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Working For That Ultimate Payoff

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By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

Updated: 12/28/2007 11:12 pm

Fred Andrew, the University of Delaware's junior cornerback and former Durant High player, said he thinks it would be fun to play in a bowl game.

A week of sightseeing with friends and family.

Tug-of-wars, beach days and pie-eating contests with the opposing team.

A bagful of bowl gifts.

Then the game itself, the reward for a successful season.

Andrew said the alternative isn't bad, either. And he should know.

On Dec. 14, he lived it.

"I understand why the BCS exists, and the bowl games are definitely a good thing," Andrew said. "But if we had the BCS at our level, we probably wouldn't have gotten our shot."

The Delaware Blue Hens (11-4) earned a spot in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoffs, won three postseason games (including two come-from-behind thrillers) and found themselves in the national title game against two-time defending champion Appalachian State.

"It was our Super Bowl," Andrew said.

The ending wasn't pleasant - Appalachian State 49, Delaware 21 in the championship game at Chattanooga, Tenn. - but Andrew wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

Nearly four years ago, he never visualized playing for Delaware.

"I didn't know anything about the program," Andrew said. "I barely knew anything about the state.

"I was pretty sure I wasn't wild about playing in the cold."

But after studying close-to-home programs such as Georgia Tech and Florida International, Andrew's best offer was Delaware. And after learning more about the Blue Hens, he discovered a winning tradition and a good situation.

Off he went.

After a redshirt season, he started nine games in his first two years. He entered 2007 as Delaware's most experienced defensive back - then proceeded to justify that reputation. He started all 15 games and had 57 tackles. He added three interceptions and scored on a 78-yard touchdown against Monmouth.

Delaware took an 8-1 record into the final two weeks, but lost against Richmond (62-56) and Villanova (16-10), leaving the Blue Hens with a No. 13 seed heading into the playoffs.

In other words, not much was expected, many not even advancing past the first week.

But after smashing Delaware State 44-7 in the first round, the Blue Hens upset No. 1-seeded Northern Iowa 37-29 after trailing 10-0 after the opening quarter. And in the national semifinals, Delaware again fell behind by 10 points, then rallied for a 20-17 victory against No. 4-seeded Southern Illinois.

"Our coaches kept telling us not to worry about the seeds, just worry about winning the game in front of us," Andrew said. "That's what we did, and we got hot at the right time. That's the great thing about having a playoff format. Once you're in it, you really do have a shot to go all the way.

"Appalachian State was a different deal for us. They had athletes all over the field, and we didn't nearly do enough to win that game. Even when you come that far, the last game still stings a lot. It hurts. But deep down, we know we accomplished a lot."

Andrew has returned to his Valrico home for the holiday season. But after the New Year, he'll be back at it.

"The 6 a.m. runs, the weight training, all the offseason work," Andrew said. "That's the part nobody sees. But without that, you don't get the payoff. When you go to the last game, you want to go back. We'd love to do it again."

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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