WSS

U Jemarcus McClinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Lamar Monger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Donald Simms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Jamar Slocum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91WSSUs 2008-09 Opponents Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Eastern Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Wake Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 UC-Santa Barbara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Illinois State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Nicholls State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 South Carolina State . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 North Carolina State . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 North Carolina Central . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Averett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Old Dominion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Columbia Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Maryland-Eastern Shore . . . . . . . . . . 100 Delaware State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Hampton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 North Carolina A&T . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Norfolk State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Florida A&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Bethune-Cookman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Coppin State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 About the Opponents . . . . . . . . . . . 104

2007-08 Statistical Review Team Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106-114 MEAC Final Statistics . . . . . . . . 115-116 Season in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Games in Review . . . . . . . . . . . 118-132

WSSU Basketball History Year by Year Results . . . . . . . . . 134-145 Year by Year Leaders . . . . . . . . 146-148 Career Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . 148-149 Single Season Bests . . . . . . . . . 149-150 Single Game Bests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Legends of WSSU Basketball Clarence E . Gaines . . . . . . . . . . 152-153 1967 National Championship . 154-155 The WSSU Millennium Club . . 156-157 Black Magic Earl Monroe . . . 158-160

Media Information Media Credentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Important Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 WSSURAMS .com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Electronic Media Regulations . . . . . . 165 Primary Media Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Staying in the Triad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

The WSSU Experience This is WSSU Basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Bahamas Tour 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 A Nationally Recognized University . . 4-5 Championship Academics . . . . . . . . 6-7 A Nike & Russell School . . . . . . . . . . . 8 National Media Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Nationally Ranked Opponents . . . . .10-11 A Dominating Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A Potent Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Basketball Game Day . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15 WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse . . . . . . 16-17 Rams in the Community . . . . . . . 18-19 Exceptional Sports Medicine . . . . . . . 20 Speed, Strength and Conditioning . . . 21 First Class Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . 22-25 The Red Sea of Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Spirit and Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Big Game Rivalries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Rams in the Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Earl The Pearl Monroe . . . . . . . 30-31 Clarence Big House Gaines . . . 32-33 1967 National Championship . . . . . . 34 Amon Booster Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 The MEAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Teams of the MEAC . . . . . . . . . . . 37-38

About WSSU WSSU History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-41 Campus Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Winston-Salem, N .C . . . . . . . . . . . 43-45 Chancellor Donald Julian Reaves . . . . 46

WSSU Department of Athletics Dr . Chico Caldwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Tonia Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Merlene Aitken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Chris Zona/J .R . Pringle . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Athletics Staff Directory . . . . . . . . . . 52 WSSUs Division I Reclassification . . . 53 Office of NCAA Compliance . . . . . . 54 2007-08 Athletics Year in Review . 55-57

Basketball Coaches & Support Staff Head Coach Bobby Collins . . . . . 60-63 Associate Head Coach Ken Spencer 64 Assistant Coach Murray Garvin . . . . 65 Assistant Coach Tim Wells . . . . . . . . . 66 Basketball Support Staff . . . . . . . . 67-68

Meet The 2008-09 Rams WSSU CoSIDA Quick Facts . . . . . . . 70 WSSU Rosters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Television/Radio Photo Roster . . . . . 72 2008-09 Season Outlook . . . . . . . 73-74

WSSU Player Profiles McIntoche Alcius . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-77 Paul Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79 Jamal Durham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81 Brian Fisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-83 Corey Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84-84 Julian Murphy-Long . . . . . . . . . . . . 86-87 Isiah Tucker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88-89 Michael Bonner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Diontae Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Table of Contents

LETTERWINNERS RETURNING (7) Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ht . . . . . Wt . . . . . Pos . . . . . . . Cl . . . . . PPG . . . RPG Jamal Durham . . . . . . . .6-6 . . . . 215 . . . . . F . . . . . . . Sr . . . . . 12 .2 . . . . 5 .6 Brian Fisher . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . 178 . . . . .G . . . . . . Jr . . . . . . 9 .1 . . . . 3 .4 Isiah Tucker . . . . . . . . . .6-1 . . . . 180 . . . . .G . . . . . . So . . . . . 6 .2 . . . . 1 .9 Paul Davis . . . . . . . . . . .6-9 . . . . 195 . . . . . F . . . . . . . So . . . . . 5 .8 . . . . 6 .1 McIntoche Alcius . . . . .6-8 . . . . 230 . . . . . F . . . . . . . So . . . . . 1 .4 . . . . 1 .5 Corey Morris . . . . . . . 6-10 . . . . 255 . . . . .C . . . . . . So . . . . . 1 .3 . . . . 0 .8 Julian Murphy-Long . . . .6-9 . . . . 215 . . . . . F . . . . . . . Sr . . . . . . 1 .2 . . . . 0 .8

NEWCOMERS (8) Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ht . . . . . . .Wt . . . . . . Pos . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hometown Michael Bonner . . . . . . 6-5 . . . . . .230 . . . . . . G . . . . . . . . . . Hertford, N .C . Shelton Carter* . . . . . . 6-5 . . . . . .195 . . . . . . G . . . . . . . Greensboro, N .C . Diontae Gibson . . . . . . 6-2 . . . . . .180 . . . . . . G . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchfield, Va. Lamar Monger . . . . . . . 6-0 . . . . . .185 . . . . . . G . . . . . . . . . . .Ahoskie, N .C . Jemarcus McClinton . . . 6-3 . . . . . .175 . . . . . . G . . . . . . . . . . . .Chester, S .C . Stephon Platt* . . . . . . . 6-7 . . . . . .215 . . . . . . .F . . . . . . . . .Laurinburg, N .C . Donald Sims . . . . . . . . . 5-11 . . . . .170 . . . . . . G . . . . . . . .Thomasville, N .C . Jamar Slocum . . . . . . . . 6-4 . . . . . .210 . . . . . . .F . . . . . . . . . . . Clayton, N .C . * - Will sit out the 2008-09 season as a redshirt .

ABOUT THE MEDIA GUIDE This is your copy of the 2008-09 media guide for Winston-Salem State University mens basketball. The Office of Athletic Media Relations hopes it will make your job of covering the Rams easier and more factual . If you desire additional information, feel free to contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations in person in the C.E. Gaines Center, Office Suite #108, or via phone at (336) 750-2143 or (336) 750-2909 .

CREDITS The 2008-09 Winston-Salem State University mens basketball media guide is a publication of the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations. It was produced with Adobe InDesign CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, and Adobe Illustrator CS3 .

Writing/Editing - The 2008-09 WSSU mens basketball media guide was written by Chris Zona, WSSU Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations and Trevin Goodwin, WSSU Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations .

Layout The 2008-09 WSSU mens basketball media guide design and layout was done by Brent Albritton of Zero Gravity Design Associates of Winston-Salem, N .C . with assistance from Kevin ONeill and Jim Olson .

Editorial Assistance Jennifer Landes and Trevin Goodwin; Jim Olsen, Kevin ONeill and Brent Albritton of Zero Gravity Design Associates; Sigrid Hall, Rudy Anderson and Jackie Foutz of the WSSU Office of Marketing and Communications .

Other Assistance Casey Hough of Visit Winston-Salem.com for photographs of the city of Winston-Salem and the surrounding municipalities .

Chief Photography Provided by Garrett Garms, Winston-Salem State University Photographer of the WSSU Office of Marketing & Communications.

Additional Photos Mark Sutton of Marks Digital Photography, Charlie Pfaff of All-Star Photo, Wayne Jernigan of Photosouth-Pro, Bobby Parker of All-Pro Photo, Bruce Chapman, Floyd Taylor of Positive Image, Johnny Wilson of Photographic Creations by Wilson, and Bill Sheffield of William Sheffield Photography. Winston-Salem, N.C. photos courtesy of Casey Hough of Visit Winston-Salem .com .

Printing - LuLu Press, Inc of Morrisville, North Carolina . Online, on-demand printing of this 2008-09 mens basketball media guide is available through LuLu.com and is accessible through the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURAMS .com . A special thank you to Michelle Robie for her assistance in the printing of this publication .

