FAMU falls in OT to defending MEAC champs DSU

It's a bird, it's a plane; heck gnaw--it's the DSU Swarming Hornets!

With last year's success and national TV audience, DSU can't take a step back

PHOTO GALLERY: DSU vs. FAMU

DOVER, DE -- There are only so many chances to seize an opportunity. Delaware State has waited an eternity for this one, with a football team that is coming off a season like no other in the school's history. That's why the Hornets have to continue the success from last season, when they reached the playoffs for the first time and finished 10-2.

There is so much riding on it -- fan support, alumni support, administration support, national TV exposure, continued construction on campus. It is all tied to DSU's success in football. That's what made the Hornets' opener Thursday against Florida A&M so important. And their 35-28 overtime win so exhilarating. DSU senior quarterback Vashon Winton knew this. He ran for four touchdowns and threw for another. But the victory wasn't secured until defensive back Jerome Strums intercepted a pass when Florida A&M had the ball.

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Attendance: 6,216 Alumni Stadium, Dover, DE (Capacity: 7,000).

Florida A&M at DSU game preview

Where: Alumni Stadium, Dover (Capacity: 7,000)
When: 7:30 tonight
TV/radio: ESPNU/1450AM
Records: DSU (0-0- 0-0) Florida A&M (1-0,0-0)

Prediction: DSU 27, Florida A&M 17.

Scouting the Hornets

DSU enters the season in defense of its first league championship since 1991. In 2007, the Hornets were undefeated in the MEAC and qualified for the program's first NCAA playoffs. They own a three-game win streak over the Rattlers. Thirteen starters return from a team that set a school record for victories in a season (10). DSU's only losses were to Division I-A Kent State and Delaware in the first round of the I-AA playoffs. With DSU trying new tweaks on offense, it will again rely on the consistency of its defense and special teams. Returning linebackers Josh Pope and Jackie Watkins combined for 14 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks a year ago. DSU added Syracuse transfers Donta Herrod and Quinton Brown in the defensive backfield, two players who should provide leadership.

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Forget the local press predictions, look for the FAMU Rattlers defense to steamroll the Hornets offense and find a way to win!

Teeing up on the road with the DSU Hornets

Wherever DSU football team goes, fine links are never far away

As long as Delaware State University remains in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Hornets football fans are guaranteed a golf trip to Florida every season. The Hornets played at Florida A&M in Tallahassee last year. This season, they play at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach. It alternates that way every two years. And while DSU isn't playing any road games in the Carolinas this year, there will still be plenty of fine golf destinations for the traveling Hornets fan.

Sept. 13, at Kent It's 420 miles from Dover to Kent, Ohio. A good stop for golfers along the way would be Mill Creek Golf Course, which sits just off Interstate 76 in Canfield, Ohio, 35 miles east of Kent. Both the North and South courses at Mill Creek were designed by the legendary Donald Ross. The South is the longest at only 6,302 yards, but both have plenty of trees, bunkers and streams in play.

Oct. 11, at Bethune-Cookman It's Florida, so there is no shortage of four-star golf. But a good place to start is LPGA International.

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FAMU not rattled by Delaware State

There seems to be so much that FAMU has to contend with heading into Thursday night's televised game with Delaware State. The Rattlers are going on the road on just four days rest. They'll be taking on a team that they haven't beaten in their last three meetings. On top of that, the game is at Alumni Stadium, home of the defending MEAC champion Hornets.

And, coach Joe Taylor is telling his players not to make the odds become a distraction. "As a coach you always tell the players that as long as the field is 53 1/3 yards wide and 100 yards long it doesn't matter," Taylor said at Tuesday's meeting with the media. His players seem to be taking heed as they seemingly relish the opportunity to meet the Hornets in Dover.

Delaware State vs. FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS Game Notes (PDF)

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Date: September 4, 2008
Location: Alumni Stadium (Artificial A-Turf) (7,000) in Dover, Del.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Television: ESPNU. Charlie Neal (play-by-play) and Jay Walker
(analyst) will call the action. Denis Lanius is directing the contest.
Producing the game is John Kittering.
Radio: 1450 WILM-AM will carry the action (Part of the Delaware
State Hornets Radio Network). Scott Klatzkin is in his first season
as DSU’s play-by-play announcer. Kevin Scholla is the broadcast
analyst.
Live Stats: www.DSUHornets.com
Tickets: 1.302.857.TIXX

Rattlers a mystery without game film

Hornets' Lavan suspects ploy by new coach

DOVER -- There is a new football coach at Florida A&M, which almost certainly means a new look when the Rattlers visit Alumni Stadium Thursday night to take on Delaware State. But the Hornets don't know exactly what that new look is. Hornets coach Al Lavan revealed Tuesday that he had not received the Rattlers' game film from their season-opening 30-20 win Saturday over Alabama State.

