Both North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central head coaches attempted to frame their team’s performance for the media on Monday, roughly 36 hours after a 42-point blowout in the HBCU rivalry game.
NCCU coach Trei OIiver said that he wasn’t trying to embarrass his rival in front of a sellout crowd at his home field on Saturday— it’s just the way the game worked out.
“I’ve never been that guy. Okay? But the way this game works is, you know, it’s the third quarter, and they are kicking onside kicks and throwing the ball every play. So they’re the ones extending the game,” Oliver said during the weekly MEAC coaches media call. “All right. So if that’s the case…I had my second and third-team quarterback. They’re true freshman in there. I’ve got to get these guys prepared if they need to start later on in the season.”
Over in Greensboro, NC A&T head coach Vincent Brown explained why he went for onside kicks in the third quarter after starting the second half down 40-12.
“I mean, you know, what are we supposed to do, lay down? You know, the last 12, 14 minutes of a game? No,” Brown told the media face-to-face. “We’re trying to build a team that has a competitive mindset, competitive spirit, and sometimes you don’t get a chance to execute those situational kicks. But once during the course of the season — practice — it’s very hard to replicate. So in that situation why not get on tape the things that you might need at some point later in the course of the season.”
The win was the third consecutive for NCCU under Oliver’s leadership — and by far the most definitive result.
“I don’t try to embarrass folks or run the score up, I know some comments made beforehand, but, I think Coach Brown is probably a really good dude,” Oliver said. “I don’t know him. I’ve only been around him a couple times, so I wasn’t trying to embarrass them or the program or nothing like that. But when you’re picking onside kicks in the third quarter, you know, it kind of makes it tough and a game can get out of hand.”
Oliver’s strait-laced delivery and demeanor have made for an increasing amount of entertaining soundbites for HBCU media in recent years. It’s something he’s aware of but is keeping in perspective.
“I’m passionate about what I do, and I’m passionate about my university, so I don’t try to talk trash and whatever the case may be,” Oliver said. “But if somebody comes for me or my university, I’m gonna hold it down, because if I don’t do it, who’s going to do it? So I don’t mean to come out as this villain or this bad guy, but, I’m holding it down for my school and my players. So, I don’t know. I apologize if I offend anybody. I don’t mean to. I just love my players. And I love my university.”
It is clear that this 100-plus year HBCU rivalry remains hot despite no longer being a conference game.