DURHAM -- The late Dr. James E. Shepard, founder of what is now N.C. Central University, had a saying he'd repeat at large gatherings and special occasions to inspire the students. 

"The Eagle is no common, ordinary barnyard fowl," Shepard would say of the school's mascot. "And while a sparrow clings to its flock, an Eagle soars alone." 

That easily can be said of the university's athletics teams over the 2005-06 academic year. 

The Eagles, who will depart NCAA Division II for Division I in the fall of 2007, definitely have been soaring in the right direction. 

Sparked by the university's first CIAA football championship since 1980 and several outstanding women's teams, the Eagles set school records this year for both conference championships and NCAA playoff berths, with four of each. 

"From day one when I first got here, I spent a lot of time with the coaches talking about the value of talent and recruiting," said Athletics Director Bill Hayes, an NCCU alumnus who is the winningest college football coach in state history. He returned to his alma mater in the summer of 2003. 

"Sometimes coaching is overrated," he said. "You have to get the right kids in your program, and then you can teach them. If you bring in marginal recruits, you'll have marginal success." 

The football team under third-year coach Rod Broadway finished 10-2, with the best record in school history and the school's first conference championship in 26 years. 

That marked one of three conference titles in the fall, as Mike Lawson's women's cross country team won its first conference championship and Ingrid Wicker-McCree's volleyball squad was the CIAA champion and an NCAA invitee for the second straight year. 

"The success of the women's programs has been wonderful," said Wicker-McCree, who has been NCCU's senior women's administrator since 1998 and has coached three CIAA championship teams in volleyball and one in softball. "And all the success has been a testimony to the hard work of the student-athletes and the coaches. I can't say enough about the accomplishments this year." 

Driven by football 

The football championship got the most notice, as the Eagles were able to beat Bowie State for the CIAA title, then came within a whisker of beating playoff regular North Alabama at NCCU's O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. 

Both the championship win and the NCAA loss were decided by last-second field goals. 

"Football drives the ship," Hayes said. "Once the football team starts rolling, everybody else feeds off of it. One phrase I always use is, 'Lose yourself inside the team.' And when teams lose themselves within the program, good things happen." 

Charles "Stix" Futrell, a rising senior, was a key member of the Eagles' first football team since 1988 to make the NCAA playoffs. Then he moved over to the men's basketball team for his first season and made the CIAA's all-rookie team. 

"It meant a lot to us to win that [football] championship, especially since it was the first for Central in such a long time," said Futrell, who played both quarterback and wide receiver. "It took some weight off our shoulders. And we've definitely got the players we need to repeat." 

Four championships in one school year was a significant achievement for NCCU, he said. 

"This university is more than a lot of people make it out to be. We got to see the [basketball] women play a lot, and they were outstanding. I just wish the men's team could have been that good. But we've got everybody coming back and we've got a chance to be really good next year." 

Volleyball and track 

Volleyball has had a solid winning tradition, and took the repeat CIAA title at NCCU's McLendon-McDougald Gym with most of the football team in the stands just a few hours after the football team won its championship a stone's throw away. 

"It was great to see the football team do what it did," rising senior utility player Latoya Tate said. "And women's sports are really big here now. We're getting recognition and that it itself is a lot." 

Added rising senior middle hitter Shatoya Cantrell, "It means a lot to win a championship. The season was challenging, but it was great to come together and be the 'Queens of the CIAA.' I want to win more championships while I'm here." 

The women's cross country team won its CIAA championship at Cary's SAS Soccer Park -- a year after the men's team had done the same thing on the same course. 

Leading the way was diminutive Yolanda Barber, who repeated as individual champion. 

"It meant a lot to me," the rising junior said of the championship. "This year we were able to do it as a team. We're going to try to win every year from now on." 

The running sports had a solid year, with the men's indoor track team finishing sixth at the NCAA Division II nationals. 

'Good for the school' 

The winter sport that really grabbed attention was women's basketball. Coach Joli Robinson's team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time since 2001 and advanced to the second round. 

The Eagles were led by the school's all-time leading scorer, Cassie King, who is looking forward to one more shot at glory in her coming senior season. 

"It's good that softball and football and volleyball and cross country were able to do the things they did this year," King said. "We want to get a championship, too. I was following the football team the whole way, hoping they could pull it out." 

Moving to Division I will make things better, she said. 

"The accomplishments of women's sports here have been amazing," King said. "For us, it was really exciting to get back to the NCAA Tournament. We know our AD wants us to be the best, and when we win, it's not just good for the team, it's good for the school also." 

The softball team, under coach Larry Keen, has qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time and will travel to regional play next weekend. 

Clarisse Steans, who was CIAA player of the year in 2005, already holds school career records for wins and strikeouts. 

"Anything we can accomplish as a team is good," said Steans, a double-major in physics and engineering. "We want to represent the school to the best of our ability." 

With that school spirit and success on the recruiting trail, Hayes hopes for more success for the overall program over the coming years. 

"I really think we all challenge each other," Hayes said.