“Passion and Strategy: Why NC Central Faces UNC on the Field” Money, recruiting, scouting — and pride
At 7 p.m. at North Carolina Central University’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, the sun sets in the background. In the distance, three members of the dance squad practice in matching white T-shirts and black leggings, while “bleacher coaches”—loyal neighbors who attend nearly every practice—fill the stands. Coach Trei Oliver humorously refers to the university’s administrative building as the “big big building,” pointing to the west side of the stadium.
When asked about his team’s finances, he laughs, saying, “That’s outside of my tax bracket. I coach football.” However, Oliver understands that finances are closely linked to his role. This upcoming Saturday, the Eagles will visit Kenan Stadium to face North Carolina, bringing with them a six-figure payout—a prime example of that connection.
NCCU Deputy Athletic Director Chris Jones commended Oliver for his scheduling, noting that games against teams like UNC significantly benefit the entire athletic department. A contract obtained by The News & Observer reveals that UNC is paying NCCU a $ 430,000 guarantee for their participation, signed by recent athletic directors from both schools in May 2022. “These are money games,” Jones remarked.
“They can really help balance the financial budget for the year.” UNC head coach Mack Brown emphasized that the NCCU-UNC game is a celebration of HBCUs, with honorary captains like the late Bishop Harris, Bill Hayes, and George Smith. Nevertheless, the financial stakes of the matchup are significant, much like UNC’s previous game against Florida A&M in 2022, where financial pressures compelled the injury-riddled Rattlers to make the trip to Chapel Hill.
The majority of Division I programs, including NCCU, have athletic expenses that exceed revenues. Athletic director Skip Perkins, who took office in June 2022, is confronting several financial challenges—such as a budget deficit, a less-than-favorable sponsorship agreement with Peak Sports, a $ 500,000 settlement with Duke Health, and unchecked recruiting costs that have ballooned over the years, according to a report from The Charlotte Post. Perkins did not respond to inquiries from the News & Observer for comments on the situation.
Like many FCS programs, the NCCU football team has seen an increase in funding. However, the overall budget for the athletic department has decreased by 12% from 2018 to 2023, now totaling 12.18million,whilespendingonfootballhasrisenby 700,000 during the same period, reaching $ 4.6 million in 2023. This has resulted in resource reallocations even while operating at a deficit, increasing pressure on the university to support its sports programs. Consequently, the football team must schedule games against higher-tier opponents like UNC to help sustain other sports at NCCU.
“We know they (UNC) obviously have a much larger budget and more scholarships,” Oliver noted. “That’s the reality of playing up. But we signed the contract because we’re excited to play. At the end of the day, football is football… we’ve won games in the past where we were outmatched. We recognize it’s tough, but we welcome the challenge.”
These Eagles earn everything through hard work. They practice on a single field, often spilling over onto the adjacent track, and their training sessions are held in their own stadium—without the luxuries of an indoor facility, fans to cheer them on, or booming instructions from a loudspeaker. There’s just Oliver with his whistle, a few coordinators and assistants, their players, and the culture they’ve created together.
Oliver, dressed in gray NCCU gear from head to toe, leans casually against an NCCU-branded golf cart, legs crossed, speaking comfortably after a midweek practice. He appears at home not just in his role but in the university itself; both his parents are NCCU alumni, and his father played football there in the 1960s. His wife, Yvette, is also a graduate of Central. As a former standout defensive back and punter, Oliver was appointed the program’s 24th head coach in December 2018. Over his four seasons (with the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19), he has guided the Eagles to a record of 29-18, culminating in a shared Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in 2022 and a victory over No. 5 Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl for the HBCU national championship.
“I love my school,” he remarked. “It’s not about the money … it’s about my people. People are starting to recognize North Carolina Central University.” However, especially for a school like NCCU, financial aspects cannot be ignored. Oliver can literally see the impact of success—new turf at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium was made possible by over $ 750,000 earned from winning the Celebration Bowl. “Everyone wants to be associated with a winner,” he said. “Since we’ve been successful, alumni have stepped up to support the program financially. We hope to maintain this winning momentum and keep that support coming.”
OLIVER ENGAGES ALUMNI, FANS
Phillip Umstead, 74, is one of those alumni who remains closely connected to the Central program. A former track athlete and football player, he frequently attends practices and contributes to the athletic department to support football scholarships. When Oliver was hired, he organized a meeting for alumni donors—both young and old—at the LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education and Recreation Complex. “He united us,” Umstead said. “We’ve all recognized the collective effort required. He has instilled that mindset at North Carolina Central University, generating excitement as we look forward to growth and development.”
This summer, Oliver spearheaded the return of the Eagle Express, a caravan-style tour designed to strengthen connections between NCCU athletics and alumni in key support regions like Durham, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C. Despite being busy with spring practices and camps, Oliver made it a priority to attend every stop on the tour, noted Jones. “Having Coach Oliver as an ambassador for our institution and football program is invaluable,” Jones said.
Looking ahead, NCCU plans to renovate its outdated locker room facilities, install a new scoreboard beyond the south end zone, and construct a football field house that will include coaches’ offices, a new weight room, and a training room. Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon has prioritized the football field house, according to Oliver. “We’re going to continue… one step at a time,” Jones stated. “We’ll keep moving forward, telling our story, and I’ll do everything possible to support Coach Oliver in achieving success.”
‘PAINT CHAPEL HILL MAROON’
When facing FBS programs, Oliver emphasized the need for NCCU to stay competitive from the start and avoid a repeat of last year’s game against UCLA, where the Eagles fell behind by 35 points in the first quarter and suffered a 59-7 defeat. “That’s exactly what we wanted to prevent,” Oliver remarked after that loss.
