Jaymes Powell Jr., The News & Observer
DURHAM - Unfortunately, N.C. Central's football plan has to change.
As NCCU coach Mose Rison prepares to lead the Eagles into Saturday's Urban League Football Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., against Elizabeth City State, he'll have to do so without perhaps his best weapon -- his kicker.
NCCU senior kicker Brandon Gilbert, the school's all-time leading scorer with 234 points, was declared out for the season last week after a painful left quadriceps injury failed to subside.
That's an issue for Rison, because the former New York Jets receivers coach knew coming into the season that the Eagles' offense would be limited, and that NCCU would have to get by with great defense and stellar kicking.
"Instead of kicking a 30-yard field goal, now I'll take a shot on fourth-and-8 to get a first down," said Rison, after noting that NCCU's offense has been struggling.
The Eagles (2-1) have won their past two games, 17-0 and 6-0, respectively. Gilbert would have been a great help Saturday when the Eagles scored one touchdown, had two missed field goals by backup Taylor Gray and had to rely on a last-second defensive stand to win the game.
Gilbert is something of a living legend at NCCU. The kicker booted last-second field goals in both of the past two CIAA title games, giving the Eagles the championship.
Since the kicking game is often a struggle in black college football, Gilbert said he realizes his place in Eagles' history.
"I've had a great career so far. It's something that I never would have imagined. But that's how it ended up," said Gilbert, who was 2-for-3 this season and is hoping for a medical redshirt. "[But] this is a big deal to me, because I don't think I've missed a game since I've been playing football. It's new to me ... but it's gotten to where it's unbearable for me to play."
The Eagles, who have moved on to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), won the CIAA last year by beating the Vikings (0-2), so playing them again could be emotional, Rison said.
Returning to Giants Stadium with his own team in tow is a matter of pride for the coach. Longtime NFL coach Jimmy Raye, now the Jets' running backs coach, told Rison -- a first-time head coach -- to just relax because football is football.
"He said he was excited about us coming to town this weekend ... he said just continue coaching hard and do a good job. He's been a mentor of mine for a long time," Rison said.
"Having an opportunity to play in that venue, the fact that I've coached in that stadium, that's a great atmosphere."
DURHAM - Unfortunately, N.C. Central's football plan has to change.
As NCCU coach Mose Rison prepares to lead the Eagles into Saturday's Urban League Football Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., against Elizabeth City State, he'll have to do so without perhaps his best weapon -- his kicker.
NCCU senior kicker Brandon Gilbert, the school's all-time leading scorer with 234 points, was declared out for the season last week after a painful left quadriceps injury failed to subside.
That's an issue for Rison, because the former New York Jets receivers coach knew coming into the season that the Eagles' offense would be limited, and that NCCU would have to get by with great defense and stellar kicking.
"Instead of kicking a 30-yard field goal, now I'll take a shot on fourth-and-8 to get a first down," said Rison, after noting that NCCU's offense has been struggling.
The Eagles (2-1) have won their past two games, 17-0 and 6-0, respectively. Gilbert would have been a great help Saturday when the Eagles scored one touchdown, had two missed field goals by backup Taylor Gray and had to rely on a last-second defensive stand to win the game.
Gilbert is something of a living legend at NCCU. The kicker booted last-second field goals in both of the past two CIAA title games, giving the Eagles the championship.
Since the kicking game is often a struggle in black college football, Gilbert said he realizes his place in Eagles' history.
"I've had a great career so far. It's something that I never would have imagined. But that's how it ended up," said Gilbert, who was 2-for-3 this season and is hoping for a medical redshirt. "[But] this is a big deal to me, because I don't think I've missed a game since I've been playing football. It's new to me ... but it's gotten to where it's unbearable for me to play."
The Eagles, who have moved on to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), won the CIAA last year by beating the Vikings (0-2), so playing them again could be emotional, Rison said.
Returning to Giants Stadium with his own team in tow is a matter of pride for the coach. Longtime NFL coach Jimmy Raye, now the Jets' running backs coach, told Rison -- a first-time head coach -- to just relax because football is football.
"He said he was excited about us coming to town this weekend ... he said just continue coaching hard and do a good job. He's been a mentor of mine for a long time," Rison said.
"Having an opportunity to play in that venue, the fact that I've coached in that stadium, that's a great atmosphere."
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