DSU will play Delaware,VMI and Cincinnati in 2012

DOVER, Delaware -- Five home games and visits to Bowl Championship Series power University of Cincinnati and Football Championship Subdivision University of Delaware highlight the 2012 Delaware State University football schedule, announced today by Eric Hart, DSU's Interim Director of Athletics.

The 11-game slate begins at home in Alumni Stadium against Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on Sep. 1. This will be the second meeting between the Hornets and Keydets. Delaware State won the first meeting 24-21 in Lexington, Va., in head coach Kermit Blount's Hornet debut last season.

DSU will travel to the University of Delaware and the University of Cincinnati for the next two games.

The Hornets and Hens will play for the fourth time on Sep. 8 at Delaware Stadium in Newark. Delaware State is seeking its first win in the series between the state's two Division I football programs.

On Sep. 15, the Hornets will take on Cincinnati for the first time at UC's Nippert Stadium. The Big East Conference Bearcats were 10-3 last season, which ended with a 31-24 victory over Vanderbilt at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. Cincinnati was ranked 21st in the final USA Today poll and 25th in the Associated Press poll of major college teams in 2011.

The Hornets are 1-1 all-time vs. Div. I-A/FBS opponents, winning at Akron in 1987 and falling to Michigan in 2009.

DSU returns home the following Saturday (Sep. 22) to take on Florida A&M. The Rattlers have won the last three meetings between the teams.

After an open week, the Hornets travel to Norfolk State on Oct. 6 to take on the reigning MEAC champion Spartans.

Delaware State is home for the next two Saturdays to take on South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T. The Hornets welcome SC State to Alumni Stadium on Oct. 13, while NCA&T will be the homecoming opponent on Oct. 20.

DSU is on the road the next two weekends, visiting Morgan State on Oct. 27 and North Carolina Central on Nov. 3.

The Hornets will wrap up the home schedule on Nov. 10 against Hampton and close out the regular season on Nov. 17 at Howard in Washington, D.C.

"I'm very excited about the 2012 DSU football schedule," said Hart. "It's a very challenging schedule that will put the Hornets to the test each week."

Hart says the 2012 slate should also appeal to Hornet fans.

"We have attractive home games against our long-time MEAC opponents and new rival VMI, in addition to exciting opportunities to cheer on the team in nearby conference road games, along with trips to Cincinnati and Delaware."

Delaware State will release game times, along with ticket plans and promotional dates this spring.

2012 DSU Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time (ET)

Sep 01 VMI Dover, Del.

Sep 08 Delaware at Newark, Del.

Sep 15 Cincinnati at Cincinnati, Ohio

Sep 22 FLORIDA A&M * Dover, Del.

Oct 06 Norfolk State * at Norfolk, Va.

Oct 13 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE * Dover, Del.

Oct 20 NORTH CAROLINA A&T * Dover, Del.

Oct 27 Morgan State * at Baltimore, Md.

Nov 03 North Carolna Central * at Durham, N.C.

Nov 10 HAMPTON * Dover, Del.
Nov 17 Howard * at Washington, D.C.

* Conference Games

COURTESY: DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION