Post by Aggie One on Jun 19, 2020 15:42:10 GMT -5
N.C. A&T's Sam Washington on the cancellation of the school's homecoming and the return to campus for the Aggies
By Ethan Joyce Winston-Salem Journal
The cancellation of N.C. A&T’s homecoming festivities doesn’t affect the task Sam Washington has to complete that week.
The Aggies coach still has a football game to win Oct. 31 against South Carolina State. But he also realizes how disappointing it has to be for the thousands of alumni who flock to Greensboro every year for the Greatest Homecoming on Earth.
The school announced during an online trustees meeting today that it wouldn’t hold any of its normal on-campus events, outside of the football game, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hate it for the fans; now that’s who I hate it for,” Washington said by phone. “And the student body — they’re going to miss out on an experience that’s second to none.
“I really feel sorry for those (students), but hopefully they’ll be blessed with many more.”
While the football team doesn’t take part in any of the off-field lead-up to game day, Washington said an already special atmosphere in BB&T Stadium revs even more.
It was a notion echoed by current Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Brandon Parker, who played at the school from 2014 to 2017.
“As an alumni, I’m disappointed because GHOE is like Christmas to us Aggies,” Parker said via text. “However, the realist side of me thinks that it is a good decision because they have the safety of everyone in mind, and the 60,000+ people that gather in close proximity on game day alone would definitely put a lot of people at risk.
“Especially, some of our older alumni at the tailgates. I’m just glad they will still be able to play the game during homecoming.”
For the rest of the story:
www.greensboro.com/sports/college/ncat/n-c-a-ts-sam-washington-on-the-cancellation-of-the-schools-homecoming-and-the/article_a2a8c99c-a10c-535f-b57a-097c1bf84288.html
By Ethan Joyce Winston-Salem Journal
The cancellation of N.C. A&T’s homecoming festivities doesn’t affect the task Sam Washington has to complete that week.
The Aggies coach still has a football game to win Oct. 31 against South Carolina State. But he also realizes how disappointing it has to be for the thousands of alumni who flock to Greensboro every year for the Greatest Homecoming on Earth.
The school announced during an online trustees meeting today that it wouldn’t hold any of its normal on-campus events, outside of the football game, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hate it for the fans; now that’s who I hate it for,” Washington said by phone. “And the student body — they’re going to miss out on an experience that’s second to none.
“I really feel sorry for those (students), but hopefully they’ll be blessed with many more.”
While the football team doesn’t take part in any of the off-field lead-up to game day, Washington said an already special atmosphere in BB&T Stadium revs even more.
It was a notion echoed by current Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Brandon Parker, who played at the school from 2014 to 2017.
“As an alumni, I’m disappointed because GHOE is like Christmas to us Aggies,” Parker said via text. “However, the realist side of me thinks that it is a good decision because they have the safety of everyone in mind, and the 60,000+ people that gather in close proximity on game day alone would definitely put a lot of people at risk.
“Especially, some of our older alumni at the tailgates. I’m just glad they will still be able to play the game during homecoming.”
For the rest of the story:
www.greensboro.com/sports/college/ncat/n-c-a-ts-sam-washington-on-the-cancellation-of-the-schools-homecoming-and-the/article_a2a8c99c-a10c-535f-b57a-097c1bf84288.html
