Winston Salem AD Apologizes For Lopsided Yard Lines at Football Game After Viral Video

Winston-Salem State University athletic director Eric Burns spoke out Monday after a viral video showed a worker shoddily painting yardage lines on the school's football field at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, last weekend.

The video, which was posted by DJ Moyer on TikTok, shows a grounds crew worker spray painting crooked lines on the field without a stencil and without properly measuring:

In a statement provided to Jeremy Vernon of WFMY News 2, Burns addressed the situation, saying, "The field markings at our last home game fell short of WSSU Athletics' standards, and I take responsibility. 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."

The lines in question were painted on prior to Winston-Salem's home game against Bowie State on Saturday, which Winston-Salem lost 21-0.

The Rams, who play in Division II, are now 0-6 overall on the 2026 season, and 0-4 in CIAA conference games.

Winston-Salem, which is a historically Black college or university (HBCU), was something of a football power in the 2010s, winning double-digit games each year from 2011 to 2013.

That included a trip to the 2012 Division II National Championship Game where the Rams fell to Valdosta State.

Notable NFL alumni to come out of Winston-Salem State include wide receivers Yancey Thigpen and Oronde Gadsden, and defensive end Williams Hayes.

While the program has fallen on hard times in recent years, Burns' statement suggests they are at least trying to improve the manner in which they prepare to host games.

Winston-Salem's next home football game is set for Saturday against Bluefield State.