Monthly Archives: August 2011

Walter Payton is one of dozens of NFL Hall of Fame players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Like every thing at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), athletics have their own…flavor…that is unlike anything else. As a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, I’ll be honest and say that it took a little while to grow on me. I spent most of my five years at WSSU scratching my head from the press box as I watched the stands start to empty shortly after halftime or near the end of the game with the outcome still in doubt.

While these things still don’t sit right with me, I’ve grown to love HBCU sports. Here are just three of the reasons why:

1. The Tradition-Some of the greatest athletes of all-time hail from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. NBA Hall 0f Famer’s like Earl Monroe  and Willis Reed honed their skills at institutions like Winston-Salem State and Grambling State. Before Walter Payton and Jerry Rice re-wrote the NFL’s record books, they earned their stripes at Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State.

2. The Atmosphere- If you’ve ever attended a sporting event at an HBCU, especially a football game, you know that the game is often just an excuse for the party. Not only do you get to see a competitive college game, you can also pick up a coffee mug, t-shirt or a floor rug with everyone from Martin Luther King to Lil’ Wayne. Of course, there are the marching bands, but personally, I prefer the dance teams!

3. The Opportunity- This is the true beauty of HBCUs. They take a chance on players, and people, that others have given up on. Until the last 40 years or so, this meant pretty much all black students. Since then, however, HBCUs have become a haven for those who may have veered off the path and have consistently provided them with a second, third or even fourth chance.