Winston-Salem State football isn’t just about a scoreboard on a Saturday afternoon at Bowman Gray Stadium. It’s actually a mood. If you’ve ever sat in those concrete stands, smelling the exhaust from the racetrack and hearing the "Red Sea of Sound" warm up their brass, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s loud. It’s proud. It’s a foundational piece of North Carolina sports history that somehow feels both ancient and brand new every single season.
A lot of people think Winston-Salem State football is just another Division II program in the CIAA. They’re wrong. This is the house that Bighouse built. It’s a program that has survived budget shifts, coaching carousels, and the dizzying move to Division I and back again. Honestly, the Rams are the heartbeat of the East Side.
The Bighouse Gaines Shadow is Real
You can’t talk about Winston-Salem State football without mentioning Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines. Yeah, most people know him for basketball—the man won 828 games and is a literal legend in the Naismith Hall of Fame—but his influence over the entire athletic department, football included, created a culture of winning that the school still chases today. He arrived in 1946 and stayed for nearly half a century. Think about that. He saw the world change and kept the Rams relevant through all of it.
That shadow is heavy. Coaches who come to WSSU aren't just compared to their predecessors; they’re compared to a standard of excellence that was set when the jerseys were wool and the helmets were leather. It’s a lot of pressure.
The 1970s and 80s were a golden era for the Rams. Bill Hayes, another name you’ve gotta know if you’re a real fan, took the reigns and turned the program into a juggernaut. We're talking back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in '77 and '78. That '78 team? They were monsters. They went 11-1 and basically put the CIAA on notice that Winston-Salem wasn’t just a basketball town.
The Bowman Gray Factor
Playing at Bowman Gray Stadium is weird. I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a NASCAR track. There is literally a quarter-mile asphalt oval surrounding the football field.
It creates this bizarre, intimate, and slightly chaotic atmosphere. The fans are right on top of you. When the Rams are rolling, that place vibrates. Critics say the university needs its own "real" stadium on campus, and yeah, maybe they do from a recruiting standpoint. But you lose something when you leave the Gray. You lose the history. You lose the smell of burnt rubber and the specific way the acoustics hit when the drumline starts a cadence.
Recruits notice it too. It’s one of the most unique home-field advantages in the country. If you’re a visiting quarterback trying to call a play while the Red Sea of Sound is blasting 20 feet behind your head and the local faithful are chirping from the front row, good luck. You're gonna need it.
The Great Division I Experiment (And Why It Failed)
We have to talk about the mid-2000s because it’s the elephant in the room. Around 2006, WSSU decided to make the jump to Division I (FCS). They wanted the big stage. They wanted the MEAC.
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It was a mess.
Basically, the school realized that the financial burden of D-I—scholarships, travel, facilities, compliance—was a massive mountain to climb. The Rams were "transitioning," which meant they were ineligible for playoffs for years. It killed the momentum. It hurt the fan base. By 2009, the university leadership looked at the books and made the hard call: go back to Division II.
It was humbling. But, surprisingly, it was the best thing that could have happened.
Returning to the CIAA in 2010 sparked a massive resurgence. Under Coach Connell Maynor, the Rams went on a tear. We’re talking about the 2011 and 2012 seasons where they went a combined 27-2. In 2012, they made it all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship game. They lost to Valdosta State, sure, but they proved that Winston-Salem State football belonged on a national stage, even if that stage wasn't Division I.
Why the Rivalry with A&T is Different
If you’re from North Carolina, you know about the "Aggie-Eagle" rivalry between NC A&T and NC Central. But for people in Winston-Salem, the real smoke is with the Aggies.
The WSSU vs. NC A&T game is a cultural event. Even when they aren't in the same conference, the game draws massive crowds. It’s a battle for the 336. It’s about bragging rights at the barbershop on Liberty Street. When these two teams meet, the records don't matter. It’s about speed, physicality, and who has the better halftime show. Honestly, the bands are half the draw. If you leave your seat at halftime, you've missed the best part of the day.
The Current State of the Program
Right now, Winston-Salem State football is in a rebuilding phase, or maybe "refining" is a better word. The CIAA is tougher than it used to be. Virginia Union is strong. Virginia State is always a threat. Fayetteville State has been the king of the Southern Division for a minute now.
The Rams are fighting to get back to that 2012 level of dominance. It’s hard. Recruiting has changed. The Transfer Portal and NIL have made it so that even D-II schools have to move like pro teams. Players who might have stayed at WSSU for four years are now being scouted by bigger programs after one good season.
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But there’s a grit in Winston-Salem that you don't find everywhere. The coaching staff is focusing on local North Carolina talent—guys from Forsyth County, Guilford, and Mecklenburg who grew up watching the Rams.
Recent Standouts and NFL Dreams
People forget that WSSU produces pro talent.
- William Hayes: Not the coach, the defensive end. He had a long, productive career in the NFL with the Titans and Rams. He’s famous for his "dinosaurs aren't real" comments on Hard Knocks, but on the field, he was a total beast.
- Blimp Levy: A 300-plus pounder who could move like a linebacker. He was a fan favorite and a nightmare for offensive lines.
- Khyree McLean and Joshua Flowers: More recent names that kept the defensive tradition alive.
The school doesn't just produce athletes; it produces "dogs." Guys who are used to playing with a chip on their shoulder because they were overlooked by the ACC or the SEC.
The Economic Impact of a Saturday
When Winston-Salem State football is winning, the city feels it. Go down to Fourth Street or Trade Street on a game weekend. The hotels are packed. The restaurants have hour-long waits.
The "Homecoming" at WSSU is arguably one of the biggest in the country for an HBCU. It’s a week-long festival that culminates in the Saturday game. Thousands of alumni descend on the city. It’s a multi-million dollar boost to the local economy. This is why the health of the football program matters to people who don't even care about sports—it’s a business engine for the community.
How to Actually Support the Rams
If you want to see this program get back to the top of the CIAA, there are things you can do that actually matter.
1. Go to the games. It sounds simple, but ticket sales are the lifeblood of D-II. Don't just watch the highlights on Twitter. Get a ticket, sit in the stands, and buy a hot dog.
2. Join the HORNs. The HORNs (Helping Our Rams Network) is the booster club. That’s where the money for better equipment, better travel, and better facilities comes from.
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3. Follow the recruits. Pay attention to who Coach Robert Massey and his staff are bringing in. Support these kids on social media. In the modern era, a strong "digital" fan base helps in recruiting.
4. Respect the Band. Seriously. The Red Sea of Sound is as much a part of the football experience as the quarterback. If you’re there for the game, stay for the 5th Quarter. It’s a show you won’t see anywhere else in sports.
What’s Next for the Red and White?
The road back to the national championship isn't going to be easy. The competition is fierce, and the resources are always tight. But Winston-Salem State has a habit of punching above its weight class.
They have the history. They have the fan base. They have the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium. Most importantly, they have a community that refuses to let the program fade into obscurity.
Next time you’re in Winston-Salem on a crisp October Saturday, do yourself a favor. Follow the sound of the drums toward the south side of town. Buy a ticket, find a spot on the metal bleachers, and watch the Rams play. You’ll realize pretty quickly that this isn't just a game. It’s a tradition that defines the city.
The Rams are still here. They aren't going anywhere. And honestly? They’re just getting started.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the current roster or check the upcoming schedule, your best bet is the official WSSU Athletics portal. Keep an eye on the defensive line this year; there's some serious speed coming off the edges that might just return the Rams to the top of the CIAA standings sooner than people think. Check the local Winston-Salem Journal for beat reporting that covers the nuances of the weekly practices—that's where you find the real stories before they hit the national wire.