We Speak College Football

North Carolina Central all business, ‘very excited’ about first-ever FCS playoff appearance

Published

6 months ago

November 24, 2023

After North Carolina Central football players found out they had earned the program’s first-ever FCS playoff bid, there were cheers, high-fives, and celebratory embraces during a team watch party last Sunday.

Head coach Trei Oliver then walked to the front of the room and made a not-so-surprising move.

“I turned the TV off and told them, ‘It’s time to go to work, guys,’” said Oliver. “We immediately went to the field and went to practice.”

It is all business for the Eagles as they prepare to face Richmond in the first round of the 24-team postseason tournament on Saturday that starts at 2 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+.

North Carolina Central (9-2) lost out on a trip to the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta after it dropped a pivotal MEAC game at Howard, which won 50-20, on Nov. 11. Despite finishing the conference season at 4-1, losing the head-to-head meant Howard, which also was 4-1, took the MEAC title and bowl game bid.

“I told (the media) back, I guess four or five weeks ago when we were about start conference play, I would rather be 0-5 (in nonleague competition) and win six straight and win the conference and go to the Celebration Bowl because that would be Black College National champions,” said Oliver, whose program won the 2022 Celebration Bowl and was named the HBCU national champion.

“But I’m not going to complain with us sitting here 9-2, and we were one of 24 teams selected in the country to go compete (in) the national playoffs. So, we are definitely blessed to be here. We’re excited to be here … There are probably a hundred-and-some (FCS) teams at home right now about to go grab their fishing poles and go fishing. So we’re excited about playing in the playoffs.”

The Eagles will enter postseason play on a run where it has won 14 of its last 15 games against FCS opponents, including three winx against CAA teams, the conference Richmond represents as co-champion this season, along with Albany and Villanova.

NC Central running back Latrell Collier indicated that the records won’t matter come Saturday in the single-elimination situation.

“We were 3-0 against the CAA, but it’s the playoffs now, and a lot more is on the line,” he told HBCU Sports earlier this week. “We know we are going to get their (Richmond’s) best, and we look forward to the matchup.”

For Richmond (8-3), the Spiders are making its 13th to the postseason trip and have won six consecutive games after starting the season 2-3.

“They (the players) know what it is. They know what it’s about and what has to happen here,” Russ Huesman, Richmond’s seventh-year coach, told The Richmond Dispatch.

We Speak College Football

BOWL SEASON NAMES EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL FIRST ALL-STAR GAME MEMBER

Published

5 months ago

December 25, 2023

James Allen

FRISCO, TEXAS — Bowl Season announced on December 21st that the East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation’s oldest college all-star football game, has been named the first and only all-star game member of Bowl Season. Through this partnership, the East-West Shrine Bowl officially joins 43 other college football bowl games as a member of Bowl Season. Along with being the first all-star game as a member of Bowl Season, the East-West Shrine Bowl becomes Bowl Season’s second oldest game next to the historic Rose Bowl Game.

“We are truly excited to officially add the East-West Shrine Bowl to the Bowl Season lineup where it has always belonged,” said Nick Carparelli, Executive Director of Bowl Season. “Bowl Season is an annual celebration of college football, and I can’t think of a better way to cap it off each year than by watching the sports best players wear their school’s helmets one more time.”

“We are proud to join alongside the nation’s most iconic college football bowl games as an official member of Bowl Season,” said Bob Roller, Vice President of Sports for Shriners Children’s. “The life-changing impact of our East-West Shrine Bowl and our international healthcare system will now be officially celebrated from coast to coast throughout Bowl Season.”

Legendary College All-Star Game

Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl has benefited Shriners Children’s and its mission to provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best college football players in the world to showcase their talents as top NFL Draft prospects in front of all 32 NFL teams’ scouts and executives. Many of professional football’s most recognized and decorated players, including legends Tom Brady, Walter Payton, John Elway and current rising stars Brock Purdy, Zay Flowers and Isiah Pacheco all played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Celebrating 99 Years in 2024

The 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl will kickoff Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Frisco, Texas, at Ford Center at The Star, the worldwide headquarters and training facility for the Dallas Cowboys. The game will be nationally televised in primetime on NFL Network. Proceeds from the game will fully benefit the mission of Shriners Children’s.

About Bowl Season

Bowl Season is one of the greatest and longest running traditions in American sports, taking place in late December and running through early February, and has been college football’s post-season for over 100 years. It promotes the grand tradition of the bowl system and its endearing value to student-athletes, highlighting the broader university and college communities, including spirit squads, marching bands, athletic staff and fans. Bowl Season spotlights the distinctiveness of each of the bowl games along with their histories and traditions and their proud communities – embracing and honoring the bowl experience for present and future generations.