Not particularly surprising, at most airlines the major distinction between captain and first officer is seniority (time on the property), not experience or training. In fact, with the disruptions following 9/11, there are many former captains with thousands of hours of flight time starting their careers over as first officers at other airlines (making breaking in to the industry for the next decade or two next to impossible).
In related news:
Delta Accepting Pilot Applications
ATLANTA, Dec. 20, 2006 – Delta Air Lines today will officially begin accepting applications for new-hire pilots in anticipation of exhausting its pilot furlough list in 2007. Interviews for new Delta first officer positions are scheduled to begin in January.