Fisk University Is Making History With HBCU Gymnastics Program
Fisk University, who started their gymnastics program last spring, is set to become the first HBCU to participate in an NCAA women’s gymnastic meet Friday. We discuss it here!
Fisk Gymnastics
By: Adonis Armstrong
Jordynn Cromartie entered her senior year of high school going through a tough decision; a decision many other Black gymnasts have been struggling with for years. The Houston native wanted to go to a predominantly Black college or university, and she wanted to continue to play the sport she loves and committed her whole life to.
Cromartie had one issue; she knew it was a strong possibility she couldn’t do both. While talking to her Uncle during Thanksgiving, Frank Simmons, who is on the Board of Trustees at Fisk University, Cromartie discussed her concerns about going to Fisk, which is a private HBCU located in Nashville, Tennessee with around 1,000 students.
“He and my aunt were like, ‘Oh you haven’t made a decision, you should come to Fisk,’” Cromartie said. “I’m like, ‘Well, they don’t have a gymnastics team.’ To go to a college that doesn’t have what I would be working for forever was crazy to me.” Simmons gave her some hope by saying, “I’ll make it happen.”
Within the span of many weeks, Simmons connected with the founder of Atlanta based, Brown Girls Do Gymnastics owner, Derrin Moore, who has been attempting to drum up support for gymnastics at an HBCU, specifically with Fisk trustees. One trustee was very in tune with Moore’s pitch and generously donated $100,000 if Fisk would adopt the sport.
Fisk University will make history Friday afternoon in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena becoming the first HBCU to participate in an NCAA women’s gymnastics meet. The Bulldogs are set to compete against Southern Utah, Washington, and North Carolina as part of the inaugural Super 16, an event that includes some tough perennial NCAA powerhouses like Oklahoma, Michigan, and UCLA.
With the emergence and popularity of Olympic champions Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, the face of gymnastics has been changing. It started with the help of Biles winning in 2012, becoming the first Black woman to win Olympic gold.
Hopefully, in the future more HBCUs will follow in the footsteps of Fisk University and get out of their comfort zones and help expand the opportunity for athletes to choose the legacy with the opportunity to do what they love.
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Ed Reed is Headed to the SWAC as Head Coach of Bethune-Cookman University
The SWAC just got more exciting as NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion, Ed Reed, has agreed in principle to become the next head football coach at Bethune-Cookman University.
Ed Reed Being Inducted Into the NFL Hall of Fame
By: Omar Cook
Black college has been on the rise with national publicity and some of the nation’s top ranked players committing to some of HBCUs premiere programs. Former NFL legends and coaches such as Deion Sanders, Eddie George, and Hugh Jackson have taken on head coaching jobs at HBCUs bringing a major spotlight to Black colleges. Could this be a new trend?
It looks that way as NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion, Ed Reed, has agreed in principle to become the next head football coach at Bethune-Cookman University. Bethune-Cookman has historically been a powerhouse HBCU program winning six MEAC championships since 2000, but the program has struggled to find its footing since doing the SWAC in 2021.
Bethune-Cookman University Athletics has entered an agreement in principle with Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed to be its 16th head football coach.
— Bethune-Cookman Athletics (@BCUAthletics) December 27, 2022
More information will be forthcoming.#𝙇𝙚𝙩𝙨𝙂𝙤 | #𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 | #𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧
Reed will have his hands full in revamping a program that went 2-9 in both of its previous seasons. An advantage that Reed will have is his connections to recruiting in Florida as he has spent the last three seasons at his alma mater, Miami, as a senior football advisor. At 44 years old, Reed will become the school’s 16th Head Coach.
"We are excited to hear that Ed has been named the head football coach at Bethune-Cookman," Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich said. "Ed is one of the best to ever wear a Miami Hurricanes uniform and he has served as a great mentor to our student-athletes the past three years. He will do a tremendous job leading the Wildcats program and the entire Miami family wishes him all the best."
Reed’s football resume includes Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2001, as well as National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Reed was a member of the Hurricane's 2001 National Championship team and went on to be 9x pro-bowler.
