Tubby Raymond

Harold R. "Tubby" Raymond (November 14, 1926 – December 8, 2017) was an American football and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Delaware from 1966 to 2001, compiling a record of 300–119–3. Raymond was also the head baseball coach at the University of Maine from 1952 to 1953 and at Delaware from 1956 to 1964, tallying a career college baseball mark of 164–72–3. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2003.

"Harold Raymond" redirects here. For other uses, see Harold Raymond (disambiguation).
Tubby Raymond
Biographical details
Born(1926-11-04)November 4, 1926
Flint, Michigan, U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 2017(2017-12-08) (aged 91)
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1946, 1948Michigan
Baseball
1949Michigan
1950Clarksdale Planters
1951Flint Arrows
Position(s)Quarterback, linebacker (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1951–1953Maine (line)
1954–1965Delaware (backfield)
1966–2001Delaware
Baseball
1952–1953Maine
1956–1964Delaware
Head coaching record
Overall300–119–3 (football)
164–72–3 (baseball)
Bowls4–1
TournamentsFootball
7–4 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
11–11 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
2 NCAA College Division (1970–1971)
1 NCAA Division II (1979)
3 Middle Atlantic (1966, 1968–1969)
5 Yankee (1986, 1988, 1991–1992, 1995)
1 A-10 (2000)
Awards
Football
2× AFCA College Division COY (1971–1972)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2003 (profile)

Playing career

Raymond, a native of Flint, Michigan, played quarterback and linebacker at the University of Michigan under Fritz Crisler. He also played baseball at Michigan and was the captain of the baseball team in 1949.[1] He played minor league baseball in 1950 with the Clarksdale Planters and in 1951 with the Flint Arrows.[2]

Coaching career

Raymond began his football coaching career in 1951 as an assistant at the University of Maine. He moved to Delaware in 1954 as a backfield coach under David M. Nelson, who had also played at Michigan. Raymond succeeded Nelson as head coach in 1966. He retired after 36 seasons with a 300–119–3 record, three national titles (1971, 1972, 1979), 14 Lambert Cup trophies, 23 post-season bids and four consecutive victories in the Boardwalk Bowl. After classifications were formed in the early 1970s, Delaware was a Division II program until elevating to Division I-AA in 1981. At the time of his retirement, more than half of Blue Hens' all-time victories in the 110-year-old history of their program had been tallied under Raymond tenure. On March 5, 2002, K. C. Keeler, former Blue Hens linebacker and head football coach at Rowan University, succeeded Raymond at Delaware.

Use of "Delaware Wing T" offense

A formation similar to the Flexbone, though much older, is known as the "Delaware Wing-T" was created by longtime University of Delaware coach and NCAA Rules Committee chairman David M. Nelson, and perfected by his successor Tubby Raymond. It has become a very popular offense with high schools and small colleges. It was designed at the time to be a mix between the single wing and T-formation. It took the motion and run-strength of the single wing, and the QB-under-center from the T. In this variation, there is only one wing back, with the other back lined up next to the fullback on the opposite side from the wing back. However, the Wing Back may also line up diagonally from the Tight End. He may be used as an extra blocker or a receiver. He may come in motion for running plays.

300th win

Going into the 2001 season, Raymond needed just four wins to reach the 300 mark. At the first game of the season, a banner hung above the stadium listing the numbers 297, 298, 299 and 300. As each win was accomplished, the respective number was crossed off.

Raymond's 300th win came during the last home game of the season on November 10 with a 10–6 victory against the Richmond Spiders. As the clock wound down in the game, the crowd began chanting "Tubby, Tubby". Raymond made a short, humble speech and was carried off the field by his team as a construction worker climbed onto a cherry-picker to cross off the final number on the poster.

The following is an excerpt from Raymond's speech to Delaware fans after his 300th victory:

"I have to apologize for paraphrasing, but I feel a little bit like Lou Gehrig. I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth. First, I'd like to thank the Delaware fans who have been here for so many years. I know there are things that happen that you don't like. There are things that happen that I don't like. But the thing that's there all the time is you. You're at every football game. You're excited about being here, and you truly made Delaware football something we can all be proud of. Thank you very much."

Delaware lost its final game of the season on the road against Villanova and, that winter, Raymond announced his retirement, ending his career at an even 300 wins.

Awards and honors
A bust of Tubby Raymond at Delaware Stadium with a plaque on his 300 wins, 3 National Championships, and College Hall of Fame induction

In 1993, the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame inducted Raymond. On August 29, 2002, Tubby Raymond Field was dedicated in Raymond's honor at Delaware Stadium, which was opened in 1952.

