North Carolina A&T Aggies

The North Carolina A&T Aggies are the athletic teams that represent North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. The Aggies compete in NCAA Division I and have been a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference since 1969. North Carolina A&T fields varsity teams in 13 sports, five for men and eight for women. The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA.

North Carolina A&T Aggies
UniversityNorth Carolina A&T State University
ConferenceMid-Eastern Athletic Conference (Big South in 2021)
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorEarl M. Hilton III
LocationGreensboro, North Carolina
Varsity teams13
Football stadiumTruist Stadium
Basketball arenaEllis F. Corbett Sports Center
Baseball stadiumWar Memorial Stadium
MascotAggie & Aggietha
(Bulldogs)
NicknameAggies
Fight songOld Aggie Spirit
ColorsBlue and Gold[1]
         
Websitewww.ncataggies.com

Home football games are played at BB&T Stadium,[2] while basketball, volleyball, and swimming events are held at the Ellis F. Corbett Sports Center.[3] The university's baseball team plays at War Memorial Stadium.[4]

In April 2020, the school announced that the Aggies would leave the MEAC and join the Big South Conference in July 2021.

Sports sponsored
Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballBowling
Cross countryCross country
FootballGolf
GolfSoftball
TennisTennis
Track and fieldTrack and field
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

A member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, North Carolina A&T sponsors teams in 7 men's and 8 women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[5] In August 2013, NC A&T's athletic department announced the addition of Men's Tennis in 2015;[6] Men's and Women's Golf in 2016 & Women's Soccer in 2020. A&T's athletic department also announced the discontinuation of the Women's Swimming program after the 2015–2016 season.[7]

Football
Main article: North Carolina A&T Aggies football
See also: Truist Stadium (North Carolina A&T)

The Aggies are led by head coach Sam Washington. Washington was named head coach at the conclusion of the 2017 season following the announced retirement of then head coach Rod Broadway. The 2017 season was arguably the most successful in the program's history with the Aggies finishing the season with a 12-0 undefeated record; breaking the record for number of wins in a single season that was previously held by the 1990 team; and capturing both the MEAC championship and 2017 Celebration Bowl championship over Grambling. Coach William "Bill" Hayes holds the distinction of the all-time most winningest coach in Aggie history, with a record of: 106 victories, 64 losses, and 1 tied game.[8]

Over the years, North Carolina A&T has developed intense rivalries with Winston-Salem State University, South Carolina State University, and North Carolina Central University. The rivalry between the Aggies and North Carolina Central University dates back to 1924. Numerous players from North Carolina A&T have played in the National Football League (NFL). They include NFL Hall of Fame member Elvin Bethea, Dwaine Board, Curtis Deloatch, Jason Horton, Maurice Hicks, Jamal Jones, Mel Phillips, Junius Coston, Jesse Britt, Maurice Smith, and George Small.

The Aggies play home football games at Truist Stadium. The stadium, then known as Aggie Stadium, opened in 1981. Before the construction of the stadium, the Aggies played their home football games at Greensboro's World War Memorial Stadium, which was home to the nearby minor league baseball franchise.

Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1927Lonnie P. ByarmCIAA8–0–07–0–0
1950William M. BellCIAA6–2–15–0–1
1958Bert C. PiggottCIAA7–2–07–0–0
1959Bert C. PiggottCIAA6–2–06–0–0
1964Bert C. PiggottCIAA6–3–16–0–1
1975[Notes 1]Hornsby HowellMEAC5–1–06–0
1986Maurice "Mo" ForteMEAC9–3–04–1–0
1991William "Bill" HayesMEAC9–3–05–1–0
1992William "Bill" HayesMEAC9–3–05–1–0
1999William "Bill" HayesMEAC11–2–08–0
2003George SmallMEAC10–3–06–1–0
2014[Notes 2] Rod BroadwayMEAC9–3–06–2–0
2015[Notes 3] Rod BroadwayMEAC9–2–07–1–0
2017 Rod BroadwayMEAC12-0-08-0-0
Total conference championships 14[8]

Men's basketball
Main article: North Carolina A&T Aggies men's basketball
See also: Corbett Sports Center

The Aggie men's basketball program is coached by Jay Joyner. Joyner became the 10th head coach in the program's history, after previous coach and mentor Cy Alexander resigned in 2016.[9]

The most notable coaches in Aggie history are Don Corbett and Cal Irvin, which the Aggie's home basketball court is named after (the Ellis F. Corbett Sports Center). Corbett is most known for leading the Aggies to seven straight MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament titles from 1982 to 1988. Corbett is also known for his 37-game home winning streak that lasted from January 18, 1986 to November 30, 1988.[3] Irwin's legacy stems from his 18-season run as the Aggies basketball coach. During his tenure, the Aggies never finished below .500. Irvin's success carried the Aggies over from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) into the MEAC, where he won the school's first league championship in 1972. Irvin's held a 308–105 record as coach of the Aggies. His first CIAA championship came in 1958. Irvin's teams won CIAA titles in 1959,1962, 1964, and 1967.[10]

