No. 23 B-CU Cats Open Season with ESPN3 Broadcast

No. 20/23 Bethune-Cookman at Tennessee State
September 1, 2013  |  8 p.m. (ET)
Nashville, Tenn. | L.P. Field

TV:  ESPN | Watch ESPN3
Radio: WELE 1380 AM  | CatEye Network
Webcast:  WELE1380.com | CatEyeNetwork.tv
Twitter: @BCUGridIron
Instagram: /BCUathletics

Series: Bethune-Cookman trails, 1-6
Last Meeting:   Sept. 22, 2012. Tennessee State won, 21-14, in Daytona Beach.

Bethune-Cookman 0-0 (0-0 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Game Notes

The Game 
No. 23 Bethune-Cookman opens the 2013 season visiting Tennessee State for the John Merritt Classic at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 at 8 p.m. (ET).

 

The Series
Tennessee State leads the all-time series against Bethune-Cookman by a 6-1 advantage. The Tigers claimed a hard-fought 21-14 decision a year ago in Daytona Beach, with both teams unable to connect on the scoreboard in the second half. B-CU’s only win came on the heels of a 16-13 victory Nov. 7, 1987, in Nashville. Saturday’s match up marks the first meeting between th two schools at L.P. Field.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN3 with Kevin Ingram and Bob Belvin making the call. Also check out the game on WELE 1380 AM Radio with Joe LaBarbera (play-by-play) and Larry Wesley, as well as B-CU's CatEye Network.

The Coach
Head coach Brian Jenkins is in his fourth season as head coach of the Wildcats in Daytona Beach. He has an overall record of 27-8 with Bethune-Cookman.

 

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Nashville - 93/73. Thunderstorms expected late in the day/early evening.

The Rankings - RPI/SOS
As of September 1, 2013: The Sports Network:  23 / Coaches: 20

The Notes
• Senior RB Isidore Jackson and Junior LB Jarkevis Fields were each named Preseason MEAC Players of the Year. Jackson was voted Co-Offensive POTY, while Field was Defensive POTY.
• The Cats were voted to repeat as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions, as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
• B-CU dropped a spot to No. 23 in The Sports Network poll during the preseason after ending the 2012 campaign No. 22.
• Saturday will mark the first season-opening game outside the state of Florida since 2004, when traveling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
• Jackson and SR DL LeBrandon Richardson are on the College Football Performance Award (CFPA) FCS National Player of the Year Trophy Watch List.
• Bethune-Cookman has scored 10 or more points in 18 straight games, the longest active streak in the MEAC of 10-plus points.
• The Wildcats have scored in double-figures in 34-of-35 games under head coach Brian Jenkins. The lone game without 10 or more points was a 22-3 setback at North Carolina A&T on Oct. 8, 2011.

#IKECANFIXIT
Senior running back Isidore Jackson is heading up the walls of the B-CU record books at a fast pace. He enters the season needing just 449 yards to put himself atop the all-time list for career rushing yards in B-CU history. Additionally, he needs just three touchdowns to match Jimmie Russell (2004-07) at fourth place all-time for career rushing scores in school history.

I DON’T MEAN TO PRY, BUT...
Offensive coordinator Jim Pry has several ties around the nation, not to mention with Vanderbilt. His son, Brent Pry, serves as Vanderbilt’s Assistant Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator. In addition, Franklin coached current Vandy head coach James Franklin while he was at East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania.

RETURN MEN
The 2013 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats return 50 letterwinners, including 13 players who were starters last season – six on offense and seven on defense. B-CU also welcomes back long snapper Andrew Ferris, after losing place kicker Sven Hurd and punter Kory Kowalski.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION