Oct. 29, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE GAME: Edward Waters College "Tigers" vs. North Carolina Central Univ. "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF: Saturday, November 1, 2008 - Kickoff at 1:30 p.m.

THE SITE: O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity/natural grass surface) - Durham, N.C.

2008 RECORDS: Edward Waters (2-6); North Carolina Central (1-6 overall)

THE EVENT: After eight weeks away from home, NCCU returns to the friendly confines of O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium for "Homecoming 2008."

THE SERIES: This will be the third meeting between Edward Waters and NCCU, with the Eagles holding a 2-0 advantage. NCCU has outscored the Tigers 115-12 in the two victories, including a 45-0 shutout on Sept. 29, 2001, and a 70-12 win on Aug. 27, 2005. Both games were played in Durham, N.C.

THE LAST MEETING: (NCCU 70, Edward Waters 12 - Aug. 27, 2005 - Durham, N.C.) North Carolina Central University scored early and often, cruising to a 70-12 victory over Edward Waters College at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, NC. The Eagles scored 28 points in the first quarter, followed by back-to-back 21-point quarters. NCCU's 70 points is the second highest scoring total in school history, bettered only by an 85-point performance against Fort Jackson on Sept. 21, 1946. The 58-point margin of victory is the third highest in school history. NCCU quarterback Adrian Warren broke a 19-year-old school record with seven touchdown passes, surpassing the old mark of six scoring strikes by the legendary Earl "Air" Harvey against Fayetteville State on Sept. 27, 1986. Warren also established a personal career-best with 337 yards through the air, completing 14-of-21 pass attempts without an interception. NCCU place kicker Brandon Gilbert also had a record-breaking evening, converting 10 extra-point kicks to shatter the old record of seven, last done by Michael Huey against Bowie State on Nov. 2, 1985. As a team, the Eagles tied a school record with 29 first downs (last done against Livingstone on Sept. 6, 1986), and their 589 yards of total offense ranks sixth in school history.

LAST WEEK FOR NCCU: (Bye Week) North Carolina Central University had a bye week following a 35-10 setback at Coastal Carolina on Oct. 18.

LAST WEEK FOR EDWARD WATERS: (North Greenville 45, Edward Waters 21 - Tigerville, S.C.) Edward Waters managed only 24 rushing yards, while allowing North Greenville to run for 199 ground yards during a 45-21 Homecoming win for NGU. The visiting Tigers finished with 249 yards of total offense compared to 385 total yards for the Crusaders. EWC quarterback Mike McKinzie completed 10-of-13 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. The Tigers' defense was paced by Rashaan Barton, who finished with 10 tackles, including four hits for a loss.

ABOUT EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE: Located in Jacksonville, Fla., Edward Waters College was founded in 1886 and currently boasts a student enrollment of 1,050. The Tigers are NAIA members of the South East Atlantic Conference. Edward Waters captured the SEAC conference championship in 2007, led by SEAC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Trenttonio Stewart, and All-SEAC quarterback Kamau Leitner.

THE COACHES: Mose Rison is in his second season as head coach at NCCU after finishing the 2007 campaign with a 6-4 record. Rison was announced as the school's 19th head football coach on Feb. 6, 2007, assuming the role of head coach for the first time in his 25-year coaching career. Rison served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the Eagles historic 11-1 campaign in 2006. He continues calling plays as the offensive coordinator and working with the quarterbacks. With Rison directing NCCU's offense, the 2006 Eagles scored 371 points (30.9 per game), the most in school history. Under Rison's tutelage, freshman quarterback Stadford Brown was named as the "SBN Sports Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year," the 2006 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and CIAA Rookie of the Year. A 1978 graduate of Central Michigan University, Rison spent the 2005 season as the Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Coordinator at Davidson College, where the Wildcats averaged more than 200 yards passing per game running a West Coast offensive system. He has also held positions at Livingstone College (Offensive Coordinator, 2004), the University of Arizona (Wide Receivers/Passing Coordinator, 2003), Stanford University (Wide Receivers, 1995-2000), Rutgers University (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, 1991-94), the U.S. Naval Academy (Wide Receivers, 1988-90), and Central Michigan University (Wide Receivers, 1981-87). During his tenure at Stanford, Rison coached in three bowl games, including the 2000 Rose Bowl. Rison, the cousin of five-time NFL All-Pro receiver Andre Rison, spent two seasons (2001-02) in the National Football League coaching ranks as the wide receivers coach with the New York Jets, helping to develop Laveranues Coles and Santana Moss. He has also held NFL summer internships with the Baltimore Ravens (2000), Chicago Bears (1999), New York Jets (1993) and Detroit Lions (1988). A standout running back for Central Michigan from 1974-77, Rison helped the Chippewas to a 13-1 record and a Division II national title as a freshman. He rushed for 1,283 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a senior to earn all-conference and team MVP honors. Rison and his wife, Marilynn, have two children, Dominique (22) and Tara (19). Dominique lives in Charlotte, N.C. and attends Johnson & Wales University. Tara is a sophomore at North Carolina Central University majoring in business.

Edward Waters head football coach is Kevin Clark.

EAGLES BACK HOME: For the first time in eight weeks, NCCU will play inside the friendly confines of O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. During that time, the Eagles played six consecutive road games. NCCU's seven total road games this season will take the Eagles to five different states, including Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, South Carolina and California. The Cal Poly trip will be NCCU's first journey to California in 20 years, when the Eagles played Cal State Sacramento in the second round of the NCAA playoffs on Nov. 27, 1988. In contrast, just three seasons ago in 2005, NCCU played 12 football games and never left North Carolina.

GILBERT INCREASES SCHOOL SCORING RECORD: NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert made a field goal and an extra-point kick at Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 18 to increase his school scoring record to 257 career points.

GILBERT CONTINUES EXTRA POINT STREAK: NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert has made 97 consecutive extra-point kicks, dating back to Sept. 5, 2005 versus North Carolina A&T when a celebration penalty forced a lengthy try. In fact, Gilbert has not missed an extra-point kick against a Division II opponent during his collegiate career. He is 140-of-142 in PAT kicks, with both misses coming against Division I-AA teams (at Delaware State on Sept. 11, 2004, vs. North Carolina A&T on Sept. 5, 2005).

LISTEN TO NCCU FOOTBALL ON WRJD 1410 AM OR VIA THE INTERNET: Every game of the 2008 North Carolina Central University Eagles football season will be covered by WRJD 1410 AM. Play-by-play announcer Chris Hooks will call all of the live action, starting with the pre-game show a half-hour prior to kickoff. Fans may also listen to the broadcast via the internet by visiting the NCCU Athletics web site at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. Archived audio game broadcasts, interviews and highlights can be found at iTunes.com by searching for NCCU Athletics.