The Glamour of a Winning Team

NC State alum Parker Rand felt that a winning football team was necessary to build school spirit and encourage alumni to support the school.

Many alumni agreed that winning was all that mattered. Parker “Bus” Rand urged administrators to do whatever was necessary to produce a winning football team. He explained that “the pageantry, color and glamour of a winning team is what attracts the majority of our Alumni. I am sure you will agree that for the past decade our athletic standard has been far below our scholastic standing.” For many, academic success was not enough. Rand offered no congratulations for the strong academic program that State had produced and clearly did not believe that this would inspire alumni to continue their involvement with the school. To promote a sense of identity that encompassed alumni as well as students and faculty, a winning football team was necessary.