HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team, under the direction of first-year head coach Donovan Rose, will open the 2009 season on Saturday against North Carolina Central. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium.

“We are excited about the game, eager to get started,” Rose said. “I can't wait for my first game as a head coach after being here for 18 years as an assistant.”

This will be the 20th meeting all-time between the Pirates and the Eagles, with Hampton holding a 14-5 advantage in the series. Hampton and North Carolina Central have not played since 1992, following the Pirates' departure from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), but there match-ups dating back to their first meeting in 1924.

The Pirates won the first nine meetings in the series before the Eagles would win the next five matches. Hampton has won the last five meetings in the series, including a 31-19 win in Hampton on Nov. 14, 1992. There have been 10 shutouts in the series, with the Pirates on the losing end twice. The Eagles' largest victory over the Pirates was a 28-0 victory during the 1953 and 1954 seasons, while the Pirates defeated the Eagles 31-0 in 1924 and again in 1935.

The last time Hampton hosted North Carolina Central at Armstrong Stadium, the Pirates finished that season with a 9-2-1 record and made a NCAA Playoff appearance.

The Pirates went 6-5 last season, opening the year with five wins in their first six contests. Saturday's game will mark the first time since 2004 that Hampton will open the season at home. The Pirates began the 2004 season by hosting Jackson State, winning 38-19.

The Eagles, under the direction of third-year head coach Mose Rison, went 4-7 last season. NCCU lost its first four games in 2008 before closing the season by winning three of its last four contests.

“Our players are getting really excited,” Rose said. “They can't wait, either.”

Live stats will be provided for Saturday's game, and can be accessed by visiting www.hamptonpirates.com, navigating to the football page and clicking the “Live Stats” link. For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.