The MEAC enters 2004 after one it's most exciting years ever. Traditional power FLAMU filed papers to move to IA and Bethune-Cookman continued to do well. However, power clubs from the 90's in NCA&T and Hampton have re-surfaced to contend. Also, S. Carolina St. was perhaps the biggest surprise in the conference as they dominated early, a trend they hope will continue all season in 2004.This year, the entire conference seems to be playing in a "classic". So much so, that I think the term has lost it's significance somewhere along the line. However, the ratings are going to be just a little bit unique, as most of these are played on neutral sites. Another observation is that most conferences power-clubs tend to be at, or near the bottom of the rankings ... this is not the case in the MEAC, as you will see below:

Games of Interest: 18-Sep Bethune-Cookmanvs. Grambling; 18-Sep Western Illinois at Hampton; 4-Sep MASSACHUSETTS at Delaware State; 9-Oct South Carolina St. at Norfolk St.; 20-Nov Morgan St. at Texas Southern; 11-Sep Wofford College at S. Carolina St.; 4-Sep Howard vs Alabama State; 30-Oct BETHUNE-COOKMAN at N. Carolina A&T

1. Bethune-Cookman : In a tight race, the Wildcats head into 2004 with the conferences most difficult slate. Much of this is due to 3 "classic" games on neutral, or foreign, turf. Coach Wyatt's club will have their first 3 games away from Daytona, with the third being a game with Grambling. In addition, they will face SCS, NCA&T, and Hampton on the road. Their final game will be against former conference rival FLAMU in Orlando. So, for those of you not keeping track ... this means only 3 home games for the Wildcats in 2004.
   
   4-Sep SAVANNAH STATE
   11-Sep at Arkansas Pine Bluff
   18-Sep vs. Grambling (n)
   25-Sep NORFOLK STATE*
   2-Oct Morgan State*
   9-Oct DELAWARE STATE*
   16-Oct South Carolina State*
   23-Oct Open
   30-Oct North Carolina A&T*
   6-Nov Hampton University*
   13-Nov HOWARD UNIVERSITY*
   20-Nov Florida A&M University
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Hampton : The Pirates will have a very tough road in 2004. They will open against Jackson St and other OOC games include Big South power Gardner-Webb and Gateway power Western Illinois. One thing in coach Taylor's favor, is the fact that he will face B-C and NCA&T at home this year.
   
   4-Sep vs. Jackson State
   11-Sep Howard*
   18-Sep Western Illinois
   25-Sep vs. Morgan State*
   2-Oct at Delaware State*
   9-Oct Gardner-Webb
   16-Oct Norfolk State*
   23-Oct at South Carolina State*
   30-Oct OPEN
   6-Nov Bethune-Cookman*
   13-Nov North Carolina A&T*
   20-Nov at Savannah State
   
   
   
   
   
3. Delaware State : Don't let this #3 ranking fool you. If it was not for a sub-IAA match, the Hornets would have (by far) the most difficult schedule in the conference. Other OOC games include A-10 power UMass and the nation's surprise team, the Salukis of Southern Illinois ... hailing from the Gateway Conference. Luckily coach Lavan's team will see Hampton and NCA&T at home in 2004.
   
   4-Sep MASSACHUSETTS
   11-Sep N CAROLINA CENTRAL
   18-Sep at Elon
   25-Sep SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
   2-Oct HAMPTON*
   9-Oct at Bethune-Cookman*
   16-Oct NORTH CAROLINA A&T*
   23-Oct at Morgan State*
   30-Oct SOUTH CAROLINA ST*
   6-Nov OPEN
   13-Nov at Norfolk State*
   20-Nov at Howard*
   
   
   
   
4. Norfolk State: We need some help from NSU fans out there. Has the schedule been finalized? If so, the Spartans will only play 9 contests in 2004. So it is very unfair to rank them.
   
   4-Sep Virginia St
   11-Sep Savannah St.
   18-Sep OPEN
   25-Sep at Bethune-Cookman*
   2-Oct North Carolina A&T*
   9-Oct South Carolina St.*
   16-Oct at Hampton*
   23-Oct OPEN
   30-Oct at Howard*
   6-Nov Morgan St.*
   13-Nov Delaware St.*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
5. Morgan State: The 2004 version of the Bears schedule "caught my eye" for two reasons. First of all ... this is a very good schedule. OOC games include a DII, Gardner-Webb, IA San Jose St., and a revamped Texas Southern from the SWAC. Unfortunately, this is a schedule that includes 7 road games ... tough on any club. The Bears were very good last year and will have to work twice as hard, just to equal that with this road schedule. They perhaps, are the most under-rated club in the conference.
   
   4-Sep Bowie State
   11-Sep Gardner-Webb
   18-Sep at San Jose State
   25-Sep at Hampton*
   2-Oct Bethune-Cookman*
   9-Oct at North Carolina A&T*
   16-Oct at Howard*
   23-Oct Delaware State*
   30-Oct OPEN
   6-Nov at Norfolk State*
   13-Nov at South Carolina State*
   20-Nov at Texas Southern
   
   
   
6. South Carolina State: The Bulldogs are not going to catch anyone by surprise in 2004. Simply put ... this is a quality ball club and capable of competing for the MEAC crown. The schedule is fairly-well balanced and brings SoCon upstart Wofford to Orangeburg in week-2. Also, B-C and Hampton are at home this year. The one to watch will be Tennessee State. TSU is a traditional post-season regular, and show signs of a return to this tradition in 2004.
   
   4-Sep at Benedict College
   11-Sep Wofford College
   18-Sep at Savannah State
   25-Sep OPEN
   2-Oct at Tennessee State
   9-Oct at Norfolk State*
   16-Oct Bethune-Cookman*
   23-Oct Hampton University*
   30-Oct at Delaware State*
   6-Nov Howard*
   13-Nov Morgan State*
   20-Nov at North Carolina A&T*
   
   
   
7. Howard : A couple of good "classic" games highlight the 2004 Bison Schedule. Alabama St. and upstart Alcorn are the opponents in these games. An early-season match at Hampton will also tell us a great deal about both clubs.
   
   4-Sep vs Alabama State
   11-Sep at Hampton*
   18-Sep vs Alcorn State
   25-Sep vs SAVANNAH STATE
   2-Oct OPEN
   9-Oct vs Charleston Southern
   16-Oct vs MORGAN STATE*
   23-Oct at NC A&T*
   30-Oct vs NORFOLK STATE*
   6-Nov at South Carolina State*
   13-Nov at Bethune-Cookman*
   20-Nov vs DELAWARE STATE*
   
   
   
8. North Carolina A&T : If there is a favorable schedule in the MEAC ... this is it. An interesting game at Wake Forest should draw a nice crowd for the two Carolina clubs. OOC games with Alcorn and Elon also highlight the 2004 Aggie slate. Also, there is a very timely "open" week between a home game with the Wildcats and a trip to face the Pirates in early November.
   
   5-Sep N.C. Central
   11-Sep at Alcorn State
   18-Sep at Wake Forest
   25-Sep ELON
   2-Oct at Norfolk State*
   9-Oct MORGAN STATE*
   16-Oct at Delaware State*
   23-Oct HOWARD*
   30-Oct BETHUNE-COOKMAN*
   6-Nov OPEN
   13-Nov at Hampton*
   20-Nov at S.C. State*