This kickoff is more than just a game

By Jeff Zeigler

At first glance, the Chowan University-Elizabeth City State University football game this weekend might look like just another opening game. The contest, however, is significant for both teams in a historical context and for the future.

The Chowan Hawks will travel to Roebuck Stadium for a Saturday contest with ECSU at 7 p.m. The game is the first football contest between the two schools, outside of a scrimmage sometime in the 1960s when Chowan was still a junior college. It is also the first CIAA game for Chowan since the football team was admitted to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association earlier this year.

Chowan and Elizabeth City State have played each other in other sports, including men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball.

Over the past two years, the schools, which are about an hour apart, have formed a rivalry. The Chowan men's basketball team beat ECSU in their first-ever meeting two years ago. The Chowan volleyball team was the only squad to down ECSU on the Lady Vikings' home court last year.

"The men's basketball rivalry has heated up in just two years," Chowan President M. Christopher White said at a media day last week. "There is no reason to think that football will be anything but that. It's going to be the first of a rivalry that is good for the schools. We are fierce competitors for students and student athletes."

Saturday's game will be the first CIAA contest for Chowan. The school has applied to become a full member of the conference. Chowan Athletic Director Dennis Helsel said the football game is important to the school's application.

"The CIAA community is going to wonder, can we compete with them? They are going to look at us and it will have some implications relative to the future of the CIAA and Chowan as partners," Helsel said at the media day. "There is a lot riding on this."

Tim Place, in his first year as head football coach at Chowan, said his team knows the game will be part of school history.

"I believe more than just playing ECSU, we're in a position to be a part of history and we are keenly aware of that," Place said at the media day. "Yet at the same time, we don't want to make it any bigger than it is. We have to control what we can control. We control our attitude and preparation, and as long as we prepare to the best of our abilities and we show up Saturday and give great effort and attitude, that's all we can ask for."

Waverly Tillar, head football coach at ECSU, said his school is looking forward to having a CIAA opponent in its backyard. It hasn't had neighboring competition since Norfolk State University and Hampton University bolted from the conference.

"Being as close as they are to us, it should make for a great rivalry," he said.

Tillar also announced that Chowan will be the Vikings' opponent in the 2009 Down East Viking Football Classic, which is in its 11th year and is played in Rocky Mount. This year, ECSU will face Saint Augustine's College in the event at 4 p.m. on Sept. 27.

Chowan will be the first opponent of the revived Old Dominion University football program the first week of the 2009 season.