Delaware State University Football: A Legacy of Hornets

Delaware State University (DSU) boasts a rich athletic tradition, with its football program standing as a significant part of the university's history. As a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the Delaware State Hornets football team competes at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. From its humble beginnings in 1924 to its MEAC championship victories and NCAA playoff appearance, the program has experienced both challenges and triumphs. This article delves into the history of Delaware State University football, exploring its key moments, influential figures, and its place within the broader landscape of college football.

Early Years and Conference Affiliations

The Delaware State Hornets football team traces its roots back to 1924 when the institution was known as the State College for Colored Students. For several years, the team operated as an independent program before joining the Middle Atlantic Athletic Association, where they clinched the title in 1934 and 1935, marking early successes in the program's history. Later, from 1945 to 1970, the Hornets were part of the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA), sharing a CIAA title in 1956.

The Purzycki Era: Rebuilding the Hornets

A significant turning point in the program's history came after a humbling 105-0 defeat against Portland State in 1980, the largest loss in Division I-AA Football history. This setback prompted the hiring of Joe Purzycki as head coach in 1981. Purzycki successfully rebuilt the program, compiling a 21-21-1 overall record, including a 15-5-1 mark in his last two seasons.

Collick's Leadership and MEAC Dominance

The Hornets experienced their most successful era under the leadership of coach Bill Collick. In his first season, Collick led the Hornets to their first MEAC championship. Although the Hornets lost to Howard in 1987, Howard's championship was later stripped due to the use of ineligible players, retroactively awarding Delaware State the championship. The team continued its dominance, securing another championship in 1988, sharing the title with Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. The following year, DSU achieved a 7-4 record with a 5-1 conference record, winning the 1989 MEAC championship. In 1991, the Hornets finished with a 9-2 record, winning another MEAC title after their loss to Bethune-Cookman was forced to forfeit due to an ineligible player.

The Blacknall and Lavan Years: A Rollercoaster Ride

Ben Blacknall was hired before the 2000 season. Blacknall earned Coach of the Year honors after a 7-4 season in his first year. However, after an 0-6 start in 2003, Delaware State fired Blacknall and hired Al Lavan as their new head football coach, with the task of rebuilding the program once again. In addition to installing the team's first comprehensive strength and conditioning program, Lavan brought changes in the team's academic, recruiting, practice and discipline policies. The 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. In 2006, the Hornets were 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC, 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.

The Historic 2007 Season

The 2007 season stands out as a historic achievement for the Delaware State Hornets. Under Lavan's guidance, the team achieved a school-record 10 wins, secured their first MEAC championship since 1991, and earned their first-ever appearance in the NCAA playoffs. 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 colleges and universities teams. It is currently the only 10-win season in program history. 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. In four seasons at DSU, Lavan 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.

Recent Years and Coaching Changes

Kermit Blount was hired as head coach, beginning his tenure with the 2011 season. The Hornets had average outputs in 2012 (6-5, 5-3 in the MEAC) and 2013 (5-6, 5-3 in the MEAC), leading to fourth-place finishes both seasons. In 2014, Delaware State recorded a 2-10 record, its worst in since 2003. The season ended with five straight losses, including a 69-7 loss to Morgan State in the final game. Kenny Carter was named head coach in 2015. He was fired in 2017, with a 3-30 record. Rod Milstead, a former NFL player and DSU alum, was named head coach in January 2018.

The Delaware State-University of Delaware Rivalry

One of the most discussed aspects of the DSU football program was the absence of a regular-season game against the University of Delaware (UD), its in-state rival. The two universities, playing on the same athletic tier and located less than an hour's drive from each other, had never met on the football field. Critics argued that this was due to Delaware State's status as a historically black college.

The controversy was put to rest when UD and DSU finally met on November 23, 2007, in the first round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Blue Hens defeated the Hornets 44-7 in front of a record-breaking crowd at Delaware Stadium. In 2009, the teams began playing each other during the regular season, and in 2011 the teams began an annual series (skipping 2015 and 2018), which ended in 2022, with all but one of these games played at Delaware Stadium. The 2021 matchup, which was postponed from fall 2020 to April due to health and safety reason in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, was played for the first time at Alumni Stadium.

Facilities and Support

The Delaware State Hornets play their home games at the 7,193-seat Alumni Stadium, located in Dover, Delaware. DSU's Department of Sports Medicine provides quality care for all student-athletes through education, risk management and prevention of athletic injury. The DSU SAAC is made up of student-athletes who come together to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. Our student-athletes enjoy training in our 17,000-square-foot state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility that rivals almost any Division I school.

Read also: Blue Hen Families: Parent Portal

Academics and Student-Athlete Support

DSU athletics offers 21 NCAA Division I sports. A combination of women’s and men’s sports, our student-athletes mainly compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) consisting of 8 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Southeastern and the Mid-Atlantic United States. The Office of Academic Services for Student-Athletes (ASSA) is committed to providing our prospective student-athletes with the tools necessary to become a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Student-Athlete. As a student-athlete, you are a student first. Finding the balance between studying for exams and practicing for the big game may not be so easy. Student-athletes are required to complete a certain amount of study hall hours to improve and maintain their academic standing.

Read also: Funding Your Education at DSU

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