TOWSON, Md. – The #21/22 Towson University football team will begin the November campaign with a rivalry game, hosting Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 2^nd at 2 p.m.
 
Tickets for the game are available by clicking here, by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or emailing 4tigertix@towson.edu.
 
Towson is also partnering with the Special Olympics for this game.  Pregame on the Lower Fields Complex, Special Olympics teams from Maryland and Delaware will play a football game.
 
The game at Johnny Unitas® Stadium will be broadcast live on FloFootball.com with Bruce Cunningham and Brent Harris on the call.  The game will also be aired on the radio on CBS Sports 1300 with Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs.
 
Towson, ranked in the top-25 all season, currently stands at #21 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and #22 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.  Delaware is receiving votes in both polls, falling out of the top-25 this week.
 
This will be the 21st meeting between the two teams.  Towson and Delaware began this series in 1982 and have played every year since 2004.  Delaware won a 40-36 thriller in Newark on Oct. 27, 2018 to lead the all-time series 12-8; the Tigers won the last meeting in Towson with an 18-17 victory on Oct. 28, 2017.
 
Each team is coming off a CAA defeat last weekend.  Towson fell to the second-ranked team in FCS, James Madison, 27-10 on Saturday to enter at 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the CAA.  Delaware is coming off a 35-25 home loss to Richmond to be 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the CAA.
 
TOWSON: TOP-25 TEAM SINCE SEPT. 2018
Despite a defeat at the second-ranked team in FCS on Saturday, Towson is ranked nationally in the FCS top-25 again, being at #21 in the STATS FCS Poll and #22 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.  The Tigers have been in the top-25 since Sept. 2018.
   
On the week of Sept. 16, Towson earned its first top-5 ranking since 2013.  Towson was ranked in the top-12 in the 2019 preseason, the first preseason ranking since 2014.
 
In total, four CAA teams are in the top-25: Towson, James Madison (#2 STATS, #2 AFCA), Villanova (#11, #11) and Stony Brook (#20, RV).
 
FLACCO, SIMPSON PLACED ON WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Two Towson players, Tom Flacco and Shane Simpson, have been placed on the Walter Payton Award preseason watch list.  The Walter Payton Award is given to the top offensive player in FCS football.
   
Flacco and Simpson were two of 25 players across all of FCS, and two of three in the CAA, to be honored on the preseason watch list.
 
Each were named to the preseason watch list for the first time.  Flacco was added to the 2018 watch list in October of last season, finishing fifth in the final voting and first among 2019 returners.
 
In the history of the honor, Dave Meggett won the award in 1988.  Flacco, Terrance West (2013), Joe Lee (1999) and Tony Vinson (1993) have all been finalists, all finishing in the top-10.
 
TIGERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA.....
After a strong 2018 season, four Tigers earned preseason All-America recognition from the various publications.
 
Aidan O'Neill was selected as Preseason All-America by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and STATS, being top-seven in all of FCS last year in field goals per game (1.83) and points scored per game (9.0).
 
Two places, STATS and Phil Steele, named Tom Flacco a preseason All-American.  He ranked top-five in FCS in total offense (332.8) and passing yards (270.9) per game in 2018.
 
Shane Simpson was chosen as a STATS All-American at athlete.  Last year, the now-redshirt senior was second in all of FCS with 171.5 all-purpose yards per game, totaling 2,058 on the year.
 
Shane Leatherbury picked up preseason All-America honors from Phil Steele.  The redshirt senior wide receiver ranked top-30 in receptions per game and receiving yards last year.
 
..... AND FIVE PICKED PRESEASON ALL-CAA
Led by Tom Flacco being selected as the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, five Tigers were voted to the 2019 Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Tom Flacco (QB), Shane Simpson (RB), Shane Leatherbury (WR), Robert Heyward (LB) and Aidan O'Neill were all selected to the preseason all-conference team.  Five more were given honorable mention All-CAA: Jabari Allen (WR), Aaron Grzymkowski (OL), Bryce Carter (DL) and Keon Paye (LB).
 