Special Thanks - To all the CIAA, MEAC, and other non-conference Directors of Sports Information that assisted in compiling information and materials used in this guide . Any corrections to this guide should be directed, in writing, to WSSU Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations, Chris Zona .

Additional Copies - Available for $20 each through the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations . Call (336) 750-2143 for details .

GENERAL School Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winston-Salem State University City/State/Zip Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winston-Salem, N .C . 27110 Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1892 Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,557 School Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red & White Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rams Mascot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amon the Ram (III) Home Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LJVM Coliseum Annex Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,200 Alternate Home Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LJVM Coliseum Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,665 Alternate Home Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .E . Gaines Center Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,200 Press Row Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (336) 416-7220 Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NCAA Division I (Transitional) Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Chancellor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Donald J . Reaves Athletic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr . Percy Chico Caldwell Athletic Department Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (336) 750-2141 Athletics Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www .WSSURams .com

HISTORY All-Time WSSU MBB Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,066-638 (62 Seasons) Conference Titles (CIAA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Title Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1953, 57, 60, 61, 63, 66, 70, 77, 99, 00 NCAA Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One (1967 NCAA Division II) Years in Post-Season Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 (NCAA Division II) Last Conference Finals Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000-01 Result . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CIAA Champion Last NCAA Division II Tournament Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004-05 Result . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WSSU 59, USC-Upstate 63 (Round of 64)

WSSU ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS Asst . AD for Media Relations/MBB Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris Zona Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (336) 750-2143 Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . zonac@wssu .edu Asst . Athletic Media Relations Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trevin Q . Goodwin Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (336) 750-2909 Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . goodwintq@wssu .edu

Athletic Media Relations Mailing Address: WSSU Department of Athletic Media Relations 200 C .E . Gaines Center Winston-Salem, NC 27110

COACHING STAFF Head Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bobby Collins Alma Mater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eastern Kentucky, 1991 Record at WSSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-42 Career Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-99 Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . collinsbl@wssu .edu Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (336) 750-2140 Associate Head Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken Spencer Assistant Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Murray Garvin Assistant Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Wells

TEAM INFORMATION 2007-08 Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-18 2007-08 Home Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5 2007-08 Road Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12 2007-08 Neutral Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Letterwinners Returning/Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/7 Starters Returning/Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2 Newcomers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 (6 active)

STARTERS RETURNING (3) Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ht . . . . Wt . . . . . Pos . . . . . . . Cl . . . . . PPG . . . RPG Jamal Durham . . . . . . . .6-6 . . . . 215 . . . . . F . . . . . . . Sr . . . . . 12 .2 . . . . 5 .6 Brian Fisher . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . 178 . . . . .G . . . . . . Jr . . . . . . 9 .1 . . . . 3 .4 Isiah Tucker . . . . . . . . . .6-1 . . . . 180 . . . . .G . . . . . . So . . . . . 6 .2 . . . . 1 .9

OFFICIAL 08-09

On The Covers

Front Cover: WSSU senior forward Jamal Durham in action against Wake Forest University . Foreground photo and background image courtesy of Garrett Garms, WSSU Photographer in the WSSU Office of Marketing and Communications.

Inside Covers: WSSU head mens basketball coach Bobby Collins; senior forward Jamal Durham; junior guard Brian Fisher; senior forward Julian Murphy-Long; sophomore forward Paul Davis; sophomore guard Isiah Tucker; sophomore forward McIntoche Alcius, and sophomore center Corey Morris .

Back Cover: The 2008-09 WSSU mens basketball schedule accompanies an image of WSSU head coach Bobby Collins addressing his team during a time out .

Meet The 2008 Rams

Returnees

McIntoche Alcius #42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Paul Davis #24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Jamal Durham #21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Brian Fisher #3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Corey Morris #44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Julian Murphy-Long #50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Isiah Tucker #5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Newcomers

Michael Bonner #23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Diontae Gibson #4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Jemarcus McClinton #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Lamar Monger #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Donald Simms #12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Jamar Slocum #34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

This is... WSSU BASKETBALL

One of the top public liberal arts universities in the South

A Division I basketball program on the rise

A 2008 Bahamas Tour participant

A member of a competitive basketball conference

A team receiving national media exposure

Alumni in the National Basketball Association and playing overseas

Unparalleled gameday atmosphere at the C.E. Gaines Center and the LJVM Coliseum Complex

OFFICIAL 08-09

First-class basketball facilities

A support staff committed to the success of the student-athlete

One of the most livable cities in America with great weather all year long

A campus of champions with 10 conference basketball championships

A University with deep and rich tradition and spirit

Big game rivalries and quality nationally ranked opponents

This is... WSSU BASKETBALL

1

The Winston-Salem State University mens basketball team traveled to Nassau, Bahamas this past summer for a four-day foreign tour which saw the Rams play a pair of exhibition games versus club and professional teams .

The Rams took advantage of an NCAA rule that allows for a basketball program to schedule a foreign tour and play in an early tournament once every four years .

WSSU was allowed to practice for 10 days prior to its departure for the Bahamas on August 29 as the Rams prepared to face a pair of club teams with members of the Bahamian National Team on them .

Despite the stiff competition, the Rams earned a split on their tour of the Bahamas as they fell, 85-82 to the Bahamas Select and defeated the Cybots Bahamas All-Stars, 79-75 . Senior forward Jamal Durham tallied a career-high 28 points in the loss while junior transfer Diontae Gibson scored 17 points in the victory .

The foreign tour, organized by the Basketball Travelers, Inc ., was not all work for the Rams, however, as student-athletes, coaches and support staff enjoyed their trip with a stay at the Sheraton Resort on historic Cable Beach . A four-star all-inclusive resort, the Rams enjoyed picturesque views on a white sand beach, dined on freshly prepared meals and enjoyed water sports and beach volleyball .

The Rams next foreign tour will be in the summer of 2012 to an as-yet-to-be-determined location .

2008 WSSU Basketball

Bahamas TourAug. 29 - Sept. 1

OFFICIAL 08-092

2008 WSSU Basketball

Bahamas Tour

3

OFFICIAL 08-09

A Nationally Recognized University

Ranked by U.S. News and World Reports Best Colleges and Universities publication as one of the best public liberal arts colleges in the south for the last seven years .

The present day Winston-Salem State University has come a long way from its humble beginning as Slater Industrial Academy in 1892 . WSSU now enrolls nearly 6,000 students, offers bachelors degrees in nearly 43 academic majors, masters degrees in 10 programs and employs nearly 250 full-time faculty and 400 full-time staff members .

WSSUs low student:faculty ratio of 18:1 encourages personal attention and one-on-one interaction between teachers and students helping to foster students quest for knowledge and create an interpersonal relationship between faculty and students .

Enter to learn, Depart to serve, is the motto of Winston-Salem State University . With a shared vision of academic excellence, the students, faculty and administration of WSSU work together to create a sense of community and a nurturing atmosphere in order to promote leadership and responsibility .

WSSU placed 78th among all universities in conferring baccalaureate degrees to African-American men and women in the most recent ranking of the Top 100 Degree Producers by the respected publication Black Issues in Higher Education .

WSSU placed 36th among all universities in conferring baccalaureate degrees in Computer and Information Science to African-American men and women according to the most recent ranking of the Top 100 Degree Producers by the respected publication Black Issues in Higher Education .

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WSSU placed 40th among all universities in conferring baccalaureate degrees in the Social Sciences to African-American men and women according to the Top 100 Degree Producers study .

WSSU ranks 37th among all universities in conferring Health Sciences baccalaureate degrees to minority students according to the most recent ranking of the Top 100 Degree Producers by the respected publication Black Issues in Higher Education .

With WSSUs focus on cutting-edge technology all WSSU entering freshmen are required to bring or purchase a desktop and personal data assistant (PDA), or laptop, or PC tablet that meets the Universitys Technology Requirement Initiative (TRI) specifications. WSSUs campus is completely wireless with three computer labs in the Virginia K. Newell Academic Computer Center, as well as at least one computer lab per residence hall . Students have the opportunity to engage in computing anywhere, anytime at WSSU .

With approximately 100 clubs and organizations, life on campus is what students make it . Whether they march in the WSSU band, work on the yearbook, join a fraternity or sorority, sing in the WSSU Choir or play intramural sports, students have many great ways to interact, make new friends and have fun .

