North Carolina Central excited to return to MEAC as D-1 member

NORFOLK, Va. — The Eagles of N.C. Central are expected to do better this football season than their staunch rival from Greensboro, those N.C. A&T State University Aggies. That’s the good news for NCCU. The bad news, announced Friday during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference annual football luncheon, is NCCU is predicted to finish in the bottom half of the conference they just rejoined.

Head coaches and sports-information directors from the MEAC pegged NCCU to finish seventh among the 11 teams that play football in the league, while A&T was picked to finish ninth.

NCCU was a founding member of the MEAC in the early 1970s and then left in 1979 for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association when the MEAC moved to Division I. The Eagles have been going through the process of reclassifying as a D-I program since 2007 and this will be their first year as a full member pending more approval step by the NCAA in August.



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Bill Dooley Pigskin Preview lifts optimistic NCCU Eagles

DURHAM, N.C. -  Bill Dooley says this event is the biggest of its kind in the South.

And there’s no reason to doubt the Ol’ Trench Fighter, the legendary former coach at UNC, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech on that one.

Over 300 college football fans were on hand for a fancy lunch, a few jokes and plenty of information about the upcoming season on Thursday, at the Ninth Annual Pigskin Preview by the Bill Dooley Triangle/East Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.



Five Division I coaches — UNC’s Butch Davis, Duke’s David Cutcliffe, N.C. State’s Tom O’Brien, East Carolina’s Ruffin McNeill and N.C. Central’s Henry Frazier III — were on hand to swap stories and answers to sometimes off-the-wall questions and generally be loose for one of the last times until fall practice starts in earnest.

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NCCU near NCAA Division I full membership, school trustees told

DURHAM, NC -- North Carolina Central University's eight-year trek to Division I status in athletics has almost reached the finish line. The university found out earlier this spring that the NCAA -- the governing body for intercollegiate athletics -- had certified the school's athletic programs "without conditions." The NCAA could have accredited the programs with certain conditions.

At the beginning of this month, NCCU submitted its final strategic plan and annual athletics report to a subcommittee of the NCAA's advisory council. The subcommittee reviewed the strategic plan last week and the full committee will make a decision on whether to forward to the Leadership Council by the end of the month.

The council -- the last necessary vote -- should give final approval to the move by August.

"We should know very shortly," athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree told the university's Board of Trustees Tuesday. "Everything has gone well so far and we just have this last step to go through."



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SSU to play season finale at MEAC tourney

The men’s basketball program at Savannah State gets a glimpse of the future today.

The Tigers will play North Carolina Central at 11 a.m. at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C. Currently as an Independent, SSU (11-18) isn’t exactly part of March Madness’ conference tournament hoopla. The Tigers will begin play in the MEAC next season.

“The guys are getting the chance to see what we’ll be part of next season,” SSU coach Horace Broadnax said. “Obviously, we’re not advancing but I think the guys will have a chance to see how (tournament) games become more intense in a one-and-done setting.”

Broadnax and the Tigers left campus Thursday and viewed part of the tournament quarterfinals Thursday night and the semifinals Friday.

EAGLES, TIGERS TO MEET IN MEAC TOURNAMENT BONUS GAME

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

The NCCU Sports Network will broadcast the MEAC Tournament Bonus Game only on the internet on Saturday due to a scheduling conflict, but fans are encouraged to tune in beginning at a 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12 for a special edition of Eagle Gameday presented by the Hilton RTP. Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks and color analyst Joe SImmons will bring all the live action from the Lawrence Joel Colisuem.

CLICK HERE FOR NCCU vs. SSU at Saturday, 10: 30 a.m.

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First Annual Cleveland Classic Football Game books North Carolina Central Eagles vs. Central State (Oh.) Marauders

Cleveland, OH – The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announced at a press conference on January 12, 2011 that they will launch its first annual Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s football game on September 10, 2011 when Central State University Marauders will battle North Carolina Central University Eagles at Cleveland Browns Stadium at noon.

The Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s is more than just a football game and will include an entire weekend of festivities and events for all ages while celebrating premier historically black universities.


Videographer: chicagomarchingbands

"I would like to welcome the Cleveland Classic back home! It's another example of people choosing to host their events in Cleveland. Our downtown sports venues, superb theater district and top of the line restaurants are just a few of the amenities that truly offer a uniquely Cleveland experience,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson, City of Cleveland.

