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'No. 1 Fan' turns up Ram pride

By Jennifer Bruinton

On October 23, 2013

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Vincent “Pig” Caldwell dancing in the aisle during the homecoming football game. Jennifer Bruinton
Jennifer Bruinton

Growing up on Winston-Salem State's campus in 1974 led "Pig" to become the No. 1 fan that he is today.

Vincent "Pig" Caldwell from Winston-Salem has been WSSU's top fan for the past 28 years.

Caldwell is a landscaper in Winston-Salem.

"I came here when I was a kid. I was a part of the YMCA Moe Lucas Step team, and we would come here to step. That's when they fell in love with me, and I fell in love with them," he said.

Caldwell said that he could swim, eat in the cafeteria or do whatever he wanted to do while on campus.

"It was really wonderful; they did more for me than my family did and if I got out of line, they would get me straight too. Coach Wallace and them took care of me," he said.

Since then, Caldwell has been associated with WSSU and never misses a game, including away games.

Caldwell said that he brings his family along with him to every game, and pays regularly, like everyone else.

"I pay for seasonal parking and a seasonal pass which is $90 altogether. I don't get any discounts, so I have to pay my family's way in as well. Whenever there is an away game, I always drive," he said.

Dancing in the middle of the aisles, Caldwell keeps the crowd entertained with his famous moves and chants.

He said that his favorite chant is, "What do we want? A TD! What's that? A touch down!"

Every year, the Red Team cheerleaders asks him to cheer with them.

"I love it; they helped me, so I'm just giving back to them. Although I didn't attend here, my wife graduated from here in 1991, and my daughter graduated in 2007. I'm trying to persuade my son to come here. He was the ball boy here for five years," he said.

Red Team cheerleader Shontia Pettaway, a senior exercise science major from Tarboro, N.C. said that she absolutely loves him.

"He always has that Ram spirit that we love to see at games as we're on the track cheering. He lives up to the back of his coat; he is the No. 1 fan," Pettaway said.

Caldwell said that one of his most memorable games was back in 2010 when the University played St. Augustine's for the CIAA championship.

"We were winning, but within minutes we lost that game. It was tough, but I stuck with them and whether we lost or not, we've always had the baddest band in the nation," Caldwell said.

He said he makes sure everybody has a good time, as well as the 1000 HORN$ donors.

"I call them the sophisticated people that sit in the red chairs. If they can do it in church, they can definitely do it here. I just want everybody to enjoy themselves," he said.

According to wssurams.com, the 1000 HORN$ Campaign is a commitment from 1,000 alumni and friends of WSSU who make an annual contribution of $1,000 to the athletics department.

"We would love for people to come out because we're at the game and we don't get to socialize. It's a gap there, and I need to close it. If we all try to work together, it can really get bigger," he said.

Caldwell said he'll never stop being the No. 1 fan.

"I'll be a Ram until I die."