WSSU Homecoming Draws Alumni to Tailgate, Game
Winston-Salem State University alumni, students, and fans gathered for a homecoming tailgate and football game against Fayetteville State University.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in African-American
Winston-Salem State University marked its homecoming weekend with a tailgate and football game against Fayetteville State University, uniting alumni, students, and fans over food, music, and camaraderie. Celebrations continue Sunday with WSSU Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church and a student-alumni basketball game.
Why it matters
The homecoming events give alumni and current students a shared gathering point in Winston-Salem and reinforce ties between the university and its graduates. The weekend's schedule extends the celebration beyond the football game into community and athletic events.
The homecoming schedule runs from Friday's tailgate through Sunday's WSSU Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church and a 1 p.m. basketball game at the C.E. Gaines Center. Attendance figures and the football score were not included in the available reporting.
The players
Winston-Salem State University
A historically Black public university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded in 1892 and part of the University of North Carolina System.
Fayetteville State University
A historically Black public university in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a member of the University of North Carolina System that faced WSSU in the homecoming game.
The details
Alumni, students, and fans gathered for a tailgate before the Rams faced Fayetteville State University on the gridiron. Alumna Monica Brooks McKnight, who graduated from WSSU and has worked as a nurse at Duke Hospital for 28 years, has a daughter scheduled to graduate from the university as a nurse in May 2027.
Timeline
Homecoming tailgate and football game took place during homecoming weekend, November 2026.
WSSU Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Shalimar Drive runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Student-alumni basketball game at the C.E. Gaines Center starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Brooks McKnight's daughter is scheduled to graduate as a nurse from WSSU in May 2027.
Culture Shift
WSSU's homecoming follows the long-running historically Black college homecoming tradition, which has served as a central gathering for generations of alumni. The weekend reflects how these campus traditions continue to anchor community identity across Black higher education.
Winston-Salem residents can attend WSSU Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church or the 1 p.m. basketball game at the C.E. Gaines Center this Sunday. The events give locals a direct way to join the university's homecoming celebrations.
The takeaway
Homecoming weekends bring alumni and students back to campus and strengthen the networks built around historically Black universities. Attending a campus event like WSSU Day is a simple way for community members to take part.
What happens next
WSSU Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by a student-alumni basketball game at the C.E. Gaines Center at 1 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more African-American culture coverage for context on campus traditions and community celebrations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WXII.
