WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT:  Leaving their tracks... Honoring football's first senior class

Back Row (L-R): Kyle Kuhn, Brian Binkley, Kevin Burant, Nathan Hackney, Josh Dunigan,
Bo Brown, Judd Hyde, Steven Burant, Josh Condry, Tim Holt. Middle Row (L-R): William Parker,
Brian Vaughn, Josh Turner, Matt Schell, Jezreel Davis, Davelle Whitney, Noah Parsons,
Brandon Craig. Front Row (L-R): Derek Robinson, Justin Augustin, Donnel Cherry,
Josh Jenkins, Jamal Meekins, Humza Ismail. Front: Cedric Townsend.

Rocky Mount, NC - On September 4th, 2004, the North Carolina Wesleyan football program took the field for the first time. Head coach Jack Ginn had been preparing for NCWC's game at Shenandoah University for almost two years, and he led nearly 150 Blue & Gold players into battle that night. Although NCWC lost its inaugural game to the Hornets by a 24-7 score, it would not be long for the Bishops to begin a notable list of "firsts" that has grown much more quickly than most expected.

Wesleyan hosted its first home game at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex on September 18th, 2004 against Greensboro College. It proved to be a special day for the Bishops as they recorded the program's first victory, as well as its first USA South win, by a 14-6 score.  The Blue & Gold accomplished another feat just two weeks later when NCWC earned a 30-22 victory at Chowan University, marking the program's first road win. Wesleyan ended its first season of competition with a respectable 4-4 record.

Since that inaugural season, Jack Ginn has continued to build a strong winning tradition within the North Carolina Wesleyan football program.  NCWC, in fact, has the third highest winning percentage among Division III programs that were started or reinstated between 2000 and 2005.  The Bishops also relish in their success within the state of North Carolina as the Blue & Gold have lost a mere two contests to NC institutions in their first four seasons.

The 2007 season marks the first senior class for Ginn, and he is proud to honor the 25 young men that have helped him build the College's football program. Because of their dedication and determination, the Blue & Gold program has quickly made a name for itself as one of the elite programs in Division III.  This season alone saw Wesleyan add to its list of "firsts" by turning in its first USA South Championship as the only team to ever go undefeated in league play.  The program also earned its first NCAA Tournament berth and playoff win.  Finally, Ginn's group of seniors clawed their way from unknown status to a spot in the national Top-25 poll after posting a program-record nine wins in 2007. 

Wesleyan's spectacular season may have came to an end in Texas on Saturday, but the mark made by the football program's inaugural senior class will never be forgotten as stated in their motto, "We will be known by the tracks we leave behind." 

Nothing could be more true. 
 

2006-07 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES

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