PHOTO GALLERY | Virginia Union University honored longtime football coach Willard Bailey in a banquet held in his honor at the Dr. Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the VUU campus in Richmond, Va., on Friday, September 15.

The banquet, which was emceed by Roanoke, Va., Mayor and former VUU football player Sherman Lea, brought together many former players of Bailey's, including former NFL player Herb Scott.

Bailey became an assistant football coach in 1964 under the legendary Thomas "Tricky Tom" Harris.  In 1971 Bailey took over as head coach of the Panthers and would collect a school-record 151 coaching wins between 1971-83 and 1995-2003.
 
Bailey never had a losing season between 1971 and 1983 while Virginia Union had a streak of 21 straight winning seasons (1971-91).
 
Bailey took VUU to the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs five straight times.

Virginia Union will meet Winston-Salem State University in the First Annual Willard Bailey Classic at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, in Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.