There are a variety of campus traditions that keep the spirit and energy of Winston-Salem State University going strong . From new student and freshman activities to homecoming to International Week, Black History Month, Greek Week, Career Day and the Coronation Ball, there are plenty of campus traditions to make a students time here truly memorable .

5

The WSSU Department of Athletics prides itself on a strong commitment to the academic success of the student-athletes, giving student-athletes an opportunity to not only play their chosen sport at the highest level, but also allow the student-athlete an opportunity to take advantage of the wealth of academic opportunities that are available .

The WSSU Office of Athletics-Academic Services provides support to WSSUs 300-plus student-athletes and helps them realize higher academic achievement along with a higher level of maturity and self-responsibility .

WSSU is consistently recognized for its outstanding student-athlete graduation rates . The national average for student-athletes is 68 percent . Since 2003, WSSU has graduated an impressive 80 percent of its basketball players on schedule .

Over the last two seasons nearly 30 percent of scholarship basketball student-athletes have earned a grade point average of 3 .0 or better in either the fall or spring semesters, or both .

Over the last two seasons 10 WSSU basketball student-athletes have been named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioners All-Academic team .

The average cumulative GPA for WSSUs student-athletes over the 2007-08 academic year was an impressive 2 .61 .

71 Winston-Salem State University student-athletes earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3 .0 in the 2007-08 academic year .

Four Winston-Salem State University student-athletes carried perfect 4 .0 grade point averages at the conclusion of the 2007-08 academic year .

Championship Academics

OFFICIAL 08-096

7

The 2008-09 season marks the third year for the Rams at the NCAA Division I level and will again continue to usher in a new age of basketball history for Winston-Salem State University . The transition from Division II to the nations highest level of intercollegiate athletic competition at the NCAA Division I level will require changes and improvements to nearly every facet of the basketball program, with the uniforms that the players wear being no different .

The Rams, as part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, have partnered with world-renowned corporate entities Russell Athletic and Nike to help outfit their teams. As part of the partnership between Nike and Russell Athletic, the MEAC, and the 12 conference member schools, each institution receives complimentary uniforms from Russell Athletic and an allotment of footwear from Nike, the worlds most esteemed footwear brand . The 2008-09 season marks the third consecutive year that the Rams have participated in this partnership and the Rams will again wear apparel and footwear from the pair of industry leaders .

From its beginnings in 1902, Russell Corporation has prided itself on the quality and value of its products -and on its commitment to its employees and the communities where it operates . Russell has long been a company that is able to take advantage of changes in the marketplace, changes in technology, and changes in its products . Building on its heritage as an athletic company, Russell has become a global leader in the sporting goods industry with apparel and equipment for all levels of activity - from the playing fields of major colleges to the backyards of homes across the country .

With its well-known brands such as Russell Athletic, JERZEES, Spalding, Moving Comfort and a variety of technically designed running shoes from Brooks Sports, Russell Corporation has the products to meet the needs of the serious athlete to the weekend warrior - and everything in between . That is why the Rams and all 12 members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, as well as over 500 other NCAA member institutions choose Russell Athletic for all of their uniform and apparel needs .

The Rams, like all other college basketball programs in the NCAA, will wear dark colored jerseys on the road and light colored jerseys at home . The Rams will wear a scarlet red (PMS 199) road jersey with white taping for all road games . The dri-power jerseys will

feature tackle-twill numbers on the front and back with name plates adorning the back of the jersey . The Rams athletic mark will be embroidered on the front placket, and the MEAC logo will emblazon the left chest . The 2008-09 season will see the Rams unveil a new road uniform designed by Russell Athletic . The game jersey is composed of 86 percent nylon and 14 percent spandex and is a loose-fitting jersey designed to help control overheating with a state-of-the-art moisture management system .

WSSUs home jersey will be a white Russell Athletic dri-power top with red taping . The home jersey is nearly the mirror opposite of the road jersey with tackle-twill numbers on the front and back with name plates adorning the back of the jersey . The Rams athletic mark will again be embroidered on the front placket and the MEAC logo will emblazon the left chest . The 2008-09 season will be the second season of use for the Rams home jersey which is also designed by Russell Athletic . The home game jersey is composed of 86 percent nylon and 14 percent spandex and is also a loose-fitting jersey designed to help control overheating with a state-of-the-art moisture management system . The Rams also possess a third color alternate jersey that is identical to the home and road jerseys with the exception of being black in color (PMS Black) .

The footwear of choice for the Rams will be emblazoned with the world-famous Nike Swoosh . Nike, Inc . operates on six continents with suppliers, shippers, retailers and service providers employing close to one million people . The diversity inherent in such size is helping Nike evolve its role as a global company . Nike, Inc . is committed to an attitude whereby they see a bigger picture today than when they started, one that includes building sustainable business with sound labor practices . Nike, Inc . retains the zeal of youth yet acts on their responsibilities as a global corporate citizen . As a direct result of these future-minded business practices, Nike, Inc . has become the worlds largest supplier of footwear to the NCAA and currently holds a market share near 65% .

The Rams will wear up to five different models of footwear in 2008-09 including, but not limited to, the Nike Powermax TB, Nike Hyperdunk, Nike Zoom Soldier II TB, Nike Shox Slam TB, and the Nike Air Bizness . As long as the Rams continue to stay on the cutting edge of athletic performance, they will wear Nikes cutting-edge footwear and Russell Athletic uniforms .

A Nike &Russell School

OFFICIAL 08-098

The Rams are a high profile team that receive local, regional and national media attention in print, on the Internet, and on the radio and television .

Over the past five seasons, the Winston-Salem State University mens basketball team has appeared on television five times and has posted a 2-3 mark when doing so . The Rams have appeared on live television in all five of those contests.

Winston-Salem State University athletic teams have appeared on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, BET, Fox Sports Net, MASN (the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network), the NFL Network, and MediaComm over the past five seasons.

As part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference television partnership, the WSSU football and mens and womens basketball teams appear on television at least one time each during their regular seasons .

In 2007 WSSU football defeated Florida A&M by the score of 27-23 in the 2007 Circle City Classic at the RCA Dome in a game aired live on the NFL Network . The broadcast marked the first college game ever shown on the NFL Network .

In 2008-09 the Rams will host a pair of nationally televised mens basketball contests as they face Morgan State (Feb . 7) and Bethune-Cookman (March 2) on ESPNU HD .

In 2003, the WSSU football team defeated arch rival North Carolina Central by the score of 47-0 in a nationally-televised contest that was shown live on Black Entertainment Television (BET) .

With a first-class athletic website and a partnership with CBS Sports Online, WSSURAMS .com receives over 10,000 hits a month and hosts over 1,000 unique visitors each day .

National Media Exposure

9

Over the past two seasons WSSU has played

OFFICIAL 08-0910

NationallyRanked

OpponentsThe Rams belong to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a nationally-recognized competitive basketball conference that is witness to ultra-competitive league play . However, the Rams also play a very challenging non-conference schedule in which the Rams face many of college basketballs elite programs .

The 2006-07 season saw the Rams travel to Auburn, Alabama to face the Tigers of Auburn University, members of the SEC .

The Rams face the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest every year in a cross-town rivalry game between two teams that are separated by less than five miles. The two teams share a home venue (the LJVM Coliseum) several times each season .

WSSU faced the nationally-ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana on Nov. 29, 2006 in the Rams first trip to Notre Dames storied campus .

The Rams faced the Hoyas of Georgetown on Dec . 16, 2006 as WSSU took on a Georgetown team that would advance to the Final Four that same season .

WSSU faced 11th-ranked Kansas at storied Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas on Dec. 19, 2006 in WSSUs first-ever trip to the State of Kansas.

WSSU faced the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech in 2006-07 and will again face the Wramblin Wreck in 2008-09 in WSSUs season-opener .

The Rams faced the Wildcats of Kansas State University and number two overall NBA Draft Pick Michael Beasley in a nationally-televised game from Manhattan, Kansas last season .

WSSU faced the Tarheels of the University of North Carolina in an exhibition game during their National Championship season in 2005 . The Rams played at the Dean Smith Center on the campus of UNC to open a season in which the Heels won their fourth national title .