The weekend festivities will begin with a College and Career Fair and a Greek Step Show on Friday, September 9th On Saturday, September 10th, a free tailgate party will energize the community and crowd prior to the noon kickoff at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The game will also include a dynamic Key Bank Marching Bank Half-time Show. The Cleveland Classic weekend is estimated to provide an economic impact of several million dollars to the local region.


Videographer: Music213

“The development of the annual Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s serves as an exciting, catalytic and economically beneficial event for Northeast Ohio. It’s a phenomenal weekend full of events with unique cultural opportunities for all ages. We’re very excited about the match up and look forward to an amazing Classic weekend,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

Tickets to the Cleveland Classic football game are now on sale through Ticketmaster and start at $15. FOX Sports Ohio is the official television sponsor of the Cleveland Classic game and will air it live in High Definition. As the area’s leading provider of local sports programming, FOX Sports Ohio reaches more than five million households in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, western Pennsylvania, western New York and West Virginia.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.clevelandclassicfootball.com.

Shoes for Haiti: North Carolina Central basketball coach spurs collection drive

LeVelle Moton, the N.C. Central men's basketball coach, has been haunted by Haiti for much of his life. Moton knows his father, Frankie, was from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but that is about all he knows about his dad. "I wasn't close to him," Moton said. "He was never there for me. To tell you the truth, I've never spoken to him. Your guess is as good as mine if he is deceased."

But Moton hasn't turned his back on his father's homeland. The earthquakes in Haiti one year ago today refocused Moton on his link to the country and his feelings about his absent father.



"As you get older, a certain amount of resentment builds when your father hasn't been a part of your life," Moton said. "I want to give back to the community anyway. Because of my background I know how important that is, and when I heard about the shoes for Haiti, I knew I wanted to be a part. Getting involved with this has helped me let go of the resentment."

Moton was referring to his role as spokesman for Share Our Shoes (SOS), a Raleigh-based organization that collects new and used shoes to redistribute where they are needed. He got involved after seeing a video on the SOS Web site about the group's efforts in Haiti.

"There was this little girl with no shoes - no, actually she had half of one shoe," Moton recalled. "When I saw that, I knew that I had to do something to help. It broke my heart."

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LINK: SHAREOURSHOES

Williams Helps N.C. Central Edge Liberty

North Carolina Central's Chasidy Williams scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half, helping the homestanding Lady Eagles come from behind to defeat Liberty, 50-48, Saturday afternoon at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

Despite Avery Warley's third double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds), Liberty drops its second straight contest, falling to 3-6 on the year. The Lady Flames are 0-4 in road matchups this season. North Carolina Central improves to 2-8, while snapping a seven-game losing streak. The Lady Eagles improve to 19-8 at home since beginning their transition to the NCAA Division I level in 2007-08.



NCCU women topple Liberty

DURHAM, N.C. -- Sophomore Chasidy Williams scored a season-high 18 points off the bench to push the N.C. Central women's basketball team past three-time reigning Big South champion Liberty 50-48 on Saturday at McDougald-McLendon Gym to snap a seven-game losing streak.

"I am very pleased with what we were able to do today," NCCU coach Joli Robinson said after her 210th career victory. "We needed our younger players to grow and mature, and it was amazing to see what they did against this team." Williams did not miss a shot, going 6-for-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. She added a team-high seven rebounds.

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Prairie View coach Frazier steps down; defensive coach elevated

Coach Henry Frazier III is considering offers from Delaware State, North Carolina Central and Howard University in the MEAC. Sources from Washington D.C. have confirmed Frazier will accept the NCCU offer.

When Henry Frazier III arrived at Prairie View A&M in December 2003, he was tasked with turning around a program that lost an NCAA-record 80 games from 1989-98 and hadn’t had a winning season since 1976. Seven years, a conference championship and four consecutive winning seasons later, Frazier is ready for a new challenge and a chance to move closer to his hometown.

Frazier stepped down Monday after seven years at the Prairie View helm to pursue other coaching opportunities. Sixth-year defensive coordinator Heishma Northern, who was named the Panthers’ coach-in-waiting on Oct. 13, will succeed Frazier.

