MSU vs. Florida A&M Gamenotes
LIVE STATS
2009 MORGAN STATE FOOTBALL
Game Eight
Saturday, October 31 - 4 p.m. (ET)
Morgan State (5-2, 3-1 MEAC) vs. Florida A&M (5-2, 3-1 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).
BEAR FACTS
2009 Record: 5-2 (3-1 MEAC)
Head Coach: Donald Hill-Eley
Alma Mater/Year: Virginia Union/1991
Record at Bear/Year: 41-45/8th
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: 23
Series Record: FAMU leads 18-5
First Meeting: MSU won 47-0 (1944)
Last Meeting: MSU won, 13-10 at Bragg Memorial Stadium (Nov. 1, 2008)
Current Streak: MSU 2
Hill vs. FAMU: 2-4
Setting the Scene
The Morgan State football team continues its 112th season of football on Saturday, Oct. 31 when they host Florida A&M 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 (5-2) are tied for second place in the MEAC with Florida A&M and will enter Saturday's game coming off their first loss in six games when they fell to Delaware State 35-22 in Dover last Saturday during the Hornets' Homecoming. FAMU beat Norfolk State 34-20 in Tallahassee. The Rattlers improved to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC.
MSU's loss last Saturday dropped head coach Donald Hill-Eley's all-time record to 41-45 seven games into his eighth season at the helm. Hill's 41 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 4:00 p.m. (EST). The game will be streamed LIVE on the internet at MorganStateBears.com.
Series Notes: MSU and Florida A&M meet for the 24th time ... 5 and will attempt to avenge a 13-10 loss in Tallahassee last year during the Rattlers' Homecoming on November 1, 2008 ... The last time the Rattlers defeated MSU was on Oct. 28, 2006 at Bragg Stadium (24-23) ... During the 2008 matchup, RB Devan James ran for 103 yards and scored a touchdown ... The Rattlers are in search of its fourth conference victory of the season ... The Bears recorded a 50-0 shutout win in the first meeting against FAMU in 1943 ... MSU head coach Donald Hill-Eley was an offensive coordinator under coach Joseph Taylor when they were both at Hampton ... Donald Hill-Eley has a 2-4 record against FAMU, and a 2-5 record against his mentor coach Joseph Taylor since he was named MSU's head coach in 2002 ...
BEARS VS. RATTLERS BATTLES
This week's game between Morgan State and Florida A&M will mark the 24th time the two teams will meet on the gridiron. FAMU holds a 18-5 edge in the series and have lost two of the last three, but have won 4 of the last 6. The Bears held on to a 13-10 win in their last meeting at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Nov. 1, 2008. Under coach Hill, the Bears have posted a 1-1 record against the Rattlers at Hughes Stadium, and the last time the FAMU defeated MSU at Hughes Stadium was on Oct. 27, 2007 when the Bears pulled out a 14-12 victory.
OCTOBER CHALLENGES
The Bears have played 33 football games in the month of October under head coach Donald Hill-Eley, posting an 21-13 (.617 pct.) record. The Bears have also won 3 out of 4 overtime contests in the month of October under Hill's direction...two of which were against Howard - a 31-30 OT win at Howard on Oct. 18, 2008 and 36-33 win in Hughes Stadium on Oct. 13, 2008.
HOME NUMBERS
MSU has been tough to beat in the friendly confines of renovated Hughes Stadium since the start of the 2001 season. The Bears have gone 23-16 (.583) at home under the Don Hill-Eley since 2002.
UP NEXT
MSU will host Norfolk State for a MEAC matchup on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Kickoff is set for 4:00 pm ET at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The game will mark the 22nd meeting between the teams since 1965. NSU leads the series 11-10, and hammered the Bears 35-9 during last season's matchup in Norfolk.
