NC A&T Football in Turmoil: Gibbs Responds to NCCU Blowout, Player Removed After Sideline Antics

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The fallout from North Carolina A&T’s embarrassing 62-20 blowout loss to rival North Carolina Central University (NCCU) continues to unfold — and head coach Shawn Gibbs isn’t holding back.

The loss itself was devastating, but Gibbs said it was the behavior of his players that turned Saturday into “the most disappointing day” of his entire football career.

Culture Crisis at NC A&T

From missed tackles to questionable sideline antics, Gibbs said the real problem is culture. In one shocking incident, an Aggie player squirted water on NCCU head coach Trei Oliver before the game, sparking tension and forcing Gibbs to skip the traditional postgame handshake.

“That’s not how we’re going to do stuff,” Gibbs said bluntly, confirming that the player involved is no longer on the roster. “Anybody that’s going to act like that will not be a part of this team.”

Gibbs admitted that too many Aggie players “hate on this team” instead of uplifting each other — a toxic mindset he says must change if A&T hopes to rebound.

Quarterbacks Show the Way

One bright spot Gibbs highlighted: the quarterback room. Despite injuries and competition, players like Kevin White and Braxton have built each other up and stayed locked in. “They pull for each other. They try to help each other become better players,” Gibbs said. “That’s what the rest of the team needs to learn.”

Execution Failures Add Fuel

On the field, the Aggies managed just 42 rushing yards on 35 carries while allowing NCCU’s offense to look, in A&T coach’s words, like “Tom Brady and Bo Jackson.” He took responsibility for poor play-calling but emphasized that no tactical shift will matter if the foundation isn’t fixed.

“Not fighting and not quitting is not going to win football games,” Gibbs said. “We’ve got to learn how to be efficient and effective on offense and defense.”

What’s Next for A&T?

While the Aggies prepare for a road trip to Maine, Gibbs insists his focus is on rebuilding A&T from the inside out. “I’m not really focusing on Maine,” he said. “I’m focusing on North Carolina A&T because that’s what we’ve got to get fixed.”

The message is clear: before the Aggies can compete with NCCU — or anyone else — they must first fix their culture.

Photo: NC A&T Athletics