DSU football opener moved to Sept. 4 for TV

Delaware State University's season-opening football game against Florida A&M has been moved to Thursday, Sept. 4, and will be telecast on ESPNU.

The home game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ESPNU also will carry two other Delaware State games during the 2008 season. The Nov. 1 matchup with South Carolina State (1 p.m.) at Alumni Stadium and the Nov. 15 game at Norfolk State (1 p.m.) will be shown on tape-delay on ESPNU at a time to be determined.

The DSU-FAMU game was previously scheduled for Sept. 6.

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DSU Hornets name Livingston offensive line coach

Delaware State University today named Lawrence Livington offensive line coach for the football team. Livingston, 46, has coached at several Division I-A programs, including UTEP, Washington State, Texas A&M and Army. Livingston replaces Jeff Braxton, who left DSU to become head coach at Cheyney University.

“Coach Livingston stood out among the many fine candidates for the position because of his broad experience and track record of success.” head coach Al Lavan said in a press release. “He was highly recommended by some of the most respected names in college football. I am confident he is the right person to lead our offensive line to even greater success.”

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DSU Roy Bright workout for Philadelphia 76ers

Depending on which NBA mock draft you check, the 76ers could be deciding on any number of prospects to be selected at No. 16. They are, in fact, scheduled to check out four more today at Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. But today's session appears to be more about being nice to the local basketball community. To that end, the Sixers' group includes Roy Bright (Delaware State), Charron Fisher (Niagara), John Griffin (Bucknell) and Gary Ervin (Arkansas).

The two-round draft will be held Thursday. The Sixers do not have a second-round pick. The 6-6 Bright averaged 19.1 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior, spending two seasons at Delaware State after transferring from Garden City Community College and Cincinnati; he withdrew from last year's draft after applying for early eligibility.

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DSU Football Game Times Announced

Photo: DSU quarterback Vashon Winton, 6-2/195, Senior, Chicago, IL (Simeon HS).

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

DOVER (June 12, 2008) – The Delaware State Athletic Department has announced the times for the 2008 football season. Comprised of 11 games, the 2008 schedule has the Hornets hosting six home games in defense of their 2007 MEAC Championship.

The Sept. 6 contest between the Hornets and the Florida A&M Rattlers will be start at 7:30 p.m. to kickoff the 2008 campaign. Two weeks later, DSU will host the Central Connecticut Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m.

A 1:00 p.m. kickoff is scheduled for the remainder of DSU’s slate – Hampton (Oct. 4), North Carolina A&T - Homecoming (Oct. 18), South Carolina State (Nov. 1) and Winston-Salem State (Nov. 8).

Tickets for the 2008 DSU football season can be purchased by calling (302) 857-7497 or toll free at (866) 378-2845. Season ticket packages are available for purchase with Early Hornet discounts for any packages purchased before July 25. Season tickets include parking, reserved seating for all six home games, a 2008 DSU Football media Guide and first priority for post-season ticket purchases. Single-game tickets go on sale on August 11. Tickets can also be purchased by logging on to the team’s official website http://www.dsuhornets.com/

McCants establishes DSU scholarship fund

Former Hornets WR puts millions earned in NFL to good use

DOVER -- When Darnerien McCants attended Delaware State University, he was not always enamored with what he perceived as the campus' shortcomings and was not exactly a rah-rah person, even though he played for the football team.

Now that McCants has been separated from campus life since 2001, he said he is able to see exactly what his years at Delaware State meant. So, McCants, who went on to play wide receiver for the Washington Redskins and the Eagles, announced Thursday that he is establishing a $10,000 scholarship fund for students attending DSU.

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UH Cougars Shamblin Pitches Perfect Game In 9-0 Win Over Delaware State

HOUSTON - University of Houston senior Angel Shamblin pitched her second perfect game of the season to guide the Cougars to a 9-0 win over Delaware State in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Houston Softball Regional at Cougar Softball Stadium.

