The 2007 MEAC football season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 30 as the Morgan State Bears host Savannah State in Baltimore, Md. Labor Day weekend features six MEAC football member institutions in action, including three Classics. Florida A&M highlights the list of opening day action, as they face the Southern University Jaguars in the third annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge on ESPNU beginning at 3 p.m. South Carolina State faces non-conference opponent Air-Force in the day’s first match-up beginning at 2 p.m.
Weekend Summary Savannah St. (0-0) at Morgan St. (0-0)August 30 ? 7 p.m. (EST) ? Baltimore, MD ?
Hughes Stadium (10,000)
SERIES: MSU leads series 12-6. MSU defeated SSU 55-26 in their last meeting on September 17, 2005 (Proctor & Gamble Ohio Classic, Cleveland, Ohio)
TELEVISON: None
Radio: WEAA 88.9 FM
TURF: Synthetic Turf
COACHES: SSU’s Theo Lemon is in his second season with the Tigers and is 2-9. Coach Hill-Eley begins his fifth year with the Bears with a 25-31 (44.6) overall record.
GAME NOTES: SSU is an independent member of NCAA Division I (FCS) Football...last season the Tigers finished with a 2-9 overall record with wins against Morehouse (24-20) and Edward Waters (28-7)...last season the Tigers competed against one MEAC opponent, losing to Bethune-Cookman (55-6)...They ended the 2006 regular season with a 0-55 loss to #16 Cal Poly...in 2006 the Tigers scored 9.8 ppg and gave up 34.5...they averaged 211.6 yards total offense per game and gave up 377.5 yards on defense... MSU finished fifth in the MEAC last year with a 4-4 conference record, 5-6 overall...They are predicted to finish sixth in the 2007 season...MSU lost to SCSU in their last outing (16-41)...The Bears return 20 starters...Mario Melton (QB) racked up 924 yards on 70-of-148 passes in 10 games last season...Chad Simpson (RB) returns for his senior season after rushing for 795 yards and nine TDs in 2006...the Bears led the MEAC in rushing defense last season, 22nd in NCAA D-I (FCS), holding opponents to 117 yards on the ground.
South Carolina State (0-0) at Air Force (0-0)Sept. 1 ? 2 p.m. (EST) ? Colorado Springs, Colo. ? Falcon Stadium (46,692)
SERIES: First Meeting
TELEVISON: Mountain Sports Network
Radio: WQKI 97.9
TURF: Natural Grass
COACHES: AIR FORCE’s Troy Calhoun begins his first season as head coach. SCSU’s Buddy Pough enters his 6th season with a 40-17 overall record.
GAME NOTES: AIR FORCE is a member of the Mountain West Conference...the Falcons welcome a new head coach this season as Troy Calhoun takes over for Fisher DeBerry...Air Force finished tied for sixth in the MWC with a 3-5 conference mark, 4-8 overall...the Falcons return 10 starters from last year, four on offense and six on defense and are picked to finish seventh in MWC preseason polls...SCSU is selected to finish first in MEAC preseason predictions...The Bulldogs tied for second place last season with a 6-2 MEAC record, 7-4 overall...They won their last three games of the season including wins against Hoard (28-10), Morgan State )41-16), and N.C. A&T (41-19)... game...The Bulldogs celebrates 100 years of football this season...they boast a competitive schedule with match ups against non-conference opponents Air Force and interstate rival South Carolina.
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Southern (0-0) at Florida A&M (0-0)Sept. 1 ? 3 p.m. (EST) ? Birmingham, Ala. ? Legion Field (71,594)
SERIES: FAMU leads the series 31-24-1. The Jaguars defeated the Rattlers, 17-14 OT, in their last meeting in Nov. 3, 2001.
TELEVISON: ESPN Classic
Radio: N/A
TURF: Natural Grass
COACHES: SU’s Pete Richardson enters his 15th season with the Jaguars with a 114-49 school record including five SWAC Championships. In 19 years at the helm, he has amassed a 156-63-1 overall record. FAMU’s Rubin Carter enters his third season as the Rattlers head coach with a 7-4 MEAC record, 13-9 overall.
GAME NOTES: SU is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference ...Last year the Jaguars finished second in the western division with a 4-5 SWAC record, 5-6 overall...the Jags return 17 starters including six on offense, eight defense and five on the special teams...the Jaguars are predicted to finish 3rd/West in SWAC this season...FAMU finished 4th in the 2006 MEAC standings with a 5-3 MEAC record (7-4 overall)...the Rattlers are predicted to finish 5th in conference preseason predictions...the Rattlers return 20 starters...FAMU led the MEAC in pass offense (213.8 yds/g), PAT kicking (.931), and time of possession (33:42) in 2006...the Rattlers earned four slots on the 2007 Preseason All-MEAC team including Justin Delancy (OL), Albert Chester II (QB), Wesley Taylor (PK)...Vernon Wilder (LB).
Gateway Classic
Jacksonville (0-0) at Bethune-Cookman (0-0)Sept. 1 ? 4 p.m. (EST) ? Daytona Beach, FL ?
Municipal Stadium (10,000)
SERIES: First Meeting
TELEVISON: None
Radio: WELE 1380 AM
TURF: Natural Grass
COACHES: JU’s Kerwin Bell begins his first season with the Dolphins. Coach Alvin Wyatt begins his 11th season with the Wildcats with a 72-39 (.649) overall record.
