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GAME TIME
Morgan State will play their second conference game of the season when they travel to face Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Oct. 5. Morgan State fell to 0-4 on the year with last week's 27-17 loss to N.C. Central. B-CU is 3-1 after beating Howard 37-29 in Washington D.C. The Bears and Wildcats will kick-off at 4 p.m. at Daytona Stadum. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 (rebroadcast on ESPNU) and will also be aired on WEAA, 88.9 FM.
GAME COVERAGE
ESPN3: Dave Lamont will call play-by-play, Jay Walker will handle color analysis.
RADIO: WEAA, 88.9 FM is the flagship station for the Morgan State Bears ... Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play with Renard Stubbs in the booth. The game will be broadcast live on 88.9 FM and streamed on WEAA.org, HSRN.com and on SIriusXM 386 and 988 on the SiriusXMmobile app.
LIVE STATS: www.bcuathletics.com
SOCIAL NETWORKS
Fans can keep up-to-date with all MSU Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/MorganStBears and @MorganStateFootball. You can also become a fan of the Bears on Facebook at Facebook.com/MorganStateBears.
TICKETS
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all five home games, including homecoming start at only $95. Premium seats and the football/basketball Bear Pass are both now available for purchase by calling 443.885.1522 or visiting MSU Student Center Athletics Ticket Office during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or visit morganstatebears.com/tickets.
THE SERIES
• B-CU leads the series against Morgan with an overall record of 23-8 since the teams first played on Sept. 13, 1986.
• B-CU has won the last seven meetings since 2010.
• B-CU posted a 30-28 win in their last meeting on Nov. 3, 2018 at Hughes Stadium when RB Jimmie Robinson carried the ball 11 times for a career-high 208 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears.
THE COACHES
• Morgan State – Tyrone Wheatley (Michigan, '08) was announced as the Bears' 22nd head football coach on February 21, 2019 and previously spent two seasons as the running backs coach for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Wheatley also worked at Syracuse University from 2010-12, and then with the NFL's Buffalo Bills from 2013-14. CAREER RECORD (0-4, First Season).
• Bethune-Cookman – Terry Sims (Knoxville, '94), Terry Sims enters his fifth season at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman University football program. Before B-CU, Sims spent four seasons serving as recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Howard. Prior to moving into the MEAC, Sims coached cornerbacks at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for two seasons. CAREER RECORD (30-18 5th Season).
A WIN WOULD ...
...give Tyrone Wheatley his first win as MSU's head coach.
... mark the Bears' first win against B-CU since a 24-13 victory at Municipal Stadium on Oct. 3, 2009.
... mark MSU's first road conference win since a 44-27 win against Norfolk State on Nov. 17, 2018.
... .mark MSU's first victory since a 44-27 win against Norfolk State on Nov. 17, 2018.
QUICK HITS
• The 2019 Morgan State Bears will be under the leadership of first year head coach Tyrone Wheatley.
• Senior backup QB DeAndre Harris (6-4, 210) completed 15-of-29 passes for 230 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions at Army.
• In his fourth career start, freshman RB Jabriel Johnson (5-9, 197, Baltimore, Md.) accounted for 79 yards on 8 carries vs. NCCU.
• Senior WR Manasseh Bailey recorded 6 receptions for a game-high 121 yards, including two TDs at Army. It marked the fifth 100-yard receiving performance of his career. He currently leads the MEAC in receiving yards (99.0 avg/g).
• R-senior LB Rico Kennedy returns as a leader for the Bears defensive unit. The 6-3, 235-pounder leads the league in tackles (37) and ranks No. 13 in TFL 6.0).
• Senior LB Ian McBorrough was an All-MEAC First Team selection as one of the league's premier pass rushers in 2018. He currently ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in total tackles (36).
• Junior DB Donte Small (Union, N.J.) was named to the 2018 All-MEAC First Team and led the conference with four INTs in 11 games.
• Sophomore PK Nicholas O'Shea ranks T-No. 2 in the MEAC in field goals (4-5, .800).
• The Bears are predicted to finish 8th in the MEAC's 2019 Preseason Order of Finish.
A GLANCE AT THE WILDCATS
• Bethune-Cooman finished the 2018 season with an overall mark of 7-5 and was 5-2 in MEAC play. The Wildcats capped the season with a 33-19 win against Florida A&M and finished the year on a 3-game winning streak.
• Terry Sims (Knoxville, '94), enters his fifth season at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman football program. He began his coaching career as a student assistant in 1994, working with the linebackers at his alma mater, Knoxville College. His next stop was at the Univ. of Louisville, where he assisted the defensive backs as a graduate assistant in 1995 and had the opportunity to work with Sam Madison, who would go on to be a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Miami Dolphins and tie the NFL interception record (21).
• The Wildcats stand at 3-1 on the season following a 37-29 victory at Howard.
• B-CU has a balanced attack offense that will be led by 6-2, 188-pound QB Akevious Williams (Madison, Fla.), who is a dual threat with 261 yards passing and 161 rushing.
• Sophomore RB Isaac Washington (30 att, 226 yds, 2TDs | Cape Coral, Fla.) will lead the Wildcats' ground attack.
• R-senior Jimmie Robinson will also be one to watch. The Palm Coast, Fla. product was named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-American Third Team as a kick returns specialist. He led the MEAC last season in kickoff return yards with a 33.2 avg. placing him fourth in the nation in FCS...he currently ranks No. 16 in the nation (26.4 avg).
• Defensively, B-CU has been led by senior LB Marquis Hendrix (Ocala, Fla.) who has accounted for 28 tackles (11 solo) 2.5 TFLs and a sack, along with junior LB Devin James (Port St. Lucie, Fla. | Treasure Coast HS) who has 25 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and three pass breakups so far this season.
