WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State's financial problems are one reason the Rams are playing for the Division II national championship this weekend.
Budget woes led officials at the historically black university to abort a pending move to Division I Football Championship Subdivision a few years ago.
So, the Rams returned to Division II and made themselves at home. They're 14-0, preparing to face Valdosta State on Saturday in Florence, Ala., with a chance to win their first national title.
Coach Connell Maynor won't say the Rams' perfect-so-far season justifies the decision to drop back down a level.
But he said Tuesday that "if you win, that will make the people that wanted us to stay I-AA kind of forget about that and say, 'You know what, this is all right.'"
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.