Bluford Library Archives: The Battle of I-40, A&T vs. WSSU Rivalry Story

On Saturday, September 7, 2024, one of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s longest held rivalries will resume for the first time in 10 years. The “Battle of I-40″ also known as the “Aggie-Ram Classic” will once again pit Winston-Salem State University’s Rams vs. The North Carolina A&T Aggies. These games touch on some unique periods in our histories and shared institutional legacies to reflect on before the 2024 match.

Eighty years ago, the nation was at war, and a significant number of male students were in the U.S. Armed Services. None of that was enough to disrupt the CIAA football season. On October 7, 1944, the A&T Aggies faced off against the Winston-Salem Teachers College for the first time – marking it one of the first game of the season. The weather was ideal, and the crowds were excited. The Aggies were especially happy with a victorious score of 38-0.

The rivalry and fellowship of the Aggie-Ram classics have a special meaning for two historically black colleges and university (HBCU) institutions that are part of the University of North Carolina System. Our origins are closely tied together, more than many realize. In 1891, educator, Simon Green Atkins was the representative for Winston (now Winston-Salem) to argue for the newly established “Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race” to be in that city. The winning bid went to Greensboro, and Atkins would find the Slater Industrial Academy in Winston-Salem the following year. We are also located just 31 minutes away down the I-40 highway. WSSU have been the Rams since 1932, and A&T, the Bulldogs since 1926; both strong and noble animal mascots.

There are undeniably generations of Aggies, who are also Rams. Who could forget the leadership of Chancellor Emeritus Harold L. Martin Sr. at both WSSU and N.C. A&T. Many of the Aggie-Ram connections go back generations.

William “Willie” Thomas Cain Cheek ‘1899, one of A&T’s first seven graduates taught mechanics at WSSU in the 1910s, then known as the Slater Industrial and Slater Normal School.

When reading the A&T Register student newspapers, one can always tell when the Aggies won and when they lost. From the 1964 battle, the Aggies “demolished those pesky little T. C. [Teacher’s College] Rams 50-12.” When it was a losing game, the headlines weren’t as aggressive.

One of the most historic Aggie-Ram battles took place on September 12, 1981, the first game played in Truist Stadium (formerly Aggie Stadium) at A&T. There were 23,000 people in the stands, a new attendance record at the time, watched the Aggies defeat WSSU 21-14.

Since the Battle of I-40 tends to be early in the season, some A&T coaches had their debut plays during the Aggie-Ram classic. Alonzo Lee debuted in 2009 and won the Battle of I-40, A&T’s first victory in 5 years. After the 2010 game, in which the Rams won 21-14, the rivalry would have to wait until this year. The rivalry score overall is A&T 36 to 12 for the Rams.

Eighty years ago, the headline in the A&T Register read: “A&T Smashes T. C. 38-0 In Opening Game”. What will it read this year?

A special thanks goes to Thomas Flynn, Associate Director of Archives, Research, Learning, and Outreach for the WSSU Archives and C.G. O’Kelly Library, and to Joshua Johnson A&T alumnus and former archives intern who digitized the Aggie-Ram cover.

For a description of the first Aggie-Ram Classic, read the A&T Register from October 1944. Start on page 3.

For more information about the Aggie-Ram Classic/Battle of I-40 or other topics in A&T history, please contact the University Archives and Special Collections at libraryarchives@ncat.edu.

Written By James R. Stewart Jr. ‘08