The 2006-07 season saw the Rams face teams from 13 different conferences with notable games versus the ACC, SEC, Big East, Big 12, WAC, SWAC, MEAC and CAA .

The Rams have faced the Bulldogs of Fresno State University in back-to-back seasons as WSSU traveled to Fresno, California in 2006-07 and welcomed the Bulldogs to Winston-Salem, N .C . in 2007-08 .

11

OFFICIAL 08-09

The Rams pride themselves on defensive dominance as WSSUs shut-down defensive scheme is a key component in Head Coach Bobby Collins transition-based offense .

WSSU forced their opponents into a pair of three-second violations, a trio of five-second closely-guarded calls, one 10-second violation, and seven shot clock violations in 2007-08 with their high pressure defense .

WSSU returns their top two rebounders from last season as Paul Davis and Jamal Durham will again be keys in the Rams lineup in 2008-09 . Davis led the team in rebounding 11 times last season while Durham led the team in boards nine times .

As a team, the Rams tallied 39 charges on the year for an average of 1 .3 charges per game with nine different WSSU roster players recorded multiple charges .

WSSU recorded 249 steals last season as the Rams averaged 8 .3 takeaways per game . Opponents of the Rams were forced into 500 turnovers last season for an average of 16 .7 turnovers per game .

As a team, the Rams gave up only 67 .6 points per game, good enough to rank WSSU in the top half of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in scoring defense .

WSSU would have ranked third in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense last season as the Rams allowed their opponents to shoot only 43.1 percent from the field.

The Rams recorded 10 or more steals 10 times in 2007-08 and posted a 7-3 record when doing so .

A Dominating Defense12

The Rams possess a fast-paced offense that relies heavily upon transition baskets and a high-tempo scheme that simply outworks WSSUs opponents .

WSSU averaged nearly 63 points per game as the Rams ranked in the top half of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in scoring .

The Rams tallied 62 dunks in 2007-08 as Jamal Durham accounted for 30 dunks and Paul Davis chipped in with 14 .

Head Coach Bobby Collins offense stresses ball movement as eight different players led the Rams in scoring at least once last season .

The Rams scored 495 points off of turnovers last season for an average of 16 .5 points off of turnovers per game .

WSSU recorded 380 second chance points (12 .7 points per game) and tallied 173 fast break points (5 .8 points per game) .

The 2008-09 Rams return 57 percent of the teams offense as WSSU welcomes back players responsible for scoring 1,062 of last seasons total of 1,876 points .

Forward Jamal Durham, a player who led the Rams in scoring 12 times, and rebounding nine times returns for his senior season in 2008-09 .

The Rams offense is a well-rounded unit that recorded 792 points in the paint (26.4 ppg) and hit more than five three-point field goals in 14 games .

A Potent Offense13

OFFICIAL 08-0914

The Rams play their home games at any one of three of the most impressive basketball venues in the nation as WSSU calls the C .E . Gaines Center, the LJVM Coliseum and the Coliseum Annex home.

WSSU will play home games at the C .E . Gaines Center on the campus of Winston-Salem State University several times in 2008-09 . The 3,200-seat arena, bearing the namesake of legendary WSSU coach Clarence Big House Gaines, puts Ram fans right on top of the action .

The Rams will face their biggest rival, the North Carolina A&T Aggies at the LJVM Coliseum, one of the most beautiful basketball facilities in America . The 14,665-seat venue has seen WSSU take on cross-town rival Wake Forest, Fresno State, Hampton, Howard, MD-Eastern Shore and a host of others .

The LJVM Coliseum will serve as the home for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament for the next three years beginning in 2009 . The venue has also hosted the NCAA Mens Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds four times (1993, 1997, 2000 and 2007) .

WSSUs primary home is the Coliseum Annex, a 4,200-seat venue that the Rams call home . WSSU posted a 9-5 record at home in 2007-08 including a 71-63 win over MEAC-leading North Carolina A&T in front of a sold out crowd .

The Rams five largest attended games in WSSU history have come in the last three seasons as WSSU has renewed rivalries with and played host to long-time foes and drew the largest single-game crowd in history when they defeated North Carolina A&T 71-63 on Feb . 23, 2008 in front of more than 4,200 fans .

All three of WSSUs basketball venues have been described by WSSU head mens basketball coach Bobby Collins as: Very difficult places to play. Each of the three venues possesses its own characteristics and nuances and they are all very difficult places for our opponents to get wins . The venues are great college basketball arenas and the Ram fans and their passion for this team and for their university is unparalleled . The fans, our sixth man, makes the difference, no matter where we call home .

The C .E . Gaines Center is an on-campus facility that saw its first action in 1971. The 3,200-seat venue is owned by Winston-Salem State University and is managed by the WSSU Department of Athletics .

The LJVM Coliseum and Coliseum Annex are owned and operated by the city of Winston-Salem, and sitting only a short three miles from the main WSSU campus are a convenient location for Ram fans and WSSU students . Shuttles to and from campus are made possible by a joint venture between the WSSU Department of Athletics, WSSU Office of Student Affairs and the City of Winston-Salem .

Basketball Game Day - An Unparalleled Atmosphere

15

The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics recently opened a state-of-the-art 20,992 square foot athletic fieldhouse which was welcomed by an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in May of 2008.

The five-million dollar building was designed by Carlos Espinosa of Thomas H . Hughes Architecture, P .C . and was built by Triad Builders of King, North Carolina under the guidance of Project Manager, Aric Bullington and Superintendent, Doug Boelsche .

The fieldhouse houses all of WSSUs football, sports medicine, and athletic administration offices as well a pair of general-use offices, two skyboxes, and over 4,000 square feet of meeting space .

Perched atop of the back of the fieldhouse is the newest and most advanced video board in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference . With a total cost approaching nearly $400,000 dollars, the board was assembled by Texas Star Solutions and manufactured by Lighthouse . The Rams video board is built to the same exacting standards as a pair of Lighthouse video boards that adorn Qwest Field in Seattle, the home of the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL .

The fieldhouse is the home of Winston-Salem State University football with a cutting-edge pair of locker rooms, training rooms, and a 4,000 square foot speed, strength and conditioning training facility .

Adjacent to the fieldhouse, the Rams are putting the finishing touches on their new practice facility which will be home to a full 100-yard grass football field and a 50-yard next generation FieldTurf surfaced practice field.

The focal point of the new WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse is the 1,600 square foot hospitality room that sits adjacent to the open-air, full-length deck with accommodations for over 400 VIPs and guests of WSSU football .

Also included in the fieldhouse are offense and defense meeting rooms with a state-of-the-art video editing software system for breaking down game film. Each assistant football coach has access to video playback capability in their individual offices.

WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse

OFFICIAL 08-0916

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Student-Athletes at Winston-Salem State University have full calendars: classes, labs and study groups plus practices, workouts, and team meetings. Nonetheless, most WSSU student-athletes find time in their schedules to reach out to their community and prepare for life after their athletic careers at WSSU are over . The Rams and Lady Rams are extremely active in the community . From youth reading programs to after school activities, the student-athletes at WSSU are constantly giving back to their communities .

CHAMPS/Life SkillsCHAMPS (CHallenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success) was implemented in NCAA institutions beginning in 1994 . The CHAMPS/Life Skills program was created to improve and enhance the student-athlete experience within their selected communities . The program was founded at Winston-Salem State University in 1998 and is under the guidance of Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Tonia Walker .

The purpose of CHAMPS/Life Skills is to prepare student-athletes for their life after athletics, says Tonia Walker, WSSUs CHAMPS/Life Skills Director . The student-athletes help to mentor youth in the community, thereby strengthening not only their bond with the community but the communitys bond with the students and athletes of WSSU .

The CHAMPS/Life Skills program has five commitments for the establishment of a well-rounded student-athlete . Those commitments include academics, athletics, career development, personal development, and community service. It is through those five areas that the program works to develop not only quality student-athletes, but also exceptional individuals .

Student-Athlete Advisory CouncilCHAMPS/Life Skills offers student-athletes the opportunity to enhance their experience as Rams through leadership opportunities . In addition to community activities, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program has a Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) that meets once a month to discuss issues dealing with the welfare of the student-athletes .

