Duane Rankin

Montgomery Advertiser

Oh Cheyney.

Alabama State is playing an NCAA Division II in the Turkey Day Classic that’s won only one game in the last four seasons. The Wolves dropped 43 in a row from 2012 to 2015 before beating Lincoln to open the 2016 season.

They lost their last 10 games to finish 1-10 last season. Since 2012, Cheyney is 2-53.

Ugh.

More: ASU sets 2017 Turkey Day Classic opponent

Having worked in Pennsylvania for seven years, I’m familiar with Cheyney football. It’s been a struggle for that program as well as the entire athletic department.

In 2014, the NCAA placed Cheyney on probation for five years for multiple infractions regarding the university's lack of control over its certification process.

Cheyney was found to have allowed 109 student-athletes to practice, compete, and receive travel expenses and athletically related financial aid before receiving their amateur certification from the NCAA from 2007 to 2011.

The probation runs through August 2019.

In 2015, the university was placed on probation by Middle States Commission on Higher Education and given two years to correct financial concerns or face losing accreditation.

More: ASU still hasn't been paid for Turkey Day Classic

The deadline to address commission concerns is Sept. 1. So Cheyney, the nation’s oldest historically black college, is going through it.

Getting back to just Cheyney’s football program. The Wolves play in the PSAC, a tough D-II conference, but they haven’t even been close to competitive in it.

Just check out some of these scores from last season.

Lost 79-3 to California (Pa.)

Lost 55-0 to Indiana (Pa.)

Lost 76-0 at Shippensburg

Lost 66-8 at Edinboro

So the Hornets shouldn't have any problems beating Cheyney on Nov. 23 at ASU Stadium.

There is an interesting tie between the two HBCUs that may have played a role in this game coming together. Cheyney president, Dr. Frank G. Pogue, is an ASU graduate.

The Mobile native also served as president at Grambling from 2009 to 2014.

Now ASU played Miles in last year’s Turkey Classic, winning 53-20, before a crowd of 18,972. That’s more fans than ASU has drawn since it hasn't played Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic.

2012 – 27,500 (vs. Tuskegee)

2013 – 14,396 (vs. Stillman)

2014 – 13,156 (vs. Stillman)

2015 – 15,201 (vs. Miles)

Having Steve Harvey headlining the festivities that week probably helped the attendance, but so did playing a state school. Cheyney fans aren’t going to travel 15 hours in droves to see the Wolves play.

They hardly even attended Cheyney’s home games. The Wolves averaged just 915 fans for home games last season in its 5,000-seat stadium.

We can debate the importance of the game in relation to the activities the week of the Turkey Day Classic. The same amount fans may turn out for the game this year as well.

Whoever does come, they should see ASU have its way with Cheyney.