview.com/media/paper781/news/2005/11/08/Sports/Rich-Gannon.Immortalized-1048679.shtml

http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper781/stills/6ag892wt.jpg

[bluehenbillk]

It was a pretty weak ceremony, they announced the HOF'ers in alphabetical order & then didn't have Gannon serve as the honorary captain.

Typical from our administration.

[RadMann]

I did not make it to the game so I did not realize the ceremony was so lame. Typical.

[blukeys]

The attached link from UD student paper The Review notes Gannon's HOF induction:

Rich Gannon immortalized
By Steve Russolillo
Published: Tuesday, November 8, 2005

He had a stellar 17-year career in the NFL that featured five teams, three Pro Bowl appearances, one Most Valuable Player award and a trip to the Super Bowl. But this weekend marked a return to his roots when one of the most widely recognized athletes in Delaware history was enshrined in the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Former quarterback Rich Gannon returned to Delaware Stadium on Saturday to an emotional standing ovation from the sellout crowd. Delaware faithful certainly remmembered the three-year starting quarterback who played from 1983 to 1986. Gannon earned All-American honors and was the Yankee Conference Player of the Year in 1986.

He established an astounding 21 school records as quarterback while at Delaware, including career records in passing yards (5,927) and total offense (7,436.) Gannon was not just a pocket passer as he set the record for career rushing yards by a quarterback (1,509.)...."

http://www.udreview.com/media/paper781/news/2005/11/08/Sports/Rich-Gannon.Immortalized-1048679.shtml

http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper781/stills/6ag892wt.jpg


Nowhere near the a reflection of the impact Gannon had on the UD program of the 80's. At times in the 80's watching Gannon was very much like watching a man playing touch football with boys. Gannon's mobility and all around skills were unreal and the keys for UD's wins over Temple and NAVY. Tubby never had the total talent surrounding Gannon to make a great run at the I-AA title during the Gannon years.

Those of us fortunate enough to see Rich in his college years have memories that no one can erase. I saw all of the great UD QB's from the 1960's on. Gannon was the best.

[RadMann]

I've seen UD QBs from Komlo on and I would agree that Gannon was by far the best.

[HENJOHN]

I asked Rich before the game if he thought they might retire his number and he winced and indicated he didn't think that was necessary. That would have been the nice gesture and to have had # 16 hanging down the side of the BOB.