Winston-Salem, NC - The 2001 Winston-Salem State University football team will be put to the test, facing three teams that ended the 2000 season nationally ranked in the top 10.
The season kicks off with Division II powerhouse Carson-Newman University at Bowman Gray Stadium (Saturday, August 25). This will be the first meeting between both the teams. The Eagles finished 7th in the South region with an 8-2 overall record.
The Rams then travel to Tuskegee University on September 1 where they match up with the Tigers (ranked 4th nationally) for the third consecutive year. The Rams have met Tuskegee for the past two seasons in the annual Pioneer Bowl where they have split, 1-1.
The Rams go into conference play on September 8 when they travel to Bowie State University. After an open weekend, CIAA runner-up Virginia Union University (ranked 10th nationally), will host the Rams on September 22. The Rams then head to Fayetteville State (September 29) and Livingstone College (October 6).
Winston-Salem State hosts the N.C. Central Eagles on October 13. The Trojans of Virginia State University, who handed the Rams their only conference loss during the 2000 campaign and ended a 12 game conference win streak, will take on the Rams at Bowman Gray Stadium on October 20. The Rams will play Johnson C. Smith on October 27, as WSSU celebrates homecoming. WSSU will then host Elizabeth City State for its final regular season game.
WSSU completed an impressive 2000 campaign with an 8-3 record after defeating Division I AA opponent S.C. State University and going 6-1 in conference play. The Rams ended the season ranked 8th in the Division II Football Ranking and 21st in the AP and ESPN/USA Today rankings and captured their second consecutive CIAA Championship.