{"id":5641,"date":"2026-02-10T21:26:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/?page_id=5641"},"modified":"2026-02-10T21:29:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:29:33","slug":"new_loc_page-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/?page_id=5641","title":{"rendered":"NEW_LOC_MFB"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5641\" class=\"elementor elementor-5641\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a73fcaf animated-slow e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a73fcaf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75ac092 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75ac092\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">GOLDEN GRIDIRON<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3225d80 e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3225d80\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40722f6 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"40722f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">AGGIE FOOTBALL<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-837f24b elementor-arrows-position-outside elementor-pagination-type-bullets elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-carousel\" data-id=\"837f24b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;carousel_items&quot;:[{&quot;slide_title&quot;:&quot;Slide #1&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;d033833&quot;},{&quot;slide_title&quot;:&quot;Slide #2&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;567b12c&quot;},{&quot;slide_title&quot;:&quot;Slide #3&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;7b202e2&quot;},{&quot;slide_title&quot;:&quot;Slide #4&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;f74c08d&quot;},{&quot;slide_title&quot;:&quot;Slide #5&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;6db1740&quot;},{&quot;slide_title&quot;:&quot;Slide #6&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;7f47dc0&quot;}],&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;slides_to_show_tablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;slides_to_scroll&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;slides_to_show_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;image_spacing_custom&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;image_spacing_custom_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;image_spacing_custom_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-carousel swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Carousel\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" data-slide=\"1\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-186ea21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"186ea21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2d2161 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c2d2161\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c66b82b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c66b82b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Early Years: Roots and Resilience (1901\u20131940s)<\/strong><\/p><p>The Aggies fielded their first football team in 1901, making them one of the oldest HBCU programs in the country. Those early decades weren\u2019t easy. Funding was tight, equipment was scarce, and the social climate was openly hostile. But the Aggies played on, often scheduling games against nearby Black colleges and even high schools. Wins and losses from those years are tough to track, but the program\u2019s perseverance laid the foundation for everything that followed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d4aeed e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0d4aeed\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d8b598 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1d8b598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-1024x607.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4571\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-1024x607.png 1024w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-1536x910.png 1536w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-2048x1214.png 2048w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Football-1905-600x356.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" data-slide=\"2\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a2e3b1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8a2e3b1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a3fbe8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2a3fbe8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08de4cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"08de4cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"css-qffaiu e178251s9\"><strong class=\"css-1dyr6n3 e178251s8\">Building a Name: MEAC and the Rise of Rivalries (1950s\u20131970s)<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"css-qffaiu e178251s9\">As college football grew, so did A&amp;T\u2019s ambitions. The 1950s and \u201860s saw the team develop a reputation for speed and physicality. By 1970, A&amp;T became a founding member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), a league that would come to define much of its athletic identity.<\/p><p class=\"css-qffaiu e178251s9\">Rivalries\u2014especially with North Carolina Central, dubbed the \u201cAggie\u2013Eagle Classic\u201d\u2014became fixtures on the schedule, drawing crowds and cementing the team\u2019s place in Black college football lore.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15cbc3b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"15cbc3b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2864162 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2864162\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-1024x607.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5516\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-1536x910.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-2048x1214.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1973_1974_Edit-600x356.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" data-slide=\"3\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80fa732 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"80fa732\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f42f49 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0f42f49\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47116e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"47116e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"css-qffaiu e178251s9\"><strong class=\"css-1dyr6n3 e178251s8\">The Broadway Era and National Titles (1980s\u20131990s)<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"css-qffaiu e178251s9\">The Aggies\u2019 profile continued to rise in the late 20th century. Coaches like Bill Hayes and later, Rod Broadway, turned A&amp;T into a powerhouse. Under Hayes, the Aggies won MEAC titles in 1986 and 1991, and a Black College National Championship in 1990. These teams featured future NFL talent and packed Aggie Stadium (later renamed Truist Stadium) with fans. The Aggie defense, known as \u201cBlue Death,\u201d gained notoriety for stifling opponents.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34e7440 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"34e7440\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0ecb00 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f0ecb00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-1024x607.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5522\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-1536x910.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-2048x1214.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-1991_edit-600x356.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" data-slide=\"4\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed1de5a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ed1de5a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae85101 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ae85101\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bbf276 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8bbf276\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"has-focus\"><strong>A New Millennium: Triumphs and Turbulence (2000\u20132010)<\/strong><\/p><p>The early 2000s were a roller coaster. A&amp;T notched a MEAC championship in 2003 but soon faced NCAA sanctions and a string of losing seasons. Despite setbacks, loyal fans kept showing up, and the marching band\u2014the Blue and Gold Marching Machine\u2014remained a national draw. In 2011, the program made a decisive hire: Rod Broadway, a proven winner at other HBCUs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b6fc4f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6b6fc4f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db96320 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"db96320\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-1024x607.