Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen saw his play in front of over 40,000 fans in Philadelphia, and sees that as a glimpse into the future.
Delaware State, guided by former-Eagle DeSean Jackson defeated Norfolk State, led by former-Eagle Michael Vick 27-20 inside Lincoln Financial Field, part of an 8-4 campaign, that was the program's best in 13 years.
"If we can create that energy in Philadelphia, we can certainly create that energy in Dover, but we need your support to do that."
The "we" in his comment was the Capital Improvement (Bond) Committee, which heard his schools' argument for the state to continue funding a renaissance of athletics facilities on the Dover campus, which more closely resemble a high school, than their fellow Division I competitors in the University of Delaware.
7,000-seat Alumni Stadium was built in 1957, and has inadequate locker rooms for both teams, and limited ADA capability, not to mention a lack of an indoor practice space for the teams.
Delaware State received $20 million from state lawmakers last year, acting as a seed to spark internal donations from Delaware State University alums and fans.
Proposed upgrades to Delaware State University's Alumni Stadium, from April 2026
The Governor's recommended FY '27 bond bill would provide $10 million, with another $16.5 million for improvements and deferred maintenance for the rest of campus.
Allen pressed harder, saying to complete stadium upgrades, an event center, and additional facilities, the school needs an additional $18.5 million more.
"The games are great, the band is great, the students are great, but the facilities need an overhaul. We believe if we can continue to do that, that front door will be a great gift, not just to Delaware State, but to the state of Delaware in general."
Delaware State has stepped into a role as a major host of Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association events, taking advantage of the University of Delaware's high rental fees to wrestle some events away from the Blue Hens.
Among those are the three tackle football championships, which returned to the DSU campus for the first time since 2013.
Even if the facilities come to be built, Delaware State will need to do some substantial work to get the arenas and stadiums filled.
Proposed Delaware State University Indoor Training Facility - April 2026
47,226 fans took in DelState's game in Philadelphia, while 17,895 watched their game in Newark against the Blue Hens.
Delaware State's five home football games netted a total attendance of 12,867, just 2,573 a game, including 2,771 against Howard, just two weeks after the large Philadelphia crowd.
Allen said that's why they aren't asking for stadium upgrades to remotely resemble Delaware Stadium's 18,000-seat footprint.
"We want to be judicious about how we build. So we've left space to build in the end zones, should that be required, we expect that will be required, but we didn't want to do that right away."
Not included in this year's bond bill ask is the projected Convocation Center, which Delaware State sees as a combination of an indoor arena and conference space, similar to the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center.
"In the AAU community, there is lots of interest for a regional partner in Dover that will draw attention not just in Delaware, but throughout the region. Having modern, accessible center in the center of the state is critically important, not just for DelState, but for the broader community, as well."
In language added to this year's bond bill, the state is asking DSU to work with local healthcare leaders to help with a "Health Institute" to be part of the proposed building.
Delaware State has built up its nursing program, using the bones of Wesley College's nursing program after they acquired the defunct school in 2021.
They now have 120 nursing candidates, up from 20, and said they are providing 37,200 annual health service hours.
Allen said success on the fields and courts can go a long way towards promoting the school, citing that DSU appeared on ESPN's "First Take" and ABC's "Good Morning America" ahead of the game in Philadelphia.
"We believe athletics is a real front door to what we can portend for the broader community for throughout Delaware, and the region," Allen said.
It's a front door that DSU is desperate for people to find, as their 12 home basketball games had a combined 4,699 fans, including just 400 for the game against the University of Delaware.
This at a time when DSU's enrollment of 6,623 has jumped 31% since 2020, the largest of any HBCU, and are ranked as the No. 4 Public HBCU according to U.S. News & World Report.
Allen found plenty of verbal support from the committee, including State Sen. Nicole Poore (D-New Castle/Bear) who has been active on DIAA and wrestling issues in the state, who lauded DSU starting one of the few national women's wrestling programs.
"You are recruiting elite athletes, but you don't have elite fields. I couldn't agree more that the investment from all of us needs to be right there in order to compete with the D1 schools out there, to compete with the athletics in other states, you need to look as good as you play."
It was not discussed during the meeting, but DSU's ask comes while the football program, and Head Coach Jackson, are facing a lawsuit by a Hornets' freshman who said he was assaulted in the locker room days before their final home game last season.
Jackson initially placed a statement on social media saying " I have never fostered or encouraged hazing, bullying, or any violent environment, and that has never been the culture I have worked to build."
That post has since been deleted.
The Bond Bill markup is set for June 23, with lawmakers needing to pass a balanced budget by June 30.
