2009 MORGAN STATE FOOTBALL
Game Six
Thursday, October 15 – 7:34 p.m. (ET)
Morgan State (4-1, 2-0 MEAC) vs. Howard (2-3, 0-2 MEAC)
Baltimore, Md. – Hughes Stadium (10,000)
Live Coverage
Radio: WEAA Radio (88.9 FM) in Baltimore, Md. Mark Gray (Play-by-Play) and Kelvin Bridgers (Color Analyst).
(National) Sirius Channel 91, XM Channel 242 Internet - HSRN.com Lamont Germany (Play-by-Play) and Mike Walker (Color Analyst)
Live Stats on www.morganstatebears.com
BEAR FACTS
2009 Record: 4-1, 1-0 MEAC
Head Coach: Donald Hill-Eley
Alma Mater/Year: Virginia Union/1991
Record at Bear/Year: 40-44/8th
Career Record/Years: Same
Football SID: Leonard L. Haynes IV
Office Phone: 443-885-3831
E-Mail: lhaynesiv@aol.com
Ticket Info: 443-885-3830
SERIES FACTS
Games Played: 66
Series Record: Morgan State leads 40-24-1
First Meeting: MSU won 19-8 (1931)
Last Meeting: MSU won, 31-30 OT at Greene Stadium (Oct. 18, 2008)
Current Streak: MSU 4
Hill vs. Howard: 5-1
Setting the Scene: The Morgan State football team continues its 112th season of football on Thursday, Oct. 15 when they host Howard for an ESPNU televised game in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The contest will be broadcast live on WEAA, 88.9FM.
The Bears (4-1) will enter the game coming off their fourth win of the season when they downed N.C. A&T 7-6 in Baltimore last Saturday. Howard was blasted by Hampton 37-0 in Virginia. The Bison fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the MEAC. MSU's win last Saturday improved head coach Donald Hill-Eley's all-time record to 40-44 four games into his eighth season at the helm. Hill's 40 wins since 2002, is good enough for third-best all-time record behind legendary coaches Edward P. Hurt and Earl. C. Banks. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. (EST). The game will be streamed LIVE on the internet at MorganStateBears.com.
Series Notes: MSU and Howard meet for the 66th time ... The two schools are 40 miles apart from each other... MSU leads the series 40-24-1 and won the last game in overtime 31-30 on October 18, 2008 in Greene Stadium ... The last time the Bison defeated MSU was on Oct. 16, 2004 at Greene Stadium (42-35) ... During the 2008 matchup, QB Jeremy Glover threw for 74 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass, and RB #Devan James# rushed for a career-best 219 yards on 36 carries, including 2 TDs... The Bison are in search of its first conference victory of the season ... The Bears recorded a 19-8 win against Howard in 1931 ... MSU's first loss against Howard was in 1947, 14-6 ... Donald Hill-Eley has a 5-1 record against Howard since he was named MSU's head coach in 2002.
MSU LOOKING TO START 5-1 FOR 1st TIME SINCE 1979
Morgan State is looking to start the season 5-1 for the first time since 1979. Former MSU head coach Clarence Thomas began his sophomore season with a 5-1 record and his Bears ended up winning the conference championship and finished the season with a 9-2 record. The Bears ended up losing to Alabama A&M 27-7 in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
BEARS VS. BISON BATTLES
This week's game between Morgan State and Howard will mark the 66th time the two teams will meet on the gridiron. MSU holds a 40-24-1 edge in the series and have won six of the last eight, including the last four. The Bears won 31-30 in an overtime thriller in their last meeting at Greene Stadium during Howard's Homecoming festivities on Oct. 11, 2008. Under coach Hill, the Bears have posted a 3-0 home record against the Bison, and the last time Howard defeated MSU at Hughes Stadium was on Sept. 22, 2001 when Stump Mitchell's Bears were blown out 41-15.
ONE TO WATCH
Senior LB George Howard has been one of the standouts on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-1, 230-pound Virginia native and 2009 Preseason All-MEAC second team selection ranks No. 1 in the Football Championship Subdivision in total tackles and is currently the MEAC's leading tackler with 72 stops. “The Hitman” has been named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week three times and collected a game-high 12 tackles against N.C. A&T.
IN THE POLLS
The Bears rank as high as No. 4 in the HERITAGE SPORTS RADIO NETWORK FCS DIVISION I and No. 7 in the SBN BLACK COLLEGE POLL and in BOXTOROW.COM/BASN HBCU COACHES FCS TOP 10 POLL. MSU also received votes for THE SPORTS NETWORK TOP 25 POLL.
UP NEXT
MSU will travel to Delaware State for a conference matchup against Delaware State on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm ET at Alumni Stadium in Dover, Delaware. The game will mark the 51st meeting between the teams since 1945. MSU leads the series 29-21 and won the last matchup in Hughes Stadium by a score of 20-3.
