Hall of Fame
When Akinyele Igunmuyiwa steps foot in the N.C. A&T football locker room, he reminisces about his time at N.C. A&T.
Igunmuyiwa played football at N.C. A&T from 1982-1986 as a defensive lineman. The N.C. A&T Sports Hall of Fame recognized Igunmuyiwa’s work ethic and inducted him in 2018. Igunmuyiwa, through his induction, believed he was representing his teammates because of what the team endured when he first arrived at N.C. A&T.
At the start of his career, the Aggies encountered many losses. Igunmuyiwa and his teammates had a losing mentality as a result. Therefore, the team came together and proposed a new motto, “Nothing works until you start working.” The motto, hard work, and determination brought success, leading Igunmuyiwa and his teammates to the 1986 MEAC championship, the first outright conference title in program history.
During his college career where he was a two-sport letterman in wrestling and football. He shined as a nose guard on the defensive line, become a starter all four years of his college career, earning three consecutive (1984-86) first-team All-MEAC honors. In 1986 he was Sheraton Black College All-American and an NCAA Division I-AA All-American. He also participated in the SWAC-MEAC Senior Freedom Bowl.
Igunmuyiwa, a husband and a father, learned to appreciate family because of his time as a player at N.C. A&T. Thus, the memories are vivid and uplifting when he steps into the N.C. A&T locker room.
