Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team will hold its 2011 home opener on Thursday night, as the Pirates square off against former coach Joe Taylor and Florida A&M at Armstrong Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

The game will be televised live on EPSNU.

The Pirates (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) defeated Alabama A&M 21-20 in comeback fashion on Saturday in the Chicago Football Classic, while FAMU (1-0, 0-0) opened the 2011 season with a 28-22 home win over Fort Valley State.

Sophomore running back Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.) rushed for 141 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, while senior quarterback David Legree (Brooklyn, N.Y.) threw for 99 yards and rushed for 104 more.

Sophomore offensive lineman Vincent Harper (Belle Glade, Fla.) was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while senior defensive lineman Ian Davidson (Washington, D.C.), who blocked Alabama A&M's game-winning field goal attempt in the closing seconds, earned MEAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

The Pirates are 7-12 all-time against Florida A&M, but have won four of the last six meetings. FAMU beat the Pirates in Tallahassee, Fla. 17-12 last season, while Hampton spoiled coach Joe Taylor's return to Armstrong Stadium in 2009 with a 25-0 defeat. Hampton is 4-4 all-time against the Rattlers at Armstrong Stadium.

Since 1943, the Pirates are 43-31-1 all-time in home openers and have won eight in a row. The Pirates defeated North Carolina A&T 35-21 in last year's season opener. Hampton defeated North Carolina Central 31-24 at Armstrong Stadium to open 2009, and in 2008, the Pirates opened their home slate with a 38-27 drubbing of Howard. Hampton last lost a home opener in 2002, when Southwest Missouri State beat the Pirates at Armstrong Stadium 28-26.

The Pirates have scored in 26 straight home openers, dating all the way back to 1985, when Hampton opened its home slate with a 31-0 win over Virginia Union. A 44-0 loss to Tennessee State to open the 1984 season was the last time Hampton was shut out in a home opener. In that 26-year span, the most points the Pirates have scored in a home opener was 51, which came in 1996, when the Pirates beat Delaware State 51-21.

Third-year head coach Donovan Rose is 2-0 in home openers as a head coach after beating North Carolina A&T at Armstrong Stadium 35-21. He won his head coaching debut in 2009, as the Pirates defeated North Carolina Central 31-24 at Armstrong Stadium.

The Pirates are 186-154-6 all-time against schools currently competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Hampton is 9-7 against Bethune-Cookman; 23-13 against Delaware State; 7-12 against Florida A&M; 47-39-1 against Howard; 22-35-2 against Morgan State; 23-24-1 against Norfolk State; 25-15-2 against North Carolina A&T; 16-5 against MEAC newcomer North Carolina Central; 3-0 against MEAC newcomer Savannah State; and 11-6 against South Carolina State.

This is only the Pirates' 16th year as a member of the MEAC, as they initially became a member back in 1995. Since joining the MEAC, the Pirates have won the conference championship five times, including three straight in 2004, 2005 and 2006

The Pirates went 5-3 in the MEAC last season.

The game will also be broadcast live on WHOV 88.1 FM< and live stats will be available through the official Pirates website. 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.