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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NCCU prepares for rivalry game

By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun

Mose Rison was a part of some huge rivalries during his long career as an assistant football coach.

During his three seasons at Navy from 1988-90, it was the classic season-ender with Army that could make a bad season good or put a sour note on an otherwise successful year.

Ditto for his six seasons at Stanford from 1995-2000, where a win or loss in "The Big Game" with rival California could do the same thing.

And maybe, just maybe those experiences have prepared N.C. Central's first-year head coach for what he's about to see this weekend.

"Rivalry renewed," said the headline on the Eagles' weekly media notes for their game against North Carolina A&T, their bitterest historic rival, on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Aggie Stadium.

Fittingly, it's NCCU's first football game as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision against another FCS team. The Eagles, who were members of NCAA Division II until this season, are 3-1 against an all-Division II schedule so far and riding a three-game winning streak. A&T is 0-3, has a 19-game losing streak that is the longest in the FCS and is coming off a 59-14 home loss to Hampton.

So does all that make NCCU a prohibitive favorite?

Not on this planet, Rison said Tuesday during his weekly news conference.

"A&T will be the best football team we've played all season," Rison said. "As soon as we finished our game Saturday [an 18-10 victory over Elizabeth City State at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.], I told our players 'Let's not get caught up in the hype.' We all know what this means to both universities."

Rison said beating the Aggies, coached by Lee Fobbs, won't be easy, but the formula is simple.

"I know I don't want to be part of history," Rison said. "We just have to go out and do what we have to do to get ready. We know what we have to do defensively -- we've got to create second- or third-and-long situations. Offensively, we need to avoid giving our defense short fields. And on special teams, we have to figure out a way to hit extra points."

Rison said he has plenty of respect for the Aggies' defense, even in the loss to Hampton.

"They played a very good football team," he said. "But their defense is getting better at running to the football. They tackle well, and they're physical."

The Aggies' sophomore middle linebacker Andre Thornton (6-3, 230) has been in on 25 tackles including 16 solos and four for losses, while junior back Marques Ruffin (6-2, 190) has 22 tackles including 12 solos and two for losses.

NCCU's strength also has been on defense.

"I tell them every week I hope we go on defense first so I can see what they can do," Rison said.

The Eagles' win in New Jersey was a coming-out party of sorts for redshirt freshman Tim Shankle, who picked up 116 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Rison said he liked the way sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown (10-of-23 for 103 yards and a TD) directed the offense and freshman Deshawn Spears (four catches for 28 yards) caught the ball against the Vikings.

NOTES -- A&T leads the series, which was interrupted last season, 45-28-5. ... The Aggies won the last meeting in Greensboro 48-0 in 1991, but three of the past four meetings have been classics at Raleigh's Carter-Finley Stadium. NCCU won 23-22 in 2005, lost 16-15 on Carlos Davalos' 50-yard field goal at the horn in 2004, and won 33-30 in overtime in 2002 after trailing 27-0 heading into the second quarter.