Back at work, NCCU Eagles eager to put things right

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Carl Jones could barely stomach watching his archrival, N.C. A&T, win the inaugural Air Force Celebration Bowl in December.

North Carolina Central had defeated the Aggies in the regular-season finale for the second season in a row, which created a three-way tie for the MEAC championship. (Bethune-Cookman was the third team.)

But A&T won the tiebreaker and represented the conference against SWAC opponent Alcorn State, which the Aggies won 41-34 to earn the black college national championship.

“I watched it, most of it, although towards the end I kinda got a little sick,” the redshirt senior offensive lineman said, only half jokingly. “I was happy for them representing the MEAC, but I felt like we should have been there.”

NCCU could “have been there” if not for a missed assignment with 32 seconds left against Bethune-Cookman. Place kicker Nigel Macauley’s field-goal attempt was blocked, giving the Wildcats the win.

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