Every candidate is going to be looking for money. We have got to ask ourselves do we want to pay the price of being a premiere D2 basketball program in 2024.
Great analysis! Wykevin is my first choice. I think his “youth” and energy as a head coach will also energize a reputable WSSU crowd in Gaines. Winston has GOT to build the resources around the next head coach- regardless of the decision!
We need to take our time to get the right person. Coach Wilson has been very helpful and is good for the team. How about giving him a season before replacing him.
I have had this conversation before. We don’t have a true rival. We are the NC State of HBCU’s. A&T isn’t our rival. That’s Central’s rival. Just like NC State likes to claim Carolina is their rival. That’s Duke rival. We had a short lived rivalry with Tuskegee when we played them. We fought EVERY game. So did the band!!!
I definitely wouldn't have ECSU as a rival of WSSU. I might replace them with Virginia Union. Dating back to the late '80's-early '90's, VUU has been the most competitive rivalry regarding both football and basketball.
I got a longer response from Chat GPT: Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) ranks highly as an athletic rival to Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) due to several factors that fuel their competitive and spirited matchups: Historical Rivalry: Both ECSU and WSSU are longstanding members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), a conference renowned for its competitive spirit and deep-rooted traditions among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This shared history in the CIAA has fostered rivalries that are not only about sports but also about pride and tradition. Geographic Proximity: Proximity plays a significant role in intensifying rivalries. Both schools are located in North Carolina, which means that games are more accessible to both sets of fans. This accessibility increases attendance and atmosphere at games, thereby elevating the rivalry. Competitive Matchups: Over the years, both schools have fielded strong teams in various sports, particularly in football and basketball. When teams are consistently competitive, games between them naturally carry more weight, with higher stakes involved. This has been evident in their frequent confrontations during regular seasons and tournaments. Fan and Alumni Engagement: Rivalry games tend to draw significant attention from students, alumni, and fans, who bring passion and enthusiasm to the matchups. This engagement adds an extra layer of intensity to the games, making each meeting between ECSU and WSSU a highly anticipated event. Cultural Significance: Rivalries in the CIAA are more than just athletic contests; they are celebrations of HBCU culture, including bands, cheerleading, homecomings, and more. The rivalry games become major social and cultural gatherings, enhancing the significance of each encounter. The combination of these factors contributes to why Elizabeth City State ranks so highly as a rival for Winston-Salem State, making their matchups some of the highlights of the CIAA sporting calendar.
