bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
DURHAM -- N.C. Central will face a couple of familiar opponents in unfamiliar circumstances when the 2010 football season kicks off.
The Eagles, who announced their schedule Thursday, will open with a rare Thursday night game against an opponent they haven't faced since their CIAA days, hosting Johnson C. Smith on Sept. 2 at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
And later in the month, on Sept. 25, longtime rival N.C. A&T will make its long-awaited return to O'Kelly-Riddick, taking on NCCU in Durham for the first time since 1992.
From 1994-2005, the two battled in the Eagle-Aggie Classic at Carter-Finley Stadium before returning to a home-and-home series. Two years ago, NCCU opted to host its home game at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, where more than 20,000 fans witnessed the Eagles beat the Aggies, 28-27. Last season, A&T edged NCCU 23-17 in double overtime in Greensboro.
"People have been calling and talking about how this will be one of the greatest atmospheres we have had here at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in a long time," NCCU coach Mose Rison said in a statement released by the school. "It's going to be an electric night."
NCCU will play just 10 games in its first year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (the Eagles officially become members on July 1), but six of them will be at home. The schedule includes four games against MEAC opponents -- N.C. A&T, Hampton (Oct. 9) and Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 23) at home and Delaware State (Nov. 6) on the road -- though the Eagles won't be eligible to compete for the conference championship until 2011.
"We play six games on our campus, which is a big plus," Rison said. "Our kids enjoy playing in front of our student body and our fans.
"Without a question, this is a great home schedule."
Rounding out the home slate is a Sept. 11 game against long-time rival Winston-Salem State and homecoming Oct. 30 against Edward Waters.
Away from home, the Eagles will take on Football Championship Series powerhouse Appalachian State for the second consecutive season (Sept. 18). They'll also play in an NFL stadium for the second time in three seasons when they take on first-year program Georgia State at the Georgia Dome (Oct. 16), and they'll conclude their season at Savannah State (Nov. 13).
In 2009, NCCU won four of its last five games to finish with a 4-7 record for the second consecutive season.
