The Herald-Sun/Mark Dolejs
NCCU Assistant Athletic Trainer Mike Essa (left) adjusts the helmet of football player Jason Jowers (right) at the school as players were fitted for equipment on Tuesday. 

By MIKE POTTER : The Herald-Sun
mpotter@heraldsun.com
Aug 2, 2006 : 12:15 am ET 

DURHAM -- Greg Pruitt Jr. found his lucky charm just minutes after reporting to preseason camp at N.C. Central. 

The senior running back, who is a preseason All-CIAA and Division II All-American pick in at least one publication after rushing for 1,172 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, was putting on an NCCU football T-shirt on Tuesday when he noticed an earring clamped to his right sleeve. 

"Man, I've been looking everywhere for this thing since last season," Pruitt said with a big smile as he and his fellow seniors picked up some of their gear in preparation for Friday's first full-team workout. 

"You ought to buy a lottery ticket," one bystander said. 

Pruitt and his teammates are starting preparation for their Aug. 26 opener at home against defending SIAC champion Albany State, knowing they may have been just a bit of luck away from a long run in the NCAA Division II playoffs last season. 

As it was, the Eagles got that elusive CIAA championship for the first time in 25 years, coming from a 17-0 halftime deficit and beating Bowie State 26-23 at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on a field goal in the closing seconds. 

That earned the Eagles their first spot in the playoffs since 1988 and a first-round bye before the ride ended on a last-second field goal in a 24-21 loss to North Alabama. And their 10-2 record was the best in school history. 

Depending upon whom you ask, expectations for improvement are either high or low. 

Street & Smith's Football has Rod Broadway's team ranked 

No. 3 nationally in Division II, while the CIAA's preseason coaches' poll put the Eagles second in the Western Division behind Fayetteville State. 

"We're not worried about that," Pruitt said. "Being picked second [in the CIAA]? I'm used to it. And that national ranking may be somebody setting a trap door for us." 

The Eagles will have 39 new faces out of their 93 players, with three more newcomers on the coaching staff. 

Mose Rison is the new offensive coordinator, replacing Darrell Asberry who will be in his first season as head coach at Shaw. James Spady is the new offensive line coach, replacing Rich McGeorge who is now assistant head coach on Asberry's staff. The new linebackers coach is Derrick Arnold, replacing Perez Boulware who now is defensive coordinator at Shaw. 

"It's West Coast," Pruitt said of Rison's offense. "But it's not difficult to learn. The good thing is that we'll all be learning it together." 

The Eagles had six players named preseason All-CIAA. One of the three on defense is junior Derrick Ray, a linebacker from Raleigh who led the team with 67 tackles including 34 for losses last season. 

"Of course it's an honor to be picked," Ray said. "It's a little bit of recognition. 

"But we're just looking forward to getting the season started. There are a few changes and it might take some time to adjust, but as close as this team was last year it should be easy." 

Broadway, who has never been prone to pumping up the hype, said his team will be ready for the opener and he doesn't want them paying much attention to anyone's rankings. 

"We've got a chance to be a pretty good football team," said the fourth-year NCCU mentor, who is 22-10 including 18-5 over the last 23 games. "Third in the nation? I don't know if we're that good right now. 

"We've got all those new players and I think we've done a good job of recruiting, but what you see on video isn't the same as putting together a lot of personalities and seeing what you can do on Saturdays. We're just going to try to get better every week."