CityView Magazine

10 August 2022 FEATURE Bronco pride Football fans come along for the ride as Fayetteville State gives them something to cheer about BY SAMMY BAT TEN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FAYET TEVILLE STATE UNIVERSIT Y O ne of Anthony Bennett's priorities when he was hired as athletics director at Fayetteville State University in August 2015 was to make the football program prominent again. "I knew Fayetteville had a committed fan base as related to football," says Bennett, noting that the program had "some down years" aer head coach Kenny Phillips was replaced. "I do remember during the Phillips era that it was the place to be on Saturdays for members of the community. So I was very interested in making sure we built football and gave the community something to see on Saturdays." Entering his eighth year on the job as the 2022 football season approaches, Bennett has, with the help of head coach Richard Hayes, succeeded in establishing a championship-caliber program that has rejuvenated the Bronco fan base. Since Bennett hired Hayes away from Winston-Salem State University in December 2015, the Broncos have produced a 32-19 overall record and a 26-7 mark in conference play. ey have appeared in four consecutive league championship games. e success has made their home field at Luther "Nick " Jeralds Stadium a challenging place to play for opponents because of the enthusiasm of FSU alumni, students and fans who now regularly number 3,000 to 4,000 for each game. "I think the crowd has really begun to expect us to be a very good football program," Hayes says. "In the beginning, it was different. I would have to look back up (toward the home stands) and tell them to cheer when we'd score, like, 'It's OK to clap.' But as the years have gone by, they have really bought into what we're trying to build here at Fayetteville State. "I'm really pleased with the crowd and the atmosphere we have created here," Hayes adds. "Last year, we went 5-0

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