• The Wildcats currently ranked No. 8 in punt returns (19.1 avg), No. 13 in kick returns (26.4 avg) and T-No. 39 in passes intercepted (4).
• Marques Ford, Marquis Hendrix, Jimmie Robinson and Trevor Merritt of Bethune-Cookman University Football have been named to the Black College Player of the Year Watch List for 2019.
• A home game versus Southeastern Louisiana was cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian earlier in September.
FLORIDA CONNECTIONS
• Morgan State has a couple of connections to the state of Florida.
Morgan State - Rico Kennedy (Ft. Lauderdale /Dillard HS); Lavelton Williams (Ft. Lauderdale/ American Heritage HS); DJ Trigg (Tampa/Strawberry Crest HS); Marvin Francois (North Miami/N. Miami Beach HS); Zach Castano (Miami/Christopher Columbus HS).
A LOOK AHEAD
• Morgan State will host Delaware Statel on Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. The game will mark MSU's Homecoming.
• The teams will meet for the 62nd time since the teams first met in 1945. The Bears lead the series 36-25.
• The Hornets (1-2) opened the season with a 31-13 loss at #22 Delaware (Aug. 29), followed by a 58-12 win against Lincoln (Sept. 14), and then a 24-9 home loss to Howard (Sept. 21), followed by a 37-0 loss at #17 N.C. A&T. The Hornets host South Carolina State this Saturday in Dover.
PRESEASON PICKED 8TH
Morgan State was picked to finish eighth (8th) to MEAC defending champion and Preseason #1 North Carolina A&T and #2 Bethune-Cookman.
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
• Ten (10) Morgan State football players were named to the 2019 MEAC preseason team, which was voted on by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Senior linebacker Rico Kennedy and sophomore tight end Xavier Gravette were first-team selections. Senior linebacker Ian McBorrough, junior defensive back Donte Small and junior offensive lineman Stefan Touani were second-team picks, while senior running back Josh Chase, redshirt-junior offensive lineman Bruce Trigg, redshirt-senior Dominick "D.J." Trigg and redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman Devan Hebron and sophomore Nicholas O'Shea were selected to the third-team.
• The 10 preseason All-MEAC performers are part of a group of 17 starters returning for the 2019 Morgan State football season.
BEARS OPEN 121stSEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 121st season of football and will open the 2019 campaign under head coach Tyrone Wheatley, set to enter his first year at the helm.
RETURN MEN
The 2019 Morgan State Bears return 42 letterwinners, including 17 starters - 7 on offense, 8 on defense and 2 on special teams.
CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2019 season looking to post their first winning season since going 6-5 in 2009. MSU's 7-6 record in 2014 was vacated.
NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Bears will open the 2019 campaign against three non-conference opponents. MSU opens the season against Bowling Green (Aug. 29), followed by road trips versus James Madison (Sept. 14), and Army (Sept. 21). The Bears will also host Virginia Lynchburg (Nov. 16) in a non-conference contest.
BEARS OPEN 42nd SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 42nd season in the MEAC when they host North Carolina Central for the conference opener on Sept. 28.
• The Bears opened the 2018 MEAC schedule with a 21-18 loss against South Carolina State (Oct. 6) at Hughes Stadium. *Morgan State's 16-13 upset win at #4 N.C. A&T (Sept. 22) was recorded as a non-conference matchup.
• The Bears kicked off its first season in the MEAC in 1971. Morgan State withdrew from the conference at the end of the 1979-80 fiscal year, before returning to the MEAC in 1984.
MSU LEGEND EARL BANKS RECIPIENT OF AFCA'S 2018 TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Earl Banks, former head coach at Morgan State University, was named the American Football Coaches Association's recipient of the 2018 Trailblazer Award. The award was presented, posthumously, at the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
• In 1960, Banks took over the head coaching position at Morgan State from 2011 Trailblazer Award winner, Edward Hurt.
• In his 14 seasons as head coach, he would lead the Bears to six CIAA titles, one CIAA Northern Division championship and one Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. Banks had an overall record of 96-31-2 after he retired from coaching 1973 and produced three undefeated seasons from 1965 through 1967.
• He guided Morgan State to four bowl games, winning the 1965 Orange Blossom Classic and the 1966 Tangerine Bowl.
MSU UPGRADES HUGHES MEMORIAL STADIUM
Morgan State University's W.A.C. Hughes Memorial Stadium is currently undergoing a major overhaul of its football field and running track.
• The $2.5 million renovation project, which began on May 28, includes the replacement of the stadium's existing field with a new premium playing surface and the upgrade to a new high-performance, all-weather track.
• BeynonSports was selected to oversee the project and installation which is slated to be completed in time for the start of the fall football camp in early August.
• "The latest phase of upgrades to Morgan's athletic facilities is part of our systematic approach to improving and elevating key assets that we have on campus," said Director of Athletics Edward Scott, Ph.D. "The investment in our facilities represents the University's continued commitment to providing Morgan's coaches and student-athletes with a high caliber athletic experience and the best resources available."
• The upgrade to the playing field comes at an opportune time, as new head football coach Tyrone Wheatley launches a new chapter in the program's history and seeks to field a winning team. The Bears play their first home game this season on the new field against North Carolina Central University on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The Bears will be joining the rest of the nation in celebrating 150 years of college football.
• As part of the celebration, Morgan State will wear 150 patches on all of its jerseys throughout the year.
• For more information on College Football turning 150, visit cfb100.org.
• Fans can also follow the celebration on social media by following @CFB100 on Twitter and Instagram and by searching CFB100 on Facebook.
• Army has been an integral part of College Football since the first Army-Navy Game on the Plain at West Point in 1890.
FOLLOW US IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
Instagram: /MorganStateBears
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