Five on the all-conference team is the third-most in the CAA, only behind Maine and James Madison.
 
AIDAN O'NEILL APPROACHING CAA FG RECORD
Aidan O'Neill, already Towson's all-time leader in field goals made and attempted, is one field goal away from tying the all-time record in Colonial Athletic Association history.
 
O'Neill has 58 field goals as a Tiger in 80 attempts (72.5%), including five makes in 2019.
 
The current CAA record is held by Greg Kuehn, who made 59 field goals from 2002-25 with William & Mary.
 
TOWSON PICKED SECOND IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
Towson was predicted to finish second in the CAA preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and media relations directors.  The Tigers also picked up three out of a possible 24 first-place votes.
 
This ties the highest predicted CAA finish for the Tigers since 2012: Towson was predicted to finish first in 2012 and second in 2013.
 
Towson earned an NCAA FCS Playoff berth in 2018 after tying for third place in the CAA at 5-3, going 7-5 overall including victories over then-ranked Elon, Stony Brook and Villanova.
 
2019 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (1st-place votes, points)
1. James Madison (20), 238
2. Towson (3), 217
3. Maine (1), 201
4. Elon, 164
5. Delaware, 162
6. Stony Brook, 151
7. New Hampshire, 109
8. Rhode Island, 104
9. Villanova, 84
10. Richmond, 62
11. William & Mary, 58
12. UAlbany, 34
 
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Former Towson players are making their mark in the professional ranks, including Jordan Dangerfield and Tye Smith playing in the National Football League. 
 
Two Tigers, Darius Victor by the New York Guardians and Randall Harris by the DC Defenders, were drafted in the newly-formed XFL, which will begin play in 2020.
Tigers in the Pros - 2019
--Jordan Dangerfield: Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL
--Tye Smith: Tennessee Titans, NFL
--Matt Kauffman: New Orleans Saints minicamp, NFL
--Frank Beltre: Toronto Argonauts, CFL
--Darius Victor: Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL
--Gerrard Sheppard: Memphis Express, AAF
--Kanyia Anderson: Sioux Falls Storm, IFL
 
FOUR GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
    In the true form of student-athlete, four Towson players take the field as college graduates.  Troy Vincent Jr. graduated from Towson in 2018 and is in his second year of graduate school.  Three others graduated from other institutions before coming to Towson, Tom Flacco from Rutgers, Ricky DeBerry from Oklahoma and Darian Bryant from Temple.
 
TOWSON PLAYERS APPROACHING RECORDS
Several Towson players are approaching the top-10 of records for the program.
Bryce Carter (R-Jr. DL)
--Sacks: 12.5
10th: Justin Yelverton, 16.0 (1999-2002)
 
Tom Flacco (R-Sr. QB)
Passing Touchdowns: 43 (5th in TU history)
--4th: Kevin Smith, 45 (1995-98)
Passing Yards: 5,100 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 6,006 (1973-76)
Passing Attempts: 673 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 804 (1973-76)
Passing Completions: 427 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 447 (1973-76)
 
Robert Heyward (R-Sr. LB)
Tackles: 242
--10th: Bill Stup, 266 (1985-88)
 
Shane Leatherbury (R-Sr. WR)
Receptions: 135
--9th: Two players, 138
Receiving Touchdowns: 17 (t-5th in TU history)
--4th: Mike Smith, 20 (1986-89)
Career Receiving Yards: 1,700
--10th: Eric Yancey, 1,814 (2003-06)
 
Aidan O'Neill (Sr. K)
Field Goals: 58 (1st in TU history)
--FCS Record: Dan Carpenter, Montana, 75 (2004-07)
Field Goals Attempted: 80 (1st in TU history)
--FCS Record: Chris Snyder, Montana, 107 (2000-03)
 