The SAAC consists of one representative from every varsity sport at WSSU, with the exception of football, which is represented by two student-athletes . Each team is guaranteed one seat on the Council . The council is governed by a constitution and is student-athlete led .

Involvement in the CHAMPS/Life Skills program is voluntary, yet each year over 150 WSSU student-athletes participate . In 2007-08, CHAMPS/Life Skills members volunteered more than 800 hours, reaching thousands of local children .

Rams In The Community

OFFICIAL 08-0918

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All Winston-Salem State University student-athletes receive first-class care from the WSSU Sports Medicine staff which is comprised of a team of certified athletic trainers, family practice physicians, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine consultants, and a group of undergraduate students who are completing clinical experiences in the Department of Human Performance and Sport Sciences .

The Sports Medicine program at WSSU is closely associated with the WFU Baptist Medical Center Department of Sports Medicine . As a result, all injured student-athletes at WSSU receive immediate attention from physicians with the highest credentials .

The Winston-Salem State University Sports Medicine philosophy is two-fold: to assist in preventing injuries through effective seasonal and research-oriented programs, and to facilitate an aggressive post-injury total-body rehabilitation program for a timely return to competition .

In all cases, the ultimate total well being of each student-athlete is the top priority . WSSUs aggressive and functional approach encompasses a wide array of Sports Medicine consultants . Several rehabilitation programs may include osteopathic manual medicine, exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanical evaluations, sports psychiatry, massage therapy and orthopedic surgeons .

The WSSU Sports Medicine staff is comprised of certified athletic trainer and Director of Sports Medicine, Darrell Turner, M .Ed ., ATC, LAT; Sarah Muslim, M .S ., ATC, LAT, COCS; Felicia Tucker, M .S ., ATC; Sharron Elliott, M .S ., ATC, CSCS; Dr . Cristin Ferguson, M .D ., team orthopedic surgeon; Dr . Daryl Rosenbaum, M .D ., team physician, and Dr . Heath Thornton, M .D ., team physician .

The most important aspect of the Sports Medicine program is the athletes . At WSSU we utilize a family approach where we try to provide the athletes with the same exceptional level of healthcare that we would want our own family to receive, Director of Sports Medicine, Darrell Turner, M .Ed ., ATC, LAT said .

ExceptionalSports Medicine

OFFICIAL 08-09

Darrell TurnerHead Athletic Trainer

Heath ThorntonTeam Physician

Felicia TuckerAssistant Athletic Trainer

Cristin FergusonOrthopedic Surgeon

20

Much of what it takes to become a successful student-athlete at Winston-Salem State University begins in the weight room .

Mike Ketchum, Winston-Salem State University footballs Defensive Coordinator also serves double-duty as the WSSU Athletic Departments strength and conditioning advisor . Ketchum, with the cooperation of WSSU Director of Sports Medicine, Darrell Turner M .Ed ., ATC have implemented a strength and conditioning program that challenges each and every player to the utmost . It is the goal of Ketchum and Turner to help each student-athlete at WSSU maximize their athletic potential while adding speed, strength, and size .

Under the direction of both Ketchum and Turner, the WSSU Strength and Conditioning program has adopted an aggressive attitude in making a commitment to winning . This commitment applies to the teams efforts on the fields and courts of play and to the teams hard work and dedication in the weight room .

To fulfill this commitment, Winston-Salem State University has completely remodeled its athletes-only Whitaker Strength and Conditioning facility .

Inside the 3,800 square foot facility there are nine workstations that each include a power rack, Olympic lifting platform, squat stand, bumper and a complete weight tree . As well, the facility houses two complete sets of dumbbells from 10-125 pounds, a 0-90 degree utility bench, chin-up bars and a dip rack .

The Rams also make use of the new 4,000 square foot WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse weight room that contains 10 Hammer Strength power stations, six Olympic dead lift stations, a full complement of dumbbells from 10-125 pounds, a neck machine and a new, state-of-the-art treadmill .

These tools afford Winston-Salem State University student-athletes the opportunity to maximize their athletic potential .

Both Ketchum and Turner are constantly monitoring the progress of WSSU student-athletes as well as tailoring sport-specific strength and conditioning programs in order to fully take advantages of the innovations in their developing field.

Speed, Strength & Conditioning

21

First Class FacilitiesWinston-Salem State University student-athletes have the privilege of playing in some of the finest quality facilities in the nation . From the lush green playing surface at Bowman Gray Stadium to the premium quality hardwood adorning the C.E. Gaines Center, the LJVM Coliseum and Coliseum Annex to the unparalleled quality of the WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse and football practice facility, WSSU athletes have access to the finest athletic resources in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Winston-Salem State University football team plays its home games in the friendly confines of nearby Bowman Gray Stadium. Constructed in 1948, Bowman Gray Stadium is owned by the city of Winston-Salem and is located one block from the Winston-Salem State University main campus . The stadium holds 18,000 fans for exciting Winston-Salem State Rams football games each fall .

For concerts and special events, Bowman Gray Stadium holds more than 25,000 fans . Every Saturday night from spring until football season in the fall, Bowman Gray features the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series . Seating is available for 20,000 race fans, with most races selling out . Races begin at 8:00 p .m . every Saturday evening, with gates opening at 6:00 p .m .

Bowman Gray Stadium and Winston-Salem State University football are both local legends that attract multitudes of fans on a regular basis . The Rams have been playing at Bowman Gray stadium since the 1946 season

and have amassed a record of 42-24-1 at home since head football coach Kermit Blount took over as Head Coach of the Rams in 1993 . The stadium was also host to Wake Forest University football until the cross-town Deacons moved into Groves Stadium in 1968 .

The stadium houses a natural grass field and an impressive 3,748 square-foot, dual-level, press box. A new $5.1 million fieldhouse was completed in May of 2008 following an 18-month construction process that began following the 2006 football season. The old fieldhouse which stood at Bowman-Gray Stadium for the better part of two decades was removed and a new, state-of-the-art 20,992 square foot athletic fieldhouse was welcomed in an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in May of 2008 .

The five-million dollar building was designed by Carlos Espinosa of Thomas H . Hughes Architecture, P .C . and was built by Triad Builders of King, North Carolina under the guidance of Project Manager, Aric Bullington and Superintendent, Doug Boelsche .

The fieldhouse houses all of WSSUs football, sports medicine, and athletic administration offices as well a pair of general-use offices, two skyboxes, and over 4,000 square feet of meeting space .

Perched atop of the back of the fieldhouse is the newest and most advanced video board in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference . With a total cost approaching nearly $400,000 dollars, the board was assembled by Texas Star Solutions and manufactured by Lighthouse . The Rams video board is built to the same exacting standards as a pair of Lighthouse video boards that adorn Qwest Field in Seattle, the home of the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL .

Measuring 18 feet high and 18 feet wide in the viewable area, the newest generation hi-definition LED display has the capability to reproduce over 16 million colors and is the crowning jewel which sits atop of the Rams state-of-the-art athletic fieldhouse.

Bowman Gray Stadium

OFFICIAL 08-0922

The Clarence E . Gaines Center, known to most as The Gaines Center is one of the trio of sites in which the Winston-Salem State University mens and womens basketball teams compete . It serves as not only a competition site, but as the primary practice facility for both the Rams and Lady Rams, in addition to being the home site for the WSSU womens volleyball team .

What was once considered to be state-of-the-art is now deemed too small for the larger than capacity crowds that both the mens and womens basketball teams generate . While the Gaines Center seats over 3,200 persons, the majority of games have sell-out attendance, prompting the Rams and Lady

Rams recent moves to the LJVM Coliseum and Coliseum Annex .

The Gaines Center is a very hostile place for visiting teams to play, and the Rams and Lady Rams very seldom lose in its friendly confines amassing a home winning percentage near 70 percent for the last decade .

The playing surface, constructed of premium quality hard wood, is resurfaced every year to optimize playing conditions . When fans pack into the Gaines Center to watch WSSU take on opposing teams, the gymnasium becomes a sea of raucous fans, and the temperature inside rises to nearly unbearable levels in the facility which does not have air conditioning .

