2013STATESMEN DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY STATESMAN FOOTBALL @DSUSTATESMEN | @DELTASTATEFB | #DSUFAMILY DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL | 2013 OFFICIAL GAME NOTES 2000 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS | 6-TIME GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS | FOUR NCAA REGION TITLES Delta State University (0-0, 0-0 vs. GSC) AT SCHEDULE | RESULTS Mississippi Valley State University (0-1, 0-0 vs. SWAC) @ MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE Saturday, Sept. 7 w 1 p.m. w SSN KICKOFF/DATE: ............... 1 p.m. | Saturday, September 7, 2013 Rice-Totten Stadium w Itta Bena SITE: ................................ Rice-Totten Stadium (15,000) | Itta Bena, Miss. TELEVISION: ................... None TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE RADIO: ............................ Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM) Friday, Sept. 13 w 5 p.m. w LSC Kickoff Classic ......................................... Matt Jones (Play-by-Play), Mark Williams (Color), Lane Quinton (Sidelines) Cowboys Stadium w Arlington, Texas w SSN RANKINGS: ..................... Delta State (NR - D2Football.com / NR - AFCA Top 25) @ NORTH ALABAMA ......................................... Mississippi Valley State (NR - Black College FB / NR - AFCA Top 25) Saturday, Sept. 21 w 6 p.m. w SSN SERIES HISTORY: ............ Delta State leads series 3-1; 1-1 at Rice-Totten Stadium Braly Municipal Stadium w Florence, Ala. LIVE AUDIO: .................... GoStatesmen.com LIVE VIDEO: .................... None FLORIDA TECH Saturday, Sept. 28 w 6 p.m. w SSN STREAKS, STORYLINES & SIDEBARS Parker Field-McCool Stadium w Cleveland Cooley Begins Delta State Tenure: The Statesmen (0-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University open the 2013 season Saturday, Sept. 7 at Mississippi Valley State University against the Delta Devils (0-1, 0-0 SWAC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium. @ WEST ALABAMA Saturday's "Delta Clash" will be the first in Todd Cooley's career as a head coach and the 81st season-opener in school history. DSU is Thursday, Oct. 3 w 7 p.m. w GSC-TV w SSN 41-35-4 all-time to open a season. Tiger Stadium w Livingston, Ala. A Rivalry Renewed: The "Delta Clash" marks the fifth meeting, and the first since 2003, between Delta State and Mississippi Valley State. DSU owns a 3-1 edge in the series; however, the Statesmen's lone loss came in 2002, 28-26, in Itta Bena. The Statesmen have TARLETON STATE out-scored the Delta Devils 131-54 in the previous four meetings for an average score of 33-14. Saturday, Oct. 19 w 6 p.m. w SSN Unfamiliar Territory: Delta State begins the 2013 campaign in unfamiliar territory, as the Gulf South Conference league coaches Parker Field-McCool Stadium w Cleveland picked the Statesmen to finish fourth this season. Valdosta State, defending NCAA DII National Champions, and defending GSC champi- on West Alabama both received 23 points in the annual preseason poll. The Statesmen received 12 points, tying with West Georgia for @ SHORTER fourth, and were picked to finish behind North Alabama (14). Florida Tech (6), which is in their first season competitively with the GSC Thursday, Oct. 24 w 7 p.m. w GSC-TV w SSN and is picked to finish last. Barron Stadium w Rome, Ga. Three Statesmen Receive Preseason Honors: Seniors Reed Falkner (TE), Ixavier Triplett (LB) and Trenton Warren (SS) highlight a list of Statesmen earning Preseason All-Gulf South Conference. Triplett is no stranger to All-GSC honors, previously being named the 2010 Defensive Freshman of the Year and All-GSC First Team in 2011, while this is the first honor for Falkner and Warren. VALDOSTA STATE Road Warriors: The Statesmen will certainly test their road mettle in 2013, as DSU faces six opponents away from the friendly confines Saturday, Nov. 2 w 4 p.m. w SSN w Homecoming of Parker Field-McCool Stadium, including the first three games of the season. After a road trip to MVSU, the Green-and-White travel Parker Field-McCool Stadium w Cleveland to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas to face Texas A&M-Commerce in the Lone Star Conference Kickoff Classic on Friday, Sept. 13. The road odyssey concludes with the GSC opener on Saturday, Sept. 21 at North Alabama. CONCORDIA-SELMA Chasing 300 Tackles: Two-time All-GSC linebacker Ixavier Triplett enters his senior season chasing the 300-career tackles plateau. The Saturday, Nov. 9 w 2 p.m. w SSN Hillsboro, Miss., native has tallied 233 stops in his decorated career, including a high of 100 as the GSC's Freshman Defender of the Year in Parker Field-McCool Stadium w Cleveland 2010. In a shortened junior season, Triplett recorded 51 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. Quality Production: Senior tight end Reed Falkner can't wait to get the season started at MVSU. In Joel Williams' new offensive system, @ WEST GEORGIA Falkner's tight end position plays a major role. The Preseason All-GSC selection has already