Delaware
Hornets on the rise? Delaware State receives $20 million for new field house
Delaware State football schedule first season under DeSean Jackson
See who DSU Hornets play in football in 2025
There’s a new feeling of optimism around Delaware State University Alumni Stadium, where the school’s red-and-blue hornet logo highlights a field where fall football practice will soon begin.
The Hornets began the first steps of what they’ve deemed their “Athletics Transformation Project” in 2024 to expand and enhance their athletic facilities.
Delaware’s bond bill approved on July 1 included $20 million for DSU to construct a new field house to continue this “transformation.”
“It’s going to inject a lot of energy and goodwill into our campus,” said Athletic Director Tony Tucker. “We can’t wait to get started.”
Capitalizing on celebrity
Delaware State’s new project, years in the making, drew in-state interest. But another move by the HBCU has drawn nationwide attention.
DSU hired former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver/returnman DeSean Jackson as its new head football coach in December.
“He’s still a very relevant name and figure,” said Tucker. “He’s brought a lot of energy to the football program, as well as the university as a whole.”
Tucker was elevated to the AD position last December just before Jackson’s hiring, which Tucker termed a “perfect storm” coinciding with the school’s “transformation.”
“This is the perfect time for Delaware State athletics, not just to revitalize itself, but to reach heights never seen before by the university,” said Tucker.
What will the new Delaware State University field house include?
The new field house would be a 70,000-square-foot building near Alumni Stadium.
The main draw would be a 50-yard turf field, creating indoor practice space for the school’s sports teams. There would also be meeting sites, lounge spaces and new locker rooms.
Jackson said the building will help the program attract talent, an area where the Hornets have struggled in the past.
“Coming from a big school like Cal and seeing them transform over the years [through upgrades], I think it’s really gonna help with recruiting,” he said.
“Not having people overlook us, and go to rival schools like Norfolk and Howard who have eye-popping facilities, will be huge.”
While the facilities would mostly be used by the football program, they would be available to all students.
“Other sports that do indoor training will have access, and even non-student athletes on campus will have access to the various spaces,” Tucker said. “We’re very excited for the energy and goodwill it’s going to inject into our athletic programs and our community.”
What steps lie ahead?
While the approval for the field house was huge for Delaware State, it was far from its only win on July 1.
The Joint Finance Committee included in the bill a section highlighting its desire to “work towards exploring options for funding” a new convocation center for the school.
The center would be a new home for indoor sports such as basketball, wrestling and volleyball, while also giving the university additional ability to host events. Currently, the teams play at the campus’ Memorial Hall, an 1,800-seat arena.
The space is projected to cost $90 million. But Tucker emphasized that the center, as well as upgrades to Alumni Stadium, could have potential benefits to the entire community.
“Delaware is a small state, which we happen to be in the direct center of,” said Tucker. “Our location at the center of the state could be a shiny new place for a lot of Delaware high school competitions.”
Currently, the University of Delaware hosts many of these events. Recent controversy surfaced over the school’s rental fees, the DIAA turned away from UD as football championship host. The Class 3A and Unified football state championships were both at Alumni Stadium in 2024.
Tucker emphasized the goal would be not to step on UD’s toes, but to benefit the greater Delaware athletic community.
“It’s just about providing a situation where our high school athletes and parents are the winners,” he said. “Not having to travel all the way to Northern Delaware would be very beneficial for some of the Southern Delaware community.”
Jackson added, however, that the improvements could lessen the gap between Delaware and Delaware State, especially in football.
“Delaware has been getting a lot of talent over us over the past year or so,” said the coach. “If we can say ‘We can play on the same playing field,’ we’re probably going to be able to get some guys we couldn’t have before.”
When will the DSU field house be built?
No timeline is set yet for the construction of the field house. However, Tucker said they have a goal of 18 to 24 months.
The other changes will likely take more time and more funding. But Jackson feels confident they’ll come, as the team grows in success.
“The sky’s the limit,” the coach said. “I think the success we’re going to have this year will open up a lot of eyes, and make us hard to look over.”