This is ,major for Black college football as many fans are wondering how the SWAC will continue to remain in the spotlight after Deion Sanders left Jackson State to take the job at Colorado. With Reed’s resume, expect the Wildcats to field a competitive team in the next few years but they will have their hands full in a tough Eastern Division with Florida A&M and a new look Jackson State team.
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No Spring Football: North Carolina A&T Leaves the MEAC on a Disappointing Note
North Carolina A&T athletics left the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2020 to join the Big South after 3 consecutive conference titles. Unfortunately, the MEAC has canceled spring football, destroying NC A&T’s final chance to go for a 4 peat. We discuss it here!
NC A&T defensive end Darryl Johnson (left) celebrates with a teammate after winning the 2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
By: Tialena Evans
Exactly a year ago it was announced that North Carolina A&T would be ditching the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and heading over to the Big South, officially becoming a member July 1st of this year. The 2020-21 season would be the last year the Aggies would make a run for fourth consecutive conference title and a fifth consecutive consecutive appearance at the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, trying for a four-peat championship.
The Aggies had the stage set to cap off their MEAC journey on a historic note, but in 2020 fashion that did not go as planned— go figure.
The news of the conference switch broke in early February 2020 before the COVID-19 virus made it to the states. With the progression of positive cases and the cancellation of college and professional sports nationwide, there was uncertainty how that would affect fall sports, such as football. Many sports fans hoped that the virus would be contained by the end of the year, but as the year progressed and cases continued to rise, that made the decision much more difficult for programs to decide on whether or not there would be a 2020-21 season.
When the NFL announced that there would be a football season, that gave hope to many college football fans that NCAA programs would follow in their steps. While this was the case for most FBS and some FCS conferences, there were still quite a few that opted to play in the Spring due to COVID-19 concerns— the MEAC was among that group.
Downhill From Here
For many reasons, the MEAC’s decision to forgo a Fall season definitely put a stinger in the Aggies’ football season. Opting to play in the Spring meant there would be no chance of battling one last time in the Air Force Reserve Celebration bowl. The chances of there even being a Celebration Bowl were slim to none, but the schedule change dropped those chances to a hard zero.
The bad news doesn’t stop there. The conference announced that six out of their nine schools opted out of the season, which was scheduled to start on Feb. 20. That only left N.C. A&T, Delaware State, Howard and South Carolina State, who all expressed intent to have a season that would align with CDC guidelines.
Although these schools were willing to take the necessary measures to give the fans and the players a chance to have a 2020-21 season, it just wasn’t enough to move forward.
“While it is tremendously disappointing to suspend the spring 2021 football season, it is the right decision with regard to the health and well-being of our student athletes, coaches, staff and fans“ said the MEAC Commissioner, Dennis E. Thomas. “ As I have stated since the beginning of the pandemic, health and safety will continue to be at the forefront of every decision. We support those institutions who continue to play.“
The MEAC’s decision to cancel the Spring season was the straw that broke the camel's back. N.C. A&T was shell shocked at the disappointing news.
Athletic Director Earl Hilton and head Coach Sam Washington spoke with WXII 12 News.
"We pictured this year going very differently as you can imagine," said Earl Hilton. "We hoped to travel to all of our sister schools, be on their campuses, participate across a wide range of sports, celebrate, commiserate, say goodbye, win a few championships...yeah we saw this going differently."
Head Coach Sam Washington added, "For us not to have the opportunity to finish what we started, it hurts."
Where the Aggies Go From Here
Although a disappointing end to the season that never was, the Aggies continue to push forward and gear up for their first season as a Big South competitor. Head coach Sam Washington discussed with WXII 12 News their next move as a team:
“Get back into the weight room, get bigger, stronger, faster—we have a new strength and conditioning coach, I think this also will allow us the time to get to know him on a personal level.”
Both the athletic director and head coach say they are staying positive about playing in the Big South Conference this upcoming fall, even after this heartbreaking setback.
"We've turned the corner," Hilton said. "I can see some daylight. It's gonna be wonderful."
