Inaugural cookout brings together coaches, faculty, student-athletes

Director of Athletics Bill Hayes is backing up his emphasis on the success of Winston-Salem State's student-athletes with the first Dr. Reginald K. Sherard Academic Cookout.

The event took place at C.E. Gaines Center Jan. 21 in attempts to reconnect the focus on academics between coaches, student-athletes, and professors.

"The academic success of our student-athletes is our number one priority," Hayes said.

"I found out early on as a student-athlete and as a coach that too many times coaches and athletic staff wait until April and May to find out about the status of student-athletes in their classes.  We want to try to improve communications and this event is great way to start that."

Approximately 300 student-athletes invited their teachers for lunch and conversation with their coaches regarding their academic progression.  Nearly 1,500 were in attendance for the three-hour event.

"The academic cookout was great," said junior Cornell Jones, a member of the WSSU track team.

"Professors, students, and coaches all met for the first time since I've been enrolled.  Coach Hayes is making great changes."

The event, sponsored by Time Warner Cable, was named after Dr. Reginald K. Sherard, a WSSU alum who excelled in football and wrestling.  Sherard, a 2002 member of the WSSU Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame, was also a four-year letterman and a part of the 1978 football team's undefeated CIAA Championship roster.  

Sherard has since transitioned from athletics to an Emergency Medicine Physician in Greenville, N.C. at Lenoir Memorial Hospital.

"To have this event named after me is very humbling," Sherard said in a WSSU Athletics News press release.

"Thirty-six years ago when I was here as a student-athlete, I never thought about what I was doing at the time.  You have to realize that if you have a team of 100 members, maybe three or four may go on to play professional ball.  The rest of us have to get up and go to work every morning on a job.   It's important for you to get the academic side straight so that when your athletic career is over, you have something to fall back on.  This type of event helps to reinforce the importance of academics."

The event is expected to continue annually in an effort to maintain the communication between coaches, student-athletes, and professors. 

"This was an opportunity for the instructors to meet and interact and for the athletic department to explain that they are committed to our student-athletes first in the classroom," said Dr. Dennis Felder, coordinator of the sports management program.  

"The turnout was outstanding in all areas."