The Aggies have appeared in the NCAA Tournament ten times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, and 2013). The Aggies have also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament twice (1976 and 1981). The Aggies play home basketball games at the Ellis F. Corbett Sports Center, which opened in 1978. Corbett Sports Center, known for its intense playing atmosphere and loyal fan base, was chosen by ESPN columnist Kyle Whelliston as one of his favorite arena atmospheres.[11] Additionally, Corbett Sports Center was ranked the 14th best atmosphere in the nation in an espn.com fan poll. North Carolina A&T was the only historically black college or university (HBCU) in the poll, and in 2007 they had three games nationally televised on ESPNU.[3]

In 2013, the Aggies made their tenth appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament and had their first win.

In December 2017, the Aggies traveled to Blacksburg, Virginia to play the Virginia Tech Hokies, and departed a local restaurant without tipping their server, which drew considerable local attention on social media.

NC A&T Men's Basketball Championships
CIAA Championships: 1958, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1967

MEAC Championships: 1972, 1973, 1976, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, 2013
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, and 2013
NIT Tournament Appearances: 1976, 1981

Women's basketball
See also: North Carolina A&T Aggies women's basketball

The “Lady Aggies” are led by coach Tarrell Robinson, who assumed the coaching position in 2012. The Lady Aggies are one of the top teams in the MEAC, staking claim to six MEAC regular season and two MEAC tournament championships. Under previous coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, the lady aggies secured notable victories over Wake Forest University and Charlotte in the 2010 WNIT Tournament. those victories gave the program the distinction of being the first Division-I HBCU program to win two postseason games in an NCAA Division I tournament.[12] The Lady Aggies bost a 41–4 home court record and a 25 home court win streak that began during the 2007 season. Their most recent MEAC title was during the 2009 season. The Lady Aggies won the MEAC regular season championship in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[3]

NC A&T Women's Basketball Championships
MEAC Championships: 1994, 2009, 2016

NCAA Tournament appearances: 1994, 2009, 2016
NIT Tournament appearances: 2010, 2014

Baseball
Main article: North Carolina A&T Aggies baseball

The North Carolina A&T baseball team is coached by Ben Hall. The Aggie Baseball program has claimed three MEAC championships and 14 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships, including a six-season streak from 1950 to 1955.[13] The Aggie baseball program plays all home contests in nearby War Memorial Stadium. The stadium has served as the home of various local minor league baseball clubs from the 1930s to 2004.[14]

NC A&T Baseball Championships
MEAC Championships: 1974, 1993, 2005

CIAA Championship: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 1970

Source:NCAT Alumni Baseball Association[15]

Bowling

The Lady Aggies bowling team is coached by James Williams. Williams took over the Aggie bowling program from former coach Courtney Stith, who became coach in 2004. Prior to Stith, the Aggies were led by coach Jimmy Mack. Mack is responsible for the early success of the program in which the Aggies won four out of the first five MEAC Bowling Championships since the sport was officially recognized as a varsity sport by the conference in 1999.[16]

The Lady Aggies host their home contests at the local All-Star Lanes in Greensboro.

NC A&T Bowling Championships
MEAC Championships: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
Source:NCAT Athletics[16]

National championships

North Carolina A&T has earned a total of 1 national championship in the program's history. In 2015, the Aggies won the United States Bowling Congress's Intercollegiate Team Championship, in their first appearance, defeating Robert Morris.[17]

Year Coach Selector Overall record Conference record
2015James WilliamsUnited States Bowling Congress74-37
National Championships 1

Golf

The North Carolina A&T women's golf team is led by Coach Richard Watkins. Watkins will be the first head coach in the program's history and will coach both the women's and men's teams. The women's program will play their inaugural season in 2016 and the men's program will begin in the fall of 2017.[18] A&T will use Bryan Park Golf Course as their home course. Bryan Park has served as the host course for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2010. The Bermuda grass course was recently awarded the prestigious 4-star ranking in Golf Digest's Best Places to Play Guide.[19]

Softball

The Lady Aggies softball team is coached by Kenya Peters. Peters assumed the head coaching position from former coach Mammie Jones who was served as head coach since 1996. In 2003, Jones led a team with only one senior and three juniors to the school's first winning season in fastpitch, with a 31–27 record. The 31 victories set a new NC A&T record, the previous of 23 wins set in 2000. Jones has coached seven all-MEAC players during her career and has had at least one player placed on the All-MEAC first team in four out of the last six seasons.[20] In 2008, Jones was named MEAC Softball coach of the year. This was the same year that the Lady Aggies had arguably the best regular season record in program history with a 31–15–1 record.[20]

The Lady Aggies play their home contests at the Aggie Softball Complex which was built in 2005.

