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DOVER, Del. - Delaware State and Norfolk State football will officially play a regular season game at Lincoln Financial Field in late October, as announced on Thursday.
The game will be on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Delaware State will substitute this for a home game, as the Hornets were supposed to host the Spartans on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Alumni Stadium.
The Hornets and Spartans are led by two former Philadelphia Eagles greats: DeSean Jackson for Delaware State, and Michael Vick for Norfolk State. Both will be first-time head coaches in the upcoming 2025 season.
In the Eagles' official press release, Chief Operating Officer Frank Gumienny said, "...Lincoln Financial Field is excited to serve as the host venue for this highly anticipated HBCU matchup. We look forward to shining a much-deserved spotlight on the Delaware State and Norfolk State football programs."
In a statement, Jackson said, "I came to Delaware State University to start a new phase of my career with a unique institution that cares about its students and is helping to transform their futures. I know Coach Vick feels the same way at Norfolk State.
"A part of that transformation is opening our students and scholar-athletes up to a whole new set of experiences at the highest level. For our teams to be playing in Philly, at Lincoln Financial Field, on the field Coach Vick and I called home for many years, will be special for our players, our coaching staffs, our alumni and fans, and for HBCU culture around the country."
Jackson and Vick were Eagles teammates from 2009-13, with Vick being Jackson's starting quarterback for about three-and-a-half of those five seasons. Jackson earned three Pro Bowl nods with Philadelphia in 2009, 2010, and 2013, and he was named to the Second Team All-Pro in 2009. In 2010 alone, Vick earned a Pro Bowl nod, the Bert Bell Award, which is given to the best football player that season, and he was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Jackson finished his pro career in 2022 after playing for the Eagles (two stints), Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens. Outside of his awards with Philadelphia, Jackson earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in 2021 in Super Bowl LVI.
Vick wrapped up his time in the NFL in 2015, spending time with the Atlanta Falcons, Eagles, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Besides his accolades with the Eagles, Vick saw three Pro Bowl nods with Atlanta in 2002, 2004, and 2005.
The Hornets are looking to bounce back from their 1-11 (0-5 MEAC) record in 2024. The Spartans come off a 2024 campaign of 4-8 (2-3 MEAC).
Tickets for the Delaware State-Norfolk State game will go on sale on Tuesday, June 17 at 10 a.m. on ticketmaster.com.
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