Originally planned to be a classic Division II arena, the Gaines Center was constructed in 1971 and hosted its first basketball contest in November of that same year . Named after legendary WSSU basketball coach and the NCAAs fifth winningest coach ever, Clarence E . Gaines, and adorned with rows of championship banners hanging from the ceiling, the Gaines Center is a testament to the tradition and history that is Winston-Salem State basketball . Plans for a new 6,500-seat basketball arena/convocation center are in development with construction slated for the 2010-11 academic year .

The Clarence E. Gaines Center

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One of the newest arenas in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and one of the most beautiful basketball facilities in the country is the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum with a capacity to seat 14,665 fans .

The facility has served as the part-time home of Winston-Salem State University basketball since 2002 and has been home to WSSU basketball more frequently with the Rams transition to the NCAA Division I level . Though the facility is owned by the city of Winston-Salem, with the major tenant being the cross-town Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University, the Rams and Lady Rams play a large portion of their home schedules at the LJVM Coliseum every season.

Since its opening in 1989, the Joel Coliseum has hosted many nationally-known entertainment acts, a wide variety of university and community affairs, and a number of professional and amateur sporting events that have brought the focus of the entire country to the city of Winston-Salem . The coliseum is owned and operated by the city of Winston-Salem, and only through a cooperative effort from civic and corporate leaders did the facility become a reality .

A wonderful basketball facility, the LJVM Coliseum has played host to the CIAA

Basketball Championship and the NCAA Mens Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds (1993, 1997, 2000 and 2007) . It also played host to a prestigious Davis Cup tennis match between the United States and India. The facility hosted the first and second rounds of the 2007 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship in March of 2007 marking the fourth time that the arena has hosted this event .

In June of 2008 the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced that the MEAC Basketball Tournament would be played at the LJVM Coliseum for the next three years, marking the second conference championship played in the arena in the twenty-year history of the facility .

Lawrence Joel Coliseum was actually almost two decades in the making . Twice during the 1970s (1976 and 1979), the voters of Winston-Salem rejected bond proposals that would have led to the replacement of the aging memorial coliseum . In December of 1984, however, the process was renewed again, and this time the plan was approved . A citizens committee determined the best size for the proposed facility, as well as a plan for an adjacent annex that could be used to supplement the calendar of events anticipated .

That annex, referred to as the LJVM Coliseum Annex, is used by the Rams for basketball in addition to the C.E. Gaines Center and the LJVM Coliseum . The total cost for the facilities was estimated at $26 million .

The new coliseum was named for Lawrence Joel, the only native of Winston-Salem, N .C . who has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nations highest combat award . Joel, an Army medic who passed away in 1984, was recognized for saving the lives of 13 fellow soldiers during a Viet Cong attack north of Saigon in 1965 . Although twice wounded in the legs by enemy machinegun fire, Joel crawled across the battle area for more than 24 hours, administering aid to his comrades . Nearly 500 other Forsyth County veterans who gave their lives for their country in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Grenada Invasion, and the Persian Gulf War are also honored in the unique memorial at the entrance of the coliseum .

Ground was broken on April 23 of 1987, and work was completed on Aug . 28, 1989 with a dedication ceremony that officially announced the opening of what now is the LJVM Coliseum Complex .

LJVM Coliseum/Coliseum Annex

OFFICIAL 08-0924

With the transition to NCAA Division I, the Rams and Lady Rams have experienced tremendous growth within the athletic department . New staff positions, additional coaches, increased scholarships and improvements to athletic facilities have all added to the overall student-athlete experience at Winston-Salem State University and have translated into success on the field and in the classroom.

While the new WSSU athletic fieldhouse was completed this past May and the WSSU tennis complex was completed just prior to the fieldhouse opening, the Rams and Lady Rams refuse to rest upon their laurels and the WSSU Department of Athletics will be welcoming groundbreakings on two additional athletic department facilities projects as the Lady Rams softball team and the mens and womens track

and field teams will witness the building of their new homes as well .

Located adjacent to the new WSSU tennis complex, the mens and womens track and field team will receive a completely new, state-of-the-art track and field facility which will house an eight-lane rubberized running track, high jump and long jump pits, pole vault, hammer throw and javelin stations and will house a 100-yard football practice field.

The new track and field facility will allow the Rams and Lady Rams to continue their dominance on the track and is slated for completion prior to the outdoor track and field season in the spring of 2009 .

As well, the lady Rams softball team will see a brand new, state-of-the-art softball stadium

being built adjacent to the track and field facility with plans to add a neighboring baseball facility in the coming years . The site for the new softball facility is the old Civitan Park location where the Lady Rams have enjoyed years of softball success en route to earning four conference softball titles .

The improvements in facilities for WSSU student-athletes is possible through the generous donations and endowments of alumni, fans, and supporters of WSSU athletics . With the help of everyone in the Ram Nation, WSSU will continue to be an athletic power, one that carries on the tradition of excellence that has long been associated with Winston-Salem State University .

Additional Facility Upgrades

25

As exciting as WSSU football and basketball games are, the experience would not be complete without the Winston-Salem State University Red Sea of Sound marching band .

Records have determined the existence of an instrumental music program at Slater Industrial Academy (now Winston-Salem State University) as early as 1933 . The ensemble was known as the Slater Industrial Academy Orchestra .

In 1925, Slater Industrial Academy became known as Winston-Salem Teachers College. The first tangible efforts in the direction of starting a band came between the years of 1937-1941 . During this four year period, a group of young college students organized a musical group and named themselves the Teachers College Collegians . The Teachers College Collegians performed and played primarily dance music .

Between 1943 and 1944, in an effort to stimulate growth and development with the band, the Winston-Salem Teachers College National Association created the Band Project, a fund raiser for the band program . The Association raised $1,507 .25 to purchase eighteen (18) instruments for the band program . During that time the band played at chapel services each week .

The colleges first band was organized in 1945 under the direction of music instructor Hamlet Goore . Mr . Goore served as band director until 1950 . During the five-year period spanning from 1945 to 1950 the organization made tremendous progress .

During the 50s and early 60s, not much information exists concerning the Winston-Salem State Teachers College Band . It is known that in 1966 or 1967, the band was under the direction of Mr . Harry Pickard .

In 1969 the band was under the baton of Dr . Fred Tanner . At the end of the 1969-70 football season, the band was presented with an award for being the Biggest Sound in the CIAA . Many

notable achievements occurred during the early and late 1970s which include:

A half-time performance for the Baltimore Colts 1971

Participation in the Afro- American Day Parade New York City, 1974

A performance for the arrival of President Jimmy Carter, 1976

Participation in the RJR Rodeo Parade

Participation in the parade for the new Masonic Lodge, Winston-Salem

In 1972, Winston-Salem State College became known as Winston-Salem State University . The notoriety of the band program excelled during Dr . Tanners career and the WSSU band became nationally recognized as one of the best instrumental ensembles in the country .

The program changed hands several times after Dr . Tanner relinquished the position . The most notable change occurred in 1994 when Mr . Emory Jones became the band master . Mr . Jones is a 1971 graduate of WSSU and he devoted ten untiring years to the WSSU band program . In his honor, The Emory Jones Endowed Scholarship in Music has been established .

The Winston-Salem State University Band is now under the direction of Dr . Michael Magruder . His no-nonsense approach to the band and primarily to the sound philosophy of the band has transformed the entire instrumental band program at WSSU .

In the three years under Dr . Magruder the band program has continued moving forward . A quality sound along with a comprehensive musical philosophy has seen the WSSU band continue to grow and develop . The change has been significant, however future endeavors will undoubtedly be witness to the greatness which is yet to come .

The Red Sea of Sound

OFFICIAL 08-0926

Spirit & Tradition

The pride of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference are the Winston-Salem State University cheerleaders, one of the finest competitive cheerleading squads in the nation .

WSSU Red Team cheerleaders lead the crowds at all WSSU football and mens basketball games while the WSSU White Team cheerleaders entertain the masses and create a highly charged atmosphere at all WSSU womens basketball contests .

The Winston-Salem State University cheerleading squads made history on March 15, 2008 with a dynamic performance at the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cheerleading Championship where they captured second-place team honors .