Tennis

The North Carolina A&T men's and women's tennis teams are led by Coach Richard Akande. Akande joined the Aggies in 2014 and led the men's team into their first spring competition since the program was disbanded in 2006.[21] The Aggies host their home matches at the Aggie Tennis Center. The facility, built in 2003, possesses eight synthetic surface courts where the Aggies play five to six tennis matches per year.[22]

Track and field

The North Carolina A&T men's and women's track and field teams are led by Coach Duane Ross. Ross oversees all six of NC A&T's track and field programs, which include men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field and men's and women's outdoor track and field.


The Aggie track Program held its first season in 1930 under coach C. G. Cooke. In the program's second season, the Aggies took third in the crack mile relay in front of 60,000 spectators at the Penn Relays.[23]

The Aggies host their home track meets on Irwin Belk Track inside the Truist Stadium. The facility, installed in 2004, is named after the former president of Belk Department Stores and a major financial contributor to the project. The surface is Mondo Super X Performance track and features eight 48-inch lanes and wide turns.[24] Belk Track has played host to many regional, national, and international events, such as International Friendship & Freedom Games, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships – East Regional, the New Balance Outdoor Nationals (formerly the Nike Outdoor Nationals), and the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.[25]

NC A&T Track & Field Championships
MEAC Men's Outdoor Championships: 1994, 1995, 1996

MEAC Men's Indoor Championships: 1996†, 2017, 2018
MEAC Women's Outdoor Championships: 1995
MEAC Women's Indoor Championships: 2017, 2018

Source:NSU Athletics[26][27]

† The 1996 MEAC Championship was Shared with The University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Volleyball

The North Carolina A&T volleyball team is coached by Hal Clifton. Clifton is the ninth head coach in the program's history, and he replaced former coach Toni Conway, who took over the program in 2009.[28] Prior to joining NC A&T, Clifton held previous assistant coaching positions at NCAA Division II St. Andrews Presbyterian College, as well as six seasons at Division I Elon University. Clifton played an integral part in turning the Phoenix program from a 9–23 team, in the 2005 season, into a squad that finished in first place in the Southern Conference North Division in 2010 with a 21–14 overall record and an 11–5 mark in the league.[29]

The Lady Aggies volleyball program currently hosts all home contests inside Moore Gymnasium.

Ghhddkdidncodncisncistant vice chancellor of student affairs and has also served as the associate athletics director for North Carolina A&T. Hilton's previous experience includes a position as assistant athletics director at Buffalo State University and academic counselor for athletics at Texas Tech University.[30]

Former sports

Swimming

NC A&T sponsored Women's swimming as a varsity sport from 1998–2016 where they competed in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA), an NCAA Division I conference that started in 2007 as the single-sport Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association and adopted its current name when it added women's beach volleyball in 2015.[31] The team was led by coach Shawn Hendrix, who ran the program from its first season.[32]

Facilities
Truist Stadium
Corbett Sports Center
Facility Sport(s) Capacity
Truist Stadium Football 21,500
Aggie Tennis Complex Tennis –
Ellis F. Corbett Sports Center Basketball, Swimming 6,700
Gate City Lanes‡ Bowling –
Irwin Belk Track Track and Field 21,500
Lady Aggie Softball Complex Softball –
Moore Gymnasium Volleyball 1,200
War Memorial Stadium‡ Baseball 7,500

‡ Denotes off-campus facility

Traditions

The Legend of the Aggie Bulldog

Aggie, sometimes referred to as the "Aggie Dawg" or "Aggie Dog", is the official mascot of A&T's athletic teams. Aggie and his female counterpart, Aggietha can be seen at Football, Men's & Women's basketball games, and other university events. Although the physical representation of the athletic teams is a bulldog, the term "Aggie" has a historical connection to the university's agricultural roots as a land-grant university.

