DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman hosts the first of three consecutive champions from each of the past two seasons, respectively, when the Wildcats host North Carolina Central to Municipal Stadium for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football contest in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
 
Bethune-Cookman vs. North Carolina Central
Oct. 1, 2016 | 4 p.m.
Municipal Stadium | Daytona Beach, Fla.
WELE Radio | WSOS Radio | WSIR Radio
 
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Bethune-Cookman 0-3 (0-1 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
N.C. Central 2-2 (1-0 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Web Stream: www.bcuathletics.com/watch/?Live=6
 
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/bethunecookman/football/
 
Game Day Hashtags
#BCUvsNCCU | #BeatNCCU | #ThinkPink2K16 | #PreyTogether
 
The Game
For the first time since 2009, Bethune-Cookman Football is 0-3 to begin the season. The Wildcats have suffered tough losses against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent North Texas, as well as non-conference foe Tennessee State and MEAC opponent Savannah State in overtime. In 2009, the Cats started the year 0-4, including three losses in MEAC play.
 
Bethune-Cookman sophomore Akevious Williams is expected to start under center at quarterback for the Wildcats, while senior signal caller Larry Brihm, Jr. is expected to see time off the bench. For B-CU, the Maroon and Gold have not lost its home opening game of an MEAC season since dropping a 26-18 decision against South Carolina State in 2011.
 
The Series
Bethune-Cookman owns a record of 6-1 all-time against North Carolina Central. In fact, after the Eagles took the opening game of the series back in 1994, B-CU has won each of the last contests, respectfully.
 
The Broadcasts
The game will be carried live on the CatEye Network at BCUathletics.com, while the CatEye Radio Network carries the contest via all three stations in the form of WELE 1380 The CAT, WSIR 1490 and WSOS 99.5 & 1170 with Nick Rice (play-by-play) operating alongside Larry Wesley (color), as new commentator Steve Allen (analyst) provides expert analysis from the team vantage point all in the press box.
 
The Coach
Head Coach Terry Sims is now in his second year at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman Football program. The Knoxville alum holds a record of 9-5 in Maroon and Gold, but is 1-0 in MEAC home-opening games, having defeated Savannah State a season ago inside Municipal Stadium aka The Cage.
 
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Daytona Beach – 86/71 (40% chance of rain). Durham, N.C. – 83/58.
 
#5Things
1. Bethune-Cookman will be seeking its first win of the season – the longest stretch of time for a season opening win since 2009.
2. Head coach Terry Sims is seeking his second consecutive MEAC home-opening win of a season as a collegiate head coach.
3. The Cats are looking to win their ninth consecutive MEAC game at home.
4. Sophomore quarterback Akevious Williams is scheduled to make his collegiate start under center for the Wildcats, while Larry Brihm, Jr. could also enter at any time.
5. Bethune-Cookman is seeking its seventh consecutive win against North Carolina Central.
 
FUN FACT
Aside from staff historian/writer Dan Ryan, the entire remaining Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications staff graduated from North Carolina Central University.
 
A WIN OVER NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL WOULD...
• Give Bethune-Cookman its first win of the 2016 campaign.
• Extend Bethune-Cookman's winning streak to seven games against the Eagles.
• Give B-CU it's ninth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win inside Municipal Stadium.
• Allow Wildcats' head coach Terry Sims to collect his 10th victory in charge of the Maroon and Gold.
 
SERIES NOTES...
• North Carolina Central won the first-ever meeting between the two teams back in 1994, claiming a 24-5 victory in Daytona Beach.
• Bethune-Cookman's average margin of victory against the Eagles in the current five-game winning streak is 18.6 points.
• The Wildcats have trailed or been tied at some point to NCCU in each of the last two meetings in Daytona
Beach.
• This marks the first time in the last three meetings that B-CU is not ranked in the FCS polls at the time of meeting the Eagles.
 
RETURN TO SENDER
• Redshirt junior punt return/receiver Frank Brown collected his first career punt return for touchdown at North Texas, securing an 88-yard return to put the Wildcats ahead of the Mean Green in the opening stanza.
• In that same game, defensive back Diquan Richardson stepped in front of a Mean Green pass and returned the interception 30 yards for a touchdown.
• It was the first game in which B-CU returned a punt and an interception for touchdown since defeating Savannah State in Augusta, Georgia in 2005.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS...
• Since 2000, Bethune-Cookman is 35-12 in regular season, out-of-conference contests, earning notable victories against the likes of Alabama State, FIU (2x) and Tennessee State, respectfully.
• Of the 12 losses in non-conference play, six have come against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including Florida State, Miami (3x), North Texas and UCF.
 
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