This the kind of stuff I don't like about the MEAC front Office. Like he's little Hitler or somebody.

DOVER -- Delaware State's official football schedule is remarkable not for which teams the Hornets play in 2008, but the one it won't.

DSU, fresh off its first appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, has a second consecutive away game with I-A Kent State and will play Florida A&M at Alumni Stadium for the first time since 2002 in the season opener Sept. 6. But the Hornets, 10-2 last season, will not play in the annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge.

That apparently sits just fine with coach Al Lavan.

The MEAC-SWAC Challenge -- a series theoretically matching the defending champions from the historically black Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference in a showcase game to start the season -- won't include the MEAC champion Hornets.

Instead, Hampton, 6-5 last season, will play SWAC champion Jackson State on Aug. 31 at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on ESPN2.

"We were led to believe the champions from the MEAC and SWAC would meet," Lavan said. "Originally, we thought we were in. But we determined, after some time, that unless the conference said we were in and we had to fix our schedule, then we just have to play the way it is."

The Challenge, announced last week, had its own share of problems when a lead promoter backed out, forcing the game to move from its original home of Birmingham, Ala.

Lavan said playing in the Challenge may have meant moving around other games on the schedule to prevent the Hornets from playing too many consecutive weeks. The Hornets will have Sept. 20 as their open date next season.

Lavan said he would have liked to play in the Challenge and wasn't told by the MEAC office why DSU was left out.

"I don't know; only the commissioner [Dennis Thomas] can speak to that," he said. "In the end, the schedule works for us."

A representative from the MEAC referred questions about who picks the teams for the nationally televised game to ESPN. Officials from ESPN could not be reached for comment. Thomas was out of the office this week.

Although Division I-AA teams have the option of playing 12 games next season, Lavan said he decided against it in order to give his team needed rest. He said several other I-A teams offered to play, but Lavan didn't want to have two games against upper-division teams.

DSU will play Sept. 13 at Kent State, of the Mid-American Conference. The Golden Flashes won 38-7 last season, handing DSU its only loss of the regular season.

When DSU faces FAMU, it will see a familiar face in first-year coach Joe Taylor, who left Hampton last season after a highly successful tenure.

The Hornets five other home games: Central Connecticut State (Sept. 27), Hampton (Oct. 4), North Carolina A&T (Oct. 18), South Carolina State (Nov. 1) and MEAC probationary member Winston-Salem State (Nov. 8).

quote:

"We were led to believe the champions from the MEAC and SWAC would meet," Lavan said. "Originally, we thought we were in. But we determined, after some time, that unless the conference said we were in and we had to fix our schedule, then we just have to play the way it is."

He has to be kidding.

What is he talking about? Did he know who played last year? Neither FAMU nor Southern were their conference's champs the previous year.

I read that in todays Wilmington (DE) News-Journal. I have some issues with a couple of things:
1. Even though MEAC/SWAC Challenge I and Challenge II pattern seemed to pit the previous years' MEAC and SWAC champs ), last year was anything but... neither Southern or FAMU were in '06 but were selected for MEAC/SWAC Challenge III.......and when this game was started, only internet fodder (meaning MEACfans and maybe SWACPage) talked it up as a matchup of the previous years champs.......ESPN nor either commish/official conf. spokesperson committed the previous years' champ to the game.

2. Did the MEAC/SWAC Challenge relocate due to a promotor issue (as mentioned in article) or was it due to a pre-planned rotation between SWAC footprint and MEAC footprint (part of original plan)?
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Kristian (News Journal reporter), lets not make something out of nothing. Smack Daddy, don't get caught up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: decatur g,

quote:

Originally posted by PROUDPIRATE:
What is he talking about? Did he know who played last year? Neither FAMU nor Southern were their conference's champs the previous year.

True. I was about to post this.

quote:

Originally posted by decatur g:
I read that in todays Wilmington (DE) News-Journal. I have some issues with a couple of things:
1. Even though MEAC/SWAC Challenge I and Challenge II pattern seemed to pit the previous years' MEAC and SWAC champs ), last year was anything but... neither Southern or FAMU were in '06 but were selected for MEAC/SWAC Challenge III.......and when this game was started, only internet fodder (meaning MEACfans and maybe SWACPage) talked it up as a matchup of the previous years champs.......ESPN nor either commish/official conf. spokesperson committed the previous years' champ to the game.

2. Did the MEAC/SWAC Challenge relocate due to a promotor issue (as mentioned in article) or was it due to a pre-planned rotation between SWAC footprint and MEAC footprint (part of original plan)?

(1) FAMU & Southern were recruited to try to save face for this three-year old "Bag Of Rocks" Debacle that the two Commishes sold to D'Whyte ... And once they ALL WTFU and realized that if the two biggest traveling HBCU fanbases couldn't fill that joint up there ... "NOBODY WILL!"

(2) Who was the "promoter" they are referring to in the first place?

Either way ... Refer back to #1 for why they possibly bolted.

DSU ...
Don't worry 'bout not playing in front of Tom Joyner and Mickey - and the other handful of folks that'll be there - in an empty "Sit-Rust Bowl" in August ...