According to Albert W. Spruill, the origin of the school's Bulldog mascot stems from a tale of a shepherd dog, that was kept on the A&T farm to assist in herding the animals to shelter. During a football game the Aggies had become despondent and in the game's last few minutes, an A&T fullback broke through the opposition's defense and scored a touchdown that was ruled no good by a referee. It is said that at that moment, an unidentified person untied the bulldog which then attacked the referee. The incident was said to almost cost the school its membership in the CIAA, but it vindicated the Aggies. It is said that from that day on, the mascot for the football team has been a bulldog.[33]

Dear A&T
Main article: Dear A&T

"Dear A&T" is the alma mater of North Carolina A&T. The song traditionally concludes formal university events, including athletic contests such as football and basketball games attended by the North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine or the A&T pep band. It is more formal than the traditional fight songs such as "Old Aggie Spirit" and the "A&T Fight Song", and is typically played and sung in a more reverent fashion than other university songs.[34]

North Carolina A&T fight song

The A&T fight song made its debut in 2005. The song is traditionally performed at athletic contests such as football and basketball games attended by the North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine or the A&T pep band. It is standard practice for the marching band to perform the song after an Aggie touchdown.[35]

Old Aggie Spirit

"Old Aggie Spirit" is a popular song sung by fans and played by the band at many A&T athletic events, especially at football and basketball games. Before the creation of the school's fight song in 2005, the song served as the de facto fight song for the university's sports teams. It is standard practice for the marching band or pep band to perform the song during the pre game show at football games, after a touchdown, in lieu of the school's fight song, or during time outs at basketball games. The melody of the song is based on the gospel music song "Old-Time Religion."

Notes
  1. North Carolina A&T shared the 1975 MEAC Championship with the South Carolina State Bulldogs
  2. The 2014 MEAC Championship was shared between Bethune–Cookman,Morgan State, North Carolina Central & South Carolina State
  3. The 2015 MEAC Championship was shared between Bethune–Cookman and North Carolina Central
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References
  1. "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Graphic and Editorial Standards and Guidelines". Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  2. NC A&T SU Sports Information. "Aggie Stadium". NCATAggies.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  3. "Corbett Sports Center". NCATAggies.com. May 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  4. NC A&T SU Sports Information. "War Memorial Stadium". NCATAggies.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  5. "Official Site of North Carolina A&T Aggies". North Carolina A&T State University. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  6. "Men's Tennis Makes its Return With Four Recruits". ncataggies.com. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  7. "A&T Drops Women's Swimming, Adds Four Sports". HBUC Gameday. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  8. "NCAT Football Media Guide" (PDF). NCAT Sports Information. May 23, 2010.
  9. "Alexander Resigns As N.C. A&T Head Coach". ncataggies.com. North Carolina A&T. January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  10. NC A&T SU Sports Information. "NCA&T Mens Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). NCATAggies.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  11. Kyle Whelliston. "Student Spirit Week: Favorite Arena Atmospheres". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  12. HBCU Digest. "North Carolina A&T Headed to WNIT Sweet 16". HBCUDigest.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  13. NCAT Alumni Baseball Association. "NCA&T Baseball History". www.aggiebaseballalumni.org. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  14. NCAT Alumni Baseball Association. "NCA&T Baseball Home Field". www.aggiebaseballalumni.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  15. NCAT Alumni Baseball Association. "NCA&T Baseball Championships". www.aggiebaseballalumni.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  16. NCAT Athletics. "NCA&T Bowling". www.ncat.edu. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  17. "National Champs". ncataggies.com. NC A&T Sports Information. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  18. "Watkins Named Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach". ncataggies.com. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  19. "Aggies Select Home Golf Course". ncataggies.com. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  20. NCAT Sports Information. "Mamie Jones Bio – North Carolina A&T". www.ncataggies.com. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  21. "Akande named NCAT men's and women's tennis coach". meacsports.com. MEAC Media Relations. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  22. "Aggie Tennis Center". ncataggies.com. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  23. unknown (May 27, 1931). "A.& T. Team Places 3rd at Penn Relays". The Register. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  24. Collegeovals.com
  25. Aggie Stadium MileSplit.us profile Archived June 27, 2007, at Archive.today
  26. NSU Athletics. "NSU Women's Track & Field Media Guide" (PDF). www.nsuspartans.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  27. NSU Athletics. "NSU Women's Track & Field Media Guide" (PDF). www.nsuspartans.com. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  28. NC A&T SU Sports Information. "NC A&T Volleyball Media Guide 2010" (PDF). NCATAggies.com. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  29. NCAT Sports Information. "Aggies Name New Volleyball Coach". www.ncataggies.com. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  30. NC A&T SU Sports Information. "AGGIES NAME INTERIM AD". NCATAggies.com. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  31. College of Charleston Athletics. "Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Launches Website". www.cofcsports.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  32. Graham, Latria (February 19, 2016). "'Black girls do swim': North Carolina A&T swim team leaves behind unique legacy". The Guardian. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  33. Dr. Albert W. Spruill. "Origins of The Aggie Bulldog". Bluedeathvalley.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  34. "The A&T Alma Mater". www.library.ncat.edu. F.D. Bluford Library Archives. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  35. "A&T unveils new fight song". The A&T Register. North Carolina A&T State University. September 20, 2005. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
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