An "All HBCU Bowl Game" is a great platform (because of the exposure provided by ESPN).
For the major college football programs, one single post-season contest is sufficient to raise revenue and build the schools brand. By contrast, most FCS (Div I AA) teams lose money chasing a National Title via the FCS playoff systems.
Moreover, while it may be true that TV viewers, fans and the general public have no idea which teams participated in the FCS playoffs from year to year, be certain that NFL scouts are acutely aware of the talent levels at each of those FCS teams that advance in the FCS playoff system. One need only review the number of NFL players that hail from Appl. State, No. Dakota St., Sam Houston and the like. What you will find is that there is an abundance of players from the top ranked FCS schools.
In the case of HBCU football - the issue should be more about building competitive programs; programs that can advance beyond the 1st round of the FCS playoffs and thereafter win a Championship. the HBCU football programs should be able to destroy the other FCS programs. One of the reasons this has not happened since 1978 (or advancing beyond the 1st round) is the lack of talent on each team and the lack of diversity/competitiveness in schedules. The disparity in talent in unfathomable given that the majority of "exceptional" college football players (FCS or FBS) are African-American.
Just two years ago Winston Salem advanced to the Div. II Championship game; Shaw (women's) basketball team won the Div. II National Championship; St. Aug. won the DII National Championship in Track & Field; Tuskegee's basketball team made it to the Div. II Final Four in 2014.
- It can be done.
Yet, this post season MEAC vs. SWAC Bowl game, while financially more feasible, will function in a manner similar to the Bayou Classic, the Heritage Classic, Magic City Classic and the other HBCU "Classics." It will not however, serve to develop the competitiveness among the individual programs which is so desperately needed.
High School players, many of whom are already reluctant to play in the MEAC or SWAC, may view this move as an act of surrender; an admission of defeat and inferiority.
MEAC and SWAC teams need to demonstrate the ability to beat PWI programs - period. There can be no diversity on competition without diversity in opponents. By remaining isolated (segregated) the teams simply will not evolve and cannot become more competitive. The result will be fewer HBCU players in the NFL.
ggate - 10 years ago
This the worst thing that can happen. This is moving backward. Maybe it should be called the Orange Blossom Classic and played in Miami like in the old days. I would call this the "Irrelevant Bowl". I would rather see HBCUs go join other conference than to go back to a Black College National Champion. We haven't won any FCS playoff games so we quit. Take our ball and go home rather fix the problem. Another better option rather than going backward is to go to Division II. Will the MEAC continue to claim it is a DI conference?
Joann - 10 years ago
Can't wait to attend, the Jackson State University
Damien B. - 10 years ago
Given the present & future institutional challenges that HBCUs are facing; the evolving economic and structural landscape of NCAA football; and the losing proposition- fiscally and otherwise- that the FCS playoffs presents, I support the MEAC & SWAC for agreeing to play this bowl game....It is unfortunate that one of the commenters above views a SWAC-MEAC bowl game as a "Chitlin' Bowl." That comment reveals the commenter's own deep seeded inferiority complex with respect to HBCUs and black people in general; only an individual who believes that black people/black institutions must be "legitimized" via a paradigm created by white folks would make such a comment. It takes a severely ingrained black inferiority complex to view a MEAC-SWAC BOWL Game as a "Chitlin' Bowl" when it should be more properly and positively viewed as an opportunity to capitalize on the established unique history and tradition that HBCU football, in particular and HBCUs in general, represent. The fact that ESPN is willing to invest $2million to make this Bowl happen is proof positive that the MEAC-SWAC brands- however challenged they may be now- occupy a unique and viable position in the college athletics landscape. Trust and believe, if ESPN was willing to pony-up millions of dollars for a CAA-Patriot League Bowl game, those conferences would jump at the opportunity; however, the reality is those conferences don't have the history and tradition and national fan base to support such a venture...College football has always been centered around bowl games, historically due to their traditional conference rivalries and more recently b/c of the revenue they generate. If the MEAC/SWAC can get a piece of the bowl game pie, they should do so. The FBS did not replace the bowl games with the FBS Playoff System. The FBS found a way to incorporate a playoff into the bowl game system and they did so in a way that preserves the popularity- and more importantly to the FBS heads- the profitability of the bowl system. The challenge for the MEAC/SWAC is how to make their bowl game an event and experience that is economically profitable and otherwise befitting of HBCU history and tradition. This is actually an opportunity for the MEAC/SWAC to think creatively, distinguish/expand the HBCU brand and actually be leaders in college football. When/if the MEAC/SWAC can pull this bowl game off successfully, don't be surprised if some of the other FCS conferences try to emulate. Chasing a faux national championship that no one respects and few even know about is pointless and fruitless. The NCAA & FBS don't care or respect FCS football b/c if they did they would invest more into trying to pump it up. It remains to be seen if the FCS playoff model is sustainable but even if it is, it remains inconsequential: NO ONE CARES about the FCS playoffs outside of the few small schools in small and/or remote markets that participate. For schools serious about football the FCS has become a stepping stone (see ODU, Appalachian St., Georgia Southern, etc.) to the FBS, i.e. a chance to play in a bowl game. The good football programs that remain in the FCS do so b/c it is consistent with their institutional models (think the Patriot League, CAA and the Ivy League, which doesn't participate in the FCS playoffs). None of the programs in the MEAC/SWAC have the institutional capacity at this time to aspire to the FBS and that is fine. Given the current fiscal climate and challenges in higher education that naturally are affecting HBCUs more acutely, these schools should focus on their overall missions (education). If the MEAC/SWAC think creatively and execute this bowl game well, it can produce a far better experience for the student-athletes and the other stakeholders than participating in the FCS playoff has. And in doing so, it can generate significant revenue, be a recruiting tool for MEAC/SWAC schools and do more to promote the "HBCU Brand" than the FCS playoffs have or ever will.
