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North Carolina A&T Aggies

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North Carolina A&T Aggies
Logo
UniversityNorth Carolina A&T State University
ConferenceCoastal Athletic Association (primary)
CAA Football (football)
MEAC (women's bowling)
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorEarl M. Hilton III
LocationGreensboro, North Carolina
Varsity teams17
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

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 are members of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in all sports with the exception of football and women's bowling. North Carolina A&T fields varsity teams in 13 sports, five for men and eight for women. The football team competes in Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, in the CAA's technically separate football arm of CAA Football.

Home football games are played at Truist 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]

The athletic director for the university is Earl M. Hilton III. Hilton assumed the position on February 3, 2011, after being named as interim on October 25, 2010. Hilton became director of athletics as a result of the removal of former director Wheeler Brown. Hilton most recently served as assistant 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 tutor for athletics at Texas Tech University.[5]

Sports sponsored

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Bowling
Cross country Cross country
Football Golf
Golf Softball
Tennis Tennis
Track and field Track and field
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

North Carolina A&T sponsors athletic teams in 7 men's and 8 women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[6] As of 2023, all sports, with the exception of football and women's bowling compete in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The football team competed in the Big South Conference in the 2022 season before moving to CAA Football, the technically separate football league operated by the all-sports CAA, in 2023. The bowling program competes as an affiliate member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), where the Aggies previously held membership from 1970 to 2021.

Football

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

The Aggies are led by head coach Vincent Brown. Brown was named head coach ahead of the 2023 season, following the departure of then head coach Sam Washington whose career at A&T spanned a combined 13 seasons, 5 of which as head coach.[7] 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
1927 Lonnie P. Byarm CIAA 8–0–0 7–0–0
1950 William M. Bell CIAA 6–2–1 5–0–1
1958 Bert C. Piggott CIAA 7–2–0 7–0–0
1959 Bert C. Piggott CIAA 6–2–0 6–0–0
1964 Bert C. Piggott CIAA 6–3–1 6–0–1
1975[Notes 1] Hornsby Howell MEAC 5–1–0 6–0
1986 Maurice "Mo" Forte MEAC 9–3–0 4–1–0
1991 William "Bill" Hayes MEAC 9–3–0 5–1–0
1992 William "Bill" Hayes MEAC 9–3–0 5–1–0
1999 William "Bill" Hayes MEAC 11–2–0 8–0
2003 George Small MEAC 10–3–0 6–1–0
2014[Notes 2] Rod Broadway MEAC 9–3–0 6–2–0
2015[Notes 3] Rod Broadway MEAC 9–2–0 7–1–0
2017 Rod Broadway MEAC 12–0–0 8–0–0
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 Monté Ross. Ross became the 12th head coach in the program's history, ahead of the 2023-2024 Season. 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.[9]

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.[10] 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.

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.[11] The Lady Aggies post 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
Aggies baseball players in the dugout during the 2007 MEAC baseball tournament

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.[12] 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.[13]

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[14]

Bowling

The Lady Aggies bowling team is coached by Kim Terrell-Kearney who took over the program in 2016.[15] The Aggies hold the distinction of winning four out of the first five MEAC Bowling Championships since the sport was officially recognized as a varsity sport by the conference in the 1999–2000 season.[16]

NC A&T Bowling Championships
MEAC championships: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021, 2022
Source:NCAT Athletics[16]

National championships

North Carolina A&T has won one 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
2015 Kim Terrell-Kearney United States Bowling Congress 74–37
National Championships 1

Golf

The North Carolina A&T women's golf team is led by Coach Richard Watkins. Watkins was the first head coach in the program's history and coaches both the women's and men's teams. The women's program played their inaugural season in 2016 and the men's program began in the fall of 2017.[18] A&T uses 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]

The A&T men's golf program received considerable publicity in the 2021–22 season when former NBA player J. R. Smith, who had gone directly from high school to the NBA and thus had never attended college, enrolled at A&T and joined the team.[20][21]

Softball

The Lady Aggies softball team is coached by interim head coach Shawn Hendrix. Hendrix assumed the head coaching position After the departure of former coach Diego Ibarra. 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 Dejon Bivins. Bivins assumed the position of head coach in 2021, after serving as the interim coach. Bivins has served as an assistant coach for the programs since 2017.[22] 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.[23]

Track and field & Cross Country

The North Carolina A&T men's and women's track and field and Cross Country teams are led by Coach and Olympian Allen Johnson. Johnson 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 Aggies host their home track meets at Marcus T. Johnson Track at Truist Stadium. The track 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]


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.[26] 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.[27]

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

Former sports

Swimming

NC A&T sponsored Women's swimming as a varsity sport from 1998 to 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.[28] The team was led by coach Shawn Hendrix, who ran the program from its first season.[29]

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

See also: Aggie (Mascot)

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 and 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.[30]

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.[31]

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.[32]

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

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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ NC A&T SU Sports Information (October 22, 2010). "AGGIES NAME INTERIM AD". NCATAggies.com. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  6. ^ "Official Site of North Carolina A&T Aggies". North Carolina A&T State University. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  7. ^ "A&T Makes Football Coaching Change". North Carolina A&T. December 15, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "NCAT Football Media Guide" (PDF). NCAT Sports Information. May 23, 2010.
  9. ^ NC A&T SU Sports Information. "NCA&T Mens Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). NCATAggies.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  10. ^ Kyle Whelliston. "Student Spirit Week: Favorite Arena Atmospheres". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ NCAT Alumni Baseball Association. "NCA&T Baseball History". www.aggiebaseballalumni.org. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  13. ^ NCAT Alumni Baseball Association. "NCA&T Baseball Home Field". www.aggiebaseballalumni.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  14. ^ NCAT Alumni Baseball Association. "NCA&T Baseball Championships". www.aggiebaseballalumni.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  15. ^ "Kim Terrell-Kearney - Head Coach - Women's Bowling Coaches". North Carolina A&T. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  16. ^ a b 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. ^ "Ex-NBA guard JR Smith makes golf debut with North Carolina A&T". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year, with a 4.0 GPA: JR Smith, Men's Golf". Front Office Sports on Twitter.com. April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  22. ^ "Dejon Bivens - Head Coach - Staff Directory". North Carolina A&T. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "Aggie Tennis Center". ncataggies.com. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  24. ^ Collegeovals.com
  25. ^ Aggie Stadium MileSplit.us profile Archived June 27, 2007, at archive.today
  26. ^ NC A&T SU Sports Information. "NC A&T Volleyball Media Guide 2010" (PDF). NCATAggies.com. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  27. ^ NCAT Sports Information. "Aggies Name New Volleyball Coach". www.ncataggies.com. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ Dr. Albert W. Spruill. "Origins of The Aggie Bulldog". Bluedeathvalley.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  31. ^ "The A&T Alma Mater". www.library.ncat.edu. F.D. Bluford Library Archives. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  32. ^ "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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