WHEREAS, the North Carolina Central University Football team has contributed greatly to our state's reputation of excellence in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), comprised of historically black colleges and universities in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2022, the North Carolina Central University Eagles traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to secure the Cricket Celebration Bowl win over 12-0 Jackson State University with a final score of 41 to 34; and
WHEREAS, during the 2022 football season, the Division I team won the title of MEAC Champions after their win over Norfolk State University; and
WHEREAS, the Eagles soar on and off the field; NCCU has been ranked 13th out of all HBCUs according to the United States News and World Report List of Best HBCUs as of 2022; and
WHEREAS, Coach Oliver is a born, bred, and proud Eagle, along with both his parents and his wife; first coaching at NCCU in 2003-2006 as the defensive backs and wide receivers coach, recruiting coordinator, and special teams coordinator, Coach Oliver returned to his alma mater as North Carolina Central University’s 24th head football coach in 2018; and
WHEREAS, during that tenure, the Eagles captured back-to-back CIAA championships with consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2005 and 2006 and crowned as the black college football national champions in 2006; and
WHEREAS, Khalil Baker was given the inaugural Aeneas Williams Award for the nation’s best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football during the Cricket Celebration Bowl; and
WHEREAS, offensive linemen Corey Bullock and defensive back Khalil Baker have been named the 2022 HBCU All-American Team presented by BOXTOROW; quarterback Davius Richard has also been selected as the BOXTOROW Impact Player of the year; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is proud to recognize the illustrious North Carolina Central University Eagles and their extraordinary football team and wish them continued success;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim February 15, 2023, as a day “IN RECOGNITION OF THE 2022 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAM” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