eric Meyers - 10 years ago
Wasting dollars chasing an FCS championship that is won by the same team year in and year is ludicrous. SWAC/MEAC fan base is large enough to follow their team to different venues each week if the post season but, if there is a set, post season HBCU game scheduled at a nice venue it will be well attended. Fans of each team and HBCU football in general could make plans ahead of time and I think the game would be very well attended.
This is the out of the box thinking that is needed to help fund athletics programs. They play 36 bowl games a year for a reason, they make money.
joe smith - 10 years ago
good news ! go southern jaguars.
Medgar Alcornite - 10 years ago
Make it happen!!!!!
Against the Chitlin Bowl - 10 years ago
Selling our souls out for parts of a million dollar chitlin bowl is shortsighted for many of these institutions. The MEAC giving up the automatic bid in football lessens the ability to continue moving from irrelevance to relevance in the football world.
If a MEAC-SWAC bowl game is so important, then all of our schools should leave the NCAA and form our own segregation era conference.
Awesome however, this Bowl originally started back in 1991 MEAC vs. SWAC. The first game was played in Miami, Florida at Miami Dolphin's stadium (Joe Robbie) on December 21, 1991. The Bowl was call Alamo Heritage Bowl. Alabama State University vs. North Carolina A&T.
An "All HBCU Bowl Game" is a great platform (because of the exposure provided by ESPN).
For the major college football programs, one single post-season contest is sufficient to raise revenue and build the schools brand. By contrast, most FCS (Div I AA) teams lose money chasing a National Title via the FCS playoff systems.
Moreover, while it may be true that TV viewers, fans and the general public have no idea which teams participated in the FCS playoffs from year to year, be certain that NFL scouts are acutely aware of the talent levels at each of those FCS teams that advance in the FCS playoff system. One need only review the number of NFL players that hail from Appl. State, No. Dakota St., Sam Houston and the like. What you will find is that there is an abundance of players from the top ranked FCS schools.
In the case of HBCU football - the issue should be more about building competitive programs; programs that can advance beyond the 1st round of the FCS playoffs and thereafter win a Championship. the HBCU football programs should be able to destroy the other FCS programs. One of the reasons this has not happened since 1978 (or advancing beyond the 1st round) is the lack of talent on each team and the lack of diversity/competitiveness in schedules. The disparity in talent in unfathomable given that the majority of "exceptional" college football players (FCS or FBS) are African-American.
Just two years ago Winston Salem advanced to the Div. II Championship game; Shaw (women's) basketball team won the Div. II National Championship; St. Aug. won the DII National Championship in Track & Field; Tuskegee's basketball team made it to the Div. II Final Four in 2014.
- It can be done.
Yet, this post season MEAC vs. SWAC Bowl game, while financially more feasible, will function in a manner similar to the Bayou Classic, the Heritage Classic, Magic City Classic and the other HBCU "Classics." It will not however, serve to develop the competitiveness among the individual programs which is so desperately needed.
High School players, many of whom are already reluctant to play in the MEAC or SWAC, may view this move as an act of surrender; an admission of defeat and inferiority.
MEAC and SWAC teams need to demonstrate the ability to beat PWI programs - period. There can be no diversity on competition without diversity in opponents. By remaining isolated (segregated) the teams simply will not evolve and cannot become more competitive. The result will be fewer HBCU players in the NFL.
