Nov. 19, 2008
(Written by Kyle Serba, Associate A.D. for Media Relations)
Nine football student-athletes will be honored Saturday as they play in the final game of their North Carolina Central University career. Among them are two of the most decorated and accomplished Eagles of all-time, quarterback Stadford Brown and kicker Brandon Gilbert.
Gilbert, a native of Graham, N.C., is the Eagles' all-time scoring leader with 275 career points and either holds or shares every kicking record in school history. He resume includes NCCU extra-point kick records for a game (10 vs. Edward Waters on Aug. 27, 2005), a season (48, 2006) and a career (146), as well as consecutive extra-point kicks (103 and counting). He also sets the standard for field goals in a season (16, 2005) and a career (43), while sharing the record for field goals in a game (4 vs. Bowie State on Nov. 5, 2005), a mark matched only by Eric Hines in 1978.
"I have amazed myself a little bit," Gilbert admitted. "I never thought I would be a college place-kicker. I thought I'd play soccer. The achievements have surprised me."
Gilbert became a household name to NCCU football fans after drilling the game-winning 30-yard field goal with three seconds left in the 2005 CIAA Championship Game to cap a dramatic comeback win over Bowie State at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. In that game, Gilbert scored 14 points on four field goals and two extra-points to earn the title game's Most Valuable Player award.
Remarkably, a year later on the same field, only going in the other direction, Gilbert blasted a career-long 51-yard field goal on the final play of the 2006 CIAA Championship Game to edge Elizabeth City State and repeat as conference champions.
That 51-yard bomb cemented Gilbert's place in Eagles gridiron history and is easily his most memorable play in Maroon and Gray.
As he looks back on his college football career, he said it has been "very exciting."
So in the pre-game ceremony recognizing the Eagle seniors, when Gilbert takes the field and is greeted by his mother, Anne, and father, Joe, there is no doubt things will get emotional.
"It's definitely going to be sad," Gilbert said. "I have been here so long, put in a lot of hard work and won a lot of games as an Eagle; so it's going to be difficult."
The day will be equally emotional for Brown, who said it will be "heartbreaking."
"On top of that, I won't even be able to play in the last game," added Brown, who expects to share the moment with his father, Stadford Whitlow, and brother, Myron Brown.
Brown's college career was cut short when his collarbone was broken during the second quarter of the Eagles' win over rival North Carolina A&T on Oct. 4.
Still, in only two-and-a-half seasons as an Eagle, Brown has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in NCCU history.
Among the school's all-time career leaders, Brown ranks third in pass completions (399), third in passing touchdowns (46), fourth in passing yards (5,202) and fourth in total offense (5,207).
Brown swooped onto the scene in the fall of 2006, taking the reins of the Eagle offense amidst controversy and uncertainty. As a rookie, however, he demonstrated the poise and confidence that became his trademark, leading NCCU to the school's first-ever undefeated regular-season with a record of 11-0, a second consecutive conference championship and the 2006 Black College Football National Championship.
That season, Brown threw for 2,577 yards, third most in school history, and 26 touchdowns, a mark not even the legendary Earl "Air" Harvey reached as an Eagle. Brown was voted as the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and the SBN Sports Black College Football Offensive Player of the Year.
"That was the highlight of my career," Brown said of the 2006 campaign and accolades that followed.
"It has been a great experience for me," Brown said as he reflected on his NCCU experience. "I wouldn't want to go anywhere else or play for any other coaches."
The Dynamic Duo
Gilbert and Brown share more than just football records at NCCU. Through the years, they have developed a solid friendship.
"B.G. is probably one of the closest friends I have made since I've been here," Brown said. "We used to play pool almost every single day."
Gilbert, too, remembers the countless hours of shooting billiards, and says there is more to Brown than what people see on the field.
"Not only is Stadford a great quarterback, a great athlete and a great leader, he is also a great person to be around," Gilbert said. "He always does the right thing."
Although sidelined with an injury, Brown continues to support the team and his kicking friend. He and Gilbert often talk on the sidelines about the glorious past, exciting present and promising future.
When the final whistle blows on their record-setting careers, their job as Eagles will not be complete. That day will come in December for Gilbert, when he receives his degree in Physical Education/Teaching, and in May 2009 for Brown, when he accepts his degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism.
As for their college football careers, they will be forever documented in the Eagles' record books and will one day be framed with a picture to be displayed in the NCCU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Saluting the Rest of the Senior Class
Wayne Blackwell, a native of Reidsville, N.C., has become one of the top receivers in school history in just three seasons. Entering his final college game, Blackwell is tied for eighth place on NCCU's career receptions list with 113 catches, and ranks 12th in career receiving yards with 1,413. He has also caught 15 touchdown passes. The biggest play of his college career came at the end of the 2006 CIAA Championship Game when he made "The Catch," a difficult 38-yard reception if traffic with only five seconds left to set up the game-winning, 51-yard field goal.
Jeff Toliver, a native of Gaithersburg, Md., was a member of both the 2005 and 2006 CIAA Championship teams. A bruising running back, Toliver has amassed 709 rushing yards as an Eagle, including 454 yards and six touchdowns during the 2006 Black College National Championship season.
Jovan Olafioye, a native of Detroit, Mich., has been a starting offensive lineman for the Eagles the past two seasons. He saw limited action as a defensive lineman on the Eagles' 2006 CIAA Championship squad after transferring from Grand Rapids Community College. He switched to the offensive line in 2007, and has become a wall in the path of opposing linemen ever since.
Eric Smalls, a native of Raleigh, N.C., played two seasons on the defensive line. After recording 14 tackles in limited action in 2007, Smalls has exploded as a senior for 48 total takedowns, including 6.5 tackles for a loss with 4.5 sacks. He enjoyed arguably his best outing last week, amassing 12 tackles to top a strong NCCU defensive effort in a win over rival Winston-Salem State.
Greg Greene, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., has been an Eagle lineman for four years and was a member of both the 2005 and 2006 conference championship teams. He was a starting guard during NCCU's first season of Division I competition in 2007.
Troy McConico, a native of Richmond, Calif., has played two seasons as an Eagle linebacker after transferring from Contra Costa Community College. In two seasons, he has collected 75 tackles, including a team-best 63 takedowns as a senior. He is coming off one of his best games at NCCU with 10 tackles and his first career interception versus Winston-Salem State.
Derek Harvey, a native of Raeford, N.C., has been a defensive back for the past three seasons and was a member of the 2006 conference championship squad. He is currently enjoying his finest season at NCCU with 16 tackles (9 solo) with a sack and two passes defended, including an interception for a 38-yard return against rival North Carolina A&T.