Houston (51-9), the No. 8 National Seed in the NCAA Championship, moved to 2-1 all-time in regional openers and 4-4 all-time in postseason play. Delaware State falls to 29-24 on the year.

Shamblin struck out 11 batters en route to the third perfect game of her career. She improves to 33-3 on the season with 17 shutouts.

The Cougar offense put up six runs in the second inning. Freshman Baillie Lott scored the first Houston run after reaching base on a walk. Junior Katie Bush hit her fourth double this season, scoring junior Jessica Valis.

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FAMU pulls out dramatic win over Delaware State

Photo: FAMU Pitcher Cirilo Manego has ugly game, but goes distance for the victory as FAMU saves their ace pitcher for North Carolina A&T game scheduled on Friday.

NORFOLK, Va. – After hitting a bases-clearing double to send Florida A&M over Delaware State, shortstop Tim Schalch and his teammates sprinted toward the outfield at Marty L. Miller Field. And straight for the tarp.

The victory was dramatic. The celebration was short.

FAMU players began rolling out the tarp in anticipation of heavy overnight rains Thursday. The Rattlers’ 7-6 come-from-nowhere victory was actually interrupted by a brief rain delay in the bottom of the ninth.

After it rained, FAMU poured it on.

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DSU baseball faces Florida A&M in tourney

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Delaware State will take on the Florida A&M Rattlers on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament. The double-elimination tournament will take place on the campus of Norfolk State.

Thursday's game will be the teams' fourth meeting of the season. Florida A&M (19-20, 11-7 MEAC) won the last contest 14-13 on May 5. The first-round game will be the 16th meeting all-time in conference tournament action between the two squads (FAMU leads 12-3).

The Hornets (16-31, 11-7 MEAC) are making their 24th straight MEAC Tournament appearance. DSU has reached the championship game...

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DSU Hornets Softball sweeps MEAC Tournament; Awaits NCAAs

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

Ormond Beach, FL - Brittney Ruark tossed a two-hit shutout and Aisha Holloman smacked a three-run homer in the fourth inning to lift Delaware State to a 3-0 win over Norfolk State, and give the Hornets their first MEAC Softball Championship this afternoon in Ormond Beach, Fla. Delaware State completed a four-game tournament sweep to capture the 2008 MEAC title and the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

“This is such a thrill for the team and the university,” said Delaware State’s Jeff Savage, who was named Most Outstanding Tournament Coach. “We had an up-and-down regular season, but things really came together during the tournament. Our pitching was great and we got timely hits all weekend. These girls worked so hard to reach this point, and I am so proud of them.”

In the title clinching contest, Ruark allowed just...

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Delaware State will focus on smarter recruiting

School addresses academic shortcomings

DOVER -- Delaware State University officials said Wednesday the school is working with coaches as part of its response to Tuesday's announcement that four DSU sports teams are among 218 cited by the NCAA for poor academic progress.

"Coaches are no longer evaluated on wins and losses," athletic director Rick Costello said, noting that the school was expecting the NCAA's action. "[Coaches] are evaluated on A's and B's. They are now considering the APR."

The NCAA requires that a team's APR, or academic progress rate, reach a score of at least 900 each school year. The APR measures how teams retain athletes, keep them academically eligible and ultimately graduate them.

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READ: (http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/SPORTS08/805070319/1002/SPORTS)

OFFENDERS

INDIANAPOLIS -- The list of schools and teams that have posted two consecutive scores of less than 900 on the NCAA's academic progress report. A third consecutive score under 900 next year would ban the teams from postseason competition in 2009-10.

