NORFOLK, Va. – In 2016, the primary – and final – time North Carolina Central College went to the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Trei Oliver had simply accomplished his first season as a defensive coordinator for Southern College, and most of the gamers on NCCU’s present roster have been nonetheless in highschool.

North Carolina Central quarterback Davius “Pee Wee” Richard didn’t watch the sport however mentioned he has heard about how the Eagles misplaced: After NCCU scored a landing within the ultimate minutes with Grambling State within the lead at 10-9, a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty prolonged the additional level try to 35 yards. Grambling finally blocked the try, inflicting the Eagles to lose 10-9 and giving the Southwestern Athletic Convention (SWAC) its solely Celebration Bowl victory thus far.

“I used to be standing up the entire time. [When he missed the kick,] I simply sat down in my seat. I used to be in disbelief,” mentioned former North Carolina Central participant Joshua Sims-Crowell, a member of the Eagles workforce that made the soar from Division II to Division I to hitch the Mid-Japanese Athletic Convention (MEAC) as a full-time member in 2011. “As an alum at the moment having to see all these items from the varsity down the hallway [North Carolina A&T] to essentially poke enjoyable at us [and] discuss us being the one faculty within the MEAC that misplaced, how we misplaced, they usually coined it as a really North Carolina Central vogue. It nonetheless impacts me to at the present time.”

As a North Carolina Central alumnus himself, Oliver is conscious of the heartbreak the fan base suffered six years in the past. He hopes to guide the workforce to a happier ending this season, following the Eagles’ dominant 48-14 victory Saturday over Norfolk State. The win secured the MEAC’s automated bid to the Celebration Bowl and the Eagles’ second journey there.

“I’m so enthusiastic about it. I believed we performed effectively tonight, effectively [and] ok to win the sport,” Oliver mentioned Saturday. “However we labored actually onerous all offseason. Guys sacrificed their summer season breaks and holidays to offer themselves the chance to have the ability to go to a championship recreation and win a championship.

“It begins all yr lengthy and all through the summer season, so far as the tradition and being disciplined. So I don’t suppose that we’ll have any bonehead penalties like that, that value us the sport,” Oliver mentioned. “You have got to have the ability to climate the distractions. There’s gonna be a whole lot of distractions in Atlanta. We simply must proceed to remain targeted, and I believed the blokes have executed a very good job up till this level with that.”

All through the season, the Eagles have attributed their success to their focus, particularly after early losses to South Carolina State and Campbell. A season in the past, a loss to South Carolina State value North Carolina Central a visit to the Celebration Bowl. This season, South Carolina State’s three losses and North Carolina Central’s skill to win its remaining convention video games paved the way in which for the Eagles to win a share of the convention title and the bowl berth.

The Eagles will face Tennessee Tech on Saturday with nothing on the road apart from pleasure, however Richard doesn’t consider the workforce will lose focus after engaging in its purpose.

“That’s probably not gonna be the problem, for actual. We executed been via lots this season. Holding the main target, that’s not gonna be an issue. We may have misplaced focus again after we misplaced to South Carolina State. However we push via it. We may have misplaced focus after we misplaced to Campbell, however push via it,” Richard mentioned. “We’re gonna benefit from the win. Monday we’re again within the lab. It’s an entire totally different ballgame. We battle on the market.”

Sims-Crowell offers a whole lot of credit score to Oliver for turning across the program and to the following technology of Eagles gamers for upholding the North Carolina Central customary.

“We anticipate to be in these conditions. … We all know that that is the place we’re presupposed to be more often than not. However this is a chance for us to have the ability to actually present the world … [A win] would imply that we’ve now re-arrived at the usual and we’ve reestablished ourselves,” Sims-Crowell mentioned. “I’m enthusiastic about us getting the possibility to essentially present the world that is who we’re. That is what we do.”

Earlier this season, after North Carolina Central defeated rival North Carolina A&T within the Duke’s Mayo Traditional and upset New Hampshire, which was ranked No. 25, the Eagles briefly entered the FCS High 25 ballot.

No different MEAC groups dominated the convention in the course of the season. These circumstances and North Carolina Central’s powerful schedule have ready the Eagles to defend the MEAC’s crown.

“We play a really bodily model of soccer on this convention,” Oliver mentioned. “It often begins with the run [and] often fairly good quarterback play. But it surely’s a grind each week, and you need to deliver your A-game.”

Oliver will stroll into the Celebration Bowl for the primary time as a head coach, however he gained’t lack expertise. He was the defensive backs coach at North Carolina A&T in 2015 when the Aggies performed within the inaugural Celebration Bowl. Oliver’s secondary had a deflection and anchored the Aggies’ purpose line stand within the ultimate minutes to assist make them a victory, the primary of 4 Celebration Bowl titles the Aggies would win. 

Oliver is conversant in SWAC soccer and its type of play from his Celebration Bowl expertise and three seasons as a defensive coordinator within the convention. Since changing into coach of the Eagles in 2019, Oliver is 1-1 towards SWAC opponents: In 2021, the Eagles defeated Alcorn State of their season opener on the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Problem however misplaced a recreation by one level to Mississippi Valley State later within the season.

The Eagles’ Celebration Bowl opponent gained’t be identified till the SWAC championship recreation Dec. 3.

“No matter who we play, the followers are going to journey deep,” Oliver mentioned. “They are going to try to create a hostile surroundings.”

The MEAC leads the Celebration Bowl sequence 5-1, and is at the moment using a four-game profitable streak, one MEAC commissioner Sonja Stills believes will proceed.

“North Carolina Central has had an excellent workforce and had an excellent run this season. The very best workforce goes to characterize us on the Celebration Bowl and I couldn’t be happier,” Stills mentioned. “MEAC has at all times had excellent soccer, and we’ve proven that with our streak within the Celebration Bowl, and I anticipate nothing much less going into 2022 in Atlanta. North Carolina Central Eagles are going to do their factor.”