Delaware State Hornets football
| Delaware State Hornets Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| First season | 1924 | ||
| Athletic director | Louis Perkins | ||
| Head coach |
Kenny Carter 2nd year, 1–21 (.045) |
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| Stadium | Alumni Stadium | ||
| Seating capacity | 7193 | ||
| Field surface | Artificial Turf | ||
| Location | Dover, Delaware | ||
| Conference | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference | ||
| All-time record | 351–392–11 (.473) | ||
| Bowl record | 1–1 (.500) | ||
| Playoff appearances | 1 | ||
| Playoff record | 0–1 | ||
| Conference titles | 8 | ||
| Colors | Columbia Blue and Red |
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| Marching band | "The Approaching Storm" Delaware State University Band | ||
| Rivals |
Howard Bison Norfolk State Spartans Hampton Pirates Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens |
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| 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 four-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.
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. 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.
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.
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