Why some HBCUS should consider dropping intercollegiate athletics

[@KAILYN03]

Bayou Classic is a sick event. Well attended. Self validation.

[@lawrenceq79]

It's not about validation. It's about being the best football programs in FCS football. It's about beating everyone's ass.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

Even doing segregation the black schools, both college and high school, would challenge white schools in order to prove that the white schools was not as great as they thought or claimed.

[@GoneBallistik658]

I have never attended an HBCU, but I have always support HBCU's by going to the games, and buying their merch. I have always believed in putting black dollars into black pockets. I like what Florida A&M is doing. Another thing that he should have mentioned is the fact that Florida A&M had partnered with LeBron James' brand. I'm a huge fan of HBCU Game Day. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@renwickjones6935]

See if I can add something here. Recruiting! The talent level at our schools is not what it used to be because of new D1 programs popping up and former D1AA programs also becoming D1. Is the Celebration Bowl, a Black College Football National Championship, a Black College football playoff attractive to 2,3,4 star recruits? BTW, playoff bound teams have always had better talent than our schools the majority of the time.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

The reason there is a need for HBCUs to play PWIs, not necessary the playoffs, is show that school, team, and players can be on equal level with them and thus thus HBCU players should be consider for the NFL to be actually be drafted and not just signed as undrafted players. You can't claim you are the best when you can beat other schools in your football division and you can't say your players are just as good but refuse to play the other teams (which happen to be majority black in most cases). There is money to be made in athletes but you have to have a business mind set to make it happen. The fact is the PWIs like Texas, Alabama, etc have figure out a way to make money off the backs of mostly black players and yet it seems HBCUs don't want are afraid to treat like a business in order to provide for the school and the players. There are some schools that does make money from the FCS playoffs, but they have been business minded. Not over bidding for hosting home games and make sure the city that they are in support the school financially because of them bring in revenue to the city. In the end if all HBCUs stopped sports or all go back to NAIA, the PWIs will continue to play and make money. The only reason more PWIs are not making a profit is because they have to sink money into non revenue sports in part because of title 9. Now should certain school drop football like UMES and Coppin State., then you could make an argument for that.

[@areguapiri]

You worship the white man so much, that you need to constantly compare yourself to them to feel self-validated. Think about that, my friend.

[@don-ox3jx]

Great response

[@jmanhope1745]

Until HBCU receive the same support as PWI, from all sources, HBCU should play schools with like resources. Also I have attended games between HBCU and PWI and too often the officiating leaves much to be desired.

[@finisher3x]

@@jmanhope1745 - These reasons are not valid reasons to not play PWI schools. The HBCU's that have athletic budgets of less than 8 million, should consider dropping down to D-II anyway. SWAC athletic budgets aren't far off from the FCS average of around 16 million. The big thing is that some HBCU's try to skimp by doing the bare minimum. Stop doing the bare minimum, and develop a plan to grow the athletic program.

[@jmanhope1745]

@@finisher3x Budgets and resources are two different things. In other words, a school can have a $100 million dollar athletic budget, without resources other than borrowing to meet the budget. This is not a sound business model, especially when other needs of a school are not being met. If schools prefer to play schools with deeper pockets and the officiating is questionable, I think those schools should go ahead and play. By the way which MEAC or SWAC schools have $16 million dollar athletic budgets?

[@joedavenport5293]

An FCS playoff game at FAMU (or JSU or SU) wouldn't be dry

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

But the question is would it be cost effective. Remember to host a FCS playoff game a school has to bid for each home game and from my understanding the NCAA gets the bid money and some of the money coming from attendance at the game too. While the FCS Playoffs games might be "dry" to some or in some cases poorly attended, you can't argue against the competition level.

[@dnice4818]

Facts ... South Carolina State University Bulldogs has a waiting list to enter SC State, State must build more dorms....all because of the Celebration Bowl

[@Vincent-um9pi]

I agree. HBCU 's don't need D1aa playoffs.I ❤ the Celebration bowl.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

Just schedule better out of conference opponents and win, as that is the best financial option for MEAC and SWAC schools. Also, stop playing Non NCAA schools.

