HAMPTON PIRATES 2008 FOOTBALL GAME 5 Hampton (3-1, 2-0 MEAC) vs. Delaware State (1-2, 1-0 MEAC) Alumni Stadium (6,828) - Dover, Del. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. TV: None; Radio: WHOV 88.1 FM QUICK FACTS COACHES Today’s Game: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play continues today, as the Jerry Holmes (West Virginia ‘79) Pirates of Hampton University take on the Hornets of Delaware State University at Alumni Record at HU ..............................3-1 (1st year) Stadium. The Pirates come into the game looking to earn their third straight MEAC win. vs. Delaware State ....................................... 0-0 Overall Record .........................................Same vs. Delaware State ....................................... 0-0 The Hornets are coming off a 28-10 loss at the hands of Central Connecticut State, while the Pirates are coming off a bye week, prior to which the Pirates defeated the Aggies of North Al Lavan (Colorado State ‘68) Carolina A&T 44-7 at Armstrong Stadium on Sept. 20. Record at Delaware State ......... 30-18 (5 years) vs. Hampton ................................................ 2-2 Overall Record ........................................ 32-19 Series History: This will be the 34th meeting between the Pirates and the Hornets, with vs. Hampton ................................................ 2-2 Hampton holding a 21-12 advantage in the series. The rivalry dates back to 1945, when the Hornets defeated the Pirates 14-0. Following that contest, the series was back and forth for 19 SERIES years, rekindling in 1995 after the Pirates made a bid to join the MEAC. That year Hampton Hampton leads the all-time series 21-12 Last five meetings: defeated Delaware State by a score of 51-21. Since then, Hampton has a 11-2 lead in the 2007 - DSU 24, HAM 17 series, which includes the Pirates’ nine-year winning streak. 2006 - HAM 29, DSU 14 2005 - HAM 26, DSU 8 Delaware State defeated Hampton last season at home by a score of 24-17. There have been 2004 - DSU 28, HAM 23 2003 - HAM 41, DSU 9 11 shutouts in the series and Hampton’s largest win was a 41-9 decision in 2002. The Hornets’ largest victory was a 46-6 rout over the Pirates in 1956. RANKINGS Hampton The Pirates hold a 9-6 advantage in the series when playing at Alumni Stadium. N/A ...................................Sports Network Poll N/A ........ College Sporting News Coaches Poll 3rd ................. SBN Sports Black College Poll The Coaches: Jerry Holmes enters his first season as head coach at Hampton University. Prior to becoming head coach, Holmes spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator Delaware State and linebackers coach at Hampton (2004-07). Holmes also spent five years coaching N/A ...................................Sports Network Poll N/A ........ College Sporting News Coaches Poll defensive backs for the San Diego Chargers (2002-03), the Washington Redskins (2001) and 9th ................. SBN Sports Black College Poll the Cleveland Browns (1999-00). As a coach, Holmes embodies the same characteristics that he demonstrated as a player in TELEVISION Live Web streaming through www.hampton- the NFL and the USFL, physical play and aggressive football. His coaching prowess has pirates.com transferred successfully to his players on the field everywhere that he has been. In 2001 his RADIO WHOV 88.1 FM will carry the game live with HAMPTON (3-1) DELAWARE State (1-2) Rob Dixon and Shemar Woods calling the action. Date Opponent Score/Time Date Opponent Score/Time Aug. 31 vs. Jackson State W, 17-13 Sept. 6 Florida A&M W, 35-28 MEDIA CONTACTS Sept. 6 at Southern Illinois L, 31-37 Sept. 13 at Kent State L, 3-24 Hampton Sept. 13 HOWARD W, 38-27 Sept. 27 Central Connecticut St. L, 10-28 SID - Maurice Williams Sept. 20 N.CAROLINA A&T W, 44-7 Oct. 4 Hampton 1 p.m. Phone (757) 727-5757 Oct. 4 at Delaware State 1 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bethune-Cookman 4 p.m. Email: [email protected] Oct. 18 NORFOLK StatE 1 p.m. Oct. 18 North Carolina A&T 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at South Carolina State 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at Morgan State 1 p.m. Delaware State Nov. 1 Winston-SALEM StatE 2 p.m. Nov. 1 South Carolina State 1 p.m. SID - Paul Dobson Nov. 8 BETHUNE-COOKMAN 2 p.m. Nov. 8 Winston-Salem State 1 p.m. Phone (302) 857-7365 Nov. 15 at Florida A&M 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Norfolk State 1 p.m. Email: [email protected] Nov. 22 at Morgan State 1 p.m. Nov. 22 at Howard 1 p.m. 2008 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL MEAC STANDINGS