"Just get yo' @sses ready to get steamrolled on September 6th ... AT HOME!"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FAMUVenom,

It was never meant to be the champs from the previous year but that was a selling point for those years. However last years wasn't marketed that way at all. Lavan is making a case for being disrespected by the confeence. Which sounds like more of Del state rumbling to get out of the conference.

I AGREE BLUE.....STOP DEL STATE.

Promoter? ESPN is the promoter.

I don't think it is that big of deal. I'll say this.

When Hampton played Grambling a few years ago Grambling was nothing like the team 3-4 years before then. Thus the team was not as good. Although the game was good, because lost two OL, starting QB, and starting RB.

Anyway the point is that Del St. lost alot of the team last year. They are not as good and does anybody think Del. St. is going to finish in the top three this year?

I don't. Hampton has lost only four starters total. 2 DL, 1 RB, 1 LB.

So tell me. Who do you think is the more appealing team?

I SAY ABOUT 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MOST.

quote:

Originally posted by SKEEMOE:
I SAY ABOUT 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MOST.

Yeah, a classic with either the name of Hampton nor JSU would bring in less than 15K. I've never known EITHER to bring in that few fans to a classic no matter who the opponent. TP would probably say JSU would bring about 25K alone. But, I predict about 30-35k+.

quote:

Originally posted by PROUDPIRATE:

quote:

Originally posted by SKEEMOE:
I SAY ABOUT 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MOST.

Yeah, a classic with either the name of Hampton nor JSU would bring in less than 15K. I've never known EITHER to bring in that few fans to a classic no matter who the opponent. TP would probably say JSU would bring about 25K alone. But, I predict about 30-35k+.

Playing on Sunday will hurt Attendance

quote:

Originally posted by Baby Boy:

quote:

Originally posted by PROUDPIRATE:

quote:

Originally posted by SKEEMOE:
I SAY ABOUT 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MOST.

Yeah, a classic with either the name of Hampton nor JSU would bring in less than 15K. I've never known EITHER to bring in that few fans to a classic no matter who the opponent. TP would probably say JSU would bring about 25K alone. But, I predict about 30-35k+.

Playing on Sunday will hurt Attendance

Why? Most people will have that Monday off.

quote:

Originally posted by FAMUVenom:
(2) Who was the "promoter" they are referring to in the first place?

"One man's trash is another man's treasure!"

Maybe the writer is referring to Ford Motor Co...I explicitly remember seeing that MEAC/SWAC Challenges I and II were both sponsored by Ford...and I believe ESPN's involvement was restricted to just owning the tv rights to the game the first two years...but after Ford bolted (before last year's contest was arranged)...ESPN just took control over the whole event after seeing the growth potential...

I honestly believe that the last minute date change from Sunday to Saturday (ie Miles College non-compliance)...in addition to predicted inclimate weather...had an adverse effect on attendance at last year's FAMU vs SU Challenge...

quote:

Originally posted by Baby Boy:

quote:

Originally posted by PROUDPIRATE:

quote:

Originally posted by SKEEMOE:
I SAY ABOUT 15,000 IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MOST.

Yeah, a classic with either the name of Hampton nor JSU would bring in less than 15K. I've never known EITHER to bring in that few fans to a classic no matter who the opponent. TP would probably say JSU would bring about 25K alone. But, I predict about 30-35k+.

Playing on Sunday will hurt Attendance

In Orlando, probably not. With Disney and other theme parks in the area, coupled with it being Labor Day on Monday, attendance probably won't suffer. Now, what WILL hurt is if a hurricane came through that weekend.

I think with gas prices and other inflationary challenges, we are ALL going to be suffering some attendance set backs. Especially late season games for teams that are not performing well.

quote:

Originally posted by hampton blueblood:
Which sounds like more of Del state rumbling to get out of the conference.

LOL...thats not even close...you are so far off...

So why cry about not being in the game? If you were happy where you were and the comments you made before were misinterpreted then what's the point of the complaining. If I am so way off then what is the real deal.

blueblood, I'm not sure the man is "crying" as you put it. Perhaps he's just not really familiar with the way certain vegetative being person thinks and operates. Give him a chance.

While we all know that the winning schools are not necessarily chosen, keep in mind that most coaches (any sport) do not actively engage with the head office. That is generally done by the AD, president/proxy. DSU has a new AD right? So, it might stand to reason that without really paying attention to who won what, who's in where, it's a logical thought-albiet incorrect.

And what's up with the mental leap that they are doing such and so because they want to leave? Huh? WTH?

Believe me when I say some of yall are worse than menopausal women. Good grief. Yall always looking for something to jump out and yell BOO.

As far as DSU being invited, my thoughts probably mirror many folks' thoughts in that they just don't travel well. The conference may have looked at their travel attendance within conference and thought, "Hmmm....not the best choice if you wanna clear the red". Honest to Gosh, it's one of the two schools in the conference that anyone can play on their Homecoming and they won't even float expenses for the 30 people in the band to come. MSU, yall the other one (just in case someone tries to guess.)