North Carolina A&T–Winston-Salem State rivalry

North Carolina A&T–Winston-Salem State rivalry
North Carolina A&T Aggies Winston-Salem State Rams
NC A&T
WSSU
The rivalry is driven by the proximity of the two schools, as both are only 30 miles apart via interstates 40 & 85 and in neighboring Guilford and Forsyth counties.

The North Carolina A&T–Winston-Salem State rivalry was a series of athletic competitions between historic rivals North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Winston-Salem State University, both of which are located in the state of North Carolina. The intensity of the rivalry is driven by the proximity of the two schools, as both are only 30 miles apart via U.S. Interstate 40; the size of the two schools, as North Carolina A&T is the largest Historically Black College and University in the state and Winston-Salem State is the third largest; coaching personnel, and conference alignments, as both schools at one time were both members of either the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) or the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Although a less intense and bitter rivalry than that shared between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central University, both A&T and WSSU fans placed great emphasis on this rivalry.

Since Winston-Salem State's 2010 decision to discontinue the transition to the NCAA's Division I citing financial reasons, this rivalry has been placed on hold for the foreseeable future.[1]

Football

See also: North Carolina A&T Aggies football and Winston-Salem State Rams football
Football
Originated 1952
Series NC A&T leads 37-12-0
Highest Margin of Victory NC A&T 60, WSSU 0 (60 Pts)
1968
Highest Scoring Game NC A&T 60, WSSU 18 (78 Pts)
1963
Most Recent Game WSSU 21, NC A&T 14
September 4, 2010

The most prominent sport in the rivalry is football. The two teams have been competing against each other since 1952. In the most recent contest, Winston-Salem State defeated the Aggies in a 21-14 come from behind victory in North Carolina A&T's Aggie Stadium.[2] The two schools have played 46 times since 1952, with periods of time in the 1970s and early 2000s where the two teams did not meet. Since the beginning of the series, North Carolina A&T leads with an all time record of 35 wins to 11.

In the early years of the series, the A&T dominated Winston-Salem State with an 18 game winning streak from 1952 to 1969. In 1977, under the leadership of coach William "Bill" Hayes, Winston-Salem State earned their first win against the Aggies with a 33-14 victory.[3] Winston-Salem State has never earned more than 2 consecutive victories in the series against A&T. On September 12, 1981, Winston-Salem State was the first opponent to play in the then newly built Aggie Stadium. The contest was held in front of an overflow crowd of more than 23,000 fans.[4]

From 200 to 2005, the series was placed on hiatus. In 2006, Winston-Salem State defeated A&T 41-14 in Greensboro, bringing the all time record to 33-9 in favor of the Aggies. The September 1, 2007 contest set a Bowman Gray Stadium attendance record of 22,000 spectators in attendance. The game saw the Rams defeat the Aggies 28-7.

Football game results

NC A&T victories WSSU victories
Date Year Location Winning Team Winning Score Losing Team Losing Score Attendance Series Notes
October 25 1952 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 44 WSSU 0 unknown NC A&T 1-0
October 24 1953 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 26 WSSU 6 unknown NC A&T 2-0
October 23 1954 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 41 WSSU 0 unknown NC A&T 3-0
October 22 1955 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 32 WSSU 6 unknown NC A&T 4-0
October 20 1956 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 34 WSSU 13 unknown NC A&T 5-0
October 26 1957 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 41 WSSU 0 unknown NC A&T 6-0
October 25 1958 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 14 WSSU 12 unknown NC A&T 7-0
October 24 1959 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 23 WSSU 18 unknown NC A&T 8-0
October 22 1960 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 21 WSSU 6 unknown NC A&T 9-0
October 21 1961 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 27 WSSU 20 unknown NC A&T 10-0
October 20 1962 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 32 WSSU 6 unknown NC A&T 11-0
October 26 1963 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 60 WSSU 18 unknown NC A&T 12-0
October 24 1964 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 50 WSSU 12 unknown NC A&T 13-0
October 23 1965 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 30 WSSU 20 unknown NC A&T 14-0
October 22 1966 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 56 WSSU 0 unknown NC A&T 15-0
October 21 1967 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 54 WSSU 6 unknown NC A&T 16-0
October 26 1968 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 60 WSSU 0 unknown NC A&T 17-0
October 25 1969 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 37 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 18-0
September 3 1977 War Memorial Stadium WSSU 33 NC A&T 14 unknown NC A&T 18-1
September 2 1978 Bowman Gray Stadium WSSU 25 NC A&T 7 unknown NC A&T 18-2
September 1 1979 War Memorial Stadium NC A&T 14 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 19-2
September 13 1980 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 28 WSSU 21 unknown NC A&T 20-2
September 12 1981 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 21 WSSU 10 23,000[A 1] NC A&T 21-2
September 11 1982 Bowman Gray Stadium WSSU 21 NC A&T 14 unknown NC A&T 21-3
September 10 1983 Aggie Stadium WSSU 34 NC A&T 24 unknown NC A&T 21-4
September 8 1984 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 21 WSSU 5 unknown NC A&T 22-4
September 14 1985 Bowman Gray Stadium WSSU 34 NC A&T 25 unknown NC A&T 22-5
September 13 1986 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 28 WSSU 21 unknown NC A&T 23-5
September 12 1987 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 24 WSSU 10 unknown NC A&T 24-5
September 10 1988 Aggie Stadium WSSU 26 NC A&T 6 unknown NC A&T 24-6
September 9 1989 Bowman Gray Stadium WSSU 48 NC A&T 19 unknown NC A&T 24-7
September 8 1990 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 27 WSSU 21 unknown NC A&T 25-7
September 14 1991 Bowman Gray Stadium WSSU 13 NC A&T 10 unknown NC A&T 25-8
September 12 1992 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 21 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 26-8
September 11 1993 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 49 WSSU 21 unknown NC A&T 27-8
September 10 1994 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 53 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 28-8
September 9 1995 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 45 WSSU 21 unknown NC A&T 29-8
September 7 1996 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 31 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 30-8
September 6 1997 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 27 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 31-8
September 12 1998 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 20 WSSU 12 unknown NC A&T 32-8
September 11 1999 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 20 WSSU 7 unknown NC A&T 33-8
September 2 2006 Aggie Stadium WSSU 41 NC A&T 14 21,500 NC A&T 33-9Notes
September 1 2007 Bowman Gray Stadium WSSU 28 NC A&T 7 22,000[A 2] NC A&T 33-10Notes
September 6 2008 Aggie Stadium NC A&T 14 WSSU 8 21,500 NC A&T 34-10
September 5 2009 Bowman Gray Stadium NC A&T 19 WSSU 10 22,000 NC A&T 35-10
September 4 2010 Aggie Stadium WSSU 21 NC A&T 14 21,500 NC A&T 35-11

Notes

  1. The 1981 matchup was the first game played in the newly built Aggie Stadium.
  2. In 2007, A Bowman Gray Stadium attendance record was set with over 22,000 in attendance.

References