Saturday night in Durham was not only a showdown of two proud HBCU football programs — it was also the first time North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T met under their respective new chancellors.
Dr. Karrie Dixon was named chancellor at North Carolina Central just a few weeks before Dr. James R. Martin was named to the same post at North Carolina A&T.
Dr. Dixon posted a video on Monday in the wake of her team’s dominant win over it’s rival HBCU squad.
The video began with a shot of Dr. Martin sitting in a vehicle on the way to the game being asked if his Aggies would win.
“If there was ever such a thing as winning, then it defined by what we do today at Central,” Martin said smugly. “It’s not a question of winning — it’s a question of how much we’re going to win and how long people will remember it. That’s my answer.”
That clip was followed by a SpongeBob Squarepants graphic that denoted “six-and-a-half hours later.”
A smiling Dr. Dixon appeared inside the press box at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
“You’re definitely right about one thing,” Dixon said as the scoreboard flashed the 66-24 final score. “This is a score you will never forget. Eagle Pride — Amplified.”
It was a cute introduction to the two presidents’ of the largest HBCUs of the five in the UNC System. Dr. Dixon came to her post at NCCU after a stint at Elizabeth City State in which she was known as an avid supporter of the sports programs there. She has clearly brought that enthusiasm with her east as she settles in at North Carolina Central.
Dr. Martin, meanwhile, got an introduction to the intensity of the rivalry.