HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result

Home Features

North Carolina Central aims to keep MEAC Celebration Bowl winning streak against SWAC alive

Kendrick Marshall by Kendrick Marshall
December 13, 2022
0
Celebration bowl

Photo: Mandela Jones/HBCU Sports

2.6k
VIEWS

You might also like

HBCU Sports National Signing Day blog: See how your favorite football team fared

Norfolk State moves up in MEAC standings after clutch win over NC Central

Hot Maryland-Eastern Shore defeats N.C. Central for fourth straight win

It is no secret that the MEAC has dominated the Celebration Bowl.

Since the game’s inception in 2015, the MEAC is 5-1 and has won four straight since 2017, including a surprising 31-10 South Carolina State win over 10-point favorite Jackson State in the 2021 game.

Enter North Carolina Central. The Eagles are in the Celebration Bowl for the second time in school history and carry the dubious distinction of being the only MEAC team to lose to a SWAC opponent when it dropped a wild 10-9 decision to Grambling State in 2016.

Is there pressure on the Eagles’ side to keep the conference domination going over the SWAC, especially considering that NC Central is a hefty 16.5-point underdog to 12-0 Jackson State?

“We’re going to continue to do what we’ve done the last 11 games,” said NCCU coach Trei Oliver. “I don’t have anything to do with how people perceive us and what they think about the strength of our conference.”

Davius Richard, NCCU, MEAC/SWAC Challenge 2021
North Carolina Central’s Davius Richard scores on a 6-yard touchdown run against Alcorn State in the 2021 MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Photo: Mandela Jones/HBCU Sports

The MEAC — despite defections and perceptions that it is in decline — has owned the more revered SWAC in not only the Celebration Bowl but in non-conference head-to-head matchups, too. Including this season, the MEAC is an impressive 16-6 versus the SWAC in major bowls or classic meetings.

When the games have mattered the most — and the stakes are at their peak — the little conference with just six teams has done more than held its own.

The last time the Eagles (9-2) faced off against a SWAC school was in 2021, ironically in Atlanta. NC Central upset Alcorn State 23-14 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

“The SWAC is a very good conference. They play good football in the SWAC,” said Oliver, who was an assistant at Grambling and Southern before taking the NC Central job in 2019. “But at the same time, you know, we’ve (MEAC) had their number and we play some pretty dadgum good football here, too.

“You look at the records and they kind of speak for themselves. But you know, that’s in the past. That’s history. We can’t go down there relying on what happened in the past that it will carry us in this game. Hopefully, we can put on a good performance and bring back the trophy to the East Coast.”



Tags: North Carolina Central
Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall is an award-winning journalist and a graduate of Jackson State University.

Next Post

Tennessee State running back victim of assault, vandalism by football staffer

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

  • Albany State coach Quinn Gray apologizes for offering recruit who used N-word
  • HBCU Sports exclusive: Terry Sims says he’s disheartened by turmoil at Bethune-Cookman
  • Bethune-Cookman football team, administrators hold meeting to reconcile issues with program
  • Reggie Theus says Ed Reed has ‘no shot’ to be retained as Bethune-Cookman coach
  • Ex-Morgan State coach Tyrone Wheatley hired by Division II school
  • These are the HBCU football players to watch ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
  • Ex-Alabama A&M wide receiver Brian Jenkins Jr. transfers to SWAC school
  • These former HBCU football players are Super Bowl LVII bound
  • Jackson State releases first schedule of new-look T.C. Taylor era
  • Bethune-Cookman president outlines reasons for school split from Ed Reed

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • National Signing Day Thread 2023
  • Is TSU-Prairie View the best hbcu rivalry across all swac sports?
  • It's not good to lie
  • 2023 Football Schedules
  • JSU Football, the TC TAYLOR era!
  • RIP Jared Powell SuTrpt96
  • Rap Instrumentals
  • Encouragement - Motivation February 2023
  • Arena League Re-Launches with Black Commisioner
  • Lighten the Mood 10th Edition
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2022 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE

© 2022 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

X