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Barstool, Jackson State to Launch “Coach Prime” Docuseries Covering Deion Sanders' Inaugural Season
Barstool Sports and the ever evolving Jackson State University Football Program have merged to launch a longform documentary series titled “Coach Prime”, covering Deion Sanders’ inaugural season as Head Coach.
Deion Sanders Accepts Head Coaching Position at Jackson State
By: Baigen Seawell
After talks of having a series geared towards HBCU Athletic Programs, it seems as if the Fairy Godmother of HBCU Athletics has answered our call. Barstool Sports and the ever evolving Jackson State University Football Program have merged to launch a longform documentary series titled “Coach Prime”.
The series will highlight the inaugural season of former NFL Star, Deion Sanders. This will be a family affair, with sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders joining their father to make the Tigers a top football program in the NCAA, not just amongst the SWAC.
The series also looks to cover the overlooking of HBCU programs as it relates to athletics, something that has been seen with major moves such as Makur Maker committing to Howard last summer. For Jackson State, Shedeur Sanders’ signing to the Tigers was the highest rated school signee in JSU history. This shows that the attention is pointed to HBCU athletics on a scale that has been unseen in mainstream media.
Barstool CEO Erika Nardini, elaborates on this, mentioning that covering HBCU Athletics wasn’t one of the categories they thought they’d fill on their bingo board. “A year ago, if you said, ‘Would Barstool Sports be doing a long-form series on HBCU football?’ the answer would have been ‘Absolutely not’”.
Barstool Sports may have been one of the last companies on the collective lists of many (mine included) to cover a topic as it relates to HBCU athletics, but they’re looking to change for the better. A few months ago, Barstool Founder, Dave Potnoy was outed for using racial slurs as it relates to Colin Kaepernick.
This situation sent social media into a frenzy, condemning the commentary from the famed sports media empire. However, as stated earlier, this partnership with Jackson State looks to be (hopefully) a step in the right direction… and Potnoy doesn’t seem to have any parts of this project at face value. Despite all of this, Coach Sanders himself has his own connections with Barstool, at one point serving as an analyst with them.
“I am so unbelievably excited to share our journey as we aspire to level the playing field and raise awareness for Jackson State University and all HBCUs […] I am equally proud to have Barstool Sports join me as the distribution partner to help carry out this vision and dream of mine. I BELIEVE” said Sanders in an article with HBCU GameDay.
Barstool has launched one-and-done documentaries in the past, but this will be the first of its kind to be a multi-episode series launching this spring. If the reception is well received in the first six episodes during the spring, they look to drop another six episodes this fall. Additional talks of potential sponsorships and premieres on streaming services such as Apple TV have also been reported for the up and coming docuseries.
To add, the series is in partnership with SMAC entertainment, which is run by Constance Schwartz-Morini and Michael Strahan. SMAC has worked on projects with HBO, DirectTV, Showtime, NFL Network and a plethora of other high-profile broadcast networks. The director and showrunner, Mark W. Wright is an HBCU Graduate, hailing from Howard University and writing for outlets like The Undefeated.
So far, everything checks out for it to be an exhilarating and purposeful series that will shed a light on the grit and passion that is instilled in HBCU athletic programs.
The excitement for the release of the series is already generating buzz. With news dropping Feb 3 and SWAC athletics in full swing, what better time to see how Coach Prime’s first season pans out for all of us HBCU Advocates, and the fans that may come along the way.
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A Family Affair: Deion Sanders And Two Sons Begin New Chapter At Jackson State
Deion Sanders looks to build a dynasty at Jackson State University with a stacked recruiting class headlined by his two sons.
By: Tialena Evans
Jackson State University’s football team recently gained a family trio with a familiar name. Retired NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, officially became the head coach of his two sons after his eldest, Shilo, announced his transfer from the University of South Carolina to JSU in December. Sanders’ youngest son, Shedeur, announced his commitment to the HBCU in November.
Sanders took to Instagram to express his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to coach his two sons this upcoming spring season.
