DOVER – Delaware State football players already knew they were facing the longest away trip in program history.
But now the Hornets’ season-opening game next Saturday in Hawaii will also be the latest – or earliest – start time DSU has ever seen.
Hawaii recently announced that the competition would begin at 6 p.m. local time, or midnight on the East Coast.
“This is my first time playing at midnight,” said DSU tight end EJCore, “so I’m pretty excited.”
There is no doubt that a game in Hawaii will be a unique start to the football season for the Hornets.
But what happens in the ten games following this competition will determine whether the 2024 season was a success or not.
DelState finished just 1-10 last year in Lee Hull’s first season as head coach. The program’s only winning season since 2007 was a 6-5 record in 2012.
This year’s Hornets say last season motivated them to work harder to avoid another year like this one.
“One and 10, that hurt,” Core said. “It was like being surrounded by so many students and everyone has something to say like, ‘Damn, when are you going to win a game?’
“You take it personally. I feel like a lot of people are saying this year, ‘We’re not doing that again.’ We’re going to do our best and expect great results.”
“It’s definitely a hungrier team,” defensive lineman Darren Cook said. “When you go without something for so long, you want it even more. I feel the energy – I feel the desire and need of my team to get this win.”
Cook, Core and defensive lineman Eric Montes were all named to the second team on the All-MEAC preseason team. Joining that group are starting quarterback Marqui Adams, who is in his second year, and leading rusher Marquis Gill (Milford), who returned to the team during training camp.
Hull also added 13 transfer players and 21 newcomers to this year’s squad. The Hornets say the attitude towards this year’s squad is very different.
“I like where we are right now,” Hull said. “It’s definitely a big difference, a great change from last year. You can feel and see the camaraderie.”
“I think we’ve got some things sorted out. I think we know roughly what our team can do and then we try to implement those things and make more of what they can do. I think they also understand the offense, defense and special teams better now.
“The biggest jump is always from year one to year two. And I think we have the full buy-in from the guys. They don’t fight the system and what we do. They just play.”
However, that doesn’t mean the Hornets will have an easy time this fall.
After returning from their long trip to Hawaii, the Hornets must turn around and play at Sacred Heart in Connecticut on August 31st.
Although DelState does not have two FBS teams on the schedule like last season, it still has six away games in its 11-game schedule. Three of the first four MEAC games are away games.
At least the Hawaii game has brought more energy to preseason training camp. Hull said it’s always an exciting experience, as the experience will be.
“They’re really excited about it,” he said. “It’s the only thing they really talk about. That’s also helped us prepare the way we have so far.”
“It brings a lot of energy into training and preparation.”
“I definitely feel the energy,” Cook agreed. “Everyone is energized. Everyone is ready for this competition and this fight. We’re just excited to get on that plane. We don’t talk about anything else.”
“You can feel it in training. The speed is different, the attitude is different. The energy is different. Everyone is just ready to go.”
Of course, no one is predicting the Hornets will beat Hawaii. Likewise, no one outside the program believes DelState will make a major turnaround this fall.
The Hornets once again finished last in the MEAC preseason poll.
But in the end, the DSU players know that all that matters is what they believe in.
“You can’t think about what happened in the past,” Carter said. “Because what happened in the past can’t affect the season. What happened in the past can’t help you achieve something in the coming season.”
“The real challenge is to get others to put on blinders and forget what happened in the past. Because what happened in the past doesn’t matter.”
“The camaraderie is stronger than ever,” Core said. “All the new recruits and rookies came in, saw our record from last year and asked, ‘What can we do to make you all better?’
“From then on, the team came together automatically. Training is going well. … There is definitely a different energy this year. I’m definitely excited to see where we go with this.”