Listed in alphabetical order)

California State-Fresno -- men's basketball
California State-Sacramento -- football
Centenary -- baseball, men's basketball
East Carolina -- men's basketball
Florida International -- baseball
Hampton -- men's basketball
Indiana State -- men's tennis
Jacksonville State -- football
Louisiana-Lafayette -- men's basketball
Montana State-Bozeman -- football
Morgan State -- women's volleyball
Murray State -- football
New Mexico State -- men's basketball
New Orleans -- baseball
Oral Roberts -- baseball
San Jose State -- football, men's cross country, men's soccer
Southern -- football
Temple -- football
Tennessee-Chattanooga -- football, wrestling
Texas-Arlington -- baseball
Texas Southern -- men's tennis
Weber State -- football

DSU players to attend NFL minicamps

DOVER, Delaware -- Kelly Rouse, meet Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. And welcome to the NFL. Rouse, a former Delaware State defensive end, has an imposing task ahead -- making an impression on the Super Bowl champion New York Giants at next week's minicamp.

"Anytime you're going to camp, it's tough," Rouse said, "but I'm going to a Super Bowl team where there's a Pro Bowler [Umenyiora] and future Hall of Famer [Strahan] ahead of you. I just have to stay humble and get it done."

Rouse was among three former DSU players to be invited Tuesday to NFL minicamps. Linebacker Russell Reeves is heading to the Cincinnati Bengals and offensive lineman Jeremy Breath will get a shot with the Detroit Lions. Wide receiver Shaheer McBride signed a free-agent contract Monday with the Eagles and will report to minicamp Friday.

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Eagles sign former DSU star McBride

DOVER -- Count former Delaware State wide receiver Shaheer McBride as one of the few college football players who didn't pay much attention to last weekend's NFL draft. "I kind of thought all along I wouldn't get drafted," he said. "You know, you get a sense you won't be drafted. But all I can ask for is a tryout. I'm grateful."

The 2004 rookie of the year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, McBride set school records last season when he finished with 201 career catches and 3,007 receiving yards. He also tied John Taylor's record of 33 career touchdown catches. McBride was the MEAC's preseason offensive player of the year in 2007 and a two-time league first-team selection.

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Delaware State football team adds two VT transfers

Football coach Al Lavan confirmed Wednesday evening that two former Virginia Tech football players plan to enroll at Delaware State University in the fall, running back Elan Lewis and linebacker Matt Wright.

Lewis and Wright are both from Hampton, Va. Both graduated from Phoebus High, Lewis in 2005 and Wright a year later. Neither played in 2007, but Lavan welcomes what the two could bring. "They bring skills and experience to our team," Lavan said. "We expect both players to come in and compete and be a significant addition to our program."

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It appears the Hornets have signed two solid players...

Running back Elan Lewis came to Virginia Tech as the No. 2 recruit in Commonwealth of Virginia in 2005. He is the class AAA (Virginia's largest school classification) career rushing leader with 7,156 yards at Phoebus High. The torn ACL has been his major setback and he has been battling a weight problem during his career. He is 5-8/238 and runs the 40 in 4.54.

Inside linebacker Matt Wright is 6-2/215 and runs the 40 in 4.55. He is ranked as a Rivals.com 3-star player with a 3.0 gpa. Wright was AP First Team AAA All-State as a linebacker. He also played tight end in H.S. He was rated the No. 24th inside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com; was rated as the No. 17th player in Virginia in the Top 100; and his high school team complied a record of 46-5 during his career. Wright's brother, D.J. Parker played for VT as the No. 1 free safety for the Hokies, 2004-2006.

The MEAC/SWAC usually does not receive this level of talent with three years of eligibility.

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DSU's Franklin qualifies for track regionals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Delaware State's Nekisha Franklin qualified for the NCAA outdoor regional championships by finishing fourth in the 200-meter dash at the Florida Relays this weekend with a time of 23.72 seconds.

For the Delaware State men, Larrone Moore qualified for regionals in the 100 (10.50) and 200 (21.23).

The DSU team of Moore, Lee Barnes, Andre Easton and Donte Holmes won the sprint medley relay in 3:20.32. The 4x200 team of Moore, Easton, Barnes and Duke Mack set a school record (1:24.50) and finished third.

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DSU Land's list of accolades grows

He used to be called "Fast Land," or sometimes "Little Land," nicknames that sprouted from his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. But these days, John Land, a onetime standout football player in the college and professional ranks, goes by only one nickname.

