By Mike Potter, The Herald-Sun
Saturday's opponent may not be a familiar one, but first-year N.C. Central coach Mose Rison knows how big a game it is to Eagle alumni and fans.
When NCCU's first schedule as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) was being assembled, Division II North Greenville University was the best available opponent for a home game this late in the season. And since NCCU couldn't find an opponent -- and I mean any legitimate opponent at all -- for its traditional homecoming weekend around Nov. 3, the North Greenville contest became the homecoming game.
But first-time foe or not, a sellout is expected.
"At some of the other schools where I coached [none of them historically black colleges], homecoming was just homecoming," said Rison, who had over 20 years experience as an assistant coach before becoming the Eagles' offensive coordinator before the 2006 season.
"But I learned last year that homecoming is a big deal at an HBCU. The alums are back, and they expect to win the football game."
It will also be "Senior Day" for the Eagles, as 19 players will be suiting up for their final home game.
NCCU is currently 4-2, coming off an open date following a 34-27 loss to visiting Presbyterian on Sept. 29. North Greenville may be 1-5, but the last two losses have been to members of the FCS. And four days ago the Crusaders lost at Presbyterian by a wacky 66-52 score.
"We know they're a good football team despite that record," Rison said Tuesday during his weekly luncheon at The Chicken Hut. "Fifty-two points certainly gets your attention. They're a good Division II team, and there's no question if they were in the CIAA they could compete for the championship."
Senior quarterback Eric Moeller has completed 119 of 196 passes for 1,582 yards and 13 touchdowns with three interceptions for Mike Taylor's Crusaders. Junior Rashad Cummings has rushed for 686 yards and six touchdowns, while classmate Matt Moore has 495 rushing yards and six scores.
"Their quarterback is a tremendous football player," Rison said. "He definitely plays like a senior. We're going to have to pressure him. And both their running backs are solid."
Rison said the week off was a good thing for his team. No other Division I team, FCS or Football Bowl Subdivision, had played six straight weeks before September was over.
"We got a chance to get healed from some bumps and bruises," Rison said. "And we got a chance to get healed from whatever bug was going around. We would have been in a lot of trouble if we had had to play Saturday. [Quarterback] Stadford Brown was bedridden. But he came back [on Monday] and told me he's ready to go.
"We've been doing a good job all season of not turning the ball over, and that needs to continue. And now we know who is going to be playing in what positions on offense. Defensively, we've been going a great job all season. We had a little off-day against Presbyterian, but other than that we've played extremely well."
Rison is hoping that besides the homecoming festivities, the swan song for the seniors will being up lots of emotions.
"When I was a senior at Central Michigan, I was just in the locker room before the game bawling because I knew that was going to be my last home game," Rison said. "I could barely even go out for warmups."
Rison said he will probably redshirt "22 or 23" players this season, and that they're going to start some hard-hitting scrimmages this week.
"Every Thursday we're going to have the "Weenie Bowl," he said, not even sure of the origins of the term. "We learned a lot about [freshman quarterback] Keon Williams last week when Stadford couldn't be at practice. He was playing so well, we didn't really miss Stadford out there."
Fourteen of the seniors playing their final game are starters. They include offensive linemen Carlos Hardy, Mark Ellis, Azu Alaribe and tight end Christopher Edwards; defensive linemen Paul Johnson, Courtney Coard and Xavier Joe; linebackers Derrick and Eric Ray and D.J. Fretwell; defensive backs Tyrone Williams, Darren Brothers and Craig Amos; and punt returner Brandon Alston.
NOTES - NCCU is not eligible to be included in FCS national statistics, but the Eagles' plus-19 on turnovers and 12 interceptions would lead the nation. ... The Eagles are 50-17-2 in homecoming games, but have won just two of their last four. ... NCCU's final three games are on the road against Division I teams. The Eagles are at FCS member Savannah State on Oct. 20, then travel on Oct. 27 to Western Kentucky which is transitioning from the FCS to the FBS. The season finale is on Nov. 10 at FCS member Winston-Salem State.
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