GAME NOTES: JU is a member of the Pioneer Football League...Last season the Dolphins finished third in the PFL with a 4-3 record (4-6 overall)...Coach Bell inherits a team that returns 11 starters on offense and 10 starters on defense...the Dolphins last win was on Oct. 21 against Morhead St. (28-24)...B-CU’s Wyatt suffered his first losing season since taking the job as head coach in 1997 (4-7)...the Wilcats recorded a 3-5 MEAC record last season for a sixth place finish...they dropped their last three games with loses to Hampton (17-34), Howard (0-28) and Florida A&M (21-35)...their last win dates back to Oct. 26, 2006 (70-7 over NC A&T)...the Wildcats converted on 51.4 percent of their 3rd down conversion in 2006...they ranked third in MEAC scoring offense and second in MEAC pass offense in 2006...they return 17 starters including preseason First Team All-MEAC performers Corey Council (TE) and Bobbie Wiiliams (DB). SPECIAL NOTE: BCC became BCU last academic school year. Named Bethune-Cookman College in 1931, the school will replace the campus signage, printed materials and athletic uniforms over the next two years.
Labor Day Classic
Virginia St. (0-0) at Norfolk St. (0-0)Sept. 1 ? 6 p.m. (EST) ? Norfolk, Va. ? Dick Price Stadium (30,000)
SERIES: VSU leads the series 26-17-1. NSU defeated VSU, 29-14, in the least meeting (Sept. 2, 2006)
TELEVISON: No TV
Radio: NWNSB 91.1 FM
TURF: Natural Grass
COACHES: VSU’s Andrew Faison has a 26-24 record in five years at the helm. NSU’s Pete Adrian enters his third season as the Spartans head coach and maintains an 8-14 overall record, 3-13 in conference play.
GAME NOTES: VSU is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, NCAA Division II...Last year the Spartans finished 5th in the CIAA with a 2-5 conference record and 2-8 overall...the Trojans lost 10 starters from the 2006 squad including five on the offense and five on the defese...lost in their season opener to #15 Carson Newman 21-52...NSU finished 8th in the 2006 MEAC Standings with a 1-7 MEAC record, 4-7 overall... the Spartans sole conference win was against NCAT (42-20)...the Spartans lost 12 starters from last years squad...NSU is predicted to finish 7th in the MEAC...NSU led the MEAC in punt returns last season with a 20.7 average and 2 TDs...two Spartans were selected to the preseason All-MEAC team including Dennis Marsh (DL) and Maguell Davis (LB).
North Carolina A&T (0-0) at Winston-Salem St. (0-0)Sept. 1 ? 6 p.m. (EST) ? Winston-Salem, NC ? Bowman Gray Stadium (18,000)
SERIES: N.C. A&T leads the series 33-10. The Rams defeated the Aggies, 41-14, in the last outing on Sept. 2, 2006.
Radio: WNAA 90.1 (NCAT); WSNC 90.5 FM (WSSU)
TURF: Natural Grass
COACHES: WSSU’s Kermit Blount has an 81-64-3 overall coaching record in 14 seasons with the Rams. NCAT’s Lee Fobbs Jr. is 0-11 entering his second season guiding the Aggies.
GAME NOTES: WSSU is an independent member of the NCAA Division I Championship Subdivision...the Rams finished the 2006 season with a 4-7 overall record with wins against Howard (12-0), Savannah St. (38-6), St. Augustine’s (26-6)...the Rams return 13 starters including six offensive and seven defensive players...the Rams will play a full-slate MEAC schedule during the 2007 season but will not compete for the conference title...NCAT were winless during the 2006 season finishing in the ninth and final place of MEAC standings...the Aggies return 29 starters from the 2006 squad.
Coastal Carolina (0-0) at Delaware St. (0-0)Sept. 1 ? 7 p.m. (EST) ? Dover, Del. ? Alumni Stadium (6,828)
SERIES: CCU leads the series 1-0, defeating the Hornets 24-6 (Sept. 24, 2005)
TELEVISON: None
Radio: N/A
TURF: Artificial Turf
COACHES: CCU’s David Bennett boasts a 34-11 in six seasons for the Chanticleers. He was named the Sportexe National FCS Coach of the Year in 2006. DSU’s Al Lavan begins his fourth year with the Hornets with a MEAC record of 19-14 (21-15 overall).
GAME NOTES: CCU is a member of the Big South Conference...The Chanticleers captured their third consecutive Big South title and qualified for the NCAA D-I playoffs for the first time in school history in 2006...the football program begin in 2003...The 2007 Chants replace 36 seniors from last year’s squad...DSU finished the 2006 tied South Carolina State in second place in MEAC standings with a 6-2 record...The Hornets fell to conference foe Howard Bison,17-20, in the regular season finale last year ending their hopes for a playoff bid and the conference crown...the Hornets are predicted to finish third in 2007...DSU returns 18 starters (8 Off./7 Def./3 Spec.) from the 2006 team...Five DSU players garnered preseason First-Team honors...the Hornets rank second in eight team statistical categories in 2006 including scoring offense, scoring defense, kickoff returns, rushing offense, punt returns, red zone offense, field goals and kickoff coverage.