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Delaware State added to WVU football schedule

By Matthew Peaslee

Nov 21, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Jarrod Harper (22) is congratulated by defensive lineman Christian Brown (95) after recovering a fumble against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Jarrod Harper (22) is congratulated by defensive lineman Christian Brown (95) after recovering a fumble against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The WVU football team has added Delaware State to its schedule for the 2017 season.

This obviously isn’t a bitter rival like Pitt or a heavy-hitter like Ohio State. However, it’s a necessary opponent needed to fill out the early, out-of-conference slate.

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This will be the first-ever meeting between West Virginia and Delaware State. The Hornets are members of the Mid-Eastern Conference and they are title holders from that league on four different occasions.

Things haven’t been so great recently, though. Last season, the team went 1-10.

The last time the Hornets had a winning season was the year 2007 when they went 10-2 after falling to in-state rival Delaware in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.

In that year, however, the Hornets were dubbed Black College National Champions.

The program has a storied history which also includes 18 professional players.

This year, the Hornets appear on Missouri’s schedule in Week 3. The Mountaineers open the season on Sept. 3 playing none other than the Tigers. So, it’s safe to say, all three teams will have personal tape on each other when their respective matchups come along.

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In 2017, the Mountaineers will also play East Carolina and Virginia Tech in the out-of-conference slate. Those programs have been old rivals of the WVU football program for quite some time. The Hokies moreso than the Pirates, at least according to the fans.

Virginia Tech and West Virginia were both members of the old Big East Conference and forged a heated border rivalry with each other over the years.

East Carolina has a more recent history with the Mountaineers, which includes an upset victory in 2008.

Delaware State won’t be as lucky in 2017. The Hornets will be able to come to Morgantown, collect a nice payday, but leave with a big setback against the Mountaineers.

The WVU football program remains undefeated against FCS opponents, but that record will be tested again in 2016 when the Bo Pelini-led Penguins make the two-hour trip south to take on the Mountaineers in Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 10.

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