Adam Denn is a general assignments reporter for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach him for story ideas at ADenn@gannett.com
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are one of the best stories in college football. Led by Jake Dickert, they have become one of the most formidable teams in the country, capable of beating anyone in the ACC this season.
This week, though, they don’t have to worry about another conference opponent, and instead will turn their focus to the Delaware Blue Hens for their final non-conference game of the season. In what will be an emotional senior day, the Demon Deacons will look to end their final home game on a high note.
So what do the stats say about the Demon Deacons’ chances to end their final home game with a dominant win?
For the Demon Deacons, the defense has been the story of the season. Finding a way to combine talented transfer portal acquisitions with veterans who have been within the program and have the experience needed to give them one of the most lethal defenses, not just in the conference, but in the country as well.
Now, for the Deacs, they get to face a Blue Hens offense that will test strength against strength. They come in with a pass-happy offense, willing to throw the ball, and having to, because of their struggles in the run game. They rank ninth in pass play percentage (58.41), sixth in passes per game (42.4), and fourth in passing yards per game (310.9). Their biggest struggle in the passing game is important, though. They rank 86th in FBS in completion percentage, finding a connection with their receivers only 60.47 percent of the time.
That will play right into the hands of head coach Jake Dickert, whose defense is 13th in the country in opponent completion percentage at a 56.39 percent success rate. They also keep everything in front of them, ranking fourth in the country in yards per pass, forcing their opponents to average only 5.5 yards per attempt. The one knock on the stellar defensive play is their inability to cause havoc, ranked in the 100s in interception percentage and sack percentage.
Finding a way to fight off the pass will be the key in this one, with the Blue Hens showing an inability to run the ball effectively, ranking 100th or worse in yards per rushing attempt and rushing yards per game. Keeping the ball in front of them, and proving to be a ‘no fly zone’ should benefit them, and aid them in yet another win this season.
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The head of a Delaware County advocacy group has been charged with using opioid settlement funds to coerce sexual favors from women experiencing addiction.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer charged Lawrence Arata, executive director of the Opioid Crisis Action Network, with human trafficking, patronizing prostitutes, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation.
“Our investigation concluded that Larry Arata cynically and cruelly misused those funds as leverage to satisfy his sexual desires,” Stollsteimer said in a statement.
Arata turned himself in on Wednesday to the district attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division and later posted bail. No attorney was listed for Arata in online court records and he did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Opioid Crisis Action Network did not respond to a request for comment.
Lawrence Arata, 65, founded the Upper Darby-based organization in 2018 with his wife, Heather Arata, shortly after their son died from a heroin overdose. The Opioid Crisis Action Network pays for treatment and housing for people with substance use disorder.
The organization was a recipient of opioid settlement money from Delaware County as well as the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust, Stollsteimer said. The Criminal Investigation Division, in collaboration with the Upper Darby Police Department, initiated a joint investigation into Arata after receiving complaints.
“The allegations revolve around Arata receiving sexual favors from clients who are in recovery for drug addictions in exchange for program benefits such as meal credits, gift cards, bus passes, money, rental assistance, and the like,” the affidavit of probable cause reads.
Delaware
State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash in Clayton – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
The Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred this morning in Clayton.
On November 18, 2025, at approximately 10:20 a.m., a Chevrolet Silverado was traveling southbound on Wheatley’s Pond Road near Bryn Zion Road. At the same time, a pedestrian was walking southbound on Wheatley’s Pond Road near Bryn Zion Road, in the southbound shoulder, with his bicycle. The preliminary investigation revealed that the Silverado exited the southbound lane of travel and as a result, struck the pedestrian within the shoulder.
The pedestrian, a 19-year-old man from Clayton, Delaware, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.
The driver of the Silverado, a 64-year-old man from Smyrna, Delaware, was not injured.
Wheatley’s Pond Road was closed for approximately 3 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Master Corporal W. Booth at (302) 698-8451. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.
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