The Flacco effect
Joe Flacco's record-setting rookie season has made a big impact on the Baltimore community, but it doesn't end there.
The former University of Delaware star is expanding the Ravens' fan base throughout the First State and even further north, to areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
That territory, which in the past had been reserved for Eagles fans, has started to see some Purple and Black sprinkled in since the Ravens selected Flacco in the first-round of the 2008 Draft.
University of Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler has seen the changes in the area first-hand.
"Joe is such a fan-favorite as a player and then to come have the success he did, it's put the Ravens on the map," Keeler said.
Another part of that, Keeler acknowledges, is due to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who was a coach with the Eagles for 10 seasons.
But Flacco mania has definitely swept the East Coast, as evidenced by the #5 Ravens jerseys I saw hanging in sporting goods stores during my last trip to Philly.
"I know when that Ravens-Eagles game was going on last season, there were a lot more people rooting for the Ravens than had ever rooted for the Ravens in the past," Keeler said. "A lot of that had to do with the great job John did, but also having a hometown guy like Joe helped."
Keeler has also felt Flacco's impact in terms of recruiting. Joe making the jump from the I-AA level to a first-round pick has given other players struggling to get playing time at Division I schools reason for optimism.
In the last two seasons, Delaware has had a quarterback transfer in from a top-Division I football program (Ohio State and Penn State).
On top of that, high school players now view the I-AA (I hate calling it FCS) level as a nice alternative to a big D-I program, and a place where they can still get noticed by pro scouts.
"Just in recruiting freshman, we try to explain to them, 'Bigger isn't better, better is better,'" Keeler told me. "Joe had to go someplace to play, and he came to our place and played. If he doesn't play, he doesn't get drafted in the first round. So that's helped us a bunch.
"We had the best recruiting class we've ever had, and I have to give Joe a lot of credit because part of the impact I think was from him."
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
Love it!! If we win a super bowl soon, Joe is the type of guy that could own Baltimore and be even more of a hero in his hometown and the surrounding areas. He's got that laid back, blue collar personality that is easily admired.
Steve McNair has been murdered in Memphis,just passing this along.
The Ravens are the most popular team in south-central Pennsylvania because this was Colts country years ago. Philadelphia is just regarded as an extension of New Jersey around here.
But I wonder why Temple never recruited Flacco. He was right under their noses, and he certainly would have been the best quarterback they ever had.
At any rate, if Flacco ever becomes as good as his predecessor - the late, great Steve McNair - he will be sure to have a huge and loyal fan following.
I am absolutely excited to see what kind of QB Joe could develop into. He is a throwback player and could be our answer for a long time.