DELTA STATE IS FOR REAL


97JSULEGEND

97JSULEGEND

Well-Known Member
When they beat NCCU I thought it may have been any given Saturday but after beeating the North Alabama I think they are for real. How do they get to play on ESPN2 and the Swac is forced to play on ESPN Classic. We need leadership.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061203/SPORTS030105/612030361/1085/SPORTS

December 3, 2006

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Statesmen steal win from Lions' den

DSU pulls off another road upset, advances to national semifinals at Grand Valley State

By Robbie Neiswanger
[email protected]


FLORENCE, ALA. ? Delta State coach Rick Rhoades couldn't deny it Saturday night.

Sometime during his team's 27-10 win against North Alabama in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region final in front of an announced 8,079 in Braly Municipal Stadium, the thought crossed his mind. His team, which rolled to an impressive win, was playing in the stadium where the Division II championship will be held in two weeks - and where DSU won the national title six years ago.

"Anybody in the tournament thinks like that," Rhoades said. "It's very important in the playoffs that you live in the here and now. ... But I know where the game is, that's for sure."

Rhoades' team moved one step closer to a return trip to Braly Municipal Stadium by roughing up third-ranked North Alabama (11-1).

Senior quarterback Scott Eyster threw two touchdown passes to Jeremy Ricks in the first half. The ground game put together a season-high 269 yards. And Delta State's defense roughed up quarterback A.J. Milwee and the Lions' offense, holding them to 148 yards.

It was the second straight week the Statesmen (12-2) have knocked off an undefeated team on the road in the playoffs. They'll play top-ranked Grand Valley (Mich.) State in the Division II semifinals next Sunday; the winner will play in the championship game on Dec. 16.

The Statesmen made a big statement against a North Alabama team that beat Delta State 17-10 in Cleveland on Oct. 21. They outgained the Lions 496-148 and had the ball 38 minutes.

It started on the game's opening possession, when Eyster led Delta State on a five-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. The Statesmen gained at least 10 yards on each play, including Eyster's 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jeremy Ricks to open a 7-0 lead.

"The first drive always sets the tone for the rest of the game," said Eyster, who was 26-of-35 for 227 yards and two touchdowns. "They were pretty predictable on what they were going to do early on. We just took advantage of it."

Delta State went further on its second scoring drive, marching 97 yards on 13 plays in the second quarter. Eyster capped the drive with his second touchdown pass to Ricks. Kicker Sid Halliday missed the extra point, but Delta State still led 13-0.

The defense made its biggest stand after that, when Davis fumbled on the next possession. It was scooped up and returned 65 yards by Lions defensive back Keldrick Docher to the Delta State 6, where Eyster made a TD-saving tackle.

But the Statesmen kept North Alabama out of the end zone, forcing the Lions to settle for Yuta Fukuda's 24-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in the half.

North Alabama had zero yards in the second quarter and trailed 13-3 at halftime. It didn't get any better for the Lions in the second half, who didn't get into the end zone until Milwee tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jason Messing with 6 seconds left.

North Alabama gained 68 of its 148 yards on the final drive.

"The thing about playoff football is, somebody is going to get hot," Rhoades said. "Right now, I told our guys momentum and luck is wearing a green jersey.

"So we're going to keep preparing as well as we can and keep playing hopefully as well as we can and just see where it all leads."
 



vashon said:
delta state beat nccu(D-2), i remember a team in the swac(1-aa)lost to a school that goes by this name.:D
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They also beat Stephen F. Austin at their place the second game of this season.
Delta State is good every year.

They have beaten #21, #4 and now take on the #1 team in D2.
 
being that I go to Delta State, i'll tell you that they are like Grambling with a better defense. They are powered by their quarterback Scott Eyster, and on defense by linebacker Eubanks. They come out with 4 and 5 wide receivers, and have running back by committee. If u gone get them, you better get them next year because Eyster graduates this year.
 
ROYAL BLUE said:
Well maybe JSU should schedule a game with D-State. It might not be a bad idea since we play NAIA schools.
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Delta State is "YT". :lol:
The SWAC luv's playing 10th level Paul Quinn's, Allens, and Stillmans. :lol:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Just having fun people................:lol:

Personally..................If we gonna play a D2, I would rather play Delta State. :nod:
Good team, In state, lotta fans at the game.
Would be a good game to get a real guage on our team the first game of the season. :smash:
 
I have been on the "play Delta State" bandwagon for a while now. If they would come to Jackson every year, I think it would be a good season opener and good for the state (especially since we have no PWC 1-AA's in Mississippi). Thing is, they would probably beat us on some years BUT that would give us even more reason to get better.
 



