NCCU Eagles wrap up spring with QB still undecided

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

NCCU Eagles wrap up spring with QB still undecided
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/sports/18-1134447.cfm
 
By MIKE POTTER : The Herald-Sun
mpotter@heraldsun.com

Apr 2, 2009
http://NCCUEaglePride.com

DURHAM -- Mose Rison's third set of spring football drills as N.C. Central's head coach answered some questions and helped develop some depth.

It also left the Eagles with an ongoing quarterback battle heading into fall drills.

A shaky weather forecast moved up the final scrimmage from Wednesday to Tuesday, and the Eagles' third-year coach said he saw a lot of good things from his team in 12 days of practice.

"We're still a young football team," said Rison, who is 10-11 in the Eagles' first two seasons in the Football Championship Subdivision. "We'll have several new guys starting on both sides of the ball.

"We haven't had any experience backing up the starters at the linebacker spots, and we'll need help out of four redshirt defensive linemen in the fall."

There will also be that quarterback battle, where junior Keon Williams and redshirt sophomore Michael Johnson left an open question heading into the summer.

After Black College All-American Stadford Brown suffered a broken collarbone in the Oct. 4 win over North Carolina A&T to end his college career, Williams and Johnson shared duties for the rest of the season.

At times, they bailed each other out.

Williams completed 38 of 66 passes for 462 yards with four interceptions and rushed 22 times for 15 yards, while Johnson was 32-of-62 for 517 yards and six touchdowns with six interceptions and minus-26 yards rushing on four carries.

"They've each started at least one game, so we know in the fall the one that wins the job won't go out there bug-eyed," said Rison, who also is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. "I like a quarterback battle, but I like for somebody to win the job.

"We need somebody to be the leader on offense. Right now, I couldn't tell you who's going to start, but I'm confident somebody will emerge."

NOTES

-- Rison said the Eagles had no spring-practice injuries that should cause lost playing time in the fall.

... NCCU opens its season Sept. 5 at Hampton. Every road game is within a four-hour drive. The Eagles open their home schedule on Sept. 19 against Morehead State, followed a week later by the first meeting with Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium at 7 p.m.

© 2009 by The Durham Herald Company. All rights reserved.

[FSUHALL]

Where's the QB Slope was bragging about last year after Brown got hurt!  You would of thought you all had Dan Marino in camp the way Slope was talkin!  Then you all thought Brown was gonna get another year, guess that did not work out.

[Rich Eagle]

I think that QB was red shirt sophomore Michael Johnson.

[Professor]

Thought u guys hired an offensive coordinator. Are you sure?

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

Where's the QB Slope was bragging about last year after Brown got hurt!  You would of thought you all had Dan Marino in camp the way Slope was talkin!  Then you all thought Brown was gonna get another year, guess that did not work out.

A new signal caller for the Eagles is Eric Brown, who stands 6-3, 185 pounds and hails from St. Louis, Mo.  Brown was a three-year starting quarterback at Hazelwood East High School with a combined record of 28-6 from 2006-08. He guided Hazelwood East to the 2008 5A State Championship title with an MVP performance, passing for 287 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score as time expired. Brown is the school's all-time leader with 38 touchdown passes and ranks second in Hazelwood East history with 3,602 career passing yards.


"We found Eric late in the recruiting process, but we are very excited about having him at NCCU," said Rison. "He will have a chance to start for us down the road."
http://nccueaglepride.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032709aaa.html
 

"Y"

Well, because S. Brown couldn't get another year, via the NCAA, NCCU went out and got another (very outstanding) Brown. 

It sounds like Coach Rison will have 3 very good QBs to chose from, this fall.

If Eric Brown is as good as advertised, I wouldn't be too suprise if Coach Rison Redshirts Eric Brown, for the future.

We will see.

Take care!

[FSUHALL]

Rison won't be there long enough to see the future the way you all act cause you all won't win this year.  And I don't care if you all have "Bobby Brown" you all have about 5 years before you all even hit 500 winning percentage.

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

I still believe in Coach Rison. My only problem with him was the condition of the Offensive Line on last year.

I am told that the O-Line will be greatly improved for next year. If that is true, NCCU will have a winning season, for next year. Many were very young on last year. But, I am told that they all have been working very hard during the off-season and during Spring Practice.

 So, if that is correct and they are much stronger and a step quicker, I will be very pleased, that NCCU will be able to run the football more, and protect the QB more, this up-coming season.

Coach Rison seems to have recruited very well for this year and he also has many outstanding "Red Shirt" players from last year's very good recruitment class, who will be very good this year.

Hopefully, our special teams and kicking game should be outstanding.

NCCU will have additional depth at Linebacker to help out our slightly undersized, but quick D-Line, who will have more experience on defense, this year.

So, I am confident that Coach Rison will get the Job done, for NCCU.

Take care!

[y04185]

If you fair weather buzzards would have had a spring scrimmage you might know who your QB will be when you lose your first game next season.

[EL-COTTON]

If you fair weather buzzards would have had a spring scrimmage you might know who your QB will be when you lose your first game next season.

I concur on this one..

[KNOWITALL]

Why no scrimmage?  Were there enough players to have one?  Alot of HBCU's have eligibility issues for spring ball that prevent alot of players from participating.  Was this the case?

[y04185]

Why no scrimmage?  Were there enough players to have one?  Alot of HBCU's have eligibility issues for spring ball that prevent alot of players from participating.  Was this the case?

They were afraid of a little rain.

[DJTheRealist]

Why no scrimmage?  Were there enough players to have one?  Alot of HBCU's have eligibility issues for spring ball that prevent alot of players from participating.  Was this the case?

They were afraid of a little rain.

Better safe than sorry...Hey...that's the way the cookie crumbles....EAGLE PRIDE!!!

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

Why no scrimmage?  Were there enough players to have one?  Alot of HBCU's have eligibility issues for spring ball that prevent alot of players from participating.  Was this the case?

They were afraid of a little rain.

NOTES

-- Rison said the Eagles had no spring-practice injuries that should cause lost playing time in the fall.
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/sports/18-1134447.cfm

Coach Rison's above statement says it all.    With the many injuries that NCCU suffered via Football and Basketball, to key players, during last season, I can understand not taking any un-necessary risk of additional season ending injuries, during "Spring Practice" in the Rain, on a very rain soaked, muddy field, with very unstable footing.

Take care!

[Rich Eagle]

They had an Intra squad scrimmage on Tuesday. The article by Mike Potter was a result of the scrimmage.