Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Receives Backlash on Commentary of Black Athletes’ Interest In HBCUs
By: Baigen Seawell
It’s been one month since George Floyd’s passing. We’ve seen progressive work done in many avenues, especially in the realm of Higher Ed, to emphasize and empathize with Black students, and student-athletes.
Black athletes who once attended PWI’s, those who have committed to them, and had interest have shifted their views on the institutions. The SEC and Conference USA has threatened to halt their Championships until the Confederate Flag is banned in the states which it’s still used. We’ve also seen an uptick in interests from black athletes to attend HBCU’s instead of PWI’s.
For some, this is great news. But for others, it’s all performative.
Saints Safety, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, stated that the prospects are “Just talking they not trying to settle regardless of what’s going on […] they only saying that for clout.”
This commentary brought a storm of backlash from HBCU Alumni and Advocates. It questions the rhetoric of HBCU Athletes who had the opportunity to go pro, despite them going a different route than other athletes.
The Fact of the Matter
The problem with the comments made from Gardner-Johnson is that although HBCU Athletes are present in the NFL, NBA, and many other professional leagues, HBCU’s were and are where many pro-athletes found their beginnings. Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State), Buck Buchanan (Grambling), and a countless list of others found their claim to fame at HBCU’s throughout the 20th century.
In the modern era, though ten percent of all NFL players are HBCU made, it would be a travesty to say that any of these athletes settled for where they are today. One can’t question the institution the athlete attends and question the operations of the employer they are seeking interest in.
In an article written by The Undefeated, Redskins senior personnel executive and Grambling State Alum, Doug Williams discussed the administrative procedures in recruiting collegiate prospects.
“I know, since I’ve been in the administration part of it, that some of these scouts are inclined to give a guy at an FBS school who has not played at all more of an opportunity than a guy who’s played four years at a historically black college […] I think what we have to do is don’t judge the school. We’ve got to start judging the player. It’s all about opportunity.”
It goes to say that “settling” is not what these athletes are doing in the slightest. The spotlight seems to flood FBS and FCS institutions during draft season. This leaves little room for HBCU’s to display their talents for the next level to see. What would have been the first HBCU Combine hosted by the league would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, closing the door of opportunity to tap into 51 players' talents at these institutions.
Though Gardner-Johnson argues that we should monitor and hold accountable college prospects who are interested, HBCU athletes are not settling for an opportunity. It would be a disservice to say this, being that his teammate,Terron Armstead is a product of University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff.
To say that one is settling when choosing an HBCU, goes against the walking testaments that defy this argument in his own locker room.
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