100 Formation
Since 1991, with the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Paul Ingram, the Gloucester High School Fighting Fishermen have been running their version of the Delaware Wing T Offense.
In the late-60s most of the college teams in the country were throwing the football until the University of Texas won about 30 games in a row with the Wishbone offense. This started an explosion of teams across the country that went to triple option football. Many other teams used the “Split Back Veer” offense, which enabled them to use the triple option play from pro-style formations. These teams were able to integrate option football into their attack with the same pro type personnel that they were using when they were throwing the football.
During all of this time there was a team, which continued to have great offensive success without going to the Wishbone or the Split Back Veer. That team was the University of Delaware. Delaware was running a four back offense like the Wishbone teams but they were able to align the backs in a position where they could be pass receivers as well as running backs. This gave them the opportunity to have run-pass balance in their attack as well as a powerful running game.
Many other styles of offense have been incorporated into the wing-t over the years including some of the most dynamic offensive philosophies in the history of the game. There have been many teams that have combined the wishbone and the wing-t, the run-and-shoot and the wing-t and the west coast offense and the wing-t. Bill Walsh who won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers has made the statement that his brand of the west coast offense had its roots in wing-t football. However, the Delaware Wing T is more than a formation. It is a philosophy of attack based on the anticipation of certain adjustments forced upon the defense due to the position of the wingback. It is a four back running system that forces the secondary to play at least three deep, due to the presences of three deep receiving threats. Thus it is readily apparent that although the Delaware Wing T is a ground-oriented attack, it is equally dependent on an interrelated passing game.
Although the Wing T has undergone drastic changes during the past two and one-half decades to stay abreast of the increased defensive sophistication, the basic principles designed and developed by Dave Nelson and Tubby Raymond at the University of Delaware remains intact.
1. The Wing T is designed for consistency, strength, and is ball control oriented.
2. The formations are characterized by a wingback so there is the threat of at least three deep receivers.
3. The quarterback threatens the flank either with action or away from it on every play providing either an additional threat to the attack flank or misdirection threatening the flank away from flow.
4. All three backs are close enough to the formation so that they may be used as blockers, ball-carriers or for deception.
5. The offense is designed in complete backfield series, each of which presents multiple threats to the defense on each play.
6. It has a balance of passing which is predominantly play action in nature.
7. The spread of receivers is accomplished by ends and is made to accommodate the running game and not as a mechanism to enhance the passing game.
Red Formation