“Lord I thank u! I couldn’t have never imagined this but you’re able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we may ask or think,” Deion wrote. “Having my sons @shilosanders & @shedeursanders on our team helping me level this playing field in pursuit of equality @gojsutigersfb is a Fathers dream. I get to develop, coach, love, motivate, challenge & watch my sons grow & go become PROFESSIONALS. WOW ! Ain’t NOBODY can tell me NOTHING that GOD CANT DO! I got father of the year locked down again now let hit my dance with a smile.”
Sanders accepted the head-coaching position in September, but due to COVID-19 concerns, JSU’s football season was moved to the Spring. They are set to kickoff their first game on February, 21.
Other than notably being a highly skilled 14-season NFL veteran, Sanders brings zero college coaching experience to Jackson State. He’s mostly dedicated his post-career days coaching at the high school level and taking part in the media industry as an analyst for NFL Network and CBS Sports.
Although JSU’s acting president, Thomas Hudson, acknowledges the hire was partially made for media exposure, he says the attention it received exceeded even his highest expectations. “I had no idea it would be as big as it is”, he says.
It’s no secret that Sanders came to Jackson state for the reason of reviving not only the university’s football team, but HBCU football as a whole.
“With what we’re doing in the country—social injustices, so many things about trying to reach and strive for equality—this is the best possible scenario and situation I could ever find myself in,” Sanders tells Sports Illustrated. “It’s a task to me—level the playing field.”
With this unprecedented hire in college football history, hopefully Mr. Prime Time can achieve his goals with his two boys by his side.
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One of the The Winningest Coaches in Football History: Eddie Robinson
Grambling University’s Eddie Robinson is one of the winningest football Coaches in college football history but molding successful Black men was his most important role. We discuss his legacy here!
By: Baigen Seawell
In 1997, Grambling State University came to an odds with their beloved coach who tallied up his second 3-8 season, and third losing season after an unparalleled journey for any Black football coach.
This coach, renowned for having one of the greatest records in BCS (now CFP) history, had been head coach for the Tigers for nearly 5 decades, and was praised by the likes of other winningest coaches such as Joe Paterno. The coach in question?
That would be the legendary Eddie Robinson.
But legendary would be an understatement, as Robinson contributed to not only GSU, but Grambling, Louisiana as a whole. He hit the ground running, as he immediately went on to head coach for the Tigers after graduating from Leland at 22 years of age.
After a 1-5-1 season for his debut, the then Louisiana Normal Tigers would go on to have a 9-0 season. After the close of the Second World War, and the turn of the 1960s, GSU would join the South Western Athletic Conference, or the SWAC, and this turned Grambling from a small HBCU in Louisiana into one of the most renowned powerhouses for Black football talent.
Prior to the time of Sports Information Directors and Positions Coaches, Head Coaches were known to do much more than their set duties today. For HBCU coaches in particular, the job was even more extensive. Robinson wore many hats: from Offense, to Defense, to Athletic Trainer and Sports Writer…he held his expectations high for his program, resulting in immediate success on and off of the field.
Outside of the many hats he wore for football, Coach Robinson also taught at Grambling High School, coached girl’s basketball during World War II and directed the band…all with a budget of $46.
And the expectations remained high in every field of human endeavor he chose to grace his presence in, due to the nature of the times that young Black children found themselves in.
Robinson held the standards of his pupils high, ensuring every parent that their son would be coached like his own. In a discussion with The Undefeated, James Harris says Coach Robinson ensured the Monroe, LA native’s mother that: “He will get a college degree. He’ll go to church on Sunday and he’ll make a difference in society.”
Harris went on to be the first starting Black QB for the Buffalo Bills in 1969.
Robinson’s track record for successful athletes was more like a laundry list for GSU Football alumni. He had the pleasure of catapulting over 200 young men to fulfill their dreams of going professional, and harnessing success well after retirement from the game. For Robinson himself, he simply wanted to show that the American Dream is attainable regardless of who sought out to obtain it.
By the 70s and 80s, Robinson and the Tigers were gaining steam, and this would arguably be some of his best seasons of his career. He would go on to win 4 Bowl games and surpass Paul “Bear” Bryant for 324 wins with their win over Prairie View A&M.
