First, as always, you can follow the blog on Twitter. Blog posts will be split this week between Liberty and the Hillcats, since the latter begins the Carolina League playoffs Wednesday against Wilmington. Moving on ...

Before looking at the Eagles, one quick note: The Big South named Mike Brown the conference’s offensive player of the week for his 11-catch, 157-yard performance at West Virginia Saturday. He also ran for a touchdown.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
LOCATION: Durham, N.C.
ENROLLMENT: 8,363
FOUNDED: 1910
NICKNAME: Eagles
COLORS: Maroon and Gray
CONFERENCE: None
STADIUM: O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000)

HEAD COACH: Mose Rison (Central Michigan, ‘78)
RECORD: 10-12 two years/same overall

2008 RECORD: 4-7
POSTSEASON: None
OFFENSIVE FORMATION: Multiple Pro Style
DEFENSIVE FORMATION: 3-4
LETTERMAN RETURNING/LOST: 61/21
STARTERS RETURNING/LOST: 18/4
OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 9/9

2009 SCHEDULE (0-1)
September
5…....at Hampton…....................L, 31-24
12…..at Liberty….......................7 p.m.
19…..MOREHEAD STATE….......1:30 p.m.
26…..at Duke…..........................7 p.m.
October
3…....at North Carolina A&T….....TBA
10…..at Appalachian State….......TBA
17…..CENTRAL METHODIST…...1:30 p.m.
31…..CENTRAL STATE…...........1:30 p.m.
November
7…....at Old Dominion…............2 p.m.
14…..at Winston-Salem State….1 p.m.
21…..SAVANNAH STATE….......1:30 p.m.

2008 RESULTS
August
31…..FAYETTEVILLE STATE….L, 33-22
September
6…....at James Madison….........L, 56-7
13…..at Morgan State…............L, 49-7
20…..at Central Connecticut St..L, 35-23
October
4…....vs. North Carolina A&T…...W, 28-27
11…..at Presbyterian…..............L, 28-24
18…..at Coastal Carolina…........L, 35-10
November
1…....EDWARD WATERS…......W, 34-14
8…....at Cal Poly…....................L, 49-3
15…..WINSTON-SALEM STATE.W, 23-16
22…..SAVANNAH STATE….......W, 10-7

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB MICHAEL JOHNSON
Photo credit: North Carolina Central University
Johnson went 9-for-21 for 123 yards in the Eagles’ season-opening loss at Hampton, threw two touchdowns and two interceptions and also ran for an 11-yard touchdown. A former NC Central ball boy, it’s long been Johnson’s dream to play for the Eagles, according to a Joe Johnson story in the Durham Herald-Sun.

CB DAVID INGRAM
Photo credit: North Carolina Central University

Ingram forced a fumble and intercepted a pass at Hampton. At 5-8, 167 pounds, he’s similar in size to Liberty cornerback Tim Torrence.

NCCU MEDIA COVERAGE

Durham Herald-Sun.

Raleigh News & Observer.

NCCU official site.