Aug. 13, 2008

Written by Kyle Serba, SID

When North Carolina Central University Athletics talks about "Eagles on the Move; Soaring to Greater Heights," I don't think this is what they had in mind.

Several NCCU student-athletes and Athletics Department coaches and staff provided a helping hand to incoming freshmen moving in to residence halls. The effort included hauling boxes, bags and even refrigerators to some pretty great heights.

NCCU Men's Basketball Assistant Coach Ray Martin greeted a family with a smile and an offer of assistance. The Adams family, who just arrived to campus from Louisburg, N.C., happily accepted Martin's offer and told the coach their son's room was on the eighth floor. Wow! With the line for the elevator passing through the front door, Martin grabbed a big box and headed for the stairs. After scaling the eight flights of steps, Martin still donned a welcoming smile and went back downstairs to make another trip.

That was a common theme Wednesday morning.

In spite of long lines and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, everyone was friendly, courteous and quick to lend a hand.

About a dozen football student-athletes got their morning workout by assisting with the move. Along the way, their generosity may have even earned them a few new fans.