10 Years Later, he became the first coach to reach 400 wins with a 42-6 win over Mississippi Valley State. This garnered congratulations from President Bill Clinton.
But this same season, Coach Robinson was 78 years of age and thought to be on the decline after tallying a 5-6 season, followed by consecutive 3-8 seasons from 1995 to 1997. Talks were brewing that GSU Athletics would relieve Robinson of his duties midseason. But this became such a public outcry that Louisiana Governor, Mike Foster, condemned the act.
Coach Robinson held his title of Head Coach until the end of 1997. His three losing seasons were overshadowed with the extensive legacy he left with the Tigers for nearly five decades finishing with a record of 408-165-15, winning five Black College National Championships and 17 SWAC Championships.
And what did coach Paterno, another one of the winningest coaches, have to say about the success that Eddie Robinson left on the game of College football?
“Nobody has ever done or ever will do what Eddie Robinson has done for the game... Our profession will never, ever be able to repay Eddie Robinson for what he has done for the country and the profession of football.”
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Michael B. Jordan Partners with Non-Profit to Start Up HBCU Tournament in Hometown
Actor and philanthropist Michael B. Jordan has partnered up with Hoop Dreams to organize an HBCU basketball tournament in December of 2021.
COURTESY OF COACH
By: Baigen Seawell
Actor and philanthropist Michael B. Jordan has partnered up with Hoop Dreams to organize an HBCU basketball tournament in December of 2021.
The Newark, New Jersey native chose to launch the event after the turbulent year that has just recently passed. With the growing desire for young prospects to go back to their roots by attending and participating in programs fostered to build up Black athletes, the desire to appreciate the culture and vitality that exists at these programs has become more prevalent.
Examples of the HBCU Exodus include Deion Sanders making his move to Jackson State University as the head coach; followed by his son Shilo, who is the highest recruit to sign to the Tigers in school history. Makur Maker also decided to take his talents to Howard University, and a slew of other athletes have transferred into these historically rich programs.
These examples partnered with the now present appreciation for HBCUs pushed to build a partnership between the Black Panther actor and CEO of Hoop Dreams, Jessica Estrada.
The Hoop Dreams Classic will showcase men’s basketball for the first year, but will look to expand to women’s in the coming launches. The tournament will also host bands and other external events to keep fans entertained.
Jordan told HBCU Sports in a report that “As a Newark native, I am committed to bringing change to the community and am honored to be able to present The Hoop Dreams Classic as a way to celebrate the value of community, education, and Black college experiences. Through our shared love of basketball, I look forward to bringing the communal spirit of HBCUs to the city that helped shape me into the man I am today.”
But where can this go, and how can this assist Black communities? In numerous ways.
How this Helps Prospects and Communities
With the growing interest in attending HBCUs, young students in Newark and surrounding areas will gain early exposure to the culture and experience gained at HBCUs. This, partnered with the showcase of athletic talent, will build interest for the incoming generations, which in turn keeps a level playing field and opens the pool of decisions for young prospects.
In the long run, these prospects will be able to choose a school that can not only help build their athletic careers, but their academic careers as well. With the financial support secured from a big celebrity and native of the city, Michael B. Jordan will be able to bring more eyes and dollars to the city of Newark, youth facilities and schools that house this talent.
Estrada mentioned in a press release that “After seeing firsthand the lack of resources and information available to basketball players, I was determined to make Hoop Dreams the vehicle that could provide the tools these kids need to be successful in life beyond the game.” Estrada added that the vision for the communities are matched and would create a large impact.
The pipeline that streams from an event with the accessibility of Hoop Dreams, partnering up with the household name of a superstar like Michael B. Jordan will directly impact the exposure and appreciation given to HBCUs on the recruiting scale. This, along with the long term positives for prospects such as financial support, broadening options to build academic success and career development create what HBCUs are known and given praise for.
While the first Hoop Dreams Classic is a year out, the excitement to bring an event of this scale to the Brick City already has New Jerseyans eager for what it will do for their city.
