Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - Delaware may be among the smallest states in the union, but The First State has been a major player in terms of FCS offseason news.
Both Delaware and Delaware State have hired new athletic directors in recent weeks, and the two schools have also signed an agreement to play each other in the regular season for the first time on Sept. 19.
Additionally, UD and DSU have been drawn into a controversy involving the state government's approval of legalized sports gambling, one that could cost them the chance to host home playoff games.
But no story has received more attention than Delaware State's scheduling of a non-conference game with Michigan on Oct. 17. Columnists throughout the country have excoriated the Hornets for the decision to forfeit a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game with North Carolina A&T in order to take a $500,000 check from the Wolverines.
Sports Illustrated even labeled the story as last week's Sign of the Apocalypse.
The story surrounding the forfeit is a complicated one. The contract with Michigan was negotiated while Delaware State was interviewing for a new athletic director, and it still isn't exactly clear who in the administration approved the deal.
Derek Carter has taken the reigns as the new athletic director just in time to address all of the questions about a decision he didn't make.
But there is plenty of blame to go around outside of Dover, DE.
North Carolina A&T was willing to adjust its schedule to accommodate the Hornets, but at that point, even with MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas involved in the negotiations, things broke down.
A&T needed to move its Sept. 12 game with Norfolk State to an Oct. 3 open date in order to allow Delaware State to play its game with the Aggies on Sept. 12, but Norfolk State balked at a deal that would have forced the Spartans to play 10 consecutive weeks.
It isn't unusual for conference members in other leagues to switch games to help fellow members play contests of this nature. But in this case, no one was willing to bail Delaware State out of its problem.
Much of the blame has to be shouldered by Thomas, who should have acted more forcefully before this embarrassing situation came to public light. Instead, Thomas now has to hope that DSU's forfeit will not have any adverse impact on the 2009 MEAC championship race.
The quality of the teams involved could eventually help the league avoid an additional P.R. hit.
Delaware State is rebuilding just two years after winning the 2007 MEAC championship and isn't likely to be a championship contender. North Carolina A&T, meanwhile, is trying to find its footing under new coach Alonzo Lee Jr. after going 3-31 in the past three seasons.
Thomas has also hinted that he will sanction Delaware State for the forfeit, though the type of penalty he might levy hasn't been revealed. Some are calling for him to make DSU ineligible for the MEAC title in 2009, something that might constitute harsh treatment for players and coaches who didn't ask for this attention.
It is more likely that the penalty will involve some sort of fine, which would hit the Hornet administration right in the place that led to the scheduling of the Michigan game in the first place - the pocketbook.
Whatever Thomas decides, this incident is a black eye on Delaware State and the MEAC - a bruise that won't heal quickly.
Some observers have speculated that this incident could leave cracks in the MEAC foundation that could lead Delaware State to find another conference affiliation, perhaps with the Big South.
Only time will tell how ugly this situation will get.
GAMBLING ON BETTING
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell is gambling that a sports lottery will help his fiscally-challenged state pull itself out of the economic doldrums and the Delaware Supreme Court ruled this week, as expected, that the state constitution allows for sports betting.
But as mentioned, that decision could cost Delaware and Delaware State the chance to host playoff games in the future.
The NCAA warned Delaware officials that it would prohibit those schools from hosting playoff games if state officials passed gambling legislation. The NFL is also expected to continue its legal fight against a state lottery.
Delaware State, which plays in 7,000-seat Alumni Stadium, has never hosted a playoff game, but Delaware has been a frequent postseason host with its 20,000-seat facility.
The Blue Hens have hosted 15 playoff games since making their first FCS postseason appearance in 1981.
One unexpected development is that another major playoff participant, Montana, could also be affected by this ban. The state of Montana also runs a sports lottery, and if the NCAA follows through on a betting ban for Delaware, it might have to investigate the possibility of prohibiting Montana and Montana State from hosting playoff games as well.
Montana has qualified for 16 consecutive playoff berths and its ability to draw crowds of more than 20,000 fans has led to 31 home playoff games over the years. The Grizzlies have also won a pair of NCAA championships, and have reached the title game six times.
