DOVER, Delaware -- First-time contests against Temple and Monmouth, along with a visit to Alumni Stadium by FCS national runner-up Towson, highlight the 2014 Delaware State University football schedule released today. Also this year, the Hornets will visit First State rival Delaware for the fourth straight season.The 12-game slate features eight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contests, beginning with Savannah State’s first visit to Alumni Stadium since it joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2011.
The last time Delaware State played a 12-game regular season schedule was in 2002.
The Hornets will kick off the 2014 season on the road at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., for the first meeting between the teams on Aug. 30. The Hawks, 6-6 as an independent in 2013, will play its first season as a member of the Big South Conference this year.
The following Saturday (Sep. 6), DSU will visit the University of Delaware Fightin Blue Hens for the fourth straight year, and sixth time overall. The previous five meetings were also played at Delaware Stadium. The Hornets have yet to win in the series, which includes a 42-21 Delaware victory last season. The Hens dropped their last three games to finish with a 7-5 overall record in 2013.
Delaware State will play its 2014 home opener on Sep. 13 against Towson University, which fell to No. 1 North Dakota State in the FCS National Championship Game last season. The Tigers were 13-3 overall in 2013, including a 49-7 victory over the Hornets in Towson, Md. This will be the 17th meeting between the teams. Towson holds a 10-6 in the series.
The next week (Sep, 20), the Hornets will take on Football Bowl Subdivision Temple University for the first time at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Temple, a member of the American Athletic Conference, was 2-10 overall in 2013. This will be Delaware State’s first game against a FBS opponent since visiting Michigan in 2009.
Delaware State will begin MEAC play at home against Savannah State on Sep. 27. It’s the only Alumni Stadium night game on the Hornets’ 2014 schedule (6:00 p.m.). The Tigers were 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the MEAC last season, including a 24-22 loss to the Hornets in Savannah, Ga. Delaware State is 3-0 all-time against Savannah State.
The Hornets will begin a two-game road swing on Oct. 4 at defending MEAC co-champ Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings between the teams, including a 21-7 victory in Dover, Del., in 2013. Delaware State, however, leads the all-time series 19-17. Bethune-Cookman was 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the MEAC last season, which ended with a loss to Coastal Carolina in the FCS playoffs.
The following weekend (Oct. 11), the Hornets will visit MEAC rival Norfolk State at Dick Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va. The Spartans were 3-9 overall and 3-5 in the MEAC last season, including a 14-7 loss to the Hornets in Dover, Del. Delaware State has won the last two meetings between the teams to open up a 15-6 lead in the series.
The Hornets return home Oct. 18 to face North Carolina A&T in the annual homecoming contest. Delaware State holds a 22-20-1 lead in the all-time series against the Aggies, including a 12-7 victory in Greensboro, N.C., last season. NCA&T was 4-4 in the MEAC and 7-4 overall in 2013. Since 1969, the Hornets are 33-12 on homecoming Saturday, including victories in the last two years.
Delaware State is also home for its next game on Oct. 25 for a Parents’ Day contest against Hampton. Connell Maynor was hired as the new head coach of the Pirates after the team posted a 4-8 overall record and 4-4 mark in the MEAC last season. One of the Hampton’s 2013 wins was a 30-7 victory over the Hornets in Hampton, Va. The Pirates hold a 25-14 lead in the series.
DSU will hit the road the following week with a visit to the Nation’s Capital to face Howard on Nov. 1. The teams will be meeting for the 57th straight year and 71st time overall, making it the Hornets’ oldest rivalry. DSU leads the all-time series 36-33-1. The Hornets won last year’s meeting 22-20 on a field goal by Mitchell Ward on the last play of the game. Howard was 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC in 2013.
After a week off, Delaware State will play its 2014 home finale against Florida A&M in a MEAC contest on Nov. 15. The Rattlers were 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the MEAC last season, including a 29-21 loss to the Hornets in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida A&M holds a 22-9 lead in the series.
DSU will wrap up the 2014 regular season at Morgan State and new head coach Lee Hull in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 22. The Hornets will be seeking revenge against the Bears, who won last year’s meeting 31-26 in Dover, Del. Morgan State was 5-7 overall and tied with the Hornets for third place in the MEAC with a 5-3 league record in 2013. The Bears hold a 33-24 lead in the series.
Kermit Blount will be in his fourth year as head coach of the Hornets in 2014. He led to DSU to a 5-6 overall record and a third place tie in the MEAC with a 5-3 conference mark last season. In addition to national runner-up Towson, the Hornets’ 2013 schedule included a loss to FCS National Champ North Dakota State.
Delaware State graduated seven seniors from last year’s squad. Among the returning players are 2013 All-MEAC First Team receiver Milton Williams III (sr.) and all-conference defensive end Rodney Gunter (sr.).
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Date Opponent Site Time
Sat., Aug. 30 at Monmouth U., West Long Branch, N.J. TBA
Sat., Sept. 6 at U. of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 13 TOWSON 2:00 p.m. (Hall of Fame Day)
Sat., Sept. 20 at Temple (Lincoln Financial Field) Philadelphia, Pa. TBA
Sat., Sept. 27 SAVANNAH STATE* 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 4 at Bethune-Cookman* Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
Sat., Oct. 11 at Norfolk State* Norfolk, Va. 2:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 18 NORTH CAROLINA A&T* 2:00 p.m. (Homecoming)
Sat., Oct. 25 HAMPTON* 2:00 p.m. (Open House)
Sat., Nov. 1 at Howard* Washington, D.C. TBA
Sat., Nov. 15 FLORIDA A&M* 2:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 22 at Morgan State* Baltimore, Md. TBA
Dates and Times subject to change.
Home games at Alumni Stadium in bold
*-MEAC games
DSU Ticket Office: 302-857-7497/1-866-378-TIXX
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