Delaware schools left to cope with NCAA playoff ban

The University of Delaware is stuck in the middle after the NCAA Executive Committee’s decision to prohibit post-season play in the First State, if Delaware follows through with its single game sports betting plan.

The University of Delaware is stuck in the middle after the NCAA Executive Committee’s decision to prohibit post-season play in the First State, if Delaware follows through with its single game sports betting plan.

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Delaware, which has hosted 14 Football Champion football playoff games since 1991, is a member of the NCAA. But school officials,like AD Bernard Muir, also want what’s best for their state, and home field advantage their players and the fans.”I know what, as you advance through, what that means for an institution and its fans, and certainly you would love to have that opportunity.  At the same time, this is an issue that deserves quite a bit of attention and I totally understand the ramifications behind it.” said Muir.

Muir had hoped for a more favorable outcome after another NCAA committee proposed a sports betting policy last month that would have allowed Delaware schools to host if they earned that right on the field.

Wesley College AD and head football coach Mike Drass believes the real losers are those who have nothing to do with the sports betting dispute. “It seems like the student-athletes here are the pawns being moved around, and they’re the ones that are going to be hurt by this.” Drass said.

Wesley College has hosted 5 Division III football playoff games over the last four years.

Both Muir and Drass concede there’s no immediate recourse for Delaware schools – except to hope the NCAA and state officials can work something out.