Black Panther
exhibit in town
making waves
Page 2
Chancellor’s
Picnic Photo
Gallery
Page 3
Homecoming or
Rivalry Games?
The News Argus
Page 4
www.thenewsargus.com
Winston-Salem State University’s Student Newspaper
Sept. 10, 2007
m
This summer, tne UNC Board of Governors approved WSSU’s Motorsport monogoment prograrm.Tlrie program -was announced \as\ October.
Motorsport program is approved, up and running
Photo by Garrett Garms
Larry Williams
NEWS ARGUS STAFF
Last October, Winston Salem State
University unveiled plans to launch a new
bachelor's degree program in motorsport
management. The curriculum planned to
focus on two areas: motor sports opera
tions and motorsport marketing and event
planning. The one-year mark is on the
horizon next month and the program
seems to be picking up steam.
The Board of Governors approved the
motor sports curriculum at WSSU in May.
Since then, the university and staff have
gone full speed ahead in trying to make
the program a success.
"The focus has been on recruiting stu
dents and getting the word out about the
program as well as building partners and
contacts in the industry," says Dr. Travis
Teague, program coordinator for the
WSSU Motorsport Management program.
The University has also added a second
staff member. Dr. Jim Hand. Hand was
added as the assistant professor for the
program.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity
for the students and school and about the
untapped opportunities," Hand said. He
also hopes to bring a new perspective on
the field of motorsports.
"I hope to bring out the other side of
racing other than NASCAR, to show the
other forums like drag racing, off-road
racing and the diversity in types of rac
ing."
Starting a bachelor's degree program
from the ground for a university requires
a dedicated team of faculty. It also
requires support from all aspects of the
university. "Being part of the school of
education, we have received tremendous
support from the dean and chancellor as
well as valuable supports from the mar
keting and communications department at
WSSU," said Teague.
One of the more recognizable marketing
campaigns has been the billboards placed
on North Carolina interstates. There is one
on Interstate 85 in Charlotte , as well as
Interstate 40 in Greensboro. These bill
boards stand out to students on campus
each time they pass one.
The motorsports program provides
numerous opportunities for students to
get hands-on training and experience
through various avenues, events and fre
quent educational trips. Teague spends a
considerable amount of time and effort
building relationships throughout the
NASCAR community. Also in the works
are upcoming endeavors with the Indy
Racing league and open wheel racing.
"We are committed to continuing to
explore every lead that can help students
succeed in this program," Teague said.
The motorsport curriculum has been
involved in or sponsored several events
since last year. They went to the AMA
Super Bike competition in Virginia at the
International Raceway. Also this past sum
mer the program was part of the UNC
Tomorrow program where it was high
lighted. In attendance were various com
mittee members and Erskine Bowles, the
president of the UNC school system.
With the program in its infant stages,
current enrollment is rather small. The
program has three full-time majors and
Teague would like to see that number
around 30. To make sure those students
Photo by Garrett Garms
NASCAR and the motorsport industry
are becoming increasingly diverse.
have the resources needed Teague and
staff face all challenges head on.
"The whole thing is a challenge; with a
new curriculum we are constantly trying
to recruit sponsors from the program for
scholarships and experimental adven
tures," said Teague.
"Everybody we talk to seems to be
excited and welcoming and feel it [the
program] will be able to meet the needs of
the industry."
Photo by Garrett Garms
Monte Purvis and William Hayes await the coin toss.
Rams roll
over Aggies
By Steven J. Gaither
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Maybe it's not so hard to be a Ram after all.
Winston-Salem State defeated North
Carolina A&T 28-7 at Bowman Gray Stadium
on Sept. 1. Senior running back Jed Bines was
named WSSU's offensive player of the game
after gaining 126 yards on 16 carries in his first
game back in over a year
"It feels real good to be back, " Bines said
after the game. "I just want to give credit to my
offensive line for making holes for me to run
through."
Head coach Kermit Blount beamed when
talking about Bines' return.
'Tt's great to have him back,"Blount said. "I
missed him out there."
Quarterback Monte Purvis, who played with
Bines at Parkland High, benefited from having
Bines and sophomore running back Brandon
McRae behind him in the backfield. Purvis
went 9 for 15 with two touchdown passes. He
also ran for 63 yards.
"It's great to have #1 and #
26 back there," Purvis said
after the game.
McRae added 85 yards on
15 carries, including a 30-yard
touchdown, as the Rams
racked up 286 rushing yards
and nearly 400 yards of total
offense.
The game wasn't all offen
sive fireworks for the Rams.
Other than a brief lapse late in
the third quarter, the Rams
defense stifled the Aggie
offense. Senior linebacker
Thadeus Griffin was aU over
the field, notching 10 tackles
and two interceptions.
Defensive Uneman William
Hayes added nine tackles.
The game started off slowly, with neither
team able to muster up much offense in their
first two drives. WSSU was finally able to get
on the board after Griffin's first interception
gave them the ball on the Aggie's 23-yard
line. A few plays later Purvis was able to
score on a 1-yard plunge into the endzone,
giving the Rams a 7-0 lead which they never
relinquished.
The Rams' next score came when Purvis hit
receiver Bryant Bayne with a 19-yard touch
down pass. The Aggies scored their only touch
down when Herb Miller connected with Curtis
Walls in the third quarter. The Rams finished
up the scoring when Purvis connected with
Brent Thomas early in the fourth quarter.
The win marked the Rams' second consecu
tive in the "1-40 Showdovwi."The game was
played in front of a capacity crowd of over
22,000 fans. The win also put Blount in sole
possession of second place on the Rams all-
time wins list v«th 82 victories.
WSSU reclaims
No. 1 in U.S. News
& World Report
magazine ranking
Staff Report
Winston-Salem State University has
reclaimed its number one ranking
among Top Public Southern
Comprehensive Colleges Bachelor's
category in the 2008 America's Best
Colleges issue of U.S. News & World
Report magazine.
WSSU has been ranked either
number one or number two in this cat
egory since 2002. The rankings are
part of the magazine's 2008 annual
ranking of top universities in the
nation.
The ranking marks the seventh
consecutive showing by WSSU in the
Publication's Best Colleges rankings in
the past eight years.
"We are proud of the ranking we
have earned while moving forward
With our strategic planning," said
WSSU Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.