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5523\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-1536x910.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-2048x1214.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-2009-600x356.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" data-slide=\"5\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"5 of 6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c14230 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c14230\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-686a5eb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"686a5eb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aefb9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3aefb9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"has-focus\"><strong>The Aggie Renaissance: Dominance and Prestige (2011\u20132021)<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadway\u2019s arrival marked a golden era. The Aggies won multiple MEAC championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) and captured the Celebration Bowl\u2014the de facto HBCU national championship\u2014four times in five years (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019). These teams were stacked: running back Tarik Cohen set school and conference records before heading to the NFL, and the defense returned to its \u201cBlue Death\u201d roots.<\/p><p>The Aggies became the standard-bearer for HBCU football nationally. Games were televised on ESPN, stars like NFL Hall of Famer Tarik Cohen and offensive lineman Brandon Parker brought pro attention, and attendance soared<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3100353 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3100353\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0345da elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c0345da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-1024x607.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5524\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-1536x910.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-2048x1214.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Celebration-Bowl-600x356.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" data-slide=\"6\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"6 of 6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06d19c2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"06d19c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbcbbf4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fbcbbf4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e52dad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e52dad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"has-focus\"><strong>Recent Years: Growth and Ambition (2022\u2013Present)<\/strong><\/p><p>In 2021, A&amp;T left the MEAC for the Big South Conference then Coastal Athletic Association, seeking new challenges and bigger stages. The transition wasn\u2019t always smooth, but it reflected the university\u2019s pursuit for greatness. As of 2026, the Aggies continue to field competitive teams, drawing local and national recruits, and maintaining one of the most passionate fan bases in college football.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7dc8ed e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f7dc8ed\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dfcecb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3dfcecb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-1024x607.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5525\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-1536x910.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-2048x1214.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Football-Team-Present-600x356.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M192 127.338v257.324c0 17.818-21.543 26.741-34.142 14.142L29.196 270.142c-7.81-7.81-7.81-20.474 0-28.284l128.662-128.662c12.599-12.6 34.142-3.676 34.142 14.142z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0760e9 e-grid e-con-full elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f0760e9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0caca2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-funfact\" data-id=\"0caca2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-funfact.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-funfact text-center     \">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-funfact-inner position_top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"funfact-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"funfact-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"number-percentage-wraper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"number-percentage\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t      data-value=\"7\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t      data-animation-duration=\"3500\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  data-style=\"static\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"funfact-title\">Black College National Championships<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f11df5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-funfact\" data-id=\"f11df5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-funfact.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-funfact text-center     \">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-funfact-inner position_top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"funfact-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"funfact-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"number-percentage-wraper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"number-percentage\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t      data-value=\"5\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t      data-animation-duration=\"3500\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  data-style=\"static\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"funfact-title\">CIAA Conference Championships<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08374d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-funfact\" data-id=\"08374d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-funfact.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-funfact text-center     \">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-funfact-inner position_top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"funfact-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"funfact-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"number-percentage-wraper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"number-percentage\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t      data-value=\"11\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t      data-animation-duration=\"3500\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  data-style=\"static\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"funfact-title\">MEAC Championships<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e9f077 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3e9f077\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Support<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ddd83a e-grid e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8ddd83a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2581fe elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e2581fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">LEGACY AND IMPACT\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58e01df elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58e01df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>NC A&amp;T football isn\u2019t just about wins and losses. The team\u2019s story is tied to the civil rights movement (students from A&amp;T launched the Greensboro sit-ins), to the rise of HBCU athletics, and to the ongoing fight for respect and recognition. With over a century of history, the Aggies have become more than a football team\u2014we are a symbol of grit, pride, and progress for generations of students and alumni.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-132013a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"132013a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GOLDEN GRIDIRON AGGIE FOOTBALL The Early Years: Roots and Resilience (1901\u20131940s) The Aggies fielded their first football team in 1901, making them one of the oldest HBCU programs in the country. Those early decades weren\u2019t easy. Funding was tight, equipment was scarce, and the social climate was openly hostile. But the Aggies played on, often [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5641","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5641"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5645,"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5641\/revisions\/5645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aggieaf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}