Football is definitely in the air!
 
City officials of Rocky Mount, NC along with administrators from Elizabeth City State University hosted a press conference on Wednesday, July 31^st as a prelude to the 22^nd annual Down East Viking Football Classic (DEVFC) on September 28^th at the Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium. This year's game will feature the Vikings of ECSU and the Broncos of Fayetteville State University.
 
The inaugural Down East Viking Football Classic game was held in 1998 when the Broncos defeated the Vikings 10-7. Twenty-two years later, the signature event that draws over 10,000 fans to Rocky Mount and an economic boost to the area has expanded to include a golf challenge, collegiate and regional high school band performances, recruitment and outreach activities, and a variety of social and entertainment activities.
 
"If you take a real good deep breath, you can smell football in the air," said Elizabeth City State Head Football Coach Anthony Jones, who enters his second season at the helm.
 
Last year, the DEVFC was canceled due to Hurricane Florence. Coach Jones reflected during the press conference on the effects the storm had to his 1-7 [overall] program and the surrounding area.
 
"Our team got separated," said Coach Jones. "It had a lasting effect on our football program. Our season kind of went downhill from there."
 
"We are looking forward to this upcoming football game. This lends itself to be a tremendous football game. The battle of the blues. Get there early, because you don't want to miss anything and stay there late to enjoy all of the festivities"
 
Fayetteville State University has the preseason prediction to win the CIAA Southern Division by its Coaches Association and ranks second overall within the conference while the Vikings were selected fifth in the CIAA Northern Division and eighth overall.
 
Fayetteville State has participated in eight (8) of the Classics and leads the series, 5-3.
 
"This event allows former and current student-athletes, who have relationships beyond the gridiron, to have bragging rights among one another," said FSU Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett. "More than likely, the program that makes the least mistakes in this game, is going to win it. Fayetteville State plans on making the least mistakes this year."
 
The last time FSU's football team participated in the DEVFC, Head Coach Richard Hayes and the Broncos departed the stadium with an exhausting 45-42 loss to Elizabeth City State.
 
"We want to have a better outcome than we did the last time," said Coach Hayes, who will be leading FSU in his third classic appearance. "There wasn't a lot of defense played that day, but I assure you Fayetteville State has fixed that problem."
 
The Fayetteville State Broncos will report for football camp on Monday, August 5^th and open the 2019 season on September 7^th in the Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium against Benedict College. FSU's season tickets are currently on sale at fsubroncos.com.
 
The "Battle of the Blues" will take place in the fourth week of the season as the Broncos first away game. Information on tickets for the 22^nd annual Down East Viking Football Classic can be found at ecsuvikings.com.
 
The full version of the press conference can be seen at facebook.com/fsubroncos.