Winston-Salem State players celebrate their 21-14 victory over A&T in the programs' last meeting in 2010 in Greensboro.
GREENSBORO — N.C. A&T and Winston-Salem State are getting back together.
The Piedmont Triad HBCUs, who first met in football on Oct. 7, 1944, will play Sept. 7, 2024, at Truist Stadium in Greensboro. The meeting will be the first between the two teams since Sept. 4, 2010, when the Rams defeated the Aggies 21-14 in Greensboro.
The game with WSSU will be a part of the 100-year celebration of A&T football.
A&T leads the all-time series 36-12. The Rams and the Aggies played each other every season from 2006 through 2010 when WSSU was attempting to move up from NCAA Division II to Division I and become a member of the MEAC. But the Rams decided in September 2009 to remain in Division II in the CIAA, and the series ended after one more game.
"I know our fan base has been excited about the prospect of playing this game since WSSU withdrew their petition to join the MEAC," said Earl Hilton, A&T's athletics director. "I am glad we were able to put this together for our fans."
From left, Winston-Salem State's David Harris, Barry Tripp and Jared Mitchell try to block an extra-point attempt by A&T during the 2010 game in Greensboro.
The agreement is for only one game, Hilton said, and it will be difficult for the Aggies to play any Division II opponents because it would hurt their strength of schedule for a potential at-large bid to the FCS playoffs if they do not win the Big South Conference, which A&T will join later after the 2020-21 athletics year. The contract for the 2024 game pays WSSU a guarantee of $30,000 to go to Greensboro, and the Rams also will receive 300 complimentary tickets and 350 reserved tickets to sell worth a combined $15,750. "That's much larger than we've ever done for a D-II," Hilton said.
The schools have played a number of closed scrimmages recently in men's basketball, but there are no immediate plans to play in the regular season, Hilton said.
The schools met in football every year from 1977 to 1999. Bill Hayes was a big part of that series, building WSSU and A&T into powerhouse programs over three decades as a coach. His career record was 195-104-2 over 27 years combined at the two schools, making him the winningest coach in A&T history and the second-winningest at WSSU.
Hayes, who was playing golf Monday morning, told the Winston-Salem Journal's John Dell that he was thrilled to hear that the two schools are playing football once again.
“I think that’s wonderful,” Hayes said by phone. “I’m glad for both institutions that the rivalry will continue. I think that’s great.”
During the 1990s, the average attendance for the rivalry game was 18,191 overall and 16,510 at Aggie Stadium, according to WSSU.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to renew a historic rivalry, the Battle of I-40, during this anniversary year at N.C. A&T's Truist Stadium," said Etienne Thomas, the Rams' athletics director. "Thanks to the vision and leadership at both schools we will be able to provide our fans with a phenomenal event. Fans of both institutions will get a chance to renew one of the great rivalries in college football. We are excited that Chancellor (Harold) Martin, Athletics Director Earl Hilton and Coach (Sam) Washington thought of WSSU for inclusion in this celebration."
PHOTOS: Past WSSU-NC A&T matchups
09/01/07 -- Jed Bines (1) gets some help on this rush for a first down from teammate Roderick Fluellen (28), upsetting N.C. A&T's Marques Ruffin (25) during this MEAC season opener football game at Bowman Gray Stadium. The final score was WSSU 28 - N.C.A&T 7.
09/01/07 -- Brandon McRae (26) of Winston-Salem State gets tripped up on this rush by N.C. A&T's Tyre Glasper (94) during this MEAC season opener football game at Bowman Gray Stadium. The final score was WSSU 28 - N.C. A&T 7.
09/01/07 -- Monte Purvis (4) of Winston-Salem State rushes for a touchdown against N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium. The final score was WSSU 28 - N.C. A&T 7.
08/26/07 -- Ciekda Vance (left), a junior in Justice Studies, and Ryan Campbell, an '06 alumnus in Political Science, chat during "Meet the Rams Day" at Bowman Gray Stadium on the campus of Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, N.C., Sunday, August 26, 2007.
09/01/07 -- Bryant Bayne (82) of Winston-Salem State sprouts extra arms as he make this touchdown reception in front of N.C. A&T's Ihsan Shaheed (7) at Bowman Gray Stadium. The final score was WSSU 28 - N.C. A&T 7.
09/06/08 -- Winston-Salem State offensive lineman Michael Helton hangs his head after being defeated by N.C. A&T 14-8.
09/05/09 -- Quarterback Branden Williams of Winston-Salem State gets up off the turf after being sacked late in the fourth quarter of the Rams' 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/06/08 -- Winston-Salem State wide receiver Bryant Bayne (right) gets airborne to catch a pass. North Carolina A&T State University's Ihsan Shaheed is right behind him during a game between N.C. A&T and Winston-Salem State University.
09/05/09 -- Quarterback Branden Williams of Winston-Salem State fumbles the ball as he flees the pocket in the fourth quarter of a Rams' 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium. The fumble, deep in Rams territory, led to an Aggie touchdown.
09/06/08 -- Defensive lineman Akeem Ward of Winston-Salem State (center) struggles with Alex Harper of North Carolina A&T State University (left) during a game.