[@KC-ke7kq]

Great content

[@HBCUGameday]

Thanks for watching

[@HBCU_Breaking_Through]

Vaughn is right in that all HBCUs are not created equal. Football in particular is a marketing loss leader for non-FBS schools generally. Smaller HBCUs should emphasize the atmosphere and reduce the costs of the program by moving D2 or non-scholarship without dropping football all together. Delaware State and Mississippi Valley State come to mind 🤔 However, NCAT is a bad example. I know for a fact that NCAT is having no problem recruiting top students. NC legislature is actively restraining out of state growth. Bethune Cookman would be a better candidate for dropping sports. As the only private school SWAC program, BC should be an SIAC or NAIA program at best.

[@willcooper6980]

I agree with some schools should drop to D2. Because their income is coming from buy games against schools from the D1 power conferences (ACC, SEC, etc.)

[@jmanhope1745]

Can dropping intercollegiate athletics cause a domino effect of closing the doors of institutions? Not only are some athletic programs on life support; are there also ENTIRE institutions on life support? HBCU must continue to point out the need for HBCU and also the need for support from all resources we somehow contribute to, be they private or public.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

For some schools it would because the enrollment of the players helps keep the enrollment numbers stable for the small HBCU schools. For example, ECSU has an enrollment about about 2500 and the football team alone makes up 145 of those enrolled in the school. I think as long as the schools can support athletics they should, but if they have to cut down on the number of sports they have to have then so be it. title 9 makes it tough on schools, so I think schools need to wise about selecting sports that are going to be more cost effective. Playing soccer is a whole lot cheaper than having softball or baseball for example.

[@Nielfisher]

He didn’t lie but funding is an issue for some schools so supporting these sport programs is difficult. I believe the recruiting aspect can bring more to the HBCU scene if most schools show growth as far as success.

[@urbanopinionatedpodcast-wi4328]

As a player I want the best competition don’t get me wrong partying with ya peeps etc is great but I wanna go against whoever the best is

[@ashleyc434]

And I agree with you but some players can’t get into those schools or there are just better players so do you stop playing or do you go to school and play to show something on film. Hence how some previous players have done and also other who have made it from HBCUs. Only a small percent of players make it in draft day doesn’t mean players can make it any other way

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

@@ashleyc434 The problem is that the media, fans, and some of the schools push the narrative that HBCUs are just good as the other FCS schools but at the same time hide from playing those schools with out of conference games or in the case of some of the HBCUs schools don't win those games on a regular basis.

[@_READ_]

I have heard on multiple occasions that both the FCS and D2 playoffs do not add revenue for the HBCUs that earn the right to participate. Has there ever been any discussion about an 8 team HBCU playoff where the top 2 teams from each conference square off to face each other in a bracket setting?? Is there an argument that all 8 teams would benefit financially …the final 2 essentially would represent the Celebration Bowl participants

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

who will actually put up the money to sponsor that, as it hard enough to get sponsors for the celebration bowl and each team is only getting anywhere from 1 to 2 million. If you add additional teams the payout will drop the more teams you add. The reality is not all HBCUs are equal with fan engagement when it comes to football and other sports. If you get a chance read the FAMU feasibility study and it would open your mind. FCS and D2 playoffs function differently. The D2 playoffs is more like how the high school playoffs work, so there is no bidding for home games compared to the FCS where teams have to bid to host game starting at a price of 40,000. Where alot of schools messed up is they over bid to host home games, when they are not going to make the money they put in to host back. The other problem with the FCS playoffs is that while they reimburse for travel it is on the school to front the money until the NCAA gets around to paying them.

[@thetruth1635]

8 team playoff ? Some schools & teams don’t travel well . Keep it the way it is .

[@_READ_]

@@thetruth1635 Definitely noted…

[@_READ_]

@@EyeOfTheWatcher Definitely will read that study. I appreciate your feedback

[@owenlawson8660]

Start with “plus one” that features two “at large bids”… that could be extended to any 6 win HBCU team from outside the SWAC or MEAC (provides a pathway for HBCU’s in CAA and BigSouth/OVC) to get in the fray should they not be selected for the FCS playoffs… you could also have a committee select at an at large participant from amongst the FCS schools that miss the FCS tournament. It would bring additional fans from other football adjacent markets. It would quietly pressure the NCAA to consider away to accommodate the Celebration Bowl into its format or continue to watch the game outperform its FCS playoff product. Let the “Plus one” format run for five years and watch the demand for the Celebration Bowl Winner take on the Winner of the “Plus One” Bowl in a Championship that is played on January 8th each year! BTW, the “Plus one” Bowl should be in either: Bahamas, Houston or NOLA to provide some geographical diversity. If you take this formula and go back over the last 23 years, I think more likely than not it would have created some pretty compelling matchups.

