Winston-Salem State coach Tory Woodbury knows building a football program takes more than wins. It also requires resources, equipment and time.
That process has drawn renewed attention after a video showing a ground crew member improperly marking the field at Bowman Gray Stadium during the Rams’ game against Bowie State on Saturday went viral on social media.
The video appeared to show a worker painting yard lines without a proper stencil, leaving portions of the field visibly crooked and uneven. The footage quickly sparked criticism and raised questions about the university’s game-day field preparation.
Woodbury did not directly address the viral video in his comments as instructed by the school, but he acknowledged that fundraising, equipment and other resources remain important as Winston-Salem State works toward its long-term goals.
“I think any program, the biggest thing is just fundraising and little stuff like equipment and such,” Woodbury said.
Woodbury, in his first year as coach, expressed confidence that the program’s needs would be addressed through continued collaboration with athletic director and university leadership.
He said those conversations are ongoing as the university identifies priorities and determines what needs immediate attention.
“I haven’t been here a year,” Woodbury said. “Just continue working with my athletic director and chancellor and the people around that. We have meetings — what are our needs, what we need to address.”
WSSU to hire independent company to handle field markings
The field-marking incident put an unexpected spotlight on the behind-the-scenes details that contribute to a college football program’s presentation on game day. While the viral video focused on the condition of the playing surface, Woodbury’s broader comments pointed to the resources and organizational support needed to move a program forward.
Athletic director Eric Burns told HBCU Gameday on Tuesday that the university had hired an outside company to handle the field markings ahead of the Rams’ next home game against Bluefield State. The company was scheduled to begin painting Thursday, with the field expected to be ready by noon Friday.
“We addressed the issue,” Burns said. “We’re hiring the outside entity to come in and paint the field for next week. And so we’ll be ready to play on Saturday.”
Burns previously accepted responsibility for the incident, acknowledging shortcomings in the athletic department’s handling of the field. The department also moved to implement additional quality-control measures to help prevent a repeat of the problem.
Despite the challenges, Woodbury remained optimistic about Winston-Salem State’s direction, expressing confidence that the necessary improvements would come with time.
“I have full confidence in that,” he said.
For the Rams, the challenge is balancing the immediate demands of competing on the field with the longer-term work of building a program capable of meeting Woodbury’s vision.
The viral field-marking video may have exposed a highly visible game-day problem, but the coach’s comments underscored his belief that continued communication, investment and patience will be essential to the program’s progress.
