MSU Gamenotes
TOWSON TIGERS (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
MORGAN STATE BEARS (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
GAME #1
Saturday, September 3, 2011 • 7:00 p.m.
Johnny Unitas Stadium (Capacity 11,198) • Towson, Md.
RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM: Lamont Germany (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).
INTERNET: www.MorganStateBears.com ; www.Towsontigers.com
INTERNET COVERAGE: Click on Listen Live
TICKETS: Individual tickets to the Morgan State football game at Towson (Sept. 3) are now on sale. Fans may purchase tickets at the Towson University box office. Or call 410-704-5192.
SETTING THE SCENE
MSU goes into this year's season-opener game ranked No. 5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Bears return 65 letterman, including 9 starters on offense and 6 on defense, from last year's squad that posted a 4-7 overall mark and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the MEAC. In 9 years under Hill, the Bears have won 46 games and finished ranked as high as No. 2 in the MEAC (2002). MSU lost four of their last five games, including a tough 21-16 loss to Hampton to cap the 2010 season. Junior Donovan Dickerson was named the starter when the Bears take on the Tigers. The Michigan product last stepped foot onto the field for a game on Oct. 2, 2010, where he completed 8-of-25 passes for 74 yards in a loss against Bethune-Cookman. Since that time, Dickerson has spent time during the offseason earning his way back to the starting quarterback position.
Other offensive standouts for the Bears include WR Winfred Diggs (29 rec., 322 yards, TD in 2010), Chuka Okakpu (28 rec., 325 yards, 4 TDs) and RB David Brown (439 rushing yard, 2 TDs in 2010). Defensively, DT Zary Stewart (40 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks), LB Allen Stephens (65 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss) and S Reshaude Miller (67 tackles, 4 INTs) headline a group that ranked No. 6 in the MEAC in scoring offense (18.8/g) and No. 7 in total defense (335.0/g). MSU's offense will be directed by William 'B.T.' Sherman and Joseph Wright, along and head coach Donald Hill-Eley. Donald Hill-Eley added Alonzo Lee as his defensive coordinator (Lee returns after a brief head coaching stint at A&T).
Series Notes:
• Towson out-gained Morgan State 344-161 in total offense during their last matchup in 2009.
• MSU and Towson meet for the 22nd time on Saturday in Towson, Md.
• The two schools are 5 miles apart from each other.
• Towson leads the overall series with the Bears, 6-16.
• This is the third time that the Towson-Morgan game has been televised in the Baltimore area.
• In 1998, WMAR-TV aired the Tigers' 15-10 win and again carried the 1999 contest. • Junior receiver Erron Banks led the Tigers with 40 receptions for 334 yards last season.
• Junior defensive end Matt Morgan had 27 tackles and led the Tigers with four quarterback sacks last season.
• Junior RB Tremayne Dameron has played in all 22 games in the past two seasons and has rushed for 1,065 yards with 13 touchdowns.
• Towson and Morgan State have met in the season opener eight times since 1979. Each team has won four times when they are matched up in the season opener. Towson has won four of the six season openers that have been played at Unitas Stadium.
• In 1979, 1980, 1981, 1998, 2002, 2005 and 2006, the Tigers and the Bears have met in the season opener.