proven his worth, grabbing six passes for 104 Thursday, Nov. 14 w 7 p.m. w GSC-TV w SSN yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. University Stadium w Carrollton, Ga. Offensive Youth Movement: The Statesmen feature a number of freshman and sophomores who will play a major role this season. After a 16 reception freshman campaign, Patrick Bethley return to anchor a receiving corps that could be one of the best DSU has put on the field in recent memory. Joining Bethley offensively will be redshirt freshman Tim Foy (RB), sophomore Justin McArthur (RB) and FOOTBALL MEDIA CONTACTS sophomore Casey Osbourne (WR). Not on Rory's Island: While DSU features a bevy of young, talented defenders, junior linebacker Rory Island is ready to help lead the Matt Jones Assistant AD for External Affairs Statesman defense this season. The All-GSC Second Team selection recorded a team-high 56 tackles in 2012, including 6.5 tackles-for-loss Office: (662) 846-4284 | Cell: (662) 719-9160 and 2.0 sacks. E-Mail: [email protected] | Twitter: @OkraJones Traditions Return: The Statesmen will return to their traditional green helmets this season. DSU will also feature two new Nike uniforms, including a new green home uniform and a white road combo. Herb Brooks Athletic Communications Assistant Facility Enhancements: The working press will enjoy new enhancements to the Pressbox at Parker Field-McCool Stadium this season. Office: (662) 846-4285 | Cell: (251) 282-8375 A completely reworked first floor features new interiors throughout, while upgrades to the second floor will help the staff create a more E-Mail: [email protected] | Twitter: @HerbBrooks650 robust game day experience for our fans. Statesmen, Not Okra: While there is some confusion nationally as to the mascot of Delta State University Athletics, the time-honored James Vallone Athletic Communications Assistant Statesman remains the official symbol of the Green-and-White. While the Fighting Okra will be seen around our facilities and is a Office: (662) 846-4284 | Cell: (678) 644-9236 beloved character by our student body, Mr. Statesman is ready to rumble. E-Mail: [email protected] | Twitter: None 2013 STATESMAN FOOTBALL w OFFICIAL GAME NOTES w 1 2013 DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY STATESMAN FOOTBALL @DSUSTATESMEN | @DELTASTATEFB | #DSUFAMILY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS POLICIES & PROCEDURES Matt Jones, Assistant AD/External Affairs* WEEKLY MEDIA LUNCHEON Email: [email protected] Each Monday during the season Delta State University hosts a media luncheon at Western Sizzlin’, located on Highway 61 South in Cleveland. Members of Office Phone: 662.846.4284 the media should pick up a plate and make their way to the reserved section of the restaurant. Coach Todd Cooley will open the media portion of the event Cell Phone: 662.719.9160 at 1 p.m. A limited number of players will be on hand for interviews. For a list of players each week, please contact the Office of Athletic Communications. Michael Gann, Manager of Athletic Communications WEEKLY MEDIA SERVICES Email: [email protected] The Athletic Communications Office produces a weekly release featuring game notes, updated statistics and other pertinent information on the Statesmen football program. To access this release, please log on to www.gostatesmen.com and click on football. Each week’s release will be located on the right side Office Phone: 662.846.4285 of the web page. The PDF formatted document is posted every Monday by noon. Cell Phone: 662.418.2569 PLAYER INTERVIEWS Jim Ervin, Game Day Operations Director Media members must adhere to the following guidelines regarding Statesmen player interviews: (1) All player interviews must be coordinated through the Email: [email protected] Athletic Communications Office; (2) Players are available for interviews, either at the Dorgan Center or via telephone prior to practice (generally 1:30-4:00 Office Phone: 662.846.4594 p.m.) and following the completion of practice; (3) Please give at least 24 hours notice; (4) No interviews will be allowed prior to kickoff on gameday. Cell Phone: 662.721.5949 COACHES INTERVIEWS Herb Brooks, Assistant* Head coach Todd Cooley and his staff are also available for interviews weekday mornings between 10 a.m. and noon in their offices. Members of the staff Email: [email protected] will also conduct interviews after the conclusion of practice each day. Please contact the Athletic Communications Office to schedule an interview outside Office Phone: 662.846.4285 of this time. No interviews will be granted before a game. Cell Phone: 251.282.8375 PRESS CREDENTIALS Caroline George, Assistant Requests for credentials for working press, photographers, television and radio should be made to Matt Jones, Director of Athletic Communications. Cre- Email: [email protected] dentials will be available at the Media Will Call gate located on the west side of Travis E. Parker Field. Credentials should be requested at least seven days in advance of the game. No credentials will be mailed.