2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Tickets Now On Sale

ESPN Regional Television (ERT) has announced that tickets for the 2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge football contest between Delaware State University and Southern University (La.) on Sep. 5 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, are now on sale through Ticketmaster and Anthony Travel.

Individual game tickets are $20 (plus tax and fees), and can be ordered by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. Fans can also purchase travel packages through Anthony Travel's web page at www.anthonytravel.com or by calling 1-800-736-6377.

Delaware State University is also working with Anthony Travel on MEAC/SWAC Challenge packages for students, alumni and other Hornet fans. Information on the DSU packages can be obtained by logging onto http://www.desu.edu/meacswac-challenge or www.DSUHornets.com. The DSU travel packages include admission to Disney attractions.

The MEAC/SWAC weekend will include step shows, a career fair, parade and battle of the bands. Delaware State University will also host a tailgate and "fan center" in Orlando.

This will be Delaware State's first appearance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, which pits a top team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against one from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Southern will be making its second appearance in the challenge. The Jaguars defeated the MEAC's Florida A&M 33-27 in 2007 in Birmingham, Alabama.



Delaware State is 2-0 all-time vs. Southern. The Hornets, led by first-year head coach Bill Collick and All-American John Taylor, defeated the Jaguars 46-8 in 1985 in Baton Rouge, La. The teams met again the following year in Shreveport, La., with the Hornets coming out of top, 21-14.

The 2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge will air on ESPN/ESPN HD and ESPN3.com. This will mark the first time this event will be televised on ESPN.

For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and for access to its Facebook page, please visit the official website: www.meacswacchallenge.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the event via Twitter: www.twitter.com/MEAC_SWAC.

MEAC/SWAC: HBCUs' real challenge is survival

SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp, "Disney and the City of Orlando have done an excellent job, but I want to bring it [MEAC/SWAC Challenge] back to Birmingham," Sharp said.

The lousy economy has long tentacles. It's all about survival, whether it's a distressed auto industry or banks trying to regain their footing. No different whether the business model involves Manolo Blahniks or football cleats. There are 105 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in this nation. Two of them gathered their football teams, fans and alumni in Central Florida this weekend for a smorgasbord of events meant to pump up not only interest but financial stability.

MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, "The landscape is tough but it's nothing that we haven't experienced over an extended period of time."

South Carolina State University and Grambling State University put on an entertaining show during the Fifth Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge at the Florida Citrus Bowl Sunday afternoon. South Carolina State won, 34-31, on a defensive stop in the final minutes when cornerback Semaj Moody intercepted a pass by Greg Dillon. It was a pleasant way to spend three-plus hours despite the occasional drop of rain. But when everybody packs up and goes home, it's time to put away the party favors and deal with the economic realities: Many non-state-supported HBCUs are trying to stay solvent, given increased educational costs, and drops in endowments and financial aid for students.

2009 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Attendance: 21,367.

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Hampton hangs on in Holmes' debut over JSU Tigers

The Pirates overcome a slugglish start to top Jackson State in their season opener.

ORLANDO, FL - Just 10 minutes after walking off the Florida Citrus Bowl field, a stunning 17-13 MEAC/SWAC Challenge win over Jackson State still dancing through his head, victorious first-year Hampton coach Jerry Holmes tried to hold back his smile as he sat down at the post-game news conference. That attempt was the first loss of his career. Coming off a disappointing 6-5 season and fourth-place finish in the MEAC, the former Bethel star led the Pirates to their third straight win over the Tigers.

Coach Jerry Holmes and the Pirates will face Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL on the road this Satudary at 6 p.m. CST.

"It's exciting," he said. "Especially to get that first leading lady on the schedule as you try to forge some momentum for the season. It's a great feeling." Hampton trailed 7-3 at the half, but used plays on both sides of the ball to take control. JSU got the opening kickoff in the second half and looked as if it was about to blow the game open after driving all the way to the Pirates' 6. But Hampton's Rasoul Wilson picked off Trae Rutland in the end zone to end the threat.

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Attendance: 10,723, Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL (Capacity: 74,635)

MEAC's Thomas misunderstood

Commissioner thought that FAMU, B-CU supported MEAC-SWAC clash

MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas on Tuesday clarified his response to a question from the Democrat concerning the participation of FAMU and Bethune-Cookman University in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge.

A story in Sunday's sports section quoted Thomas' initial response to the schools' decision. The story also prompted the presidents of FAMU and B-CU to issue a joint statement reiterating their position to not support the game.

