NCCU Announces 2003 Football Schedule
Home Slate Includes Popular Foes Unfamiliar
with O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium
January 28, 2003
DURHAM, NC -- North Carolina Central University has announced
its football schedule for the 2003 gridiron campaign, featuring
four "classics" and some popular home opponents that
are unfamiliar with NCCU's stomping ground.
For the 10th consecutive year, NCCU will open its season against
Division I-AA rival North Carolina A&T State University
in the annual "Aggie-Eagle Classic" at Carter-Finley
Stadium in Raleigh, NC. This year's meeting on Sunday, August
31 is especially enticing, however, after NCCU snapped a 12-game
losing skid versus A&T with a thrilling overtime victory
in 2002.
The Eagles begin their home schedule on Sept. 6 when Morehouse
College visits the confines of O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium for the
first time. The Maroon Tigers, members of the Southern Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (SIAC), defeated NCCU last year in the first-ever
football meeting between the two schools.
After a bye week, the Eagles return home on Sept. 20 to challenge
Delaware State University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC). The Hornets will be NCCU's first Division I opponent
to visit Durham since hosting Howard in 1994. Delaware State's
last trip to NCCU was in 1979.
The following week (Sept. 27), NCCU will play Virginia State
University in Petersburg, VA, where the Eagles have lost four
straight games dating back to 1983.
NCCU's second classic on the schedule is the "Down East
Classic," hosted by Elizabeth City State University on
Oct. 4 in Rocky Mount, NC. The Eagles played in the event two
years ago, defeating the Vikings 31-21 inside a packed Rocky
Mount Athletic Complex.
On Oct. 11, NCCU welcomes Saint Augustine's College to O'Kelly-Riddick
Stadium for the first time since 1964. The Eagles have not lost
to the Falcons in their 24 gridiron meetings, dating back to
1924.
NCCU faces the defending CIAA champion Fayetteville State University
Broncos on Oct. 18 as part of the "Eagles in the East"
football classic in Kinston, NC.
Then, NCCU travels to Atlantic City, NJ to play Winston-Salem
State University in the "Boardwalk Classic" on Oct.
25. The Eagles last played in Atlantic City during the 1996
campaign, defeating Delaware State 21-16 inside the city's convention
center. This year's contest with the Rams will be played at
an area high school stadium.
On Nov. 1, NCCU will kickoff against Livingstone College as
part of the 2003 Homecoming activities. The Eagles have won
four straight Homecoming games, three of those versus the Livingstone
Blue Bears.
The final game of the regular season will be on Nov. 8 against
Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC. The Eagles have
not lost to the Golden Bulls in the Queen City since 1987.
