Building a dynasty has some distinct advantages and a few potential drawbacks.

That’s what Delaware football coach Harold “Tubby” Raymond has found out during his 28 years of directing the Blue Hens.

Delaware, a perennial power in Division I-AA football for many years, is expected to be the team to beat during the 1993 Yankee Conference football season.

However, the conference has taken on a decidedly different, and stronger, look this fall with the addition of William & Mary, James Madison and Northeastern.

Richmond, William & Mary and Villanova are considered the other challengers, but the league’s coaches and the national media point to Delaware as the favorite.

Raymond isn’t surprised.

“It’s a compliment to our tradition here. I think that part of it is good,” Raymond said of the attention. But he doesn’t put much stock in all of the hoopla.

“We don’t pay any attention to it at all,” he said. “We’ve been there before.”

Delaware, ranked third in the country in the most recent I-AA poll, bombed Lehigh 62-21 in last week’s non-conference opener. The Blue Hens made it to the I-AA semifinals in ’92, losing to eventual national champion Marshall.

As a result of Delaware’s football reputation, opponents get fired up to play the Blue Hens.

“In the time that I’ve been here, we seldom see a flat football team against us,” Raymond said. “That’s the way we like it. If everybody’s going to get ready for you, you’d better like it.”

Raymond is excited about the Yankee Conference expansion, especially in terms of making the league stronger and providing a better schedule.

“There’s some good teams in the conference, there’s no question about it,” Raymond said.

“We went through a period where we couldn’t get a schedule,” he added. “We were playing McNeese State, Youngstown State, Middle Tennessee and on and on because we couldn’t get a schedule here in the East. It’s very comforting to know that we’ve got a schedule now.”

DELAWARE is one of several YanCon teams faced with replacing a veteran quaterback, in this case All-YC standout Bill Vergantino. Senior Dale Fry will get his shot after two years as a backup.

“Vergantino was a quicker runner, made quicker cuts. This guy has a stronger throwing arm. I hope it evens out,” Raymond said.

The Hens should be potent again after averaging 36 points a game last season. Delaware’s weaknesses appear to be in the defensive line and secondary, where injuries and no-shows have thinned the depth and experienc Delaware returns one All-YC first-team player and six second-team picks among its 15 starters.

RICHMOND should be considered a serious threat to win the conference. The Spiders feature senior quarterback Greg Lilly, last year’s YC Offensive Player of the Year, who passed for 2,704 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Junior tailback Uly Scott and senior wideout Rod Boothes provide plenty of balance for Lilly. The Spiders must shore up their defense in a couple spots but appear to be on the brink of a legitimate title shot.

“I think the biggest change in our football team, in our hopes, is our talent level has matured,” said Richmond Coach Jim Marshall.

WILLIAM & MARY beat New Hampshire 27-14 in its YC debut last Saturday. Jimmye Laycock’s Tribe is on the rise, thanks to a veteran-laden offense.

The Tribe had to replace several defensive players, but limited the Wildcats to 222 total yards. If William & Mary’s continues to play like that, it should have fun celebrating its 100th year of football.

VILLANOVA should challenge again after two years of dominating the league. The Wildcats are strongest offensively, with senior quarterback Brad Parpan heading a crew of skilled backs and ends.

Villanova needs to solidify its offensive front but is more concerned about a defense that lost seven starting players including linebacker Curtis Eller, the YC Defensive Player of the Year.

“If we can shore our defense up, then we have a shot to be competitive,” said Coach Andy Talley.

MASSACHUSETTS won’t sneak up on opponents this year. The Minutemen have five spots to fill from a defense that led the conference last year.

All-Yankee Conference linebacker Mario Perry leads that unit. UMass also returns 11 starters on offense, including running back Rene Ingoglia, the YC Rookie of the Year, and shifty option quarterback Andrew McNeilly.

“The challenge for us is to avoid the ups and downs which we’ve historically had at UMass,” said Coach Mike Hodges.

MAINE has too many unanswered questions to be considered a challenger. Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears are searching for someone to emerge as the go-to running back, and they’re doing it behind a revamped offensive line.

However, Emilio Colon is an established signal caller and has a veteran corps of receivers with which to work. On defense, Ross Fichthorn may surprise at middle linebacker, but inexperience up front and lack of depth in the secondary could pose problems.

NEW HAMPSHIRE is looking for more consistency as its younger players mature. The Wildcats must retool an offense that lost All-YC tailback Barry Bourassa.

UNH is solid up front and at quarterback, where Jim Stayer returns. The ‘Cats defense returns eight starters after ranking third in total defense a year ago.

NORTHEASTERN could make some waves, but that’s no secret to YC teams. The Huskies have a new quarterback in Clarzell Pearl, who is surrounded by veterans, including seven returning starters.

NU’s experienced defense, led by senior strong safety Mark Salisbury and junior safety Jason Seapker, has nine regulars back.

JAMES MADISON is likely to be competitive in the league after playing a difficult I-AA schedule in the past. However, the Dukes’ quarterback-tailback tandem that accounted for 4,000 yards is gone.

James Madison has redesigned its 4-3 defensive set to a 3-4, hoping to avoid some of the porous performances of ’92. The Dukes want to be more aggressive instead of letting the offense come to them.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY is not looking for miracles, just respectability. The Terriers are counting on Greg Moore to unleash the run-and-shoot offense, but there are a couple of spots to fill in the offensive line to put things together.

The Terriers have eight players back on defense, but they ranked last in scoring defense and eighth in total defense last season.

CONNECTICUT further clouds a misty Yankee Conference picture with a potentially outstanding squad. The Huskies will be building around a defense that has eight starters in the fold.

UConn features a pair of hard-nosed seniors in defensive end Paul Duckworth and linebacker Jim Reppi. Offensively, quarterback Zeke Rodgers directs an attack that strikes quickly and often.

RHODE ISLAND has nowhere to go but up after a dismal ’92 campaign. Junior quarterback Tony Squitieri, who was inconsistent in ’92, tops the list of seven returing offensive players.

On defense, the Rams lost three four-year starters. Linebacker Dave Slattery is the leader for Rhody which must adjust to a new coach in Floyd Keith and a new system.

Yankee Conference Divisions

NEW ENGLAND DIVISION

Boston University

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION

Delaware

James Madison*

Northeastern*

Richmond

Villanova

William & Mary*

*-joined YC in 1993

NOTE: The Yankee Conference was realigned for scheduling purposes in 1993 after three schools joined the 47-year-old league. Each team will play an eight-game conference schedule, including five contests against teams within its division and three against teams from the other division.