DOVER, Delaware -- - Five home games at Alumni Stadium, a visit to FBS Kent State and contests against the five teams that shared last year’s MEAC championship highlight the 2015 Delaware State University football schedule released today.The 2015 season will be the first for the Hornets under new head coach Kenny Carter, who was named to the post on Jan. 21.
The Hornets will play four of their first six 2015 contests on the road, beginning with the season opener on Sep. 5 at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. This will be the first meeting between the Hornets and Flames since 2001. The teams met 14 times between 1982 and ’01, with Liberty holding a 9-5 lead. The Flames are coached by former Nebraska star quarterback Turner Gill, who led the team to a 9-5 overall record and second round appearance in the FCS playoffs in 2014.
The following week (Sep. 12), Delaware State will visit Kent State (OH) of the FBS Mid-American Conference for the third time. The Golden Flashes handed Delaware State its lone regular season loss in the Hornets’ MEAC championship campaign the first time the teams met in 2007. Kent State, behind former quarterback and current New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, also defeated DSU in 2008. The Golden Flashes were 2-9 overall (1-6 MAC) in 2014.
The Hornets will play their 2015 home opener and annual Hall-of-Fame contest on Sep. 19 against Division II Chowan (N.C.) of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the first meeting between the teams. The Hawks were 2-9 overall and 1-6 in the CIAA last season.
After a week off, the Hornets will begin conference play at home on Oct. 3 against long-time rival Morgan State, which earned the MEAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs after sharing the league’s regular season title with four other teams last season. The Bears were 7-6 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC in 2014. Morgan State snapped a two-game losing streak to the Hornets with a victory in last year’s season finale to stretch its series lead to 34-24.
DSU will begin another two-game road swing with a visit to Hampton for a MEAC contest the following week (Oct. 10). The Pirates have won the last two meetings with the Hornets to open up a 26-14 lead in the series. Hampton was 3-9 overall and 2-6 in MEAC games last season.
The Hornets will visit Florida A&M in their next game on Oct. 17. DSU will seek to avenge a 41-7 home loss to the Rattlers last season. The Hornets were winners in their last visit to Florida A&M in 2013, but the Rattlers hold a commanding 23-9 lead in the series. FAMU hired Alex Wood as its new head coach after posting a 3-9 overall record and 3-5 MEAC mark in 2014.
Delaware State will be back at Alumni Stadium for the next two weeks, beginning with a visit by South Carolina State in the annual Homecoming contest on Oct. 24. It’ll be the first meeting between the teams since 2012 when the Hornets posted a 31-17 win over the Bulldogs at Alumni Stadium. South Carolina State was one of the teams sharing the 2014 MEAC title with a 6-2 league record. The Bulldogs were 8-4 overall last season. SC State leads the all-time series 26-16.
DSU’s homestand will continue the next Saturday (Oct. 31) against Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats have won or shared the MEAC title in four of the last five seasons, including 2014 with a 6-2 league record (9-3 overall). The 2015 season will also be the first for new BCU head coach Terry Sims. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings with the Hornets, including a 27-7 victory in Daytona Beach, Fla., last season. DSU, however, holds a 19-18 series lead.
Delaware State will be back on the road the following Saturday (Nov. 7) against North Carolina Central. The Eagles have won six of the last seven meetings with the Hornets to open up a 15-5 series lead. NCCU won the last contest.
between the teams 23-20 in overtime in Durham, N.C., during the 2012 season. The Eagles were 7-5 overall and one of five teams to share the MEAC title with a 6-2 league record in 2014.
The Hornets will return to the Tar Heel State for their final road game of the season against North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C., on Nov. 14. The Aggies were MEAC co-champs with a 6-2 league record; and 9-3 overall mark in 2014. NCA&T spoiled the Hornets’ homecoming with a 33-20 win last season, although DSU leads the series 22-20-1.
Delaware State will close out the 2015 season at home against the Howard Bison in the Hornets’ oldest rivalry. Howard’s 5-7 overall record (3-5 MEAC) last season included a 17-10 victory over DSU in Washington, D.C. The Hornets and Bison have met 71 times, including each of the last 57 seasons. Delaware State holds a 36-34-1 lead in the rivalry.
Delaware State University football has also announced that its 2015 spring camp will begin on March 18. .The first practice is set for 6 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. The camp will include 15 practice sessions, highlighted by the Red/White scrimmage on Apr. 11.
DSU spring football practice dates: Mar. 18 (6 pm); Mar. 20 (4:30 pm); Mar. 21 (9:15 a.m.); Mar. 23 (6 am); Mar. 25 (6 pm); Mar. 27 (4:30 pm); Mar. 28 (8 am; scrimmage); Mar. 30 (6 pm); and Mar. 31 (6 am).
Apr. 1 (6 am); Apr. 8 (6 am); Apr. 10 (4:30 pm); Apr. 11 (1 pm: Red/White Scrimmage); Apr. 13 (6 am); Apr. 15 (6 am).
2015 DSU Football Schedule
Date Opponent Site Time Series record
Sep. 5 Liberty Lynchburg, Va. TBA Liberty leads 9-5
Sep 12 Kent State Kent, OH TBA Kent State lead 2-0
Sep. 19 CHOWAN Home 2 p.m. First meeting (Hall-of-Fame Day)
Sep. 26 OPEN
Oct. 3 Morgan State* HOME 2 p.m. MSU leads 34-24
Oct. 10 Hampton* Hampton, Va. TBA Hampton leads 26-14
Oct. 17 Florida A&M* Tallahassee FL TBA Florida A&M leads 23-9
Oct. 24 So. Carolina State* HOME 2 p.m. SC State leads 26-16 (Homecoming)
Oct. 31 Bethune Cookman* HOME 2 p.m. DSU leads 19-18
Nov. 7 No Carolina Central Durham, N.C, 2 p.m. NCCU leads 15-5
Nov. 14 No. Carolina A&T* Greensboro, N.C. 1 p.m DSU leads 22-20-1
Nov. 21 Howard* HOME 2 p.m. DSU leads 36-34-1
*MEAC game
Dates/Times subject to change
Home games at Alumni Stadium on DSU campus in Dover, Del.
DSU Ticket Office: 302-857-7497/1-866-378-TixxO
COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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