When Hampton opted for Colonial Athletic Association membership, school officials were quite aware of the inherent football challenges that loomed.
As debuts go, Saturday’s is about as imposing as could be expected.
Hampton will visit Delaware for its inaugural CAA football game, with the Blue Hens coming off a 42-21 win at Rhode Island in a matchup of Top 25 teams in their league opener.
Delaware (3-0) inched up one spot to No. 8 – past rival Villanova – in the rankings Monday as preparation commenced for Saturday’s 6 p.m. Delaware Stadium encounter.
“They’re a Top 10 team, they’re a veteran squad and their quarterback is unbelievable,” said Robert Prunty, Hampton’s coach since 2018 after stints on the staffs at Texas Tech, Cincinnati and East Carolina.
“The offensive line, the defensive line . . . It’s one of the better football teams I’ve seen even when I was coaching at the BCS level. To go beat Navy at Navy, we’re gonna have to do everything right to beat this team,” he added about the Blue Hens.
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The Pirates will arrive with some familiarity and recent success that could make their indoctrination a tad less daunting.
They are also 3-0, with wins over Division II Tuskegee and former MEAC rivals Howard and Norfolk State. And there are a couple close connections between the Delaware and Hampton coaching staffs.
The Pirates’ defensive coordinator is Chris Cosh, who was defensive coordinator on Danny Rocco’s Delaware staff from 2017-19 before stepping down because of a family matter.
He held that position last year at Division III Christopher Newport, whose head coach then, Art Link, is Delaware’s special teams coordinator and safeties coach now. Delaware defensive coordinator Manny Rojas worked under Cosh at Richmond and Delaware before replacing him here.
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In addition, Hampton’s offensive coordinator Zack Patterson was running backs coach from 2016-19 at Sam Houston, where Ryan Carty was offensive coordinator his last two seasons. Carty is in his first year as Delaware head coach.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us again,” Carty said. “It’s a team we’re not familiar with although there are some familiar faces which is a little different. Both the coordinators we have some connections with.
“It’s gonna be a fight, just like any other CAA game. Hopefully we have another great atmosphere in the Tub [Tubby Raymond Field] and can use that to our advantage.”
It’s the first football meeting ever between the Hens and Hampton.
The admittance to the CAA, which was announced in January, makes Hampton the league’s first member among the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Hampton was later joined by fellow HBCU and former MEAC/Big South rival North Carolina A&T, though the Aggies’ football inclusion doesn’t kick in until 2023.
HIGH PRAISE FOR HENS:Delaware’s, Henderson’s offensive display at Rhode Island ‘staggering’
The Pirates have played NCAA Division I sports since joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1995. They climbed from the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association after being voted national Black college football champion in 1994 (and have won four more such titles since). Hampton then moved to the Big South in 2018.
Hampton won five MEAC titles and reached as many NCAA tournaments from 1997-2006 but was 5-7 and 5-6 the last two years.
Delaware scored 28 second-quarter points to take command at Rhode Island. Quarterback Nolan Henderson was voted national and CAA Offensive Player of the Week after posting career highs of 29 completions (on 34 passes), 379 yards and four TDs, all in first half. His 315 first-half passing yards were the second most in school history.
“I don’t think that’s the best game he’s gonna play here,” Carty said.
Delaware’s 610 total yards were the most since the 2013 season opener.
Hampton’s best attribute so far has been its defense, which has allowed a CAA-low 73.7 rushing yards per game and is second in total defense giving up 293 yards per game.
Offensively, the Pirates have rotated a pair of quarterbacks, which will keep the Delaware defense on its toes.
Malcolm Mays, a 6-foot-5 JUCO transfer, has thrown for 486 yards and five touchdowns but also tossed five interceptions. Christopher Zellous has thrown less but run a little more, though Mays is also a threat to run.
“They’re a really good team so it’s always gonna be difficult to prepare for that,” Delaware linebacker Drew Nickles said. “Just trying to be ready for everything will be difficult but we’ll take it like every week. Just try and get better, prepare for what they do and do our best.”
Hen scratch
Johnny Buchanan still leads the CAA in tackles with 42 . . . Blue Hen Touchdown Club MVPs from Rhode Island were Henderson on offense, Nickles, who had a couple timely quarterback hurries and two pass break-ups, on defense and Liam Trainer on special teams . . . Link and ex-UD linebacker Ralph DeAngelo will speak at Friday’s noon touchdown club luncheon at the Carpenter Center. Information at www.bluehentdclub.com.
Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com.