College football has a long history of tapes getting lost in the mail or being unavailable because of broken equipment. But the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference requires teams to exchange film and has created a Web-based system to eliminate such gamesmanship, which Lavan reluctantly suspects in the case of FAMU. "There is a procedure to get the tape," Lavan said. "They know they haven't sent it."

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DSU's McBride named to Eagles practice squad

Former Delaware State wideout Shaheer McBride was among eight signed to the Eagles' practice squad. McBride said he found out Saturday in a phone call that the Eagles had released him, but was told he could be called Sunday by noon to find out if he made the practice squad.

Noon came and went without a call. Then came 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. before the phone finally rang. The voice told him to report to the NovaCare Complex and sign a contract. He had made the practice squad. "It's just the beginning of hopefully a long career with the Philadelphia Eagles," said McBride, a Chester, Pa., native.

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DSU finds all-purpose playmaker in Wilder

Senior defensive end has eyes on another title

DOVER, DE -- Alimayo Wilder might cause some confusion for opposing quarterbacks when they see the No. 12 for Delaware State University's football team crashing through their offensive line in hot pursuit. That's because that number is usually reserved for quarterbacks. Instead, Wilder is one player who hopes to eat quarterbacks when it comes to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Football Conference this fall.

Delaware State opens its season on Sept. 4 when it hosts Florida A&M at Alumni Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

"This is the number [12] that I've had since high school," said Wilder, a native of Baltimore. "It's the number that I've always worn and I've embraced it. "In high school [at Baltimore Polytechnic] I played quarterback, wide receiver and a lot of different positions, so I just stuck with that number. It's an all-purpose number to me." Wilder has grown into an all-purpose player in DSU defensive coordinator Ray Petty's 4-3 defense.

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Sessoms' legacy clear at DSU

Recently resigned president pushed for bold changes in athletic department

DOVER, DE -- In his first months as president at Delaware State University, Allen L. Sessoms challenged the state's other major college to a regular-season football game, professed his desire to change his athletic department to Division I-A and envisioned new on-campus sports buildings.

Sessoms, who resigned earlier this month to take the same job at University of District of Columbia, made an early name by urging for grandiose changes in athletics. While his tenure will end Aug. 31 without having accomplished those missions, Sessoms' five years was a time of dynamic change in athletics.

DSU 2007 MEAC Football Champions visits with Delaware Governor, Ruth Ann Minner at Legislative Hall in late March 2008. (Seated (L-R): DSU Dir. of Athletics Rick Costello, Governor Ruth Ann Minner and DSU head coach Al Lavan surrounded by Hornets football team during visit to Governor's office).

"From the first day, he said to me, 'This is what we're going to do,' " said football coach Al Lavan, who was Sessoms' first major athletic hire in 2004. "That's his legacy." When Sessoms arrived at DSU from Queens College, he had no experience in athletics. He wasted little time, setting an agenda to build a first-class athletics program.

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Wright resigns as DSU wrestling coach

DOVER, DE -- For the fifth time in six years, Delaware State must find a new coach for its wrestling team following the departure of Reggie Wright, who resigned over the weekend. Wright coached the 2007-2008 season at DSU after being picked by school president Allen Sessoms and then-athletic director Chuck Bell to stabilize the program. Athletic director Rick Costello said Wright left to pursue "other opportunities."

Costello said he will conduct a nationwide search for Wright's replacement and that he expects to make a hire prior to the start of the season. The team is scheduled to begin practices, with or without a coach, in three weeks. Contacted last week by text message, Wright seemed surprised about questions of his departure. On Wednesday, his phone service had been disconnected.

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DSU Hall's expertise shapes top-level special teams

DOVER, DE -- Inside the Mishoe Science Building at Delaware State, young men are paying homage to some of history's greatest motivational generals while being led by a corporal. Away from the chatter of campus life, it's a place to soak in a daily education in football. And the youngest member of DSU's coaching staff, special teams coach Derek Hall, is teaching at this oasis of football knowledge.

"We try to do things that are fun and exciting," Hall said. "I take a special approach. It's not just a special teams meeting." Under Hall, one of just two assistant coaches who remain from head coach Al Lavan's first season in 2004, the Hornets special teams unit has become the envy of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

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Delaware State upgrades talent with late incoming transfers

Hornets added several play-making transfers on Wednesday.

The group is led by 6-foot-1, 235-pound inside linebacker Stephen Johnson from Miami. Johnson is from Los Angeles Pierce College where he was highly sought after by several big-name schools. Brian Whitmore, a 6-4, 250-pound junior defensive end from Chesapeake, Va., transferred two weeks ago from the University of Maryland. Nick Lochner, a punter from Alfred State, will compete for punting duties.