Keon Paye (R-Sr. LB)
Interceptions: 9 (tied for 8th in TU history)
--6th: Two players, 10
Tackles: 199
--10th: Bill Stup, 266 (1985-88)
 
Shane Simpson (R-Sr. RB)
All-Purpose Yards: 4,751
--1st: Jason Corle, 5,382 (1996-99)
Career Rushing Yards: 1,925 (9th in TU history)
--8th: Matt Romeo, 1,950 (2000-03)
--7th: Nick Williams, 1,985 (2004-07)
Career Rushing Attempts: 376
--10th: Paul Cillo, 421 (1981-82)
100-Yard Rushing Games: 5
--10th: Three players, 7
 
AMBROSE - 3RD LONGEST TENURED CAA COACH
Head coach Rob Ambrose, a Towson graduate of 1993, returns at the helm of the Tigers for his 11th season in 2019 and is the third-longest tenured head coach in the CAA.
 
Going into its 51st season, Towson football has had four head coaches, with three, including Ambrose, serving at the helm for at least 10 seasons.  Ambrose was formerly an assistant under Gordy Combs from 1992 to 2000.
 
Ahead of Ambrose in years is New Hampshire's Sean McDonnell (21st season) and Stony Brook's Chuck Priore (14th season).
 
ALUMNI BACK TO COACH THE TIGERS
Along with Ambrose, several Tiger assistant coaches are also Towson graduates. 
--Scott Van Zile (QBs Coach, Recruiting Coordinator): 1999
--Konstantinos Kosmakos (DL Coach): 2006
--Collin Bauer (OLB Coach): 2013
--Lance Yaniger (Director of Operations): 2011
 
Tigers in the Community
The Towson University athletics department deems community service as one of its highest priorities to give back to the Greater Baltimore area.
 
For the 7th consecutive year, the department exceeded 10,000 hours of community service to the Greater Baltimore region, finishing with 11,162 hours of community service in the 2018-19 academic season.
   
Towson ranked #1 nationally for community service and won the 2018 National Championship for Community Service through the Helper Helper NCAA Team Works Competition.
 
Towson had a 97% participation rate, attended 118 community service opportunities and volunteered with 19 organizations.
 
Towson won the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award from Susan G. Komen of Maryland.
 
LAST GAME (#2 JMU 27, #16/17 TOWSON 10)
(10/26/19, HARRISONBURG, VA.):
#16/17 Towson had an early 10-7 lead on the second-ranked team in FCS, but the Black & Gold fell to #2 James Madison 27-10 in Harrisonburg on Saturday.
Important Stat:
Towson - Flacco - Surpassed 5,000 career passing yards
JMU - Eighth straight victory
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 18-32, 210 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
JMU - Ben DiNucci: 14-25, 201 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson - Yeedee Thaenrat: 8 rush, 65 yards
JMU - Percy Agyei-Obese: 20 rush, 111 yards, 1 TD
Top Receiver:
Towson - Caleb Smith: 3 catches, 69 yards
JMU - Brandon Polk: 8 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Keon Paye (LB): 7 tackles, 1 sack, 2.0 TFL
JMU - John Daka (DL): 7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 FR, 2 QBH
 
INTERNATIONAL TIGERS
Towson's influence is growing across the world with four international players in 2019, including three from Europe.
 
Redshirt senior linebacker Malik Tyne, from Canada, has played 31 career games for Towson, coming into 2019 with 56 tackles, including 18.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks.
 
From Belgium comes Tibo Debaillie who, despite injury last season, has played in 13 games on the defensive line.
 
Two new players from Europe will serve as offensive linemen this year: Roman Wahrheit from Germany and Vaino Paakkonen from Finland.  From 2014-17, Towson had another offensive lineman from Europe, KJ Brandal, who hailed from Norway.
 
FROM UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST...
The Towson roster nearly covers every state along the East Coast, including 12 states along the coastline and 15 states total in the country.
 