Alma Mater:As we go forth from Old State U ., A song of love we sing to thee And praises to thy memory Of days at State University Thy sons and daughters bring thee fame Through knowledge which we here have gained Exultingly we praise thy name, Oh Winston-Salem State University

As we go forth from Old State U ., Good leaders we will always be And stand for all humanity As you have taught us State University

In all we do we shall proclaim To all the world the enduring fame As we go forth we praise thy name Oh Winston-Salem State University

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Rams vs. EaglesWSSU and North Carolina Central storied rivalry that dates back to the 1945 season. Since then, the two teams first began a rivalry that has seen the two teams meet every season except for four in the history of the two programs . The Rams versus Eagles rivalry is second only to WSSUs rivalry with N .C . A&T .

WSSU and North Carolina Central are separated by only 87 miles of Interstate 40 as the campus of NCCU is located in Durham, N .C .

The Rams and Eagles, both former members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), have multiple conference championships, and both schools have earned NCAA National Championships in mens basketball .

The two teams met at the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship tournament in the MEAC Tournament Bonus Game on Championship Saturday . The Rams and Eagles will again face one another on Championship Saturday in 2009 in Winston-Salem, N .C . at the LJVM Coliseum.

Rams vs. AggiesThe long-standing rivalry between the Rams and the Aggies is a bitter one that dates back to the two teams first meeting in 1947 . The Rams transition to NCAA Division I has welcomed a renewal of the rivalry that had taken a 10-year hiatus from 1998 until 2008 .

WSSU and N .C . A&T are separated by only 31 miles of Interstate 40 as the Rams call Winston-Salem home while the Aggies campus is in Greensboro .

The two teams have met twice every season for nearly the entire history of both programs . With the Rams transition to NCAA Division I play and membership in the MEAC, the rivalry is renewed with a pair of conference matchups between the two schools each season .

The Rams vs . Aggies rivalry dates back to a time when both institutions were members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) .

North Carolina A&T and WSSU split a pair of meetings last season as each team won at home in contests that were sold out well in advance of game day .

OFFICIAL 08-09

The Winston-Salem State University Rams seem to play a rivalry game every time they take to the court as conference play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a heated affair, no matter the opponent .

However, there are some rivalries that run deeper than others with none greater than the pair of in-state rivalries that pit the Rams versus the Aggies of North Carolina A&T and the Eagles of North Carolina Central .

Big Game Rivalries28

On August 8, 2008, Winston-Salem State Ram forward Darrell Wonge became the second former WSSU student-athlete to sign a professional contract during the summer of 2008 when he signed a contract to play basketball for the Tsusho Toyota Eagles in Nagoya, Japan .

Im just happy that I got the opportunity to live out my dream of playing professional basketball, Wonge said . It was nerve-wracking at first especially after a number of other opportunities fell through, but Im very grateful for the opportunity that Ive received .

A 6-6, 210-pound forward, Wonge was noticed at a players showcase where dozens of players from both major and mid-major schools displayed their skills for a number of professional teams . The Fighting Eagles compete in the JBL2 League where the team recorded a 14-2 record during the 2007-08 season .

During his career, Wonge totaled 845 points at Winston-Salem State with 408 career rebounds . Wonge enjoyed a breakthrough season as a senior when he averaged a career-best 10 .7 points per game and pulled in a career-high 150 rebounds for the season . A versatile player, Wonge also dished out 89 career assists and tallied 74 career steals .

Wonge is the second former Ram to sign a professional sports contract in as many months with former WSSU defensive end William Hayes signing with the Tennessee Titans in July . Wonge departed for Japan on September 1, 2008 and is currently in the midst of his first professional season.

Rams in the Pros29

Earl The Pearl MonroeOFFICIAL 08-09

30

His high school teammates at John Bartram High School called him Thomas Edison because of the many moves he invented . His nicknames include Earl The Pearl, Black Magic, and his Philadelphia nickname, Black Jesus .

A two-time All-America selection for the Rams

Led WSSU to the 1967 NCAA National Championship

Was the second pick overall in the 1967 NBA Draft where he was selected by the Baltimore Bullets

Named the 1968 NBA Rookie of the Year

Named to the 1969 All-NBA First Team

Earned an NBA Championship in 1973 as a member of the New York Knicks

Was named an NBA All-Star four times (1969, 1971, 1975, 1977)

Named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990

Was named to the NBAs 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996

Is credited as the inventor of the spin move

Was a feature in, and coproducer of, last years BLACK MAGIC, an ESPN original production .

Earl The Pearl Monroe

Vernon Earl The Pearl Monroe rose to prominence playing basketball at Winston-Salem State University, a college career that he parlayed into a successful 13-year career in the National Basketball Association . Under the coaching of legendary Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Clarence Big House Gaines, Monroe averaged 7 .1 points per game his freshman year, 23 .2 points per game as a sophomore, 29 .8 points per game as a junior and 41 .5 points per game his senior year en route to becoming the Rams all-time leading scorer with 2,935 total points . In 1967, he earned NCAA College Division Player of the Year honors and led the Rams to the NCAA College Division Championship .

31

OFFICIAL 08-09

Clarence Big House GainesClarence Big House Gaines was a national coaching legend at Winston-Salem State University where he led the Rams to 18 20-win seasons and guided WSSU to eight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) titles . In 1967, he led WSSU to a 31-1 record and coached the Rams, and future NBA star, Earl The Pearl Monroe, to an NCAA Championship, making the Rams the first basketball program from a historically black college or university to capture an NCAA national championship .

Gaines was named the CIAAs coach of the year a record five times during his 47-year coaching career at WSSU . Over the span of those 47 seasons, Gaines

compiled an overall record of 828-447, good enough to place fifth in wins in NCAA history behind Bob Knight (Texas Tech, Indiana and

Army), Dean Smith (North Carolina), Adolph Rupp (Kentucky), and Jim Phelan (Mount Saint Marys) . He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982 .

Coach Gaines, the history-making coach, athletic administrator, mentor and friend passed away on April 18, 2005 at the age of 81 and has been missed by the WSSU family every day since .

Clarence Big House Gaines is the fifth-winningest NCAA basketball coach of all-time .

Coach Gaines is the winningest African-American NCAA basketball coach of all time .

32

Winningest NCAA Basketball Coaches1 . Bob Knight (Army, Indiana, Texas Tech) 902 victories

2 . Dean Smith (North Carolina) - 879 victories

3 . Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) - 876 victories

4 . Jim Phelan (Mt . St . Marys) - 830 victories

5 . Clarence Big House Gaines (WSSU) - 828 victories

Led the Rams to the 1967 NCAA Basketball National Championship

Guided WSSU to eight conference basketball championships (CIAA)

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982

Cleo Hill Former WSSU & NBA StarHe was a like a father to so many, and if you had a problem you could go to him, and he helped you out, Hill said . And he even helped you out after you were done playing there . He helped all of us as student athletes - athletically, academically and socially .

Earl The Pearl Monroe Former WSSU & NBA StarHe was Winston-Salem as far as all of us are concerned, Monroe said from New York, where he starred for the Knicks in the 1970s . He was somebody who never left Winston, and his heart was in Winston and with that university . Coachs legacy will be more about how he helped create men and women while they were at Winston-Salem State . Coach knew that we all needed to get our diplomas so we could have careers outside of basketball . What I will remember most is that we were so close and played so well together - its something that Ive never had on a team before or since .

33

The Winston-Salem State University Rams have a long-standing history of athletic excellence, garnering awards and athletic achievement at both the Conference and National levels . This excellence is most prominent in mens basketball where they earned WSSUs only national championship as head coach Clarence Big House Gaines and the legendary Earl The Pearl Monroe led the Rams to the 1967 National Championship .

The Rams finished the 1967 season with only one loss as WSSU recorded an impressive 31-1 record .

The Rams defeated three ranked teams in the NCAA Tournament to capture the title as WSSU defeated #6 Akron, #2 Kentucky Wesleyan and #5 Southwest Missouri.

Earl Monroe led the Rams in scoring in the tournament with scoring outputs of 34, 49, 29, 23 and 40 points .

