How do you make Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association history? With a few dedicated men, a defending champion, a seasoned Dean, passion and heart.
A few of these young players have made personal history this season, but they collaboratively make CIAA History as members of the two teams left standing to make their quest for the CIAA Football Championship Crown. Winston-Salem State University and Virginia Union University take to the inaugural field this Saturday, the last CIAA grand stand of this caliber since 1992.
Defending Champion
The new century is baptized with the record barring of Coach Kermit Blount of Winston-Salem State University, who has just become WSSU's 3rd Winningest Coach with, a 52-35 record. Thomas "Tank" Conrad has 81 wins. Bill Hayes has 89. Blount, a former Winston-Salem Ram, is the coach of the 1999 Defending CIAA and Pioneer Bowl Champs. He held a 15 game winning streak against CIAA conference opponents until his October 22 loss to Virginia State.
Seasoned Dean
Willard Bailey, has become the Winningest Coach of the CIAA, with over 186 wins, a record that was held for over 50 years. As a 27 year veteran, Bailey has remained in the conference for most of his coaching years, beginning at Virginia Union from 1971-1983, Norfolk State from 1984-1992 and Virginia Union from 1995-present. He ranks 3rd among the Division II coaches in career wins, ranks 2nd in career wins among black college football coaches, holds five Gold Bowl Championships, six CIAA Championships, and six NCAA playoff appearances.
Passion Passing
The Rams are led by quarterback and Winston-Salem native Tory "Hollywood" Woodbury. He, too, has made his own personal history by breaking Coach Blount's Winston-Salem all-time passing record. He also holds the school record for career touchdowns previously held by running-back Richard Huntley, currently of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Called "Hollywood" for his abundance of confidence. Woodbury has a lot to be confident about. Just ask Coach Blount, since his record was replaced by Woodbury. "Records are made to be broken, "I am proud of what he has accomplished," said Blount.
Heart
For the Panthers' history books, running back Andre Braxton has rewritten the tally marks with his own breaking techniques capturing the CIAA record for touchdowns in a season with 25. Andre Braxton, 5'5, no bigger than a minute, is a minute man that can stop at the tick of a second and move in any direction. You can't tackle what you can't catch. But catch up to all of the Virginia Union records is what he did. As a freshman, Braxton became the first runner in school's history to top 1,000 yards. He also dissolved former Panther and Minnesota Viking, Bobby Phillips' VUU career rushing record with over 4,200 yards.
The CIAA fans are sure not to be disappointed as history is unfolded. The 2000 CIAA Football Championship places its stamp in the record books starting with the kick-off at 1:00pm on the campus of North Carolina Central University at the O'Kelly-Riddick stadium. The price to be a part of history is $15.00.