[@robertridley9279]

The one thing the speaker isn't taking into account are the black colleges that don't play in the MEAC and SWAC and aren't eligible for the Celebration Bowl. Those teams need to be good enough to make the playoffs. And they are currently trash when you compare them to teams not from black colleges.

[@thetruth1635]

Some need to drop football I wouldn’t drop basketball , it’s cheaper than football. I think Morehouse is getting closer & closer to dropping football . catastrophic insurance coverage / premiums is killing football . Insurance companies don’t want to cover CTE.

[@owenlawson8660]

Why do you think Morehouse is going to drop football?

[@thetruth1635]

@@owenlawson8660 cost $$$ , they have been unable produce a competitive product for years . In my opinion the reasons they play is to keep enrollment up & tradition . They don’t provide the necessary resources that’s needed to compete.

[@areguapiri]

CTE is complete fake science, money-grubbing bulls#*t.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

It is damn if you do and damned if you don't. The school that either need to drop football or go down a division are the smaller enrollment schools and they need the football players for enrollment purposes. Remember that D1 schools gets some funding from the NCAA and thus if they drop down a division those funds will be decreased. The reason why ULM does not go down to FCS or D2 is that the money they are getting for being a FBS school is keeping them afloat.

[@delirous8]

Basketball is smart and soccer is the future.

[@blknblue77]

Not 1 lie told 💁🏾‍♂️

[@kevwaters101]

If you don't make the CB they should campaign for a playoff spot. Teams in the CB and playoffs should be the norm.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

That can be done by winning, as the FCS playoffs are set forth what it takes to get into the fcs playoffs for at large bid. The problem is that some HBCUs don't want to schedule good out of conference games and thus FCS would not give any school an at large bid if your our of conference schedule is made of NAIA, D2, or a non NCAA school along with in conference games schedule as out of conference. The biggest thing about playing in the playoffs is the cost associated with it, as the NCAA does pay for travel but it is reimbursement and thus school are going to need to be able to have the funds to pay for travel or bidding for home games up front.

[@oleskoolman]

Morehouse comes to mind

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

Giving all the money issues they keep having, then dropping football would be a good idea and they can be like Paul Quinn College who drop football and reorganized their school to bring in more students.

[@kaizersozzay9259]

🤦🏽‍♂️ It has nothing to do with validation!!! It’s about finding out who is the best. Being the best of the worst is not a flex! We love to start talking about validation in order to stay stagnant. This ignorant mentality is EXACTLY how HBCU athletics wound up in the state they are in. Stop settling.

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

Exactly, as being the Celebration Bowl Champion means that you are the best of the MEAC\SWAC only. Keep in mind that more often than not SWAC and MEAC schools do poorly against non HBCUs that actually win on a regular basis. People joke about NC A&T lost record this season, but most MEAC and SWAC would have lost to the non HBCU schools that the A&T played. Look what happen to FAMU and NCCU when they both went into the FCS playoffs, both got beat down in the first round. I understand the reason for the Celebration Bowl because of the money aspect, but FCS HBCUs in the SWAC need to schedule better out of conference opponents and while the MEAC does a good job scheduling out of conference teams, due to the conference small size, they need to start winning those games more often. I am tired of hearing people say HBCU FCS football is just as good as other FCS schools, but in the same breath talk about not playing those same schools. If people feel we are just as good then we should not be afraid to play those teams. People need to remember that when HBCUs started to play PWIs after segregation we was still beating those schools even though we had lower resources than them.

[@williamchriston8409]

Get off of MVSU, MVSU is revamping and increasing even though they have limited budget. MVSU players are thriving and yes our support level has gone through the roof with support and attendance. Hello

[@EyeOfTheWatcher]

I heard ya'll are getting some money because you was able to reach that 10 percent mark of non-black students. The settlement was reach about 2 decades ago and only after this long of the time has MVSU reach that 10 percent quota (which how is that legal is beyond me).