PEMBROKE – The legend of Moland ‘Big Mo’ Strickland continues with a scholarship dinner at 6 p.m. on Saturday at UNC Pembroke’s University Center Annex.

The Grid Iron Club and UNCP will sponsor the “Back to Football 2009” event, featuring Purnell Swett High School graduate and N.Y. Jets football player Kenwin Cummings.

The event is $50 per person and proceeds go to support Purnell Swett football and its three middle schools — Pembroke, Townsend and Prospect. Funds also go to the Big Mo Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded during the banquet.

For ticket information, please call (910) 738-1900.

Purnell Swett head football coach Mark Heil will discuss the coming season and show highlight films of the 2008 season. UNCP head football coach Pete Shinnick will award the Big Mo Scholarship.

A Harpers Ferry community native (near Pembroke), Cummings is a middle linebacker with the Jets. As a rookie, he led the team in tackles during pre-season in 2008 and was invited to return to camp this summer.

Cummings said the transition to professional football was an experience after playing NCAA Division II ball at Wingate University.

“The athleticism of the players and their knowledge of the game is the difference at this level,” Cummings said. “I’m looking forward to summer camp.”

It has been a full year of training for the young player.

“We take a short break after the season and begin heavy lifting and running,” he said. “I want to play a little lighter this season at 245, so I’ll be quicker on my feet.

“We’ve had several mini-camps already, and I’m taking a little break before working into top shape,” Cummings said.

Before there could be a Kenwin Cummings, there was a “Big Mo’ Strickland who played football at Pembroke High School UNCP during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Strickland was a legendary hard-nosed performer on the field and diehard Purnell Swett football supporter throughout his life. When he passed away, Purnell Swett named its football stadium in his honor.