Coaches also expect to get time from long snapper Richard Bernard (Lackawanna College) and safety Ahmad Harris (West Hills, Calif., College). Garrett Watson, a redshirt freshman kicker/punter who initially signed with Virginia Tech, is in the process of transferring and could be available as early as Friday.

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Delaware State's Sessoms to Be President of UDC

'Change Agent' To Lead UDC

An Ivy League-educated physicist who has run a historically black state university for the past five years will be the next president of the University of the District of Columbia, a choice that school officials said signals dramatic change at the public institution.

UDC's trustees announced yesterday that Allen Sessoms will become president Sept. 1. Sessoms, president of Delaware State University, will arrive as the long-troubled school is struggling to redefine itself.

UDC is moving forward with plans to create a community college within its program, but some city leaders have said that it isn't strong enough to take on such a major initiative. James Dyke, trustees chairman, said Sessoms will show that UDC can be both a strong community college and university.

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DSU & UD Coaches take heat from field to kitchen

Charity cook-off features DSU, UD football rivals

The University of Delaware and Delaware State University faced off Monday evening in Dover. But the heat was not on the football field, it was in the kitchen. UD football coach K.C. Keeler and DSU coach Al Lavan matched sautées for a charity cook-off event at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, whipping up Fiery Hornet Chili and Blue Hen Chicken in a five-minute cook-off.

The match resulted in a draw, with Lavan taking honors for his spicy beef chili and Keeler winning with his blue corn chip-crusted organic chili. "At least the coach and I agree on one thing: Blue Hens are meant to be eaten," Lavan said after sampling Keeler's chicken.
















Perhaps not as historic as last year's football match between the two big Delaware universities, the coaches viewed the cook-off as a way to draw attention to the schools.

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DSU football holds first practice

Hornets senior QB Vashon Winton

DOVER — This is the time of year that sometimes seems to take forever to arrive for Delaware State University football coach Al Lavan and his Hornets. Once the football season begins, everything is a blur. It is just getting to this point that seems to take so painfully long.

But at long last, just before 7:30 on Friday night, Delaware State’s players – about 80 strong – clad in bright red shorts and jerseys, made their way onto the artificial turf surface of Alumni Stadium and got their first preseason practice under way.

It is another season of big expectations for the Hornets, who made their first appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs last season after they won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, their first since 1991.

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Former Delaware State coach dies of cancer

Photo: Coach Jeff Battle, husband to Joyce Battle.

Joyce Battle, the wife of Associate Head Coach Jeff Battle of the Wake Forest University men's basketball program, died yesterday of breast cancer at age 44.

The cancer was first diagnosed more than eight years ago, before Jeff Battle left his job as assistant coach at Xavier to accompany Coach Skip Prosser to Wake Forest in April 2001. After Prosser died July 26, 2007, Battle remained at Wake Forest as an assistant to Coach Dino Gaudio.

Joyce Battle was a standout point guard at Fayetteville State University and later an assistant coach at Delaware State University, where she met Jeff Battle. She coached the couple's son, Jordan, 14, in youth basketball. Most recently, she taught and coached basketball at a middle school in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Jeff Battle, known nationally as one of college basketball's top assistant coaches, begins his eighth season at Wake Forest as associate head coach and his 24th season overall in the coaching profession. He served as an assistant coach at Delaware State University for three seasons (1991-93) before advancing to Loyola, Xavier and Wake Forest.

DSU releases 2008/09 men's basketball schedule

DOVER, DE – Twenty-three teams from nine different conferences highlight the 2008-09 Delaware State Men’s Basketball slate as announced by Head Coach Greg Jackson, today. Featuring 10 teams which reached postseason play during the 2007-08 season, the 2008-09 schedule will pit the Hornets against three teams ranked in last season’s final Top 25 (Connecticut, Notre Dame, West Virginia) as well as three former NCAA Division I Champions (Kentucky, Connecticut, Maryland).

"Once again, Coach Jackson and his staff have put together a tremendous schedule," said DSU Director of Athletics Rick Costello. "The opportunity for our student-athletes to play some of the premier programs in the NCAA will only make our program stronger."

"This is one of our toughest schedules to date," said Jackson. "This year’s schedule is going to give our program the best shot at grabbing a fourth regular season MEAC Championship over the past five years. We are going to play some of the top programs in the nation with teams like UConn, Maryland and Kentucky – all of which have won national championships.

We’ve got an exciting home schedule with a number of tough MEAC foes and an exciting and challenging road schedule that rivals any program’s in the nation. We look forward to the challenge and I know it will be fun for our fans and players alike."

