It's usually hard to get a prediction from a head football coach when asked to consider the season ahead for their own respective team. So it's not surprising that Winston-Salem State Rams Head Coach Connell Maynor raised eyebrows when he made a bold prediction in July. During the kickoff luncheon for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (CIAA) 2011 season, Maynor predicted that his Rams would finish 15-0 and win the NCAA Division II National Championship.
His prediction was not far off the mark because Winston-Salem State won the CIAA Championship, reached the semi-finals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs, won the most games ever in one season by a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and won their first SBN Black College National Championship.
The journey to their 13-1 season began with a hard fought 22-17 road win over Elizabeth City State. Quarterback Kameron Smith threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns and backfield mate Nicholas Cooper rushed for 137 yards and a score.
That would be followed by three consecutive blowout wins over Virginia Union, Chowan and Fayetteville State, respectively. The Rams embarrassed the Panthers 67-16, de-clawed the Hawks 55-24 and tamed the Broncos 56-20. In the win over Chowan, Smith threw six touchdown passes to six different receivers.
The winning continued on homecoming day as Coach Maynor's team trounced Johnson C. Smith 28-10. They would be tested on the road seven days later in Durham, North Carolina, by the St. Augustine's Falcons. Quarterback Teddy Bacote riddled the Rams secondary with a school-record 464-yards passing and four touchdowns, yet, WSSU prevailed 35-28. The near setback woke up the Rams and propelled them to two more blowouts; 63-7 over Livingstone College and 59-7 over Edward Waters College.
Shaw University provided the second toughest regular season test when they visited the Rams Bowman Gray Stadium on Senior Day. Despite accumulating just 124 total yards on offense while giving up 320 yards on defense, WSSU prevailed 21-14 to secure their first undefeated regular season record against conference opponents since 1999. A week later, they tuned up for the CIAA Championship Game and a rematch with Elizabeth City State by pounding UNC Pembroke 35-7.
In the title game, the Rams disposed of the ECSU Vikings 38-18. Offensively, WSSU was led by Nicholas Cooper's 163 yards on 24 carries and three scores. The victory gave Winston-Salem State its first CIAA title in eleven years.
With eleven straight wins under his belt, Coach Maynor's early season prediction was still in tact. It became even more realistic when they received a first round bye in the playoffs and opened the post-season with a 35-28 win over California University of Pennsylvania. That led to a quarterfinal matchup with the New Haven (Connecticut) Chargers. The Rams capitalized on four turnovers and won in a rout, 27-7.
The bid for a perfect season would come to an end in their NCAA Division II Semi-Final against Wayne State University. The Michigan-based Warriors defeated the Rams, 21-14 to lock up a spot in the National Championship Game while Winston-Salem State would complete its season at 13-1.
Despite falling short of his stated goal, Maynor was very proud of what his team accomplished: The most wins of any HBCU ever (13), a ninth school CIAA Championship, advancing to semifinals of the NCAA Playoffs, and their first Jake Gaither Trophy honoring them as SBN Black College National Champions..