Redskins secondary boasted the NFL’s sixth leading defense against the pass. The team’s 23 interceptions were the fifth most in the league. During Holmes’ tenure with the Browns, Cleveland ranked 11th and 12th in the league against the pass. Team MEAC Overall Strk Hampton 2-0 3-1 W2 South Carolina St. 1-0 3-2 W1 Holmes began his coaching career as the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at Delaware St. 1-0 1-2 L2 Hampton University from 1992 to 1994. During those three seasons with the Pirates, Hampton Bethune-Cookman 1-1 3-1 W2 posted a remarkable record of 31-4-1, winning three consecutive CIAA championships, Florida A&M 1-1 3-1 W2 Norfolk St. 1-1 2-3 L2 making two trips to the NCAA playoffs and capturing the 1994 Black College National Morgan St. 0-0 2-2 L1 Championship. After leaving Hampton, Holmes spent the next four seasons (1994-98) as the North Carolina A&T 0-2 2-3 L3 defensive backs coach at his alma mater West Virginia University. In 1996 the Mountaineers Howard 0-2 1-3 W1 featured the nation’s top-ranked defense that included a No. 5 national ranking against the pass. He has also completed coaching internships with the Detroit Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Boston University. When Alton “Al” Lavan was hired as head coach of the Hornets in January 2004, he promised to bring championship football back to Delaware State. THIS WEEK IN THE MEAC Hampton at Delaware St. - 1 p.m. In 2007, the promise became reality. Bethune-Cookman at Morgan St. 4 p.m. N. Carolina A&T vs. NC Central - 5 p.m. Howard at Winston-Salem State - 6 p.m. Last season, he led the Hornets to a school-record 10 wins, their first Mid-Eastern Athletic South Carolina State at Florida A&M - 6 p.m. Conference (MEAC) championship since 1991 and first ever appearance in the NCAA TRACKING OPPONENTS playoffs. In addition, the 2007 Hornets were ranked as high as No. 10 in the weekly Sports Jackson State (1-3) vs. Southern Network Football Championship Subdivision poll and were No. 15 in the final poll. Last Week: Idle Next Week: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Delaware State was recognized as 2007 American Sports Wire Division I Black College Southern Illinois (2-1) at North Dakota State National Champions and No. 2 in the final Sheridan Broadcast Network poll of Historically Last Week: W, 27-24 at Northern Iowa Black College & University teams. Next Week: vs. Indiana State Lavan was honored as the 2007 Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., MEAC Coach-of-the- Howard (1-3) at Winston-Salem State Year and Football Championship Subdivision Region II Coach-of-the-Year. Last Week: W, 49-21 vs. Savannah State Next Week: Idle He was second in the voting for the 2007 Eddie Robinson Award, recognizing the top Football N.C. A&T (2-3) vs. North Carolina Central Championship Subdivision coach, and was awarded the 2008 Making A Difference Award Last Week: L, 20-7 vs. Coastal Carolina by the DSU Alumni Association. Next Week: vs. Morgan State Delaware State (1-2) vs. Hampton The Fort Pierce, Fla., native was also selected as head coach for the 2008 American Heritage Last Week: L, 10-28 Central Connecticut St. Bowl/Navy-Marine Corps All-Star Classic in San Clemente, Calif. He guided the Northeast Next Week: at Bethune-Cookman All-Stars to a 24-7 victory in the contest. Norfolk State (2-3) Idle Last Week: L, 33-17 Bethune-Cookman The Last Time They Met: Delaware State 24, Hampton 17 Next Week: at South Carolina St. In a match-up that has been dominated by the Hampton University Pirates (3-1, 3-1 MEAC) South Carolina St. (3-2) at Florida A&M over the past two years, the Hornets of Delaware State University (3-1, 2-0 MEAC) did not Last Week: W, 43-17 at Winston-Salem St. have that in mind for this trip to Armstrong Stadium. Next Week: vs. Norfolk State Winston-Salem St. (0-4) vs. Howard Despite 15 penalties for 157 yards, the Pirates were still able to record 363 yards of total Last Week: L, 43-17 vs. South Carolina State offense behind quarterback TJ Mitchell. Mitchell connected on 16 of 35 passes with one Next Week: at Florida A&M interception for a total of 263 yards passing along with 45 yards rushing. Bethune-Cookman (3-1) at Morgan State Last Week: W, 33-17 vs. Norfolk State “It seemed like every time we made a big play there was a penalty to bring us back,” said Next Week: vs. Delaware State Hampton head coach Joe Taylor. “We are a balanced football team and we like to run just Florida A&M (3-1) vs. South Carolina State as many pass plays as running plays, but it is hard to run the ball when you are looking at a Last Week: W, 28-21 vs.