This the worst thing that can happen. This is moving backward. Maybe it should be called the Orange Blossom Classic and played in Miami like in the old days. I would call this the "Irrelevant Bowl". I would rather see HBCUs go join other conference than to go back to a Black College National Champion. We haven't won any FCS playoff games so we quit. Take our ball and go home rather fix the problem. Another better option rather than going backward is to go to Division II. Will the MEAC continue to claim it is a DI conference?
Can't wait to attend, the Jackson State University
Given the present & future institutional challenges that HBCUs are facing; the evolving economic and structural landscape of NCAA football; and the losing proposition- fiscally and otherwise- that the FCS playoffs presents, I support the MEAC & SWAC for agreeing to play this bowl game....It is unfortunate that one of the commenters above views a SWAC-MEAC bowl game as a "Chitlin' Bowl." That comment reveals the commenter's own deep seeded inferiority complex with respect to HBCUs and black people in general; only an individual who believes that black people/black institutions must be "legitimized" via a paradigm created by white folks would make such a comment. It takes a severely ingrained black inferiority complex to view a MEAC-SWAC BOWL Game as a "Chitlin' Bowl" when it should be more properly and positively viewed as an opportunity to capitalize on the established unique history and tradition that HBCU football, in particular and HBCUs in general, represent. The fact that ESPN is willing to invest $2million to make this Bowl happen is proof positive that the MEAC-SWAC brands- however challenged they may be now- occupy a unique and viable position in the college athletics landscape. Trust and believe, if ESPN was willing to pony-up millions of dollars for a CAA-Patriot League Bowl game, those conferences would jump at the opportunity; however, the reality is those conferences don't have the history and tradition and national fan base to support such a venture...College football has always been centered around bowl games, historically due to their traditional conference rivalries and more recently b/c of the revenue they generate. If the MEAC/SWAC can get a piece of the bowl game pie, they should do so. The FBS did not replace the bowl games with the FBS Playoff System. The FBS found a way to incorporate a playoff into the bowl game system and they did so in a way that preserves the popularity- and more importantly to the FBS heads- the profitability of the bowl system. The challenge for the MEAC/SWAC is how to make their bowl game an event and experience that is economically profitable and otherwise befitting of HBCU history and tradition. This is actually an opportunity for the MEAC/SWAC to think creatively, distinguish/expand the HBCU brand and actually be leaders in college football. When/if the MEAC/SWAC can pull this bowl game off successfully, don't be surprised if some of the other FCS conferences try to emulate. Chasing a faux national championship that no one respects and few even know about is pointless and fruitless. The NCAA & FBS don't care or respect FCS football b/c if they did they would invest more into trying to pump it up. It remains to be seen if the FCS playoff model is sustainable but even if it is, it remains inconsequential: NO ONE CARES about the FCS playoffs outside of the few small schools in small and/or remote markets that participate. For schools serious about football the FCS has become a stepping stone (see ODU, Appalachian St., Georgia Southern, etc.) to the FBS, i.e. a chance to play in a bowl game. The good football programs that remain in the FCS do so b/c it is consistent with their institutional models (think the Patriot League, CAA and the Ivy League, which doesn't participate in the FCS playoffs). None of the programs in the MEAC/SWAC have the institutional capacity at this time to aspire to the FBS and that is fine. Given the current fiscal climate and challenges in higher education that naturally are affecting HBCUs more acutely, these schools should focus on their overall missions (education). If the MEAC/SWAC think creatively and execute this bowl game well, it can produce a far better experience for the student-athletes and the other stakeholders than participating in the FCS playoff has. And in doing so, it can generate significant revenue, be a recruiting tool for MEAC/SWAC schools and do more to promote the "HBCU Brand" than the FCS playoffs have or ever will.
Wasting dollars chasing an FCS championship that is won by the same team year in and year is ludicrous. SWAC/MEAC fan base is large enough to follow their team to different venues each week if the post season but, if there is a set, post season HBCU game scheduled at a nice venue it will be well attended. Fans of each team and HBCU football in general could make plans ahead of time and I think the game would be very well attended.
This is the out of the box thinking that is needed to help fund athletics programs. They play 36 bowl games a year for a reason, they make money.
good news ! go southern jaguars.
Make it happen!!!!!
Selling our souls out for parts of a million dollar chitlin bowl is shortsighted for many of these institutions. The MEAC giving up the automatic bid in football lessens the ability to continue moving from irrelevance to relevance in the football world.
If a MEAC-SWAC bowl game is so important, then all of our schools should leave the NCAA and form our own segregation era conference.
Awesome however, this Bowl originally started back in 1991 MEAC vs. SWAC. The first game was played in Miami, Florida at Miami Dolphin's stadium (Joe Robbie) on December 21, 1991. The Bowl was call Alamo Heritage Bowl. Alabama State University vs. North Carolina A&T.
GREAT NEWS! Let's do it! Alcorn '78.