Down East Viking Football Classic is September 21-24
Kesha Williams
July 19, 2005 Elizabeth City State University Chancellor Mickey L. Burnim and Rocky Mount Mayor Frederick Turnage proudly announce the 7th annual Down East Viking Football Classic will be held at 6 p.m. September 24, 2005, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This year’s classic will match up the Elizabeth City State University Vikings and the Saint Augustine’s College of Raleigh, North Carolina. The game between two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association teams will end with the presentation of the Turnage Cup, an esteemed trophy bearing the name of the winning team. The Down East Viking Football Classic features ECSU Football Coach Waverly Tillar and St. Augustine’s College Football Coach Michael Costa. Tillar is in his third year of leadership of the Vikings. He has one trophy (2003) from this classic to his credit. Coach Michael Costa, of Saint Augustine’s College, is making his first appearance as a head football coach at the Down East Viking Football Classic. However, Costa is a familiar face at ECSU and the two teams have played on previous occasions. Relevant points of interest follow: Coach Michael Costa was an assistant coach at ECSU 1998-2001, as the defensive coordinator. Coach Costa and ECSU head coach Waverly Tillar were both assistant coaches on the ECSU football staff for two seasons (2000-2001) Since Saint Augustine’s College resurrected their football program in 2002, the Vikings and Falcons have clashed three times. In 2002, the Vikings defeated the Falcons 12-6 at Roebuck Stadium in front of a Homecoming crowd. In 2003 and 2004, the Falcons got revenge defeating ECSU. Students performing at the football game include The Marching Band, Mr and Miss ECSU, cheerleaders and the Pep Squad. For more information about the Down East Viking Football Classic, contact Elizabeth City State University Athletics Department at 252/335-3388 / 1-800-690-3385 or go to www.ecsu.edu/specialevents/devfc/index.html.