2000 Delta State Statesmen football team

2000 Delta State Statesmen football
NCAA Division II champion GSC co-champion
NCAA Division II Championship Game, W 63–34 vs. Bloomsburg
Conference	Gulf South Conference
Record	14–1 (8–1 GSC)
Head coach	Steve Campbell (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Gwaine Mathews (2nd season)
Home stadium	McCool Stadium

2000 Gulf South Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Delta State +^		8	–	1					14	–	1
No. 3 Valdosta State +^		8	–	1					10	–	2
No. 2 West Georgia +^		8	–	1					10	–	2
Arkansas Tech		7	–	2					7	–	3
No. 9 Arkansas–Monticello		6	–	3					8	–	3
Southern Arkansas		4	–	5					5	–	5
Harding		4	–	5					5	–	6
North Alabama		3	–	6					3	–	7
Central Arkansas		2	–	7					3	–	8
West Alabama		2	–	7					3	–	8
Ouachita Baptist		2	–	7					2	–	8
Henderson State		0	–	9					1	–	10
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA South Region poll

The 2000 Delta State Statesmen football team was an American football team that represented Delta State University (DSU) as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2000 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach Steve Campbell, the team compiled a 14–1 record (8–1 against conference opponents) and tied with Valdosta State for the GSC championship.[1][2] The Statesmen advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs and defeated Bloomsburg in the championship game.[3]

Quarterback Josh Bright became the first college quarterback in Mississippi to both rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a single season and received the Conerly Trophy as the best college football player in Mississippi.[4] The team's other statistical leaders included tailback Rico McDonald and wide receiver Jason Franklin.

The team played its home games at McCool Stadium in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	vs. Belhaven*	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (Salvation Army Football Classic)	W 55–18	4,000	[5]
September 9	at Mississippi Valley State*	Rice–Totten Stadium Itta Bena, MS	W 35–23	6,900-7,100	[6]
September 16	at West Alabama	Tiger Stadium Livingston, AL	W 33–8	5,100	[7]
September 23	North Alabama	McCool Stadium Cleveland, MS	W 42–35	5,777	[8]
September 30	Harding	McCool Stadium Cleveland, MS	W 43–35	2,032	[9]
October 7	at Valdosta State	Bazemore–Hyder Stadium Valdosta, GA	W 45–34	7,347	[10]
October 14	at Southern Arkansas	Magnolia, AR	W 30–28	4,825	[11]
October 21	Henderson State	McCool Stadium Cleveland, MS	W 48–24	6,543	[12]
October 28	at Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	W 52–21	3,807	[13]
November 4	at Arkansas Tech	Russellville, AR	L 10–24	1,334	[14]
November 9	Arkansas–Monticello	McCool Stadium Cleveland, MS	W 47–10	4,654	[15]
November 18	Valdosta State*	McCool Stadium Cleveland, MS (NCAA Division II first round)	W 49–12		[16]
November 25	at Catawba*	Salisbury, NC (NCAA Division II quarterfinal)	W 20–14	1,612	[17]
December 2	North Dakota State*	McCool Stadium Cleveland, MS (NCAA Division II seminfinal)	W 34–16	6,850	[18]
December 9	vs. Bloomsburg*	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL (NCAA Division II Championship Game)	W 63–34	7,123	[19]
*Non-conference game

[20]

References

1. "2000 Football Schedule". Delta State University. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
2. "Delta State Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
3. "Campbell's system depends on ball security". The Clarksdale Press Register. December 11, 2000. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Delta State QB Bright bags Conerly". Enterprise-Journal. December 1, 2000. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
5. James Jones (September 3, 2000). "Delta State offense pounds Belhaven". The Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. p. B6.
6. Mike Knobler (September 10, 2000). "Statesmen rule Delta showdown". Clarion-Ledger. pp. 1D, 4D – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Delta State edges out West Alabama". The Selma Times-Journal. September 17, 2000. p. A10 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Delta State wins". The Greenwood Commonwealth. September 24, 2000. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Delta State wins ugly, is now 5-0". Sun Herald. October 1, 2000. p. B9 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "DSU holds off Valdosta St". The Greenwood Commonwealth. October 8, 2000. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "DSU wins on last-minute kick". Clarion-Ledger. October 15, 2000. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Delta kicks Henderson 48-24". Sun Herald. October 22, 2000. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Delta State stays unbeaten". Hattiesburg American. October 29, 2000. p. 4B – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Arkansas Tech knocks off DSU". The Greenwood Commonwealth. November 5, 2000. p. 14A – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Bright-led Delta State rips Arkansas-Monticello". Clarion-Ledger. November 10, 2000. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Delta State wins in first round, 49-12". McComb Enterprise-Journal. November 19, 2000. p. 6B – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Delta State ends Catawba's season". The News and Observer. November 26, 2000. p. 12C – via Newspapers.com.
18. "DSU earns berth in Division II final". The Clarion-Ledger. December 3, 2000. Retrieved October 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Delta State wins Division II, 63-34". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. December 10, 2000. p. C11 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "2000 Delta State Football Statistics". Delta State.