Tubby Raymond

Harold R. "Tubby" Raymond (born November 14, 1926) is a former 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.

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.

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 Tubby 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

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.

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

Outside of football

Political activity

Raymond has become involved in Delaware politics, and has remained active even after retiring to Landenberg, Pennsylvania. Because he is well known and well liked in Delaware, his endorsement is sought out by candidates. Raymond is a staunch conservative; he describes himself as "just to the right of Genghis Khan."^[3]

Despite his conservative views, Raymond has 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 have remained friends. When Markell ran for state treasurer, Raymond taped radio ads supporting him, a move that Markell claimed as one of his most effective campaign strategies.^[4] 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 is 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 continues to paint each senior Blue Hen player.^[6]

Family

Raymond's son, Dave, was a punter for the Blue Hens and is best known as the original Phillie Phanatic (1978–1993). Currently, David Raymond runs the Raymond Entertainment Group, which supervises the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record

Football

Baseball

Below is a table of Raymond's yearly records as a collegiate head baseball coach.^[7][8][9]

See also

• List of college football coaches with 200 wins
• List of college football coaches with 150 NCAA Division I FCS wins
• List of presidents of the American Football Coaches Association

References

External links

• Tubby Raymond at the College Football Hall of Fame