On January 12, 2018, the University of Delaware hosted a celebration of Raymond's life at the Bob Carpenter Center. Speakers included University president Dennis Assanis, former Vice President Joe Biden (who played freshman football at Delaware), NFL MVP Rich Gannon (who played quarterback at Delaware), and Raymond's sons Chris and David.[3]

Outside of football

Political activity

Raymond became involved in Delaware politics, and remained active even after retiring to Landenberg, Pennsylvania. Because he was well-known and liked in Delaware, his endorsement was sought out by candidates. Raymond was a staunch conservative; he described himself as "just to the right of Genghis Khan."[4]

Despite his conservative views, Raymond long supported Democrat Jack Markell more out of loyalty than because of political views. As a boy, Markell grew up seven houses away from the Raymonds and the two remained friends. When Markell ran for state treasurer, Raymond taped radio ads supporting him. In 2007, Markell named Raymond an honorary co-chair of his 2008 gubernatorial bid.[5] Markell became the 73rd Governor of Delaware in January 2009.

Painting

Raymond was an accomplished painter. While coaching at Delaware, he began a tradition of painting a Blue Hen player each week of the season. Even after retiring from coaching, he continued to paint each senior Blue Hen player.[6]

Family

Harold was married to wife, Diane Raymond. Raymond had three children with his first wife Sue, who became deaf as an adult after a bout with Ménière's disease and died from a brain tumor in 1990:[7] David (the original Phillie Phanatic), Chris and Debbie. Harold also adopted Diane's daughter, Michelle.

Head coaching record

Football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs NCAA# TSN°
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1966–1969)
1966 Delaware 6–36–01st (University)
1967 Delaware 2–72–34th (University)
1968 Delaware 8–35–01st (University)W Boardwalk
1969 Delaware 9–26–01st (University)W Boardwalk
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (NCAA College Division / NCAA Division II independent) (1970–1979)
1970 Delaware 9–2W Boardwalk
1971 Delaware 10–1W Boardwalk
1972 Delaware 10–0
1973 Delaware 8–4L Boardwalk (NCAA D-II Quarterfinal)
1974 Delaware 12–2W Grantland Rice (NCAA D-II Semifinal), L Camellia (NCAA D-II Final)
1975 Delaware 8–3
1976 Delaware 8–3–1L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
1977 Delaware 6–3–1
1978 Delaware 10–4L NCAA Division II Championship
1979 Delaware 13–1W NCAA Division II Championship
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1980–1985)
1980 Delaware 9–26
1981 Delaware 9–3L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal7
1982 Delaware 12–2L NCAA Division I-AA Championship3
1983 Delaware 4–7
1984 Delaware 8–319
1985 Delaware 7–4
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (Yankee Conference) (1986–1996)
1986 Delaware 9–45–2T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal13
1987 Delaware 5–62–5T–5th
1988 Delaware 7–56–2T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1989 Delaware 7–45–3T–4th
1990 Delaware 6–55–3T–2nd
1991 Delaware 10–27–1T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round6
1992 Delaware 11–37–11stL NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal8
1993 Delaware 9–46–22nd (Mid-Atlantic)L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal18
1994 Delaware 7–3–15–33rd (Mid-Atlantic)
1995 Delaware 11–28–01st (Mid-Atlantic)L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal7
1996 Delaware 8–46–2T–2nd (Mid-Atlantic)L NCAA Division I-AA First Round11
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1997–2001)
1997 Delaware 12–27–12nd (Mid-Atlantic)L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal3
1998 Delaware 7–44–4T–2nd (Mid-Atlantic)22
1999 Delaware 7–45–3T–4th
2000 Delaware 12–27–1T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal3
2001 Delaware 4–64–5T–6th
Delaware: 300–119–3108–41
Total:300–119–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Baseball

Below is a table of Raymond's yearly records as a collegiate head baseball coach.[8][9][10]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Maine Black Bears (Yankee Conference) (1952–1954)
1952 Maine 11–10–13–23rd
1953 Maine 11–72–2T–3rd
1954 Maine 14–93–33rd
Maine: 36–26–18–7
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1956–1964)
1956 Delaware 14–21stNCAA Regional
1957 Delaware 14–6
1958 Delaware 19–31st
1959 Delaware 15–4
1960 Delaware 14–8–11stNCAA Regional
1961 Delaware 17–8–11stNCAA Regional
1962 Delaware 17–7
1963 Delaware 15–10
1964 Delaware 17–71st
Delaware: 142–55–2
Total:178–81–3

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References
  1. "Michigan Baseball Captains". University of Michigan Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  2. "Harold Raymond Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  3. Tresolini, Kevin (January 12, 2018). "Personal reflections of ex-Delaware football coach Tubby Raymond are a treasure". The News-Journal.
  4. Miller, Beth (July 29, 2007). "Democratic rivals jockeyed to get big names on their side". The News Journal. Archived from the original on September 2, 2007.
  5. "Democrat Jack Markell Announces Initial Honorary Co-Chairs of his Campaign for Governor" (Press release). Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  6. "Featured Artist: Harold 'Tubby' Raymond". Go-star.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2004.
  7. Malooley, Jake (April 13, 2021). "Googly eyes, Sasquatch suits and a runaway booger: Welcome to the Mascot Hall of Fame". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  8. "Baseball" (PDF). University of Maine. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  9. "2014 Delaware Baseball Media Guide". Delaware Sports Information. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  10. "NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Record Book" (PDF). NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
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