Thomas said he thought the question — answered during a MEAC Media Day session last week — implied that the two universities had reversed their decision about participating, and he responded favorably. FAMU and B-CU decided last spring that they would not play in the MEAC-SWAC game after it was moved to Orlando.

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You draw your own conclusion from these articles, but if I had the authority to hire and fire--Thomas would be history!

Payton Award to be presented prior to MEAC/SWAC Challenge Football Game

The Game: MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Jackson State University vs. Hampton University.

Former Jackson State and NFL star Walter Payton will have another award presented in his honor when JSU and Hampton play in the fourth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida, on Aug. 31. The two teams kick off at 1 p.m. inside the Citrus Bowl. The challenge will present the Walter Payton Achievement Award for the first time this year to players who stand out in the classroom and on the playing field.

JSU linebacker Marcus Smith and Hampton wide out Kevin Teel have been selected to receive the award at a kickoff banquet Aug. 29. Payton's son, Jarrett, a former University of Miami and current Montreal Alouettes running back, will present the award and former Grambling and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Doug Williams will serve as the keynote speaker.

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Walter Payton Documentary


Read: Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton by Walter Payton and Don Yaeger

MEAC/SWAC Challenge rotates away from Legion Field

The fourth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge is set for Aug. 31 and, for the first time, the football game won't be held at Legion Field.

The game is moving to Orlando but the move was not unexpected because, from the birth of the event that is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, the plan was to hold the game on a rotating basis in the footprint of each of the two historically black college conferences.

Along with leaving SWAC country, the game also picked up Walt Disney Resort as presenting sponsor for the three-year deal.

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Hampton U. to open football season vs. Jackson State on ESPN2

The Pirates adjust their football schedule to open the season by playing in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 31.

Hampton University athletic director Lonza Hardy announced a huge upgrade on Wednesday to the Pirates' football schedule. The Pirates now will open the 2008 season against defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Jackson State of Mississippi in MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

The contest is set for 2 p.m. on Aug. 31 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and will be telecast on ESPN2, Hardy said. The Pirates had been scheduled to open the season on Aug. 30 at home against Division II Virginia Union.

But Hardy said that a little more than three weeks ago, the Pirates were offered the opportunity to represent the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the annual MEAC\SWAC Challenge because...

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Hampton University 2008 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result

8/30/2008 Jackson State (MEAC/SWAC Challenge) Orlando, Fla. 2:00 p.m.
9/6/2008 Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. 6 p.m. (CST)
9/13/2008 * Howard Hampton, Va. 6 p.m.
9/20/2008 * North Carolina A&T Hampton, Va. 6 p.m.
9/27/08 OPEN
10/4/2008 * Delaware State Dover, Del. TBA
10/11/2008 OPEN
10/18/2008 * Norfolk State - Battle of the Bay Hampton, Va. 1 p.m.
10/25/2008 * South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA
11/1/2008 Winston- Salem State - Homecoming 2008 Hampton, Va. 2 p.m.
11/8/2008 * Bethune-Cookman Hampton, Va. 2 p.m.
11/15/2008 * Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fl. TBA
11/22/2008 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. TBA

Home Games are in bold
Neutral Site Games are in italics
* Denotes a conference game.

JSU to open football season in Orlando

Jackson State will open the 2008 football season on a Sunday in Orlando against Bethune Cookman University, school officials announced today.

The Tigers will play the Wildcats of Daytona Beach, Fla., on Aug. 31 at the Citrus Bowl as part of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The game will be televised by ESPN. A game time has not been set.

According to a news release, the rest of JSU’s schedule has not been finalized, but a tentative schedule has been announced.

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The presidents of FAMU and Bethune Cookman just issued statements through the Orlando Sentinel, and this article says BCU will not be playing two games in Orlando next season. We know BCU will be playing in the Florida Classic because of the existing contract that pays them a reported $1.3 million for their participation in the Florida Classic.

So, who is really the opponent that Jackson State will face in Orlando on August 31?

You would think before all of these announcements were made that the MEAC Commissioner would have worked through the details of who would represent the MEAC in this game. Here is the schedule that JSU released yesterday:

'08 tentative JSU football schedule

Aug. 31, Bethune Cookman, Orlando
Sept. 6, Stillman*
Sept. 13, Tennessee State, Memphis
Sept. 20, at Grambling
Oct. 4, Southern University
Oct. 11, at Arkansas Pine Bluff
Oct. 18, at Texas Southern
Oct. 25, Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 8, at Alabama State
Nov. 15, Alabama A&M
Nov. 22, Alcorn State

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