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HBCUs Could Benefit From New Discrimination Lawsuit Against the NCAA
For years, the NCAA has been the center of attention when it comes to the practices that greatly affect athletic programs as it relates to smaller institutions and HBCUs have decided to fight back in a new lawsuit.
By: Baigen Seawell
For years, the NCAA has been the center of attention when it comes to the practices (or lack thereof) that greatly affect athletic programs as it relates to “the Little Guys,” or the small institutions that don’t generate ridiculously large revenues. In particular, HBCUs have fallen in the category of the Little Guys.
In 2015, UGA operated under a budget that allotted $6.4 million for a coaching staff of 10 people. Meanwhile Savannah State University Operated under a $4.5 million total athletics budget. These budgets do not allow wiggle room for institutions to spend on extensive tutoring catered just for athletic programs or facilities to “blossom” their academic progress through their seasons. Where budgets don’t fill in the gaps for student-athletes, they make up for it in the academic relationships that HBCUs provide to their students.
NPR reports that attorney, Beth Fegan, believes that HBCUs are being held to an irrational standard.
“And so HBCUs are already starting at lower graduation success rates, lower academic progress rates,” Fegan said, “and yet they’re being held to the same benchmarks as predominantly white institutions who don’t have the mission [HBCUs do]. The NCAA should be supporting the mission of HBCUs, not penalizing them for it.”
The mission of HBCUs serves students that fall under first-generation, low income status and the rationale behind the suit is that the NCAA is forcing these institutions to adhere to rules that are not applicable to them.
Standards such as the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which has been debunked due to inflated rates reported at institutions (HBCU or Non-HBCU) are the expectation to follow. The Graduation Success Rate (GSR), is also an NCAA created model to track graduation rates of student-athletes, even though many of them who go pro or drop out are counted in this equation to inflate the numbers.
HBCUs don’t meet these standards for numerous reasons, reasons that can be found at PWIs if you look hard enough (they just do a good job at hiding it, see the UNC Scandal). But these penalties and standards don’t change the rate of graduation for either party…
However only one side receives drastic effects to its programs due to the class system that exists in the world of collegiate athletics.
Solutions that can dismantle this system are abolishing the GSR and APR, and following the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR), which is the Department of Education’s Standard for all institutions to follow. If this happens, the Dept. of Ed can better assist and possibly fund programs to make sure this doesn’t fall to the wayside for student-athletes and students alike.
This proposal was provided by the Drake Group, an organization dedicated to reforming college sport. While they don’t explicitly state HBCUs, these types of solutions are calling to the exact schools that need them most.
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5 Star Prospect Makur Maker Commits To Howard Paving The Way For Other Top Prospects
5 Star basketball Prospect Makur Maker made a monumental move by committing to Howard University over UCLA, Kentucky, and Memphis.
By: Omar Cook
5 Star basketball Prospect Makur Maker made a monumental move by committing to Howard University over UCLA, Kentucky, and Memphis. Maker becomes the highest ranked prospect to commit to an HBCU since the start of the ESPN recruiting database in 2007.
Maker is 6’11 with a versatile skill set and is ranked No. 16 in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2020. He is also the cousin of Detroit Pistons forward Thon Maker! Maker is also expected to submit his name for the NBA draft but will withdraw if he is unexpected to go in the 1st round.
"I was the 1st to announce my visit to Howard & other started to dream 'what if,'" Maker wrote on Twitter. "I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow. I hope I inspire guys like Mikey Williams to join me on this journey. I am committing to Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney."
This move is major as it paves the way for other top rated recruits to make commitments to HBCUs. Highly touted basketball recruit Mikey Williams has made it known that he is seriously considering going the HBCU route as well. Wake Forest forward, Sharone Wright Jr announced that he would be transferring to Morgan State joining a host of other highly rated recruits at MSU.