A person familiar with the situation said Frazier will accept the head coaching position at North Carolina Central...

Frazier Steps Down at Prairie View

HOUSTON, TX - Prairie View A&M athletics director Fred Washington told FOX 26 Sports Monday head football coach Henry Frazier has stepped down for personal reasons. Washington said Heishma Northern, the Panthers head coach-in-waiting, is Prairie View's new head football coach.

In 2009 Frazier led the Panthers to their first SWAC championship since 1964. Because of that success Frazier was named the SWAC Coach of the Year. Frazier also won national honors in 2009 when he was named the Eddie Robinson Award winner given to the coach-of-the-year in the Football Championship Subdivision.  Frazier was the first coach from the SWAC or a historically black college or university to win the Eddie Robinson Award which is given annually to the top coach in the FCS.

Frazier likely Eagles' next coach

DURHAM -- N.C. Central may have a new football coach.

The NCCU Board of Trustees will hold a specially called meeting by private teleconference on Thursday at 2 p.m. with one agenda item -- head football coach. NCCU athletic director Ingrid Wicker-McCree is listed by the agenda item and will make a presentation to the board.

The Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday morning that Prairie View A&M coach Henry Fraizer III resigned on Monday, and he likely would accept the head coaching position at NCCU. Frazier had three years remaining on his contract at Prairie View.

Wicker-McCree did not return a call for comment Tuesday.

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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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ATTENDANCE: 7,645

N.C. Central Eagles not sure what to expect against Ga. State

DURHAM, N.C. -- Georgia State may be an upstart program, but it's football team isn't playing like one. The Panthers, who are playing their first season, are coached by Bill Curry and are on a three-game winning streak. NCCU coach Mose Rison said his team needs to be ready to play or it could be a long day against Georgia State (4-2).

"They're a good football team," Rison said. "They have played some pretty good football team in the first six weeks. "They don't look like a team that just got started. They've recruited well. They've got some transfers."

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N.C. Central Eagles looking forward to MEAC membership

DURHAM, N.C. -- N.C. Central men's basketball coach Levelle Moton was welcomed into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on Thursday when the league held its preseason coaches' teleconference.

Moton said he was glad the Eagles have found another home in the MEAC after three seasons of barnstorming the country playing games. NCCU still is in transition to full NCAA Division I membership and full participation in the MEAC, but the Eagles will be competing against more teams from the conference this season.

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Fourth-quarter burst lifts Hampton past NC Central 27-13

DURHAM, N.C. – Hampton scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and rallied beat North Carolina Central for the second straight year. The Pirates prevailed 27-13 thanks to a 19-yard touchdown reception by Javaris Brown and interception returns of 55 yards by Matt Davis and 68 yards by Ricardo Silva all in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Hampton won its fourth straight game this season and seventh straight over the Eagles in the series that was renewed last season with NCCU's acceptance into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A year ago, Hampton scored the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter to beat the Eagles. Next season with NCCU gaining full conference membership, the game will count in the MEAC standings.



Hampton rallies for win over NCCU

DURHAM, N.C. -- Hampton's Matt Davis and Ricardo Silva scored on long interception returns as the Pirates rallied with 20 fourth-quarter points for a 27-13 win over N.C. Central on Saturday.

Hampton (4-1) trailed 13-0 with 10:56 left in the first half before Isiah Thomas scored on a 6-yard run to make it 13-7. The Eagles (2-3) missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.

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Attendance: 8,791

NCCU Eagles vs. Hampton Pirates

North Carolina Central Eagles host North Carolina A&T Aggies

Complete Game Notes            Ticket Information

THE GAME 
North Carolina A&T State Univ. “Aggies” vs. North Carolina Central Univ. “Eagles”

THE KICKOFF 
Saturday, September 25, 2010 – Kickoff at 6:00 p.m.

THE SITE 
O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity / Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.

2010 RECORDS 
North Carolina A&T (0-3); North Carolina Central (1-2 overall) 

MEDIA COVERAGE 
Audio: NCCU Sports Network - flagship station WRJD 1410 AM (Durham), WHNC 890 AM (Henderson), WELS 1010 AM (Kinston), WYRN 1480 AM (Louisburg), WCBQ 1340 AM (Oxford), WEED 1390 AM (Rocky Mount), WXKL 1290 AM (Sanford); NCCUEaglePride.com. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Video: NCCUEaglePride.com features GameCentral by Stretch Internet ($8.95). Starts at 5:45 p.m. 

