bluphiiijsu
Creative Director
September 18, 2001
Delta Devils eager to battle Tigers on own terrain
Rivalry game will be played in Itta Bena for 1st time since '79
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Jackson State's equipment truck will be packed with the usual this Friday . . . helmets, shoulder pads, cleats, balls.
But the load with be a tad bit heavier than normal.
"We're taking plenty of bug spray," JSU coach Robert Hughes said with a laugh.
Those familiar with Mississippi geography know that can only mean one thing: A trip to the mosquito-friendly Delta.
The JSU-Mississippi Valley State game returns to Itta Bena Saturday for the first time since 1979. The game was played in Jackson in 1980, in Memphis in 1981 and in Jackson every year since. While many JSU people aren't too excited about this year's change of venue, most Valley people can't wait.
"Our fans and players are really excited," Valley coach LaTraia Jones said. "It's been 22 years since JSU's been here. For the first time in a long while, we get to sleep in our own bed."
Two decades ago, Valley agreed to move the game out of Itta Bena so both schools could make more money. Valley's Rice-Totten Stadium, then called Magnolia Stadium, seated about 5,000 then and seats 10,000 now. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium seats 62,000.
Though crowds have dwindled, they've still been more than can fit at Rice-Totten Stadium. That means latecomers will be left outside the fence Saturday evening.
Ticket sales will be cut off at a certain point, though Valley Vice President Andre Curry wouldn't specify when.
"We won't go too much over capacity, I'll say that," Curry said. "And once we get to that number, we're calling it quits. My suggestion is if you plan to come to the game get your ticket now and show up at the game early."
From 1982-98 the schools split the gate (after expenses) regardless of who was the home team.
"When we drew big crowds like we used to for that game, we'd make $100,000, they'd make $100,000 and everybody went home happy," former Valley athletic director Chuck Prophet said.
Valley got all the money from the 1999 game, and JSU got all the money last year. But the costs of playing at Memorial Stadium and decreasing crowds led Valley to return the game to Itta Bena.
JSU made $106,706 off last year's game before expenses, said Tony Wicks, JSU's business manager. Valley officials say the Delta Devils could clear in excess of $200,000 Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 on game day.
"We think it's advantageous for us to play the game here not only from a financial standpoint but from an alumni standpoint as well," Valley athletic director Lonza Hardy said. "We owe it to the fans in the Delta to bring a game like this here."
Hardy paused before adding: "Even if some people complain about not being able to get a ticket."
JSU people see things differently.
"I'm not too enthusiastic about going to Itta Bena to play a football game," Hughes said. "That stadium is too small to accommodate that many fans. The overflow might pose a safety problem. The last time we were up there it got kind of chaotic on the sideline. There were so many people standing around. It had to be 10 to 15 deep."
JSU offensive line coach Carl Robert was a freshman offensive lineman on that JSU team.
"There were people everywhere," Roberts said. "There were people drinking water out of our coolers."
That scene will not repeat itself Saturday, said Curry.
"No, it will not," Curry said. "We're going to take all precautions and do all that we can do to see that it doesn't. We've got a plan, and we're simply going to implement that plan. We're prepared, and we expect to be very well organized."
JSU fan Dale Knight of Jackson plans to be in Itta Bena Saturday.
"I want to go to the game ? all true fans plan on going ? but I have my concerns," Knight said. "I'm afraid it's going to be a quagmire. My biggest concern is the traffic conditions. Hopefully we can get in there, hopefully we'll have a place to sit, and we can enjoy the game."
JSU holds a 40-5-2 advantage in the series. Four of the Delta Devils' five wins and one of the two ties came after the game was moved to Jackson in 1982. The majority of the fans were wearing red and blue instead of green and white.
That won't be the case Saturday.
"I've always said Jackson State has had the advantage playing in Jackson even if we were the home team because we had to travel," Jones said. "Now the shoe is on the other foot. Our fans will be waiting on Jackson State. By them coming to the Delta, it gives us the psychological advantage."
JSU wide receiver T.C. Taylor knows a hostile crowd awaits.
"The folks in the Delta have a different attitude," he said. "It'll be a different crowd. We're just going to have to go up there and keep football on our mind and not worry about the crowd. Some of the other guys have been saying they don't want to go up there, but I kinda want to go. It's going to be a big event."
