DSU Lavan gets reacquainted with MAC

Photo: Delaware State Head Football Coach Al Lavan

DSU at KENT STATE, Saturday, 4 p.m., WXXY/1660 AM

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

Hornets coach recalls being snubbed at Eastern Michigan for full-time post.

DOVER -- Al Lavan had just led Eastern Michigan to a 2-1 record as interim football coach when he made one last attempt to secure the full-time job.

After the 2003 season finale, Lavan walked from his office to the school's secretary for athletics and turned in a job application.

He knew it was a fruitless gesture. If he was wanted, Lavan thought, EMU surely would have asked him to apply. "You kind of know the handwriting is on the wall at that point," Lavan said Tuesday.

On Saturday, Lavan, now Delaware State's coach, is heading back to the Mid-American Conference, which includes Eastern Michigan.

The Hornets will visit Kent State, their first NCAA Division I-A opponent since 1987. DSU, 2-0 and ranked No. 24 in Division I-AA by The Sports Network, plays the Golden Flashes (1-1) at 4 p.m. at Dix Stadium.

Lavan vividly remembers his MAC experience. After starting the 2003 season 1-8, Eastern Michigan fired Jeff Woodruff and turned to Lavan, the running backs coach.

As interim coach, Lavan's team beat Central Florida and Ball State before losing to Northern Illinois.

Even so, Lavan was not considered for the full-time job, he said. Had he been hired, it would have been his first full-time head coaching job at any level. He had been a I-A and NFL assistant since 1970.

"I was given the opportunity to be a head coach, and I did what I thought should be done," Lavan said. "They chose to go in another direction. It turned out to be more experience that I can put in my pocket."

Instead, Eastern Michigan hired Northwestern assistant Jeff Genyk, who has gone 9-27 over four years. Lavan, in his fourth year at DSU, is 21-14.

"This conference is tough; everyone is on the same playing level," said Kent State coach Doug Martin, who was hired in 2004, the same year Lavan took over at DSU. "There isn't anyone who has a talent disadvantage. It makes you be sharp as a player, especially watching a team like Delaware State. They have a lot of guys who could play in the MAC."

During the offseason, Lavan said, DSU had "multiple offers" to play Division I-A opponents more successful than Kent State.

But it was Lavan's previous MAC experience that proved to be the clincher in deciding to accept the Golden Flashes' offer. DSU will receive about $100,000 to play at Kent State.

"It was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," Lavan said. "You don't get them very often. This was an opportunity to play a team that's going to challenge for the MAC title."

The Hornets' only other game against a I-A foe was a 1987 win over current MAC member Akron.

Kent State was picked to win the league's East Division in several preseason guides. So far, it has a 23-14 victory at Iowa State and a 56-20 loss last weekend at Kentucky.

Lavan said he will reinforce to his players what lies ahead in facing a Division I-A opponent.

"The quality of preparation is always king," Lavan said. "Emotionally, we're trying to teach them to appreciate the caliber of opponent. It's always different when you play someone new."

Hornets buzz

DSU running back Kareem Jones (knee) and receiver Shaheer McBride (shoulder) are listed as day-to-day, but should be ready to play against Kent State, Lavan said. Jones was held out of the starting lineup in last Saturday's 20-7 win at Florida A&M to protect his knee, which was injured in the season opener. McBride hurt his shoulder late in the FAMU game and was held out of practice for precautionary reasons. ... The Golden Flashes defense is allowing 35 points a game, but the offense features two players averaging more than 100 yards rushing a game. Running back Eugene Jarvis averages 122 yards, while spread-offense quarterback Julian Edelman adds 105 yards per game. Edelman has 290 yards passing with two touchdowns.