The MVP of the NCAAs College Division Finals, Monroe was named to the All-Tournament Team .

Playing for legendary head coach Clarence Big House Gaines, the 1967 National Championship marks the only team title in WSSU history .

1967 National Championship

OFFICIAL 08-0934

With WSSUs transition to NCAA Division I and the cost of fielding championship-winning

athletic programs ever-increasing, the Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics is in

need of the support of alumni, fans, and friends of Winston-Salem State University Athletics as they continue to further the national prominence of both the University and the Athletic Department .

It is the goal of the Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics to consistently fill the Rams and Lady Rams athletics venues in the pursuit of athletic excellence as well as to provide the services and support necessary for WSSU student-athletes in their pursuit of their goal of higher education in the classroom .

The Amon Booster Club serves as the platform for increasing the number of student-athlete scholarships and operational resources necessary for a top-quality Division I athletic program . The Amon Booster Club also enhances the visibility of loyal donors and community stakeholders of the WSSU Athletics program .

Through the generous support of current Amon Booster Club members the remarkable student-athletes of Winston-Salem State University, along with their skilled coaches, have achieved tremendous victories for the university .

The continued success of these student-athletes will be achieved with the support of the current, and future, Amon Booster Club members .

The funds generated from the Amon Booster Club will be used to continue to recruit student-athletes and staff members of the highest standards of professionalism, sportsmanship, integrity, skill and behavior .

The funds will be used in the most efficient manner possible to maintain state-of-the-art facilities for our student-athletes in their pursuit of both athletic and academic excellence. With the financial gift of loyal Amon Booster Club members it enables the WSSU Department of Athletics to provide student-athletes with an education from one of the best universities in the nation .

Annual Giving Levels

Championship Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20,000 +

MVP Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,500 +

Fast Break Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,000 +

Hole-In-One Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 +

Fifth Quarter Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 +

Young Graduate Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 +

Current Student Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20 +

Championship

Clarence Jones, Jr .*

Wanda Jones*

Curtis Richardson*

Earline Richardson*

Harden Wheeler*

Janet Wheeler*

MVP

Kelvin Farmer*

Tammy Farmer*

Edna Sigers*

Johnny Sigers*

Annie Sherard*

Reginald Sherard*

Kelvin Walton*

Johnny Hunter

Victor Johnson

Merdis McCarter

Fast Break

Jakay Ervin, Sr .

Gordon Everett, Sr .

Mildred Griffin

Peyton Hairston, Sr .

Willis Johnson

Veronica Jones

Godfrey Laws

Harold Martin, Sr .

(Fastbreak Cont)

Elizabeth Newton

Verndene Pettiford

Otis Sellers

James Shaw

Clark Stewart

Betty Terry

Spurgeon Webber

Claudette Weston

Harry Williams*

Billy Williams*

Victor Bruinton*

Sheree Bruinton*

Paige Cherry*

Yvette Cherry*

Cleveland Ellison*

Marlene Ellison*

Donald Faison*

Patsy Faison*

LaVerne Gaither*

Clark Gaither*

Verlia Haynes*

Charles Haynes*

Jacqueline Hill*

Rudy Hill*

Annie Lindsay*

Elmo Lindsay*

Andre Mallette*

Mary Mallette*

Paulette Marshall*

Walter Marshall*

George Packenham*

Ruthie Packenham*

Samuel Puryear*

Barbara Puryear*

Eugene Weeks*

Wilma Weeks*

Hole-in-One

None

Fifth Quarter

Jessica Bailey

Morteza Sadri

Xuri Allen

Joyce Douglas

Wilma Foster

Terrence Hines

Danny Moore

Claude Page, III

Glen Holmes

Cornell ONeal

Young Graduate

Bayyinah Brown

Latoya Whitfield

Current Student

None

Current Amon Booster Club Members

* Denotes co-membership

35

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) expanded its membership to 12 members during the 2007-08 academic year, as the league voted to admit Winston-Salem State University into the league beginning at the conclusion of the 2006-07 academic year .

We are elated to welcome Winston-Salem State into the MEAC family, said Commissioner Thomas at the time of the announcement . Obviously we think that WSSU is an outstanding academic institution with an excellent athletics program .

Winston-Salem is entering into the fourth year of its reclassification from Division II to NCAA Division I status. Despite the reclassification, WSSU began a full MEAC schedule in all sports beginning last season (2007-08) . However the Rams and Lady Rams are not be eligible for MEAC Championship play until 2010-11 following completion of an NCAA site survey .

Following the announcement that the Rams and Lady Rams would become the 12th member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Winston-Salem Director of Athletics, Dr . Chico Caldwell explained how the move to the MEAC is one of several steps the institution is making in their transition to the next level .

First of all, as we prepared for the years ahead, and the move to Division I, one of the keys to the puzzle was membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, said Dr . Caldwell .

We felt that the opportunity to be a member of the MEAC would afford us a way of rekindling several of our longstanding rivalries and establishing others, and we are happy and pleased that the vote has gone in our favor and we look forward to our future competition in the MEAC .

The addition of Winston-Salem State marks the first expansion for the MEAC since 1997, when Norfolk State University became the 11th member of the league (Hampton University joined in 1995) .

WSSU becomes only the second MEAC institution located in the state of North Carolina and the third in the Carolinas, joining North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, N .C .) and South Carolina State (Orangeburg, S .C .) .

Our goal is to become a strong and viable member of the MEAC in order to represent well within the conference, both regionally and nationally, Dr . Caldwell added . We truly believe that the MEAC is value-added to the direction of both WSSU and the WSSU Department of Athletics . Everyone here at WSSU, our alumni and supporters are truly excited about this opportunity .

About The Mid-Eastern Athletic

Conference (MEAC)

The MEAC is a Division I conference comprised of 12 historically black colleges and universities located across the Atlantic coastline . The league, established in 1970, is located in the Town Center of Virginia Beach, Va. in the Armada Hoffler Tower.

Overview

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, an NCAA Division I Conference, is in its 39th year of operation heading into the 2008-2009 academic school year . Housed in the Armada Hoffler Tower at the Town Center of Virginia Beach, Va., the MEAC is currently made up of 12 outstanding, historically black institutions across the Atlantic Coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, South Carolina State University and Winston-Salem State University .

The MEAC has enjoyed great success over the years in athletics . Currently, the league has automatic qualifying bids for NCAA postseason play in baseball (since 1994), mens basketball (since 1981), womens basketball (since 1982), Division I-Championship Subdivision football (since 1996), softball (since 1995), men and womens tennis (since 1998), and volleyball (since 1994) .

History

In 1969, a group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athletics met in Durham, N .C . to discuss the feasibility of organizing a new conference based along the Atlantic coastline . A number of representatives from different institutions joined the steering committee in a two-day discussion about the new conference .

Seven of these institutions agreed to become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: Delaware State College, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University .

The MEAC headquarters remained in Durham, N .C . until 1981, moving to Greensboro on Mar . 26, 1982 where it stayed for three years before relocating to its current location in Virginia Beach, Va. in 1985.

The league was confirmed in 1970, kicking off its first season of competition in football in 1971 . In 1978, the MEAC selected its first full-time commissioner, Kenneth A . Free, and the following year, expanded to nine schools with the admission of two Florida schools: Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University .

The MEAC operated with nine schools until 1985 when Coppin State College was admitted . The final expansions, prior to the most recent addition of WSSU, occurred in the 90s with the inclusion of Hampton University in 1995 and Norfolk State University in 1997 . On June 8, 1980, the MEAC was classified Division I by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the following month, received an automatic berth in the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship .

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

MEAC Staff

Dr. Dennis Thomas, MEAC Commissioner

Raynoid Dedeaux, Director of Championships

Patricia Porter, Director of Media Relations

Sahar Abdur-Rashid, Asst . Director of Media Relations

Jonathan Gattis II, Director of Finance

Shamaree Brown, Asst . Director of Compliance/Championships

Sonja Stills, Director of Compliance/Executive Assistant

Daniel Evans, Coordinator of Football Officials

Larry Rose, Coordinator of Mens Basketball Officials

Dwight Barbee, Coordinator of Womens Basketball Officials