Bulldogs, Del. St. cream of MEAC

Brad Nettles
The Post and Courier

Big things are expected out of Buddy Pough and his South Carolina State football program this season.

For the second year in a row, South Carolina State has been voted the preseason favorite to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, much to Buddy Pough's surprise.

The Bulldogs received 272 points in the poll of MEAC coaches and sports information directors, 20 more than defending champion Delaware State. S.C. State and the Hornets both received six first-place votes.

"I never expected this again, especially with Delaware State returning so many guys and the fact that we have to go up there to play them this season," said Pough. "I really think we're going to have a four-team race, and anything can happen."

Delaware State, on the rise under coach Al Lavin, brings back 14 starters off a team that ran the table in MEAC play and advanced to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) playoffs and a first-ever meeting with in-state rival Delaware.

The Hornets return three-year starting quarterback Vashon Winton, top 2007 rusher Kareem Jones and four of five starters on the offensive line, including all-MEAC tackle Adrian Brown (6-6, 340). There are more holes to fill on defense, but linebacker Josh Pope and linemen Ronn Spinner Jr. are solid veteran building blocks. The kicking game was key to DSU's success last year, but the Hornets will have to rely on newcomers this time around.

The other top contenders figure to be Norfolk State and Hampton, which lost longtime coach Joe Taylor to Florida A&M.

Norfolk State broke out of the pack to go 8-3 overall and finish in a second-place tie with S.C. State. Pete Adrian was named MEAC coach of the year, and 17 starters are back to make a run the school's first title since joining the MEAC ranks in 1997. The Spartans beat S.C. State for the first time since 2000 and Hampton for the first time since 2001, and lost in overtime to Delaware State in what was essentially the conference championship game in the penultimate weekend of the regular season.

NSU must replace top players are QB and running back, but have four starters back on the offensive line. Quarterback Dennis Brown, a transfer from Connecticut, is the newcomer on the hot seat. Jamar Jones, a top receiver, is back. The defense is more tested entering the season, and is led by lineman Dennis Marsh, twin linebackers Marquez and Maguell Davis and defensive backs Terrell Whitehead and Don Carey. Marquez Davis and Whitehead were first-team All-MEAC picks last season, while the other three were second-team selections. Justin Castella is the top returning kicker in the conference after booting 15 field goals last season.

Hampton's three-year MEAC reign came to an end in 2007, and it finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference. The youthful Pirates, however, were not that far off the pace of previous seasons. The Pirates lost to Delaware State, Norfolk State and S.C. State by a combined margin of 10 points.

New coach Jerry Holmes takes over a team that loses just eight starters and 13 lettermen, including returning All-MEAC quarterback T.J. Mitchell, receiver Jeremy Gilchrist, offensive lineman Dennis Conley, defensive back Sam Pope and punter Jahmal Blanchard.

It make take a year or two, but look for Florida A&M to return to contending status once Taylor get his own players in place.