09/05/09 -- Quarterback Jarrett Dunston of Winston-Salem State is sacked by Tyre Glasper of N.C. A&T in the first half of a Rams' 19-10 loss at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/05/09 -- Head coach Alonzo Lee of N.C. A&T complains to the officials because a facemask penalty was not called against Winston-Salem State in the first half of an Aggies' 19-10 win over the Rams at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/05/09 -- Head coach Kermit Blount of Winston-Salem State tells his defense to keep their eyes open as N.C. A&T is about to take the snap in the red zone at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Rams lost 19-10.
09/05/09 -- Cornerback Marvin Bohannon (18) of Winston-Salem State breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Giorgio Lowrance of N.C. A&T in the Aggies' 19-10 win over the Rams at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/06/08 -- N.C. A&T players and coaches run onto the field in celebration as the clock runs out on their 14-8 victory over Winston-Salem State Saturday.
09/06/08 -- Winston-Salem State's Marvin Bohannon tackles North Carolina A&T's Michael Ferguson in the end zone as he scores A&T's second touchdown, bringing the game score to 13-6 during a game between N.C. A&T and Winston-Salem State University. N.C. A&T defeated WSSU 14-8.
09/06/08 -- Kelsey Mobley dances during Winston-Salem State University's halftime show.
09/05/09 -- Quarterback Carlton Fears of N.C. A&T runs for the Aggies' first touchdown of the game in their 19-10 win over Winston-Salem State at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/06/08 -- Aggie running back Quintin Cosby is brought down by Winston-Salem State's Stephen Young (right) and Joshua Newkirk during a game between North Carolina A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University. N.C. A&T defeated WSSU 14-8.
09/06/08 -- North Carolina A&T State University's Michael Ferguson carries the ball down the field during a game between N.C. A&T and Winston-Salem State University. N.C. A&T defeated WSSU 14-8.
09/06/08 -- Aggie quarterback Herbert Miller runs the ball down the field during a game between North Carolina A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University. N.C. A&T defeated WSSU 14-8.
09/05/09 -- Head coach Kermit Blount of Winston-Salem State calls for a timeout as the second quarter winds down in the Rams' 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/05/09 -- Wide receiver Jonathan Kinzer of Winston-Salem State is flipped upside down after a reception in the Rams' 19-10 loss at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/06/08 -- Winston-Salem State wide receiver Bryant Bayne runs the ball down the field during a game between N.C. A&T and Winston-Salem State University.
09/05/09 -- Freshman John Harris of Winston-Salem State takes a second-half kickoff back 60 yards against N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium. The run back set up the Rams' first field goal of the game.
09/05/09 -- Winston-Salem State kick-off returner Dominique Fitzgerald is taken down by Justin Ferrell of N.C. A&T in the Rams' 19-10 loss at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/05/09 -- Charles Hood, a sophomore at Winston-Salem State, cheers on the Rams from the Raging Rams student section before their game against N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium. WSSU lost 19-10.
09/06/08 -- Defensive lineman Joshua Newkirk of Winston-Salem State (center) tackles Quinton Cosby of North Carolina A&T State University.
09/06/08 -- Winston-Salem State's Durrell Banks (left) tackles N.C. A&T University's Quintin Cosby. N.C. A&T defeated WSSU 14-8.
09/05/09 -- Anthony Gore, a sophomore at Winston-Salem State, cheers on the Rams from the Raging Rams student section before WSSU's game against rival N.C. A&T. The Rams lost 19-10.
09/05/09 -- Offensive linemen Travis Taylor (70) and Nazir Levine of Winston-Salem State talk on the field between plays in the first half of a Rams 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T.
Winston-Salem State's Landen Thayer punts in the first quarter of the Rams' 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/05/09 -- Defensive lineman Stephen Young (95) of Winston-Salem State takes down running back Dontavious Payne of N.C. A&T with pressure from linebacker Juan Corders (50).
09/04/10 -- Quarterback Kameron Smith (6) of Winston-Salem State races downfield as linebacker Devin Ray (52) of N.C. A&T watches in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
09/04/10 -- Tyrone Goldston (40) of Winston-Salem State makes the two-point conversion in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
09/04/10 -- The Rams celebrate a win at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
09/04/10 -- David Harris (93), Barry Tripp (98) and Jared Mitchell (25) of Winston-Salem State almost block a point-after attempt in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
09/04/10 -- Tyrone Goldston (40) of Winston-Salem State races down the sideline in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
Winston-Salem State's Alton Keaton takes a kick off return in the first quarter of the Rams' 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/05/09 -- Head drum major Alan Sturdivant of Winston-Salem State leads the Red Sea of Sound in pregame festivities as the Rams host N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium.
09/04/10 -- Linebacker Ben Binder (42) of N.C. A&T can only watch as quarterback Kameron Smith (6) of Winston-Salem State runs downfield in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
9/5/09 -- Winston-Salem State's Landen Thayer punts in the first quarter of the Rams' 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Bowman Gray Stadium. The West Forsyth High School graduate took over the Rams' punting and kicking duties as a freshman.
09/04/10 -- Nic Cooper (9) of Winston-Salem State gets sandwiched between Jermarion Pegues (13) and Ben Binder (42) of N.C. A&T in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
09/04/10 -- Quarterback Kameron Smith (6) of Winston-Salem State gets by Tony Mashburn (54) of N.C. A&T for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a football game at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. The final score was WSSU 21, N.C. A&T 14.
Contact Joe Sirera at 336-373-7034 and follow @JoeSireraSports on Twitter.
