Rison has great expectations for NCCU Eagles

N.C. State one stop on long road tour for N.C. Central

Eagles learning hard lesson on road

N.C. Central coach Henry Dickerson said that if his players can get through this season, they will be able to handle just about any hurdle they face in life. In its second season of Division I basketball, N.C. Central is traveling 25,344 miles for 21 road games in 14 states, including today's 7 p.m. game at N.C. State. The Eagles have scheduled seven teams from BCS conferences, including Wake Forest, South Carolina and Miami. When injuries hit on top of everything else, a dismal record became almost inevitable for N.C. Central.

The Eagles are 2-22 and ranked last among the 347 Division I men's teams in the Sagarin computer ratings through Sunday's games. NCCU was 4-26 last season. "No matter what they go through in life, this will truly prepare them," Dickerson said of his players. "It seems to me that everybody should go through it to see what it's like." N.C. Central was hurting before it even played its opener. Projected starting forwards Lamar Pittman and Dami Sapara suffered season-ending knee injuries.

In the Eagles' most recent game against Savannah State, 6-foot-9 center Stevy Worah-Ozimo broke an arm. The Eagles are a virtually guaranteed win for many of their opponents, which enrich N.C. Central's athletics budget for playing on the road without demanding a return trip. N.C. State (11-8) will pay N.C. Central $50,000 for playing at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Dickerson said players spend so much time on buses and jets that he has to cut short practice in order for them to keep up with their school work.

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Former NCCU Eagles set to give back

For More Info: https://www.nccueaf.org/

Upcoming Schedule of Events

Date Event
7/01/2008 - 2008 Membership Drive
7/19/2008 - Inaugural Golf Tournament in Winston-Salem, NC
8/24/2008 - 2008 Membership Cookout

Hunter & Co. late last year founded the Eagle Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Charlotte dedicated to providing support for football student-athletes at N.C. Central.

Football is a topic that's close to the heart of the EAF executive team. Why? Because they're all former Eagle football players who developed a special bond that continues some 20 years later.

They are: Gerald Mack, a four-year starter at cornerback (1985-88); Gerald Patton, a four-year starter offensive lineman (1982-86); Robert "Green" Horsley, a three-year starter at wide receiver (1983-86); center Eric Montgomery (1983-86); linebacker Gregory Tate (1981-85); Brian McCorkle, a three-year starter offensive lineman (1986-89); and Hunter, a three-year starter at wide receiver (1979-1983).

They all know firsthand the trials and tribulations of being a student-athlete on an HBCU campus.

"Each of us experienced trying times during our tenure at NCCU - lack of money and lack of equipment," said Hunter, the spokesperson for the group. "But we're thankful for the program, and with NCCU being the elite institution that it is, we believe we should try to give back."

NCCU also has the support of other organizations like the Eagle Club, which gives thousands of dollars to the entire athletic department, and the QB Club, whose name says it all.

The EAF's focus is football, also for obvious reasons. Plus every genius knows that football can make or drain an athletic department. Not to mention it's the first major sport of the season. So goes football, so goes the HBCU fan's psyche.

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