Delaware State Hornets football

Delaware State Hornets Football
2018 Delaware State Hornets football team
First season 1924
Athletic director Louis Perkins
Head coach Rod Milstead
1st season, 0–5 (.000)
Stadium Alumni Stadium
(Capacity: 7193)
Field surface Artificial Turf
Location Dover, Delaware
Conference MEAC
All-time record 351–393–11 (.472)
Bowl record 1–1 (.500)
Playoff appearances 1
Playoff record 0–1
Claimed nat'l titles 2
Conference titles 8
Rivalries Howard Bison
Morgan State Bears
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
Heisman winners Kyle Taylor
Colors Columbia Blue and Red[1]
         
Marching band "The Approaching Storm Marching Band
Website DSUhornets.com

The Delaware State Hornets football team compete in Division I FCS, and are full-members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They are a five-time conference champion and made their first-ever FCS playoff appearance in 2007. They play at the 7,193-seat Alumni Stadium located in Dover, Delaware. The facility opened in 1957 as a multi-purpose for football, and track and field.

History

On November 9, 1980, Delaware State took on QB Neil Lomax and the Portland State Vikings and were defeated 105–0 in the most lopsided loss in Division I-AA Football history.[2] This was marked as the low point for the team and with the help of new coach Joe Purzycki the Hornets rebuilt their program. He was hired as Delaware State's head coach in 1981, and compiled a 21–21–1 overall record, including a 15–5–1 mark in his last two seasons. Bill Collick, who was Purzycki's defensive coordinator, took over the program in 1985. He led the Hornets to the team's first MEAC championship in his first season.[3]


After 2003's 1–10 debacle, Delaware State hired Alton "Al" Lavan as their new head football coach with the task of rebuilding the program once again. When Lavan was hired as head coach of the Hornets in January 2004, he promised to bring championship football back to Delaware State. Lavan brought more than 30 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience to Delaware State.

During his first season at Delaware State in 2004, Lavan led the Hornets to a 4–7 overall record and a 4–3 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), DSU’s first winning record in conference play since 2000.

The highlight of the 2004 season was Lavan’s first DSU victory, a 28–23 upset of eventual MEAC champ Hampton, the Pirates ‘only loss in a 10–1 regular season. More than the on-field improvement, Lavan has brought a change of attitude to the program. In addition to installing the first comprehensive strength and conditioning program in team history, he spearheaded changes in the team’s academic, recruiting, practice and discipline policies. The team is also benefiting from new audio/visual and computer equipment, thanks to a generous donation from prominent alumni spurred by Lavan’s outreach efforts to university supporters.

Lavan has also demonstrated concern for his players by initiating a program to bring local and nationally recognized speakers before the team to share their stories. Among the prominent individuals offering words of wisdom are former Hornet offensive lineman Matt Horace, currently an agent with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Joe Purzycki, former DSU head football coach and current bank executive; former pro quarterback and current NFL executive James Harris; and former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

Lavan’s 2005 squad posted the Hornets’ first winning season since 2000. The team was 7–4 overall, and third in the MEAC with a 6–2 record. Delaware State was picked to finish sixth in the 2005 pre-season MEAC poll. The 2005 season also marked the first time since 1985 that the Hornets posted an undefeated record at home (5–0).

In 2006, the Hornets were 8–3 overall and 6–2 in the MEAC. It marked the first time that DSU posted back-to-back winning seasons since 1994–95, while the eight wins were the most by the team since 1991. Delaware State also appeared in the SportsNetwork Division I-AA Top 25 poll for the first time since 1992, coming in at No. 23 in week ten.

In the 2007 season he led the Hornets to a school-record 10 wins, their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship since 1991 and first ever appearance in the NCAA playoffs. In addition, the 2007 Hornets were ranked as high as No. 10 in the weekly SportsNetwork Football Championship Subdivision poll and were No. 15 in the final poll. Delaware State was recognized as 2007 American Sports Wire Division I Black College National Champions and No. 2 in the final Sheridan Broadcast Network poll of Historically Black College & University teams.

Lavan was honored as the 2007 Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., MEAC Coach-of-the-Year and Football Championship Subdivision Region II Coach-of-the-Year. He was second in the voting for the 2007 Eddie Robinson Award, recognizing the top Football Championship Subdivision coach, and was awarded the 2008 Making A Difference Award by the DSU Alumni Association. Lavan was also selected as head coach for the 2008 American Heritage Bowl/Navy-Marine Corps All-Star Classic in San Clemente, Calif.[4] He guided the Northeast All-Stars to a 24–7 victory in the contest.

In four seasons at DSU, Lavan has posted an overall record of 29–16, including a 24–7 mark in MEAC contests. He has led the team to winning records in each of the last three seasons. In the three years prior to his arrival, the Hornets were 10–24 overall and 6–17 in the league. Delaware State had just one winning season in the eight years before Lavan took the job. Lavan has 31–17 career record as a head coach, including a 2–1 mark during an interim stint at Eastern Michigan in 2003.

After three straight losing seasons, Al Lavan was fired from Delaware State on December 2, 2010.[5]

Kermit Blount was head coach for the 2011–2014 seasons.

