Winston-Salem State AD says school will do better after viral video showing a grounds crew worker painting crooked yardage markers

Winston-Salem State says it will make sure that its football field markings are more exact going forward.

After a viral video showed a grounds crew member, uh, estimating the white yardage markers on a sideline with a can of white spray paint, athletic director Eric Burns issued a statement on Monday acknowledging that the markings “fell short” of school standards.

(Note: The video below contains explicit language)

“The field markings at our last home game fell short of WSSU athletics’ standards, and I take responsibility,” Burns said in a statement. “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.”

Amazon Prime Eligibility Check

Find Your Qualified Amazon Prime Trial

Select your category below to unlock your specific free trial and discounted membership rate:

🎓 18–24 Years Old or College Student 👤 25 Years Old or Older (Standard) 💳 Receiving Government Assistance (EBT / Medicaid)

Recommended Plan

Prime for Young Adults

6-Month Trial for $0

Trial courtesy of Grubhub. After trial, auto-renews at 50% off (just $7.49/month). Cancel anytime.

Included with Prime for Young Adults:

• Fast, Free Delivery: Unlimited Same-Day, One-Day, and Two-Day Delivery on millions of items.
• Unlimited Streaming: Prime Video with award-winning Originals, movies, and live sports.
• $0 Food Delivery Fees: Free Grubhub+ membership included (save ~$120/year).

Try Prime for Young Adults ($0 Trial) ➔ ← Choose a different option

Recommended Plan

Amazon Prime (Standard)

Free 30-Day Trial ($0)

Only $14.99/month (plus tax) after trial. Cancel anytime.

Included with Amazon Prime:

• Fast, Free Delivery: Unlimited Same-Day, One-Day, and Two-Day shipping options.
• Instant Entertainment: Award-winning TV shows, movies, music, and photo storage.
• Full Access to Alexa+: AI assistant for entertainment, deals, and smart home tracking.

Start Your 30-Day Free Trial ($0) ➔ ← Choose a different option

Qualifying Plan

Amazon Prime Access

30-Day Free Trial + 50% Off

For qualifying government assistance (SNAP, EBT, Medicaid). Just $6.99/month after trial.

• Full Prime Benefits: Free shipping, Prime Video, and exclusive shopping deals.
• No Long-Term Commitment: Cancel or pause membership anytime.

Claim Prime Access Discount ➔ ← Choose a different option

Winston-Salem State plays its home games at Bowman Gray Stadium, a facility that has a quarter-mile race track around it that is regularly used for auto racing events. The school hosted Bowie State on Saturday as much of North Carolina was plagued by rain from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias.

The Rams lost that game 21-0 to fall to 0-6 overall and 0-4 in CIAA play.