NCCU Announces 2003 Football Schedule
Home Slate Includes Popular Foes Unfamiliar with O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium

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.