Big Daddy.

It's what Land, 64, is called by his four grandkids -- Kayla, Kimmi, Jackson and Riley -- and spending time with his grandkids is how Land now uses his free time. He regularly plays Uno with Kayla (she's "Little Nut," following her mother, Denise Woods, who was "Peanut") and younger sister Kimmi, who is "Munchkin."

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Delaware State and UMES Hawks split doubleheader

Photo: Mike Roberts threw a six hitter in the second game win for the Hawks. The 5-11/165 junior LHP is from Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright H.S.

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - In one of the most exciting game played at Hawks Stadium in recent memory, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) picked up a very important conference win over local rival Delaware State University (DSU) 2-1 in extra innings. The Hawks dropped game one of the doubleheader 12-7 but with the one win moved to 4-1 overall in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

Game two was the definition of a pitcher's duel. UMES southpaw Mike Roberts faced off against the Hornet's Josh Schmidt and both went the complete game each allowing just one earned run. It was Roberts' day however as he would pick up his second win of the season, allowing just six hits, one walk and recording six Ks.

Schmidt took the hard-luck loss, giving up five hits, one walk and ringing up 10 strike outs. He may have gotten the win, but we will never know because with two on no outs Phillip Vaughn hit a ball to DSU third baseman Jose Portella that looked like a routine out but he overthrew first base, Vaughn reached and Michael Guy, who led-off the inning with a single, scored from third, giving the Hawk's the win.

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Delaware State University Equestrian Team to compete for national championship

Photo: DSU Hornets 2008 Esquestrian Team (Courtesy: Carlos Holmes)

DOVER, DE -- Delaware State University's equestrian program has been selected to compete in the Varsity Equestrian National Championships, April 17-18 at the Heart O' Texas Fairgrounds in Waco, Texas.

Delaware State will compete in the Hunt Seat (English) Division championship. The Hornets are ranked 10th among the 12 teams in the tournament.

The national championship field is selected on the basis of winning percentage, strength of schedule and number of competitions. In 2007, University of South Carolina defeated the University of Georgia to win the national championship for the Hunter Seat Division.

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Lavan wary as Hornets look to build on 2007

Photo: Delaware State University Hornets head football coach Al Lavan.

DOVER -- Al Lavan has maintained an important principle during his more than 35 years of coaching football: Forget your accolades.

That's not easy, particularly when a team comes off a season like Delaware State had in 2007. But Lavan will be preaching his mantra when the Hornets open spring practice tonight at Alumni Stadium.

"You don't want to dwell on it," Lavan said of last season, when DSU went 10-2, won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship since 1991 and qualified for the ...

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UMES Hawks Bowling wins third MEAC Title

#2 UMES tops #11 Delaware State for 4-1 for their fourth overall championship.

HAMPTON, Va. - Two games. That is the amount of baker games the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) dropped during the entire Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship as they topped Delaware State University (DSU) 4-1 in the best of seven baker game format in Sunday's final to secure their third straight women's bowling title and fourth overall. The one game came to the nation's 11th ranked team, DSU in the finals, the other to Norfolk State University (NSU) in the semi-finals. They won every other match via shut out.

The Lady Hawks took on the Lady Hornets in the finals. DSU defeated NSU 4-1 in the semi-final round for the right to face UMES earlier in the day. The Hawks topped the Hornets 169-158, 175-181, 183-181, 153-151 and 190-169 to secure the title.

"It was how it was supposed to be," said Head Coach Sharon Brummell. "The two teams in the finals were the two teams ranked in the nation. Everything played out correctly and it was a competitive final."

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Seniors help Delaware State secure third seed

DOVER -- Baskets of gifts awaited them, but a win came first on Thursday for the seniors on the Delaware State women's basketball team. It was senior night, after all. And those eager underclassmen had prepared the pleasantries for their three senior leaders as a thank you for their four years of contributions.

The Hornets' 57-46 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore clinched the No. 3 seed in next week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.

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