DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Football will enjoy its 2017 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 30, as the Wildcats welcome Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent Savannah State to Municipal Stadium at 4 p.m. After four weeks on the road to begin the 2017 campaign, this is officially the latest BCU has ever played a home opening game in more than 25 years.
 
Bethune-Cookman vs. Savannah State
Sept. 30, 2017 | 4 p.m. EST
Municipal Stadium | Daytona Beach, Fla.
WELE Radio | WSOS Radio | WSIR Radio
 
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Bethune-Cookman 1-3 (0-1 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Savannah State 0-3 (0-1 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
 
Game Day Hashtags
#SSUvsBCU | #BeatSavState | #BCUResurge | #PreyTogether
 
The Game
Bethune-Cookman enjoys its first home game of the 2017 season this weekend, welcoming the Savannah State Tigers to Municipal Stadium for a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup.
 
Story Lines
• This weekend's game marks the first home game of the 2017 season for Bethune-Cookman and Head Coach Terry Sims.
• Bethune-Cookman holds a strong 36-8-3 overall record against Savannah State dating back to 1926. The Wildcats have not lost at home to Savannah State since 1972 – a span of nine consecutive games in Daytona Beach.
• Senior defensive back Diquan Richardson led the defense a week ago at Howard with 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops from his free safety position. He also chipped in with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
• Last time out against Savannah State, the Tigers ended a 16-game losing skid to the Wildcats with a 16-10 overtime win in Savannah, Georgia in 2016.
• The Maroon and Gold are ranked 17th nationally in pass defense, and fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in that category.
• This is the longest spell being away from home to start a season since 2012, when BCU played its first three games away from Municipal Stadium.
 
Series Notes
• Bethune-Cookman leads the all-time series against Savannah State by a 36-8-3 advantage.
• The Wildcats have never lost to Savannah State at Municipal Stadium – a stretch of nine consecutive games.
• The Maroon and Gold have won an incredible 16 of the last 17 games against Savannah State.
 
The Broadcasts
The game will be streamed live on the CatEye Network at BCUathletics.com, 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 Nolan Alexander (play-by-play) operating alongside Larry Wesley (color) and Terrance Gatling (sideline).
 
The Coach
Head Coach Terry Sims is now in his third year at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman Football program. The Knoxville alum holds a record of 14-11 overall with the Maroon and Gold, and he holds a record of 1-1 as a collegiate head coach against Savannah State.
 
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Daytona Beach – 84/75 (60% chance of rain). Savannah, Ga. – 84/64 (30% chance of rain).
 
#HighFive
1. Head Coach Terry Sims is looking for his second victory as an opposing head coach against Savannah State.
2. Senior safety Diquan Richardson has two interceptions in his last three games for the Maroon and Gold.
3. Redshirt senior quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. has connected for a passing touchdown in three of his last four games, including a strike with Frank Brown last weekend.
4. Redshirt senior running back Michael D. Jones has two rushing scores on the year, while averaging 4.9 yards per carry across the first four games of the season.
5. The Bethune-Cookman defense has picked off five passes in the last three games. Three interceptions came at Southeastern Louisiana.
 
A Win Over Savannah State Would…
• Improve Bethune-Cookman's record to 37-8-3 all-time against the Tigers.
• Be the 488th win all-time in school history.
• Give the Wildcats their 10th consecutive win at home against the Tigers of Savannah State.
• Allow Head Coach Terry Sims his second-ever home opening win of a season.
 
Play Some Hendrix...
• Junior linebacker Marquis Hendrix stepped up against Florida Atlantic, leading the Wildcats with a team-high
10 tackles. The transfer from Coffeyville Community College collected seven solo stops in his first significant playing time on the year.
• He is no stranger to the Bethune-Cookman program, as his father Jack Hendrix played at BCU from 1990-91.
 
Deuces Wild...
• Senior safety Diquan Richardson is tied for 29th nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for passes intercepted. The Allen, South Carolina native is averaging 0.7 interceptions per game with a pair in his first four contests.
 
What's the Word?
• Each team throughout the 2017-18 BCU athletic year will have a word that represents the program.
• The word for BCU Football is "Resurge". The meaning comes from the team and Head Coach Terry Sims looking for a resurgence in 2017. The team endured an uncharacteristic 4-6 season last year, marking the first losing campaign at Bethune-Cookman since 2009.
 
Against the Rankings...
• The loss to No. 18 Miami in the season opener for both teams in Miami Gardens, Florida marked the fourth consecutive loss for the Wildcats against a ranked opponent. However, two of those teams in the current stretch were the 18th-ranked Hurricanes, in addition to No. 8 (FBS) Florida State – eventually winning the national championship in 2013 with Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.
 
30 Sacks, 30 Turnovers...
• The goal at the start of the season is for the Wildcats defense to make 30 sacks and force 30 turnovers. That would be a significant production hike from the two previous years of the current coaching regime that resulted in 13/17 in 2016 and 18/19 in 2015.
• North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central were the only teams in the MEAC to achieve the 30/30 mark last year.
 
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