Appalachian State Moutaineers vs. NCCU Eagles

After taking over the #1 spot in the polls this week, Appalachian State University will take on North Carolina Central this Saturday at Kidd-Brewer Stadium.

This Saturday will also be Fan Appreciation Day at The Rock. Fans will have the opportunity to win several different items, as well as be chosen for seat upgrades and a chance to be out on the field when the Mountaineers run out of the tunnel in front of the screaming fans. Also, in honor of this day, the Mountaineers will be wearing their gold alternate Nike Pro Combat jerseys for the home crowd. These game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off next month.

ASU is coming off of a big win over the Jacksonville Dolphins last week. Quarterback DeAndre Presley set a record that even legendary quarterback Armanti Edwards had no match for. Presley became the first Mountaineer ever to account for 300 yards of total offense in three of his first four starts at the position.

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WSSU Rams improve to 3-0 with win over NCCU Eagles

DURHAM, N.C. - In a game of big plays, Rashaun Jones made the biggest for Winston-Salem State. Jones had a big interception with 1:59 left to help the Rams win 34-27 over the N.C. Central Eagles last night at sold-out (9,711) O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

With the game tied at 27 and the Eagles driving quarterback Michael Johnson tried to hit Geovonie Irvine on a fly pattern but Jones made a leaping interception in the end zone for the Rams first interception of the season. Not content with that, the Rams then went 80 yards for the game winning touchdown when Tehyvn Brantley caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kameron Smith with 1:34 left.

"Coach just told us to stay calm and focused because we'd have to win it on the back end," said Jones, who transferred to WSSU from Miami last spring. "I'm just glad I could help the team win the game."

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Johnson Cleared to play for NCCU

DURHAM, N.C. -- N.C. Central quarterback Michael Johnson received clearance on Wednesday from the NCAA and will be able to play in Saturday's game at home against Winston-Salem State. Johnson, a red-shirt junior, was held out of NCCU's season opener against Johnson C. Smith while the school waited to hear from the NCAA on his playing status. The Eagles prevailed without Johnson as backup Keon Williams threw four touchdown passes in NCCU's 59-0 victory over the Golden Bulls.

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2010 MEAC Press Conference

2010 NCCU Football Season Preview

For the past three years, the North Carolina Central University football program has undergone a transformation, from back-to-back conference champions and NCAA Division II playoff participants to new Division I-FCS members experiencing the harsh realities of a team in transition. Heading into their fourth year as a Division I competitor, the fledgling Eagles, who have endured thousands of miles of travel to road contests against nationally-ranked opposition, are now battle-tested, mature, experienced and ready to soar.

The 2010 edition of the gridiron Eagles welcomes back 61 returning letterwinners, including 17 starters (9 offense, 8 defense), consisting of 10 seniors, six juniors and one sophomore. “It’s going to be different,” NCCU head coach Mose Rison said about the upcoming campaign, his fourth as the program’s head mentor. “We have been a team in transition. We have played a lot of road games, and played with a lot of youth. Now we have seven home games and we are going to have experienced depth.”

NCCU Offense Looking to Regain Scoring Output from 2006 Championship Season

During the first three season of the Division I reclassification process, NCCU averaged 18.3 points per game against Division I opposition, compiling a 7-16 record in those contests. With nine returning starters, Rison sees the potential for the 2010 offensive lineup to return to the form of the 2006 squad that scored at a school record pace of 30.9 points per game under his direction as offensive coordinator.

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Brian Kennedy on the Continued Relevance of HBCUs

Brian Kennedy is a native of the Charlottesville, Virginia area and is a rising junior in political science at North Carolina Central University. He was recently elected vice-president of the NCCU Student Government Association. Brian qualifications could have easily gotten him into University of Virginia, or any university for that matter, but he chose only to apply to Howard University and NCCU.

Brian gave the lunch address in a session entitled, "Student Matters: Manifestations of the HBCU Experience." Brian was swamped with attention following the session but he took time later in the day to share the highlights of his talk in this video.