1989
FAMU pays back Skegee
Two years earlier, Tuskegee smacked its Division I rival 23-0. Ken Riley’s Rattlers showed how muted they improved with a 41-9 win in Bragg Stadium. FAMU outgunned Tuskegee
“When you play Tuskegee, you have nothing to gain, because they’re Division II,” Ken Riley said after the game. “But it’s such a good rivalry, it’s a good game to play.”
Maynor/Hayes Era begins at NC A&T
After climbing back to the CIAA mountaintop in 1987, Bill Hayes decided to jump to the MEAC. His first season at North Carolina A&T was rough, but he brought a not-so-secret weapon with him in Connell Maynor.
The Fayetteville quarterback had led Winston-Salem State to the CIAA championship as a freshman. He had to sit out a year for following Hayes 30 minutes down the road to Greensboro, but proved to be worth the wait.
His first game in the blue-and-gold came against archival North Carolina Central. Maynor completed 11 of 18 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns to lead NC A&T to a 24-6 win at Aggie Stadium.