DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman returns to the friendly confines of Municipal Stadium for a "home opening" affair with Tennessee State on a Hall of Fame weekend for the Wildcats. The true season and home opener for the Wildcats was suspended and eventually canceled in the second quarter of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on September 4.
 
Bethune-Cookman vs. Tennessee State
Sept. 17, 2016 | 4 p.m. (EST)
Municipal Stadium | Daytona Beach, Florida
WELE Radio | WSOS Radio | WSIR Radio
 
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Bethune-Cookman 0-1 (0-0 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Tennessee State 2-0 (0-0 OVC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
The Game
For the second consecutive Hall of Fame weekend at Daytona Beach for the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman, the Maroon and Gold will play host to Tennessee State. The two teams met on Hall of Fame weekend back in 2012, with the Tigers taking a hard-fought 21-14 decision back to Nashville, Tennessee.
 
With the season and home opener for the Wildcats suspended in the second quarter against Alcorn State on September 4 – and eventually canceled due to weather, the game with Tennessee State serves as the official home opener for the Cats. B-CU has not lost a home opening contest since the 2012 encounter with TSU.
 
The Series
Tennessee State holds a 6-2 edge in the series against Bethune-Cookman, in a series that dates back to 1982. B-CU took a 12-9 decision over the Tigers in 2013, as well as a 16-13 edge in 1987. However, B-CU is 0-1 all-time against the Tigers of TSU in Daytona Beach – that one game played in 2012. TSU opened the series with five consecutive wins from 1982 through 1986.
 
The Broadcasts
The game will be carried live through a video stream on the CatEye Network, while the CatEye Radio Network carries the contest via all three stations in the form of WELE 1380 The CAT, WSIR 1490 and WSOS 99.5 & 1170 with Nick Rice (play-by-play) operating alongside Larry Wesley (color) and Steve Allen (analyst) provides expert analysis from the team vantage point on the field.
 
The Coach
Head Coach Terry Sims is now in his second year at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman Football program. The Knoxville alum holds a record of 9-3 in Maroon and Gold, but is 1-0 in home openers, having defeated Lane College a season ago.
 
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Daytona Beach – 88/72. Nashville, Tennessee – 88/69.
 
#5Things
1. Bethune-Cookman will be seeking its first ever win against Tennessee State away from the city of Nashville.
2. This is just the second game ever played between the Tigers and Wildcats in the city of Daytona Beach.
3. The Cats have won three consecutive home opening contests dating back to 2013. The last home opening loss came against TSU in 2012.
4. Redshirt junior quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. is preparing to make just his fourth collegiate start under center for the Maroon and Gold.
5. This is the latest home opening game for the Cats since opening at home against Tennessee State on sept. 22, 2012.
 
FUN FACT
Tennessee State assistant coach Jeff Parker was inducted into the Bethune-Cookman Hall of Fame in 2012, the same weekend the Tigers bested B-CU in a home matchup in Daytona Beach.
 
A WIN OVER TENNESSEE STATE WOULD...
• Extend Bethune-Cookman's home winning streak to 12 games.
• Give Bethune-Cookman consecutive wins over the Tigers for the first time in series history.
• Give Head Coach Terry Sims the second home opening win of his career.
• Allow B-CU a win over the Tigers at Municipal Stadium for the first time in the history of the series.
 
SERIES NOTES...
• This is just the second time in the history of the series that Bethune-Cookman is playing host to Tennessee State in Daytona Beach.
• Tennessee State holds a 6-2 edge in the history of a series that dates back to 1982.
• Before the Cats took a 16-13 decision over the Tigers in 1987, TSU had won the previous five contests in the series.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
• Since 2000, Bethune-Cookman is 35-12 in regular season, out-of-conference contests, earning notable victories against the likes of Alabama State, FIU (2x) and Tennessee State, respectfully.
• Of the 12 losses in non-conference play, six have come against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including Florida State, Miami (3x), North Texas and UCF.
 
#IBackTheMEAC
• The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference begins its 47th year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2016- 17 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 13 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline.
• On June 8, 1980, the MEAC was classified as a Division I conference by the NCAA. Prior to that year, the conference operated as a Division II conference. The month after it achieved Division I status, the MEAC received an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
 
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