Sept. 28, 2006

By Eric N. Moore

	Eric Moore Eric contributes a twice-weekly HBCU column for CSTV.com. E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- HBCU FOOTBALL 12/15: Oliver The Catalyst 12/13: Old Rivals Meet Again 12/3: Tuskegee Completes Perfect Season 11/29: Pioneer Powers 11/21: Final Weekend Of HBCU Features Classics 11/19: The Last Hurrah 11/15: Last Division Standing 11/12: CIAA, MEAC Crown Champs 11/8: Title Time In CIAA And MEAC 11/5: East Meets West As CIAA Title Game Set 11/1: Judgment Day In HBCU 10/29: Homecoming Hurts 10/25: Weeks Winding Down 10/22: Two Tigers Teams Take Steps Toward Titles 10/18: SWAC Division Leaders Set For Showdown 10/15: Hampton's Pirates Walk The Plank 10/11: Queen Isn't Only Title At Homecoming 10/8: Southern Goes South 10/4: Classic Games Take Center Stage 10/1: Hello To October 9/27: Battle Of Unbeatens In Atlanta 9/24: The Pursuit Of Perfection 9/20: SIAC Leaders Showdown In Tuskegee 9/17: Stars Falling In Alabama 9/13: Rematch of '06 CIAA Title Game Set For Big Time 9/10: Pirates, Bulldogs and WWHornets Strike Early 9/6: Who's HU In HBCU 9/3: Southern Breaks The MEAC Streak 8/30: Calling Their Bluff 8/27: HBCU Opening Week Recap 8/23: Beginning With A Rematch 4/12: A Great American Is Laid To Rest 4/4: A Coaching Legend Has Passed Away 12/18: Alabama A&M Finally Wins A SWAC Title 12/4: Winding Down 11/23: Playoffs, Bayou Classic, Dominate HBCU Weekend 11/20: Two HBCUs Fall in Playoffs 11/16: Six HBCU Schools Heading to Postseason 11/13: Three Down, One To Go 11/6: It's Title Time 11/6: Rams Are First...Who's Next? 11/2: CIAA Championship Game Berth On The Line 10/30: Surprise Results Revise SIAC Title Race 10/26: MEAC Logjam Could Be Broken On Saturday 10/23: Pirates Walk The Plank 10/19: Showdown Saturday in HBCU Football 10/16: Jackson State No Longer SWAC Pushover 10/12: Homecomings Abound In HBCU Football 10/9: Albany State Takes SIAC Lead 10/5: SIAC Leaders Face Off in Albany, GA 10/1: Pirates Keep Win Streak Alive 9/28: Hampton Tries to Extend MEAC Winning Streak 9/25: NCC Wins Game, Loses Belongings 9/21: Eagles, Jaguars Meet for First Time 9/18: Panthers Get Over the Hump 9/11: Traditional Powerhouses Hit Bumps 9/7: Conference Play Begins in Earnest 9/5: Grand Stages Open Season 8/28: All Sorts of Change In 2006 HBCU BASKETBALL 2/23: North Carolina Central Earns First National Ranking 2/23: Virginia Union Returns To Top Of CIAA Tournament 2/15: North Carolina Central Is So Hot Right Now 2/15: Returning Courtside 2/9: Delaware State, Mississippi Valley Among HBCU Standouts 2/9: HBCU Notebook: It's Title Time

        ---   HBCU Links   --- MEAC Standings MEAC Scoreboard SWAC Standings SWAC Scoreboard CIAA Standings CIAA Scoreboard SIAC Standings SIAC Scoreboard

Special to CSTV.com

It's been nearly two years since Hampton (4-0, 3-0) has lost a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football game. The last time the Pirates tasted defeat in the conference was October 2, 2004 when they dropped a 28-23 decision to Delaware State (2-1, 1-0) in Dover.

Since that time Hampton has won 21 consecutive regular season games and 14 straight MEAC contests.  The top-ranked team in HBCU football returns to Dover for the first time since that loss two years ago to face a Hornet team looking to make its mark on the MEAC title chase.

This will be the 32^nd meeting between the Pirates and Hornets in a series that Hampton has dominated, 20-11. 

Hampton is coming off a 26-7 win over Morgan State last week in the New York Urban League Classic game, while DSU has had an extra week of preparation following a 23-3 loss to Northwestern (La.) State two weeks ago.

Atlanta Football Classic

After rallying to defeat Winston-Salem State last weekend, Florida A&M (2-2) travels to Atlanta for its annual battle with Tennessee State (2-2) in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic.  The Blue Tigers from the Volunteer State are looking to rebound from a 39-8 loss to Vanderbilt last weekend.

Sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, this game should fill the Georgia Dome and generate several thousand dollars for the many local community projects sponsored by the organizations.  Fans will also get a treat at halftime when two of the best bands in HBCU football take the field.

This will be the 46^th meeting between the two schools with the Rattlers holding a 24-21 lead in the series.  The game will be televised live on Fox Sports South.

State Fair Classic

Traditionally when Grambling State (0-3, 0-1) and Prairie View (2-1, 1-1) meet in their annual battle in the Cotton Bowl, fans leave following halftime to get the jump on activities at the nearby Texas State Fair.  Most folks expected GSU to win the game in the past so there was no need to remain after two excellent bands performed at halftime.

This year's outcome won't be as easy to determine.  For the first time in recent memory, PVAM comes into the game with a winning record and GSU is winless.  The Panthers may actually be considered the favorites in this contest.

Gateway Classic

The Edward Jones Dome will be the site of an inter-conference meeting between Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-3) and Tuskegee (3-1) in the 13^th edition of the AT&T Gateway Football Classic in St. Louis.

UAPB looks to rebound from a 48-16 loss to Southern Illinois last week while Tuskegee looks to make it three-in-a-row against Div I-AA opponents going back into last season.

Prince Georges Classic

North Carolina Central (4-0, 2-0) and Bowie State (2-2, 0-1) will stage a rematch of last year's CIAA Championship Game in the third Princes Georges Classic game in Bowie, MD.

The Eagles are flying high following a stunning, 27-20, victory over Southern University last week.  BSU is still recovering from last Saturday's shocking, 7-6, defeat by Livingstone College.

Silver Dollar Classic

The West Coast gets a taste of HBCU football when Alcorn State (0-3) and Morehouse (2-3) meet in the Silver Dollar Classic at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in an event featuring a variety of social events and the obligatory Battle of the Bands.