Delta Devils eager to battle Tigers on own terrain
Rivalry game will be played in Itta Bena for 1st time since '79
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Jackson State's equipment truck will be packed with the usual this Friday . . . helmets, shoulder pads, cleats, balls.
But the load with be a tad bit heavier than normal.
"We're taking plenty of bug spray," JSU coach Robert Hughes said with a laugh.
Those familiar with Mississippi geography know that can only mean one thing: A trip to the mosquito-friendly Delta.
The JSU-Mississippi Valley State game returns to Itta Bena Saturday for the first time since 1979. The game was played in Jackson in 1980, in Memphis in 1981 and in Jackson every year since. While many JSU people aren't too excited about this year's change of venue, most Valley people can't wait.
"Our fans and players are really excited," Valley coach LaTraia Jones said. "It's been 22 years since JSU's been here. For the first time in a long while, we get to sleep in our own bed."
Two decades ago, Valley agreed to move the game out of Itta Bena so both schools could make more money. Valley's Rice-Totten Stadium, then called Magnolia Stadium, seated about 5,000 then and seats 10,000 now. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium seats 62,000.
Though crowds have dwindled, they've still been more than can fit at Rice-Totten Stadium. That means latecomers will be left outside the fence Saturday evening.
Ticket sales will be cut off at a certain point, though Valley Vice President Andre Curry wouldn't specify when.
"We won't go too much over capacity, I'll say that," Curry said. "And once we get to that number, we're calling it quits. My suggestion is if you plan to come to the game get your ticket now and show up at the game early."
From 1982-98 the schools split the gate (after expenses) regardless of who was the home team.
"When we drew big crowds like we used to for that game, we'd make $100,000, they'd make $100,000 and everybody went home happy," former Valley athletic director Chuck Prophet said.
Valley got all the money from the 1999 game, and JSU got all the money last year. But the costs of playing at Memorial Stadium and decreasing crowds led Valley to return the game to Itta Bena.
JSU made $106,706 off last year's game before expenses, said Tony Wicks, JSU's business manager. Valley officials say the Delta Devils could clear in excess of $200,000 Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 on game day.
"We think it's advantageous for us to play the game here not only from a financial standpoint but from an alumni standpoint as well," Valley athletic director Lonza Hardy said. "We owe it to the fans in the Delta to bring a game like this here."
Hardy paused before adding: "Even if some people complain about not being able to get a ticket."
JSU people see things differently.
"I'm not too enthusiastic about going to Itta Bena to play a football game," Hughes said. "That stadium is too small to accommodate that many fans. The overflow might pose a safety problem. The last time we were up there it got kind of chaotic on the sideline. There were so many people standing around. It had to be 10 to 15 deep."
JSU offensive line coach Carl Robert was a freshman offensive lineman on that JSU team.
"There were people everywhere," Roberts said. "There were people drinking water out of our coolers."
That scene will not repeat itself Saturday, said Curry.
"No, it will not," Curry said. "We're going to take all precautions and do all that we can do to see that it doesn't. We've got a plan, and we're simply going to implement that plan. We're prepared, and we expect to be very well organized."
JSU fan Dale Knight of Jackson plans to be in Itta Bena Saturday.
"I want to go to the game ? all true fans plan on going ? but I have my concerns," Knight said. "I'm afraid it's going to be a quagmire. My biggest concern is the traffic conditions. Hopefully we can get in there, hopefully we'll have a place to sit, and we can enjoy the game."
JSU holds a 40-5-2 advantage in the series. Four of the Delta Devils' five wins and one of the two ties came after the game was moved to Jackson in 1982. The majority of the fans were wearing red and blue instead of green and white.
That won't be the case Saturday.
"I've always said Jackson State has had the advantage playing in Jackson even if we were the home team because we had to travel," Jones said. "Now the shoe is on the other foot. Our fans will be waiting on Jackson State. By them coming to the Delta, it gives us the psychological advantage."
JSU wide receiver T.C. Taylor knows a hostile crowd awaits.
"The folks in the Delta have a different attitude," he said. "It'll be a different crowd. We're just going to have to go up there and keep football on our mind and not worry about the crowd. Some of the other guys have been saying they don't want to go up there, but I kinda want to go. It's going to be a big event."