Big day for #HBCU programs. 6'5 Sharone Wright Jr (@S_Wri2) transferred from Wake Forest to #MorganState. Started 21 games as frosh in #ACC. Joins ex UNLV F Troy Baxter, ex Cincy G Trevor Moore, ex St. Joe's G Troy Holston,former FSU commit&top-50 PG Nassem Khalid.Not bad class. pic.twitter.com/etlkDJLkuI
— Rodger Bohn (@rodgerbohn) July 3, 2020
HBCU recruiting often struggles compared to major D1 programs but with the help of recruits deciding to commit, this could change the landscape of recruiting and bring in more revenue to HBCU athletics. At the end of the day, it’s the athletes who bring the school wins and attention. Expect to see more top rated recruits going the Black College route in all sports.
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Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Receives Backlash on Commentary of Black Athletes’ Interest In HBCUs
Saints Safety, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson received backlash for implying that Black athletes would be settling if they attend HBCUs over PWIs.
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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What North Carolina A&T’s Move To The Big South Conference Means For Their Future
North Carolina A&T State University shook the FCS as they announced their move from the MEAC to the Big South conference. The Aggies football program has been dominant recently, but can they maintain this success in the Big South? We discuss it here!
North Carolina A&T Wins Celebration Bowl
By: Tialena Evans
North Carolina A&T State University shook the FCS as they announced their move from the MEAC to the Big South conference. The Aggies will officially become Big South members on July 21, 2021.
This news was huge for the HBCU world and has sparked much conversation in the media, whether it be from the fans or the athletes. The HBCU culture is strong, and this move definitely adds a shift in that realm for the Aggies. The only other school in the Big South that shares that black culture with A&T is Hampton University, who left the MEAC to join the Big South back in 2018. Many traditions such as The Greatest Homecoming on Earth, or famously known as GHOE, the marching band system, and the Greek life won’t quite register the same with all of the other schools in the conference.
Another huge aspect of the culture is the rivalries. The atmosphere, passion and intensity showcased through the players and fans is like no other. The annual Aggie-Eagle classic, against N.C. Central, is a staple in A&T’s football and basketball season, and it just wouldn’t be the same without it. Now, while this doesn’t completely dismiss the possibility of the two teams seeing each other again in the future, it’s not set in stone. Since Hampton’s move to the Big South, they’ve played only one football game and four men’s basketball games against other MEAC schools, so the Aggie-Eagle rivalry could definitely die out if consistent games between them aren’t in the future schedules.
The Aggies were possibly on the brink of forming a new football rival in Florida A&M University, as they have been seen as another HBCU powerhouse on the field. The Aggies lost to FAMU this past football season in a close overtime game, with FAMU coming out on top with a deep bomb to the end zone. The Rattlers clinched consecutive wins over the Aggies, and although FAMU finished the season with the best record in the MEAC, they were ineligible to make it to the Celebration Bowl due to NCAA violations. This caused a stir in the MEAC and made FAMU believe they should have been crowned conference champions, which eventually drove them to print off newspapers and t-shirts declaring themselves as 2019 MEAC Champions...yikes!! Too bad the record books won’t support that claim.
Of course the biggest loss from this move is that A&T’s football team will no longer be able to participate in the Celebration Bowl, which is locked in for the MEAC vs. SWAC. The Aggies have informally claimed the name as the “Aggie Bowl” or “Aggie Invitational”, as they’ve come away as National Champions four out of five years, and won three back-to-back-to-back titles. Thousands of fans, students and alum dedicated themselves over the past 5 years to travel to Atlanta to showcase their Aggie Pride, and that soon comes to an unexpected end as the 2021-22 season will be their final year of eligibility.
Now while there are quite a few downsides to this move, it’s not necessarily the worst thing in the world. The Aggies have definitely made a name for themselves as consistent HBCU National Champions, and a top competitor in not only HBCU football, but also across other conferences within the FCS. Since the Celebration Bowl will no longer be an option for the Aggies to hold that HBCU national title, the NCAA FCS playoffs will have to suffice instead.
The Aggies were able to make it to the FCS playoffs in 2016, as that was the only year they didn’t make the Celebration Bowl. Since the induction of the bowl game, seven Big South teams have competed in the FCS playoffs, and the Aggies surely plan to join them in the 2021-22 season.
