Post by bluehaze on Feb 22, 2010 10:56:40 GMT -5
Rivalry Night: WSSU will take on A&T at the Greensboro Coliseum with future games in doubt
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/feb/22/rivalry-night-wssu-will-take-on-at-at-the-greensbo/
Round 2 of one the state's best rivalries will be tonight, when Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T meet in a basketball doubleheader at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The games were moved from A&T's campus arena, the Corbett Center, in order to allow more fans to attend.
The women's game will begin at 6, the men's game at 8.
"We've got a lot of interest in moving the game because the coliseum can seat around 10,000, and the Corbett Center can seat around 5,000, so this will hopefully give fans a chance to come out," said Wheeler Brown, the athletics director at N.C. A&T.
Last year's game at the Corbett Center was a sellout, and it was estimated that about 500 fans were turned away at the door.
"I'm not sure how many people were turned away last year, but I do know we had a ticket lottery for the students and all of that, but this year we don't have to do that," Brown said.
The rivalry between the schools goes back a long way, but with WSSU returning to the CIAA next season, there have been questions about whether WSSU and A&T will ever meet in basketball again.
Bill Hayes, the athletics director at WSSU, has been the football coach at both schools, and he knows how important it is that the schools continue to compete against each other.
"I'd like to play A&T in football, basketball, marbles, checkers, whatever sport we are playing, we need to play each other," Hayes said.
Hayes says he will get together with Brown to talk about future schedules. The two are scheduled to meet in football in the fall, but the series is in doubt after the 2010 season.
"I think they might be scared to play us," Hayes said with a laugh. "Maybe I'll go one-on-one with Wheeler in basketball."
The Winston-Salem State players consider their two games against A&T this season their championship games. WSSU is ineligible for the MEAC Tournament, but playing a big rival such as A&T gives the Rams two important games.
"It's fun to be a part of that game," said center Paul Davis, who helped the Rams win the first meeting 59-57 at Joel Coliseum on Jan. 25.
Coach Bobby Collins of WSSU says that not having to play the game in the tight confines of the Corbett Center is an advantage. Last season, the Rams self-destructed early there and lost 68-61.
"Any opponent would love the chance to get out of the Dog Pound," Collins said, referring to the Corbett Center's nickname. "I don't want to give them any advantage, but going over to the (Greensboro) Coliseum helps us."
Brown was noncommittal when asked about future games against WSSU.
"I don't know, and I can't speak on that right now," he said. "There are a lot of factors that will determine if we play next season and beyond. A lot of it has to come down to the MEAC schedule, because that's our first priority."
Hayes says that the schools need each other.
"I have to get together with Wheeler, and we'll talk because he needs our gate, and we need their gate," Hayes said. "Transportation isn't a big deal, it's a natural to play them, so we ought to be smart enough to figure out a way to play them."
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/feb/22/rivalry-night-wssu-will-take-on-at-at-the-greensbo/
Round 2 of one the state's best rivalries will be tonight, when Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T meet in a basketball doubleheader at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The games were moved from A&T's campus arena, the Corbett Center, in order to allow more fans to attend.
The women's game will begin at 6, the men's game at 8.
"We've got a lot of interest in moving the game because the coliseum can seat around 10,000, and the Corbett Center can seat around 5,000, so this will hopefully give fans a chance to come out," said Wheeler Brown, the athletics director at N.C. A&T.
Last year's game at the Corbett Center was a sellout, and it was estimated that about 500 fans were turned away at the door.
"I'm not sure how many people were turned away last year, but I do know we had a ticket lottery for the students and all of that, but this year we don't have to do that," Brown said.
The rivalry between the schools goes back a long way, but with WSSU returning to the CIAA next season, there have been questions about whether WSSU and A&T will ever meet in basketball again.
Bill Hayes, the athletics director at WSSU, has been the football coach at both schools, and he knows how important it is that the schools continue to compete against each other.
"I'd like to play A&T in football, basketball, marbles, checkers, whatever sport we are playing, we need to play each other," Hayes said.
Hayes says he will get together with Brown to talk about future schedules. The two are scheduled to meet in football in the fall, but the series is in doubt after the 2010 season.
"I think they might be scared to play us," Hayes said with a laugh. "Maybe I'll go one-on-one with Wheeler in basketball."
The Winston-Salem State players consider their two games against A&T this season their championship games. WSSU is ineligible for the MEAC Tournament, but playing a big rival such as A&T gives the Rams two important games.
"It's fun to be a part of that game," said center Paul Davis, who helped the Rams win the first meeting 59-57 at Joel Coliseum on Jan. 25.
Coach Bobby Collins of WSSU says that not having to play the game in the tight confines of the Corbett Center is an advantage. Last season, the Rams self-destructed early there and lost 68-61.
"Any opponent would love the chance to get out of the Dog Pound," Collins said, referring to the Corbett Center's nickname. "I don't want to give them any advantage, but going over to the (Greensboro) Coliseum helps us."
Brown was noncommittal when asked about future games against WSSU.
"I don't know, and I can't speak on that right now," he said. "There are a lot of factors that will determine if we play next season and beyond. A lot of it has to come down to the MEAC schedule, because that's our first priority."
Hayes says that the schools need each other.
"I have to get together with Wheeler, and we'll talk because he needs our gate, and we need their gate," Hayes said. "Transportation isn't a big deal, it's a natural to play them, so we ought to be smart enough to figure out a way to play them."
