By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Delaware 87ers name is no more. They have rebranded and will now be known as the Delaware Blue Coats. Why the Blue Coats, you ask? During the American Revolution, the first Delaware Regiment was known for its signatures blue coats and legendary courage. Delaware's wartime Governor and General Caesar Rodney, the man in the new logo, rode 70 miles through the night to cast Delaware's deciding vote in the Declaration of Independence.
You can see a scarf over Rodney's face in the logo. He dealt with facial cancer and was given a scarf to hide his disfigured face, according to Wikipedia.
In November, the Sixers announced plans to build a state-of-the-art complex in Wilmington, Delaware to serve as the home to Philadelphia's G-League affiliate. It's set to open for the Blue Coats' 2018-19 season and is also described as a "beacon for youth sports in Delaware". There are already plans to host a plethora of youth leagues, including basketball (AAU, high school, travel teams), volleyball and soccer.
Here's a look at the Delaware Blue Coats' new jerseys and court design (via Delaware Blue Coats Official Site)
Here's some detail on the jerseys from the official press release:
Sporting 76ers’ blue with red and white accents, the Blue Coats’ primary logo depicts famed Delawarean and Founding Father Caesar Rodney on his legendary horseback ride of 1776. Rodney, Delaware’s representative in the first Continental Congress, rode 80 miles from Wilmington to Philadelphia in a thunderstorm through the night in order to cast a tie-breaking vote for American Independence.
The Delaware Regiment is widely considered to have been among the finest and most skillful in the Continental Army. Its soldiers became known for their uniquely pristine and distinguished dress – having been outfitted with their iconic blue coats with red trim in a trade deal brokered by Rodney himself.
Rodney, portrayed in the team’s primary logo palming a basketball and seated on a saddle emblazoned with the iconic 76, briefly commanded the Delaware Regiment when its esteemed Colonel John Haslet was lost at the Battle of Princeton. Further solidifying their place in American lore, 100 brave Delaware Regiment soldiers clad in blue coats famously crossed the Delaware River alongside General George Washington in December 1776.
Season tickets are on sale now for the first Blue Coats season at the new Sixers facility in Wilmington. Deposits start as low as $50/seat and include access to 76ers Fieldhouse milestone events, a founding member gift and guaranteed lowest price per ticket. Click here to learn more.
(All photos courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers/Delaware Blue Coats)