Tigerpride said:
I have been on the "play Delta State" bandwagon for a while now. If they would come to Jackson every year, I think it would be a good season opener and good for the state (especially since we have no PWC 1-AA's in Mississippi). Thing is, they would probably beat us on some years BUT that would give us even more reason to get better.
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Just what do we have to gain by playing Delta State? We don't need any more SWAC schools losing to good D2 opponents. Just ask Southern. :lol:
 
Tigerpride said:
Ummm, are you sure? I can't see USM playing a D2.
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yep.............They played USM in 1991.
They lost 25-7.

They beat SFA this year 17-14..............Played them 3 times total going 2-1.
They 3-1 against Valley from 2000 to 2003.
2003 was a 45-0 blowout. :eek:

They played Sam Houston St in 1999 losing 39-31.
 
staggalee83 said:
Right now.....................They would have ran through the SWAC, Meac, and a lot of other 1-AA teams the last 4 to 6 years.

No smack, just the truth.
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I wasn't smacking either, just telling the truth. Alcorn was scheduled to play them a few years back too but got scare and bought them out. Delta St. would walk through the SWAC, I hate to say it.
 
Mr. Tiger said:
Just what do we have to gain by playing Delta State? We don't need any more SWAC schools losing to good D2 opponents. Just ask Southern. :lol:
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What do we gain............................A hell of a lot more than playing Paul Quinn.
Don't wanna get yo arse kicked by a D2....................Get better on the field instead of braggin' bout how good you are on a chat board.

Don't see Delta State and NCCU worring bout kicking our arses.
We need to get out this play for the easy win bullshat.
 
staggalee83 said:
What do we gain............................A hell of a lot more than playing Paul Quinn.
Don't wanna get yo arse kicked by a D2....................Get better on the field instead of braggin' bout how good you are on a chat board.

Don't see Delta State and NCCU worring bout kicking our arses.
We need to get out this play for the easy win bullshat.
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Don't get me wrong, I don't want easy wins. I don't want us to play Paul Quinn either. But there are plenty of I-AA or I-A schools we could play so why face a D2 school that beats I-AA schools regularly.
 
Mr. Tiger said:
Just what do we have to gain by playing Delta State? We don't need any more SWAC schools losing to good D2 opponents. Just ask Southern. :lol:
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For JSU, we gain money. Nothing is wrong with playing a D2. Delta State would probably give us just as many points in the Sagarin rating as ANY HBCU. If JSU is to get on par with PWC's, we have to increase our attendance to increase our revenue since football revenue is what drives athletic departments. According to Memorial's attendance, we need some help. Playing Delta State on a sunny day in September every year should draw 20-25K fans.
 
Mr. Tiger said:
Don't get me wrong, I don't want easy wins. I don't want us to play Paul Quinn either. But there are plenty of I-AA or I-A schools we could play so why face a D2 school that beats I-AA schools regularly.
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We won't make as much money playing a 1-AA unless it's in a classic. Home-home = $0.00 the year that we are away. A classic or a D2 would net us at least 200K BOTH years. Basically, those who would be for such a measure would want it because of the money. Also, if we can't beat a D2, we have problem. Sure, they have the recruiting advantage but that should only give us an incentive to get better.
 
Mr. Tiger said:
Don't get me wrong, I don't want easy wins. I don't want us to play Paul Quinn either. But there are plenty of I-AA or I-A schools we could play so why face a D2 school that beats I-AA schools regularly.
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Because being scurred to play a team like Delta State that CAN whip your arse put's us, AND THE CONFERENCE, in the position it is in now.

That position is .................. We can't beat anyone but ourselves.
If we, the SWAC, play 10 out of conference games on the same weekend, I'll bet 6 or 7 of us would lose.

If we scurred to put a D2 team on the schedule no matter who they are, then we just threw in the towel against the rest of 1-AA.:nod:

If we can't handle Delta State and NCCU, don't even breath a name like APPY St., Montana, or Youngstown St.
In fact, if you scurred of playing a top D2 school, then you may as well drop back to D3 and quit wasting money. :nod:
 
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