A powerful alliance has emerged in the world of Black college athletics. The "HBCU For Us" association brings together the four major HBCU athletic conferences—CIAA, SIAC, MEAC, and SWAC—creating a unified front to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate sports. This groundbreaking collaboration couldn't come at a more critical moment, as the transfer portal and NIL era have fundamentally altered the power dynamics between student-athletes and institutions.
Steven J. Gaither dives deep into what this alliance might mean practically for HBCU athletics, suggesting it could lead to more coordinated scheduling of events like media days and create a "brain trust" approach to prevent predatory business arrangements that have historically plagued Black college sports. "A lot of folks who are in charge at our conferences and our schools sometimes run into people who...see all these great opportunities and they see people who are desperate for money or desperate for exposure," Gaither explains, highlighting how this alliance might serve as a protective mechanism against exploitative deals.
The conversation shifts to player loyalty in an era of unprecedented mobility, featuring an illuminating interview with Jackson State quarterback Jacoby Morgan. Despite having transfer options, Morgan chose to remain at JSU, stating: "I'm a loyalty guy... I love this city, I love Jackson, I love the team and everything they bring. I'm a hometown kid so I want to be a legend there." His perspective offers a refreshing counterpoint to the mercenary approach that has become increasingly common in college athletics.
As the 2024 HBCU football season approaches—just three weeks away—the community continues engaging in passionate debates about program legacies and classifications. A viral social media post categorizing Division I HBCU football programs into tiers sparked intense discussion about what constitutes a "blue blood" program and whether historical achievements from decades ago should carry the same weight as recent success. The conversation reveals both the deep pride in HBCU football tradition and the recognition that program strength is constantly evolving in the modern era.
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