Photo credit: Kevin L. Dorsey
The Big South definitely provides the opportunity for them to play against tougher competition which makes the most sense as they are certainly exploring the possibility of moving up into the FBS. They are currently 3-3 against FBS teams over the last five years, and have had a player selected in each of the last 3 NFL drafts. The move out of the MEAC was the first step into that future move.
Despite all of the pros and cons of the Aggies conference move, they are in good hands as they just locked in a high esteemed football recruiting class, including four former ACC players. This includes Virginia Tech’s defensive back D.J. Crossen, Wake Forest’s running back Courtney McKinney, Virginia Tech’s defensive lineman Robert Porcher and Pittsburgh’s defensive back Mychale Salahuddin. Since all four players transferred from the FBS, they are eligible to play immediately in the 2020-21 season.
As the Aggies have ultimately made a move that sets them up for the success that they are seeking, their future seems bright and the road to the FBS is en route.
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Celebration Bowl Brings Spotlight To HBCU Powerhouse Programs While Reaching 5-year Milestone
North Carolina A&T acquired their fourth Celebration Bowl title in five years, beating Alcorn State 64-44! The Celebration Bowl is putting HBCU football in the national spotlight! We discuss it here!
Photo by Brandon Waters
By: Baigen Seawell
It’s back-to-back-to-back for North Carolina A&T Football.
The Aggies acquired their fourth Celebration Bowl title in five years, beating Alcorn State 64-44 on December 21, 2019. This game marked the fifth year of it’s existence; what some people like to call, the “Super Bowl of HBCU’s”, the Celebration Bowl serves as a National Championship between the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Prior to the Celebration Bowl, there were numerous predecessors which would make it what we know today.
The History
Before the Celebration Bowl, there were other bowls that came and went. The Pelican Bowl, which took place in the mid to late 1970’s, a time that was arguably height of HBCU Football, drew crowds of nearly 30,000 to New Orleans, La. The Heritage Bowl would be the successor, taking place during the 1990’s, with the Champions of the MEAC and SWAC facing off. In the eight years of meeting, the MEAC and SWAC would win six titles equally between them. By 1999, this would be the last meeting, and the Heritage Bowl would be the basis of what would be discussed, and voted on to become the Celebration Bowl in 2015.
Record Setting Fashion
In the five years of the Celebration Bowl’s existence, nothing would top the level of performance displayed in this matchup. A plethora of records were broken before reaching the end of third quarter.
The Aggies and Braves would combine for 49 total points in the third quarter, the most scored
The record for most combined points in a Celebration Bowl game now stands at 108
64 Total Points scored by the Aggies would be the most points scored in postseason and in Celebration Bowl history
Quarterback Kylil Carter would acquire the most touchdowns in Celebration Bowl history, and would tie with fellow Aggie, Alan Hooker with a total of 6
364 Passing Yards would be the most in a single Celebration Bowl game
And the list goes on, and on…
Despite the score, the passion for the game and level of competition stayed at an all-time high from start to finish, leaving a positive outlook on the future of the Celebration Bowl.
Why HBCU Athletics are Crucial in the NCAA
The athleticism shown between these two teams proves why HBCU Football, and HBCU Athletics is still something that should continue to be highlighted. Coach Fred McNair, the original “Air McNair”, and Brother of Steve McNair, has created a powerhouse football program of predominantly black athletes at his Alma Mater. Coach Sam Washington, an alum of Mississippi Valley State has brought North Carolina A&T to national prominence bringing home a fourth title home to the HBCU with the largest student enrollment in the nation.
While Alcorn and A&T garnered national attention in the Celebration Bowl, we must remember HBCU Trailblazers such as West Virginia State, home to the first African American to be drafted to the NBA, or Tennessee State University, with 24 national titles in Women’s Track (Indoor and Outdoor).
As the evolution of HBCU Football from the early bowl games to present has been a sight to behold, we must spotlight other athletic programs and give them the same level of attention; encouraging black youth to attend these institutions could give us the next Walter Payton, Terron Armstead, Elijah Bell, or Felix Harper. As Football Season comes to a close, national signing day inches closer and closer, and we must look to preserve and strengthen the legacy of HBCU Athletics at all levels.