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DSU 2008/09 Men's Basketball Schedule

Nov. 14-15, Hornet Classic, (Delaware State University, Wilmington University, Cheyney University, Coppin State)
Nov. 17, at Lehigh
Nov. 19 , at Dayton
Nov. 22, at Kentucky
Nov. 25, at West Virginia
Nov. 28, vs. Oakland (in Las Vegas), 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 29. vs. Longwood/Southeast Missouri (in Las Vegas)

Dec. 1, at UConn
Dec. 4, vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore*
Dec. 6, at Richmond
Dec. 12, at Maryland
Dec. 14, at Rutgers
Dec. 20, at Notre Dame

Jan. 10, vs. South Carolina State*
Jan. 12, vs. Winston-Salem State
Jan. 17, at Norfolk State*
Jan. 19, at North Carolina A&T*
Jan. 24, vs. Bethune-Cookman*
Jan. 26, vs. Florida A&M*
Jan. 31, vs. Coppin State*

Feb. 2, vs. Morgan State*
Feb. 7, at Hampton*
Feb. 9, at Howard*
Feb. 14, vs. Norfolk State*
Feb. 16, vs. North Carolina A&T*
Feb. 21, at Bethune-Cookman*
Feb. 23, at Florida A&M*
Feb. 28, at Morgan State*

March 5, at Maryland-Eastern Shore*
March 9-14, MEAC Basketball Tournament , Winston-Salem, N.C.

* MEAC games

DSU softball coach signs new contract

DOVER -- Delaware State University softball coach Jeff Savage has signed a new contract through the 2010 season, athletic director Rick Costello announced Monday.he Hornets to the program's first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship last spring and its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Savage has a nine-year record of 256-222, including a 119-35 mark in MEAC regular-season games.

Jeff Savage at Delaware State

Year Overall MEAC Highlights

2000 17-30 8-6 First winning MEAC record since 1994
2001 22-22 12-4 School record for overall and MEAC wins
2002 29-22 20-1 MEAC North title; school record for overall and MEAC wins;
2003 26-28 14-6 MEAC North title; MEAC Tournament final three
MEAC Tournament final four
2004 41-22 17-3 MEAC North title; MEAC Tournament championship round;
school record for wins
2005 34-22 18-2 MEAC North title
2006 34-22 10-4 MEAC Tournament championship round
2007 24-29 10-4 MEAC Tournament final four
2008 29-25 10-5 MEAC Tournament championship

Totals 256-222 119-35

DSU's Thompson calls it a career in Arena Football

He hoped to play for one season, but hung around for 13. He had never touched the ball on offense in his life, but finished as one of the leading rushers in league history. And he made his mark off the field, too.

"Not bad for a guy from little old Delaware State," Leroy Thompson said. "I never expected things to work out the way they did, and I never expected to have the career that I had. And now I'm ready for new challenges."

Thompson, an All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player for the Hornets in the early 1990s, recently retired after 13 seasons in the Arena Football League. He spent the first nine seasons with the Albany (later Indiana) Firebirds, one season with the New Orleans VooDoo and the last three with the Columbus Destroyers.

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Tuttle shines for DSU Hornets

Frayser Tuttle has just completed her freshman year at Delaware State University in Dover Delaware. She is attending this predominately black university on a full scholarship. Those two facts do not make this 2007 Powhatan High School graduate’s situation in higher education particularly unique, however the activity which pays her tuition, books, food and housing most certainly is. Tuttle is a star on the Hornets’ equestrian team.

In just its second season competing in NCAA equestrian events, this small (3,800 students) university has gone head to head and hoof to hoof with some of the largest universities in the country and more than held its own. Competing against teams from the Universities of Georgia, South Carolina, Baylor, Auburn, TCU, Oklahoma State, Texas A and M and SMU freshman Tuttle helped to propel the Delaware State riders to a top ten national ranking and an invitation to the National Championships. “She never gets frazzled,” said her first year Head Coach Jennifer Ridgely. “Frayser rides consistently and does so against the best in the country.”

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Brisco's drive on track leads him to chase his goals at DSU

Despite finishing in the top half of the field, recently graduated Cape Henlopen High hurdler Isaiah Brisco didn't perform as well as he would have liked in the Nike Outdoor Nationals, held June 19-21 at Greensboro, N.C. He finished 13th among 32 participants in the 400-meter hurdles, and finished last in a field of 22 in the 110 hurdles.

But Brisco will have plenty of chances to improve on his times in the next four years. Best of all, his friends and family won't have to travel far to see this year's winner of the Thomas H. Fort Award, given to the state's most valuable performer in boys high school outdoor track and field as voted on by Delaware high school head coaches.

After winning the 110- and 300-meter hurdles in the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions as a senior, Brisco will attend Delaware State University this fall.

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