Bethune-Cookman 7-0, but not perfect

DURHAM, N.C. -- Bethune-Cookman's perfect run continued Saturday with a 23-10 win over North Carolina Central at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. But it wasn't a thing of beauty, according the first-year Wildcats coach Brian Jenkins.

"A win is a win," Jenkins said. "We'll take it. It was ugly. We didn't play very well offensively. Thank God for our defense. My hat goes off to North Carolina Central. They played a tough physical football game, which I knew they would."

The 14th-ranked Wildcats needed a fourth-quarter scoring surge to put away N.C. Central and improve to 7-0. NCCU (2-5), which joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season but is not yet eligible for the conference championship, lost its third straight game.

Wildcats LB Lewis keeps coming up big

DURHAM, N.C. -- Bethune-Cookman won its first five football games of 2010 with offense, but for the second week in a row the Wildcats needed their defense to come through on Saturday, and it did. An interception by junior linebacker Ryan Lewis that he returned 67 yards for a touchdown set the tone early for Bethune-Cookman in its 23-10 win over North Carolina Central.

Lewis said he knew the play was coming before the interception because of the way Central's tight end lined up and got off the ball on the snap. "All week I heard about that play (in practice)," Lewis said. "The coaches told me it was going to be there and I just had to make it. I got a couple of blocks from my teammates that helped me. That's the best part about it."


Bethune-Cookman pulls away from NCCU

DURHAM -- It's going to take more than a game to turn around N.C. Central's football season, but interim coach Darryl Bullock saw some promising signs in his team's 23-14 loss to No. 14 Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. "We're showing we belong and we're close, but that just makes me sick," Bullock said. "It is a sick feeling, and I know that's how the team feels. We've got to stay together."

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Future is Now -- North Carolina Central replaces Coach Mose Rison

North Carolina Central University
Office of Sports Information
Press Release - October 18, 2010
Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree, Director of Athletics

DURHAM, N.C. — Following back-to-back 4-7 seasons and a disappointing 2-4 start to the 2010 campaign, Mose Rison has been replaced as head football coach at North Carolina Central University. Assistant head coach Darryl Bullock will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

“While we appreciate the passion and commitment that Coach Rison has shown, we feel at this time that a change in the leadership and command of our football program is needed,” said NCCU Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree.

“As we have moved through the Division I transition process, we have established high expectations for our football program to become one of the best in the MEAC,” Wicker-McCree said. “However, we must continue to improve in all aspects of the football program in order to reach those aspirations. We will begin the process to hire our next head football coach immediately, with a goal of having someone in place by the beginning of next year (January 2011).”

Rison will be reassigned to another position within the athletics department. He has one year remaining on his current contract.

Bullock is in his fourth season as assistant head coach and offensive line coach at NCCU.

The Eagles host undefeated MEAC foe Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday (Oct. 23) at 2 p.m.
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Fans,

Sorry to see Coach Rison get the ax but it was overdue. It's about time the Eagles get serious about Division I football. First and foremost, it is unacceptable to get beat by a Division II state rival,Winston Salem State, in your home stadium and by a first year football program -- Georgia State. After BCU, the Eagles should run the table with foes Edward Waters, Delaware State, Savannah State and second year program, Old Dominion.

There is never a right time in this economy to lose your employment, but expect to see athletic directors make difficult decisions on head football coaching changes soon at the following schools:

1. Johnson C. Smith University 1-6 (finished 2009 at 3-7)
2. Livingstone College 0-8 (18 straight losses)
3. Lane College 0-7 (18 straight losses)

4. Savannah State University 0-7
5. Stillman College 0-7
6. Saint Paul's College 1-6 (finished '09 at 4-5)
7. Howard University 1-4 (finished '09 at 2-9)
8. Benedict College 0-7

9. North Carolina A&T State University 0-7; has loss 10 straight games- (finished '09 at 4-6)

No doubt, when the shoe drops it will be because expectant revenue from the football program is falling far short of planned budgetary goals. Simply, wins translate into more revenue and gift giving by alumni. Winning is the foundation to any one's successful coaching career.

Thanks for the memories Coach Rison...but it's time to move forward.

-beepbeep
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Now, the rest of the Story...

RISON OUT

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DURHAM, N.C. — Mose Rison, who has served as N.C. Central’s head football coach since 2007, has been reassigned to other duties in the school’s athletic department, according to an announcement on Monday. Assistant head coach Darryl Bullock was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2010 season.

Rison has one year remaining on his current contract that pays him $135,630 annually. Reached by telephone late Monday night, Rison said he was completely caught off guard by the dismissal.

Interim coach addresses NC Central football team

N.C. Central interim coach Darryl Bullock spoke with the football team on Tuesday morning, a day after the university removed head coach Mose Rison from the program’s top leadership position.

Bullock, an offensive line coach and assistant head coach with the team for four seasons, will serve as interim coach until the university selects a new coach, N.C. Central athletic director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said in a statement on Monday.

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