Fresh start for NCCU football

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

From News & Observer Published: Aug 01, 2007 12:30 AM Modified: Aug 01, 2007 03:03 AM
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/655905.html

Fresh start for NCCU football
http://web.nccu.edu/athletics

Edward G. Robinson III, Staff Writer

N.C. Central's football players are primed for a season of firsts.

The Eagles have a new head coach in Mose Rison. They will compete for the first time as NCAA Division I players. And their school's athletics program is considered an independent, having officially left the Div. II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association last month.

The Eagles, who won the CIAA championship in 2005 and 2006, open the season at 4 p.m. today with the first official fall practice.

Rison and his staff will look to build on the success of the recent past as N.C. Central transitions into a new era -- the schedule has five teams from Division I and six from Division II.

The Eagles will have to follow one of the best seasons in school history. They won a school-record 11 games, finishing 11-1 overall and 7-0 in CIAA play. Their high-powered offense, led by standout freshman quarterback Stadford Brown, averaged 30.9 points per game, the highest average in school history.

The Eagles captured their second consecutive CIAA title with a 17-14 victory over Elizabeth City State in a game decided in the final second on a 51-yard field goal.

NCCU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Southeastern Region playoffs before losing 24-17 to Delta State.

Rison, the offensive coordinator last season, replaced coach Rod Broadway, who accepted the head coaching job at Grambling State in January.

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[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

From News & Observer Published: Aug 02, 2007 12:30 AM Modified: Aug 02, 2007 05:51 AM
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/657325.html

http://media.newsobserver.com/smedia/2007/08/02/03/114-reg-1705998-1096783.embedded.prod_affiliate.3.jpg (http://www.newsobserver.com/859/v-pop_gallery/gallery/657326.html)

Eagles begin anew

NCCU football starts Div. I era
http://web.nccu.edu/athletics

Edward G. Robinson III, Staff Writer

DURHAM - Tossing left-handed spirals to wide receivers on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon, N.C. Central coach Mose Rison joked about the difference between his arm and that of sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown, the 2006 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association offensive player of the year.

"Stadford wishes he could throw a spiral like that,"said Rison, releasing another tight 20-yard pass down field.

It was a light moment during an otherwise grinding first day of practice for the Eagles, who enter the season the reigning black college national champions, as voted in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football Poll.

Winners of the 2006 CIAA crown, finishing 11-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play, the Eagles return proud of their accomplishments yet burdened by the high expectations that they bring.

N.C. Central also has moved from NCAA Division II play to Division I, and this fall marks the team's first season in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly called Division I-AA. Last month, N.C. Central left the CIAA and now plays as an independent.

Rison, in his first season as head coach, said the expectations are no different than they were at this point last season when he was the offensive coordinator on coach Rod Broadway's staff.

The team, he said, now must be motivated by pride instead of defending its CIAA championship.

"I want to win more than we lose," Rison said. "I expect to win our share of football games. At the same time, I know it's going to be awfully hard to repeat what we did last year."

Rison said it will be hard considering NCCU has back just 13 starters from last season's team -- eight on defense and five on offense -- and he has brought in 30 freshmen. Including Rison, the Eagles have two coaches who were a part of last season's staff.

With such youth and turnover, Rison said Wednesday's opening day practice, replete with dropped passes and slow steps, held true to what he expected.

There definitely were moments where he cringed and then yelled.

He said the Eagles have a long way to go before their first game of the season on Aug. 25.

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[AndrewFU21]

Being a Raleigh guy, I luck forward to having you guys in FCS and wish NCCU luck in its transition. Where is the Aggie-Eagle classic going to be this year?

[RMH NCCU93]

the game will be played in Greensboro, NC on September 22, 2007 at 6pm

thanks for the support

[mrklean]

GO LUCK !!!!!

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

Nice WRAL TV 5 Sports News Video Re: NCCU's Stadford Brown
http://www.wral.com/sports/video/1663680/

Take Care!

[lizrdgizrd]

Glad to have FCS football in my backyard! xhurrayx

[Go...gate]

Nice uniforms!