• N.C. Central athletics
• Mose Rison earlier this season

But the first head coach to lose a job this year is N.C. Central's Mose Rison. Although a press release from the school employs the euphemistic term "replaced," the implication is clear: After two straight losing seasons and a 2-4 start to the current one, time has run out on Rison.

Rison began his N.C. Central career in 2007 after starting as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and went 6-4 that season. But he was done in by two consecutive 4-7 seasons, combined with the shaky start to this, the Eagles' third season in Division I (FCS) and first back in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) of historically black colleges.

Rison graduated from Central Michigan University, where he had a standout career as a running back. He then embarked on a 25-year assistant coaching career, one that culminated in the top job at N.C. Central. Bullock, his offensive line coach, will replace him in time for this weekend's home game against Bethune Cookman.

One thing Rison can say, though: He beat arch-rival North Carolina A&T this season, at home in front of 15,173 fans.

He has one year remaining on his contract, and will be assigned to another job within the athletic department.

Release below:

O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM/DURHAM The field rages with excitement as the fierce Aggie-Eagle rivalry meets for the 82nd time in gridiron history. N.C. Central longs for revenge after the teams' last meeting in October of last year where North Carolina A&T took the game 23-17. An overfilled and record-breaking stadium of over 15,173 fans creates an exciting stage for the two teams this thick and humid September night.

• courtesy NCCU Athletics
• NCCU quarterback Michael Johnson

The Aggies kick off the game and Central trudges along down the field only to pick up 20 yards of penalties. At fourth down, NCCU's Frankie Cardelle goes for the 45-yard field goal only to have it blocked. Central realizes now that there is some serious competition tonight. A&T moves down the field with enthusiasm and energy as the Eagles struggle to slow them. As the ball moves towards Central's end zone, the Aggies' drive loses steam and Sullivan Shidler misses a 33-yard field goal. With 10:17 still left in the first quarter, the game is scoreless.

The Eagles make less progress this time as they start at their own 21 yard line. Getting nowhere, Cardelle punts it down to the Aggies' 40 yard line. The Aggies fumble and Central recovers. With a cheering crowd of Eagle fans delighted at A&T's mistake, the NCCU offense starts at its own 34 yard line. With a myriad of 1st downs, running back Tim Shankle drives through multiple Aggie players for a touchdown. The score turns 7-0 Central with a kick from Cardelle at 4:08 left in the 1st quarter.

The fierce rivalry is easily seen on the field this humid fall night. Every action and every tackle seems to hit a little harder with nervous tension. Both teams truly want this win tonight and are going to do whatever they can to achieve it.

College football practice has begun in the Triangle.

N.C. Central held its first workout on Monday night in preparation for the Eagles’ season opener on Sept. 2 against visiting Johnson C. Smith.

Eighty-eight players are in fall camp for the Eagles, who will be playing their final transition campaign before becoming eligible for MEAC and NCAA championships.

Two-a-days in pads and helmets begin on Saturday for Mose Rison’s club, with the annual “Meet the Eagles” open scrimmage on Aug. 21.

N.C. Central’s senior linebacker Donald Laster has been named preseason FCS Independent defensive player of the year by Lindy’s Sports.

• Photo courtesy NCCU athletics
• NCCU linebacker Donald Laster

“He lays it on the line every single play,” NCCU coach Mose Rison said of Laster. “He has been a great student and a tremendous leader. The players look up to him. …I expect him to play lights out.”

As a sophomore in 2008, Laster led the Eagles with six sacks and six quarterback hurries, while adding 40 total tackles with 9 1/2 for losses. In 2007, he had 48 tackles as an offensive lineman.

• File photo courtesy NCCU athletics
• Mose Rison liked the spring game as the Eagles get ready for his fourth season at the helm.

But the big news of the day was the addition of another game for this fall.

The Eagles have added an 11th game — and a seventh home game — on Nov. 20 against Old Dominion, a team that is in its second season of football. NCCU, which has gone 4-7 each of the past two seasons as it transitions into NCAA Division I, has never played seven home games in the same season.

NCCU was one of the better teams on the schedule last season for the Monarchs (9-2), who won their first meeting in Norfolk 42-28.

“This is huge for this football program,” Rison said. “Our kids really enjoy playing in front of our fans and we play well at home.”

• (File photo courtesy NCCU athletics)
• Defensive lineman Donald Laster is hoping for a big senior season for the Eagles.

The Eagles, who will play their last season this fall before being fully eligible for NCAA Division I championship competition, have finished 4-7 in each of their last two seasons under Mose Rison.

NCCU lost only five key seniors off last season’s club, which won four of its last five games.

Festivities begin at 10 a.m. inside “E-Town,” the promotional facility next to the stadium, with children’s games and music.

The Eagles will open their season Sept. 2 against former CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith in the first of NCCU’s six home games.