Away from the Eastern Seaboard, Towson has players from California, Michigan and Illinois.
 
...AND REPPING THE HOME STATE
    The Towson roster represents the Old Line State well, sporting 35 players from the home state of Maryland.
 
This includes four players from Baltimore City: Marcel Allen (Milford Mill Academy), Sam Grace (Boys Latin), Sean Jefferson (Dunbar) and Myles Wright (St. Frances Academy).
 
SCOUTING DELAWARE:
Delaware, under third-year head coach Danny Rocco, won seven games in each of the first two seasons under its current coach.  The Blue Hens have fallen in three of their last four games.
 
Delaware has used two quarterbacks this year: redshirt senior Pat Kehoe averages 60% on passes for 912 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions while junior Nolan Henderson throws 59.5% with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
 
LAST TIME VS. DELAWARE (#21 DELAWARE 40, #21 TOWSON 36)
(10/27/18, NEWARK, DEL.):
Towson had an 18-6 halftime lead and a chance to win on a final drive from the Delaware 16, but came up short in a 40-36 defeat in a battle of top-21 teams in Newark.
Important Stat:
Towson - 226 yards rushing, 225 yards passing
Delaware - 305 of 340 yards of total offense came on passing
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 21-42, 225 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Delaware - Pat Kehoe: 18-32, 305 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson - Shane Simpson: 21 rush, 123 yards, 1 TD
Delaware - Kani Kane: 18 rush, 68 yards, 2 TD
Top Receiver:
Towson - Jabari Allen: 9 catches, 86 yards, 2 TD
Delaware - Vinny Papale: 8 catches, 142 yards, 2 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Keon Paye (LB): 7 tackles, 1 INT
Delaware - Troy Reeder (LB): 12 tackles, 1.0 TFL
 
FIRST 3-0 START SINCE 2013
With victories over The Citadel, N.C. Central and Maine, Towson started 3-0 for the first time since 2013.
 
In 2013, the Tigers began the year 6-0, including a victory over Connecticut, eventually going to the FCS National Championship game.
 
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. DELAWARE
--Nov. 6, 1993:
On fourth down and goal from the one-yard line with 10 seconds left, Tony Vinson burst into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, giving Towson a 32-30 comeback win over #14 Delaware on the road.  That was Vinson's fourth touchdown of the game.
 
--Oct. 1, 2005:
Towson's first-ever Atlantic-10 victory came in dramatic fashion as Nick Williams scored a touchdown on a three-yard run off a 69-yard final drive to defeat #5 Delaware 35-31 in front of a Homecoming crowd of 10,778, to date the third-largest crowd in Unitas Stadium history.
 
--Oct. 28, 2017:
A Sam Gallahan 14-yard touchdown catch from Ryan Stover with 35 seconds left sent Towson to an 18-17 upset victory over #23 Delaware.  Towson came back from down 14-3 late in the third quarter.
 
TOWSON EARNS SCHOOL RECORDS VS. BUCKNELL
In the victory vs. Bucknell on October 19th, Towson's passing game set a couple of new single game school records.  Tom Flacco set a new program record with six passing touchdowns, all coming in the first half, with Shane Leatherbury tying a team record with five receiving touchdowns.
 
FLACCO UNVEILED ON CFL NEGOTIATION LIST
In August, Tom Flacco was unveiled on the Canadian Football League (CFL) negotiation list for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 
 
Being on a CFL negotiation list, for international players and non-drafted Canadians, means that team has exclusive rights to negotiate a contract.  All CFL teams release 10 names on their negotiation lists twice a year.
 
INTERCEPTORS
With 11 interceptions this season, Towson is tied for fifth in all of FCS in that category, leading to a turnover margin of +8 for the team.  Coby Tippett intercepted a pass in each of the first three games, having four total, while Keon Paye has three.  Paye and Robert Heyward each have touchdowns off picks.
 
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