Wednesday was a day of excitement on the Delaware State University campus.
It was so exciting, in fact, that the press conference introducing new head football coach DeSean Jackson started close to 10 minutes early.
“I want my guys to get up early,” Jackson said after the 25-minute conference where he, DSU athletic director Tony Tucker, and school President Dr. Tony Allen spoke of goals to improve the program. “I’m from the West Coast, so if we’re up at 5 a.m., guess what? Somebody’s up at 2 a.m.”
Jackson’s enthusiasm was contagious, as plenty of “Go Birds” chants, amens, and right-ons filled the room during his speech. He promised that his players would not only be great football players but also students.
“Two wins in two years; that can’t happen anymore,” he said.
Jackson’s ambition makes a lot of sense when you consider he played 15 seasons in the NFL as an allegedly 5-foot-10, allegedly 175-pound wide receiver. One of the smallest guys on the field every game, he always made a big impact—he was the first NFL player in modern times to be named to the Pro Bowl at multiple positions in the same season.
He became an NCAA Division I head football coach after just one year as an offensive coordinator at the high school level. Jackson’s heard whispers his entire life, especially the accusations of who and what he was surrounding himself with during his younger years.
He understands the feeling of being told that achievements are impossible and that change is unlikely. He faces the prospect of changing the culture of losing that has hovered over the Delaware State football program like a dark cloud.
What new @DSUHornets football coach @DeSeanJackson10 said about what folks can expect from his program.
“I’m going to do it the Coach Jackson way.” Video courtesy of HBCU Sports reporter @CJWritesNThangs pic.twitter.com/QDh23gEtFI
— HBCU Sports (@HBCUSports) January 8, 2025
The Hornets have not won a MEAC title since 2007. Their last winning season was 2012. For what was once a proud program, the struggles of the past decade-plus have been a sad, embarrassing feature, not a bug.
That cloud was not present in the Martin Luther King Student Center conference room on Wednesday. The “Approaching Storm” marching band was lively as always. Several university and state dignitaries were in attendance, paying close attention to Jackson, Tucker, and Allen’s words.
Most important of all, the Delaware State football players sat high and proud for what felt like the first time in an eternity as Jackson addressed them directly, promising them his full commitment and hard work.
Time will tell if Jackson is the coach to turn Delaware State’s football fortunes around, but as any observer will tell you, there’s nothing wrong with trying something different with someone different.
And if Jackson’s parting message of “Don’t come back when we’re hot” rings true, it will likely be the most important and successful gamble in the history of Delaware State athletics.
