Winston-Salem State athletic director Eric Burns has apologised after the field markings at the team’s last home game fell short of WSSU athletics’ standards, with the issue drawing widespread backlash after a viral TikTok clip.
The problem emerged at Bowman Gray Stadium, where the Winston-Salem State University Rams play on a field surrounded by a quarter-mile track. A video showing the hash lines being painted in a jagged and unusual way spread quickly earlier this week, bringing fresh attention to a basic part of game-day preparation.
Burns addressed the situation late Tuesday on social media and made clear that the university would not let it pass without change.
Burns takes responsibility
“The field markings at our last home game fell short of WSSU athletics’ standards, and I take responsibility,” Burns said.
That matters because the criticism was not about a close call or a difficult playing surface. It was about presentation, preparation and whether the home environment matched the standard expected by the programme and its supporters.
The reaction was amplified by the visibility of the venue itself. Bowman Gray Stadium has a long sporting history, beginning with NASCAR-sanctioned stock car racing events in 1949 and later hosting Cup races from 1958 through 1971. Wake Forest University also played games there before its new facility was built. But for Winston-Salem State football, the focus this week was not history — it was the condition of the lines on the field.
What changes next?
Burns said the university had already acted to prevent a repeat of the problem before the next home game.
“We’ve secured additional field preparation support and implemented new checks to ensure this is addressed before our next home game. Our student-athletes and Ram Nation deserve the highest standard, and we are committed to meeting it every time,” he said.
That is the key point now. The apology is important, but the next home game will be the real test of whether WSSU can show the issue was an isolated lapse rather than a wider standards problem.
For a football programme, the basics matter. Clean markings, clear organisation and proper preparation are not cosmetic details; they are part of the standard every home team expects. WSSU has acknowledged that publicly, and Burns has put the responsibility back on the department to respond in the right way.