Kenny Carter was named head coach in 2015. He was fired in 2017, with a 3-30 record. Delaware State slumped to a 17-game losing streak over the course of Carter’s tenure.

Rod Milstead, a former NFL player and DSU alum, was named head coach in January, 2018.

Hornets vs Blue Hens Controversy

The most controversial aspect of the DSU football program was the fact that it had never been scheduled by potential instate rival University of Delaware for a regular season game. It was highly unusual for two state universities that play on the same athletic tier to not play one another, especially schools that are less than one hour's drive away from campus. Critics charged that this had to do with the fact that Delaware State is a Historically Black College. Furthermore, supporters of a game between DSU and UD claimed that it would be akin to other in-state college rivalries and would be good for the state.[6] In response to the charges of racism on UD's part, their supporters pointed out that Delaware had scheduled and played regular season games against several other HBCUs such as Morgan State and North Carolina A&T. UD supporters also claimed that DSU's team was not as strong as the Blue Hens, and that UD's program had made commitments to other universities that they had to fulfill. Finally, UD supporters also noted the fact that the two colleges routinely meet in sports other than football.

This controversy was laid to rest when University of Delaware and Delaware State University met on the football field for the first time on November 23, 2007 in Newark, Delaware in the first round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Fightin' Blue Hens defeated the Hornets 44–7 in front of an attendance of 19,765, the largest playoff crowd in Delaware Stadium history.[7] In 2009, the teams began playing each other during the regular season. With the exception of 2010, the game has been played annually, with each of these games played at Delaware Stadium on the UD campus in Newark. Delaware has won all six regular season meetings to date (2009, 2011-2014 and 2016), this year with a score of 56–14 on September 1, 2016.

Conference affiliations

Classifications

  • 1961–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
  • 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

Yearly Results

Year Coach Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Rank#
Coach Unknown (Independent) (1924–1930)
1924 Coach Unknown 0–1
1925 Coach Unknown 0–2
1926 Coach Unknown 1–0
1927 No Records
1928 Coach Unknown 0–1
1929 Coach Unknown 1–0
1930 Coach Unknown 4–2
James Powell Calvin (Independent) (1931)
1931 James Powell Calvin 2–2–1
James Powell Calvin: 2–2–1
John L. McKinley (Independent) (1932)
1932 John L. McKinley 2–5
John L. McKinley: 2–5
Edward L. Jackson (Independent) (1933)
1933 Edward L. Jackson 4–4
Edward L. Jackson (Middle Atlantic Athletic Association) (1934)
1934 Edward L. Jackson 8–01st
Edward L. Jackson (Independent) (1935–1943)
1935 Edward L. Jackson 7–1
1936 Edward L. Jackson 1–3–1
1937 Edward L. Jackson 1–0
1938 Edward L. Jackson 0–1
1939 Edward L. Jackson 0–2
1940 No Records
1941 Edward L. Jackson 0–4
1942 Edward L. Jackson 3–1–1
1943 No Team Due To WW2
Edward L. Jackson (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1944–1945)
1944 Edward L. Jackson 2–2
1945 Edward L. Jackson 3–3
Edward L. Jackson: 29–21–2
Thomas R. Conrad (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1946–1949)
1946 Thomas R. Conrad 5–4W Florida N&I Flower Bowl
1947 Thomas R. Conrad 4–4
1948 Thomas R. Conrad 4–5
1949 Thomas R. Conrad 3–5–1
Thomas R. Conrad: 16–18–1
Robert M. White (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1950–1951)
1950 Robert M. White 2–7–1
1951 Robert M. White 2–7
Robert M. White: 4–14
Willard S. Jones (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1952)
1952 Willard S. Jones 1–7
Willard S. Jones: 1–7
Edward L. Jackson (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1953–1956)
1953 Edward L. Jackson 4–4
1954 Edward L. Jackson 7–1
1955 Edward L. Jackson 7–1
1956 Edward L. Jackson 7–1–1
Edward L. Jackson: 25–7
Bennie J. George (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1957–1959)
1957 Bennie J. George 6–2
1958 Bennie J. George 3–5
1959 Bennie J. George 1–7
Bennie J. George: 10–14
Preston Mitchell (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1960)
1960 Preston Mitchell 4–4
Preston Mitchell: 4–4
Roy D. Moore (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1961–1964)
1961 Roy D. Moore 6–3
1962 Roy D. Moore 4–5
1963 Roy D. Moore 2–5–1
1964 Roy D. Moore 3–7
Roy D. Moore: 15–20–1
Ulysses S. Washington (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1965–1966)
1965 Ulysses S. Washington 4–5
1966 Ulysses S. Washington 3–5
Ulysses S. Washington: 7–10
Arnold Jeter (Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1967–1970)
1967 Arnold Jeter 2–6–1
1968 Arnold Jeter 4–6
1969 Arnold Jeter 4–5
1970 Arnold Jeter 6–2
Arnold Jeter (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1971–1974)
1971 Arnold Jeter 1–8
1972 Arnold Jeter 5–4
1973 Arnold Jeter 0–11
1974 Arnold Jeter 3–6
Arnold Jeter: 25–48–1
Edmund Wyche (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1975–1978)
1975 Edmund Wyche 5–5
1976 Edmund Wyche 3–7–1
1977 Edmund Wyche 7–4L Florida A&M Orange Blossom Classic
1978 Edmund Wyche 3–7
Edmund Wyche: 18–23–1
Charles Henderson (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1979–1980)
1979 Charles Henderson 4–5–1
1980 Charles Henderson 2–9
Charles Henderson: 6–14–1
Joseph Purzycki (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1981–1984)
1981 Joseph Purzycki 2–9
1982 Joseph Purzycki 4–7
1983 Joseph Purzycki 7–3–1
1984 Joseph Purzycki 8–2
Joseph Purzycki: 21–21–1
William Collick (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1985–1996)
1985 William Collick 9–25–01st
1986 William Collick 7–43–2
1987 William Collick 9–15–0*1st
1988 William Collick 5–54–21st
1989 William Collick 7–45–11st
1990 William Collick 7–3
1991 William Collick 9–25–1*1st
1992 William Collick 6–5
1993 William Collick 6–5
1994 William Collick 7–4
1995 William Collick 6–5
1996 William Collick 3–8
William Collick: 81–48
John McKenzie (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1997–1999)
1997 John McKenzie 3–8
1998 John McKenzie 0–11
1999 John McKenzie 4–7
John McKenzie: 7–26
Ben Blacknall (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (2000–2002)
2000 Ben Blacknall 7–45–3
2001 Ben Blacknall 5–63–5
2002 Ben Blacknall 4–82–68th
Ben Blacknall/Butch Posey (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (2003)
2003 Ben Blacknall/Butch Posey* 1–101–67th
Ben Blacknall: 16–2410–19
Butch Posey: 1–41–4
Alton Lavan (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (2004–2010)
2004 Alton Lavan 4–74–34th
2005 Alton Lavan 7–46–23rd
2006 Alton Lavan 8–36–22nd
2007 Alton Lavan 10–29–01stL Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens NCAA FCS First Round15
2008 Alton Lavan 5–65–35th
2009 Alton Lavan 4–73–46th
2010 Alton Lavan 3–82–68th
Alton Lavan: 41–3735–20
Kermit Blount (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (2011–Present)
2011 Kermit Blount 3–81–79th
2012 Kermit Blount 6–55–34th
2013 Kermit Blount 5–65–34th
Kermit Blount: 14–1911–13
Total:352–391–11
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • In 1987, Delaware State was defeated by Howard 12–7, finishing with a 4–1 record in conference play, second to Howard. Howard was later forced to forfeit all victories that season for using ineligible players, moving Delaware State to 5–0, at which time the MEAC stripped the title and awarded it to Delaware State.[8]
  • In 1991, Delaware State was defeated by Bethune-Cookman 28–20, however, it was determined that BCU used an ineligible player and the Wildcats were forced to forfeit the game. The victory gave Delaware State a 5–1 conference record, tying them with North Carolina A&T, who the Hornets had beaten earlier in the season, for a share of the conference championship.
  • In 2003, Ben Blacknall coached games 1–6 and was fired with an 0–6 record. Butch Posey was promoted to head coach for games 7–11 and finished with a 1–4 record.

Championships

National Championships

Year Coach Record Championship
2007Alton Lavan10–2Black College National Champions
Total national championships 1

Conference Championships

Year Coach Conference Conference Record
1934Edward L. JacksonMiddle Atlantic Athletic Association
1956Edward L. JacksonCentral Intercollegiate Athletics Association
1985William CollickMid-Eastern Athletic Conference5–0
1987William CollickMid-Eastern Athletic Conference5–0
1988William CollickMid-Eastern Athletic Conference4–2
1989William CollickMid-Eastern Athletic Conference5–1
1991William CollickMid-Eastern Athletic Conference5–1
2007Alton LavanMid-Eastern Athletic Conference9–0
Total conference championships 8

Bowl games

Bowl Score Date Season Opponent Stadium Location Attendance Head Coach
Flower BowlW 7–6January 1, 19471946Florida N&ITom Conrad
Orange Blossom ClassicL 37–15December 3, 19771977Florida A&MOrange BowlMiami, FloridaEdmund Wyche
Total bowl appearances 2

Hornets in the pros

References

  1. ↑ Delaware State University Branding & Communications Tool Kit (PDF). Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Lomax Strikes Again, 105 to 0 – Free Preview – The New York Times". Select.nytimes.com. November 10, 1980. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  3. ↑ "Delaware State University Hornet Athletics". Desu.edu. Archived from the original on September 16, 2006. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  4. ↑ beepbeep (January 14, 2008). "MEAC/SWAC SPORTS MAIN STREET: DSU Lavan to coach in American Heritage Bowl". Meacswacsports.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  5. ↑ DSU fires football coach Lavan
  6. ↑ Jeff, By (September 24, 2007). "ESPN Page 2 – Pearlman: Yellow Blue Hens". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  7. ↑ "ESPN – Delaware rolls past Delaware State in first round of playoffs – NCAA College Football Recap". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  8. ↑ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1213914.html
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