HBCU Football

By Terrence Caldwell

October 22, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Even though Tuskegee is currently undefeated at 7-0, I’d make a compelling argument for Tennessee State or South Carolina State. TSU is currently 6-1, with it’s lone loss against Florida A&M; but is currently undefeated in an OVC conference that in my opinion is stronger than the MEAC or SWAC. Nevertheless, SC State is 5-2, but those two loses came against 1-A teams Clemson and Central Florida. It’s a safe bet to say both TSU and SCSU will be playing AND winning in the I-AA playoffs later on this season.

Go Big Blue!

By Hurricane

October 22, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Keep in mind that TU is a D-2 program that has done their thing with the maximum of 36 scholarships that are allowed on their level vs. the 63 that FCS schools are allowed. Considering the scholarship differences, TU would be in the top two or three among the SWAC schools. The SWAC, as a whole is suspect this year. In the MEAC, they would be a middle of the pack, lower upper echelon team. The MEAC is definently the strongest HBCU conference from top to bottom this year.

Considering the scholarship disparity between TU and most of the rest of the HBCU top 10, it shows everyone how talented this team really is and how great a coach Willie Slater is. If TU had the full complement of 63 scholarships, they would really be dangerous.

To be totally honest with everyone, TU is really an FCS team with FCS talent in D-2 clothing, getting over on D-2 rules and D-2 level of competition. Trust me, this team could play with any HBCU on any given Saturday!!

By Leo Willingham

October 22, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Hurricane,

Those are some good points you bring up on the differences between D-II and I-AA (I have a hard time saying FCS….)

Points that should be taken into consideration as the conversation continues.

By LT

October 22, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Good topic, glad you’ve put it out there for people to talk about. Personally, I think Grambling will probably end up being ranked No. 1 at the end. Tennessee State?? Always tough. Hampton/South Carolina State this weekend will be huge. Let’s see what happens this weekend and we might get closer to the real No. 1.

By Jay Jennings

October 22, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

If South Carolina State beats Hampton this weekend, that would clearly put them ahead of Division II powerhouse Tuskegee. No question.

By Brian

October 22, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Regardless of division Tuskeegee, has put together quite a run, they have the goods. There isn’t another team in the other conferences that have put together a win percentage like theres in the last two years, so Skee-Gee is it..With that being said that better not show up in Panther Stadium CAU over confident or the streak will end.

By Charles Edwards

October 23, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this

T U S K E G E E University is the #1 Black College Football Team in the World ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

They are the winningest team in Black College Football history. They are the defending Black College Champions and have the longest winning streak (23) of any College Football Team in the United States.

People should also remember that Florida A&M, Bethune Cookman (MEAC), Alabama A&M, and Alabama State (SWAC) were all members of the SIAC Conference just a few years ago and Tuskegee was still winning.

People should also remember that the so called power conferences had their weaklings that guaranteed teams victories for years. Prairie View (SWAC) until recently had one of the longest losing streaks in college football history and currently Mississippi Valley, Alcorn and Texas Southern are not considered very competitive.

The MEAC had Norfolk State, Howard and others schools that were not winning teams.

The other Black College conference the CIAA has been dominated by Tuskegee in the Pioneer Bowl every year.

Tuskegee will play any Black College Team anywhere, anytime and be very competitive.

Tuskegee Golden Tigers are the Golden Boys of Black College Football.

By sunny

October 23, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

How about MORGAN STATE…………….

By Andrea

October 23, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

This is a great topic. While I really want to go with TSU, both my brother and my sister-in-law are Tuskegee alumni so for me not to go with Tuskegee would amount to treason!

Here’s a better topic - Which school has the marching band? Now that is a real blog topic. My nephew attends Univ of Florida and has the audacity to compare their band to FAMU. Silly child.

By Marco

October 23, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

Let Tuskegee play a MEAC schedule and I guarantee that they will not be undefeated. The MEAC is hands down the toughest conference this year when it comes to football.

By ArtVandelay

October 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

The #1 team will be decided this weekend when SC State Plays Hampton. Tuskegee is great but no way they could do that in the MEAC or SWAC. The best analogy is this…Tuskegee represents a really good ACC Team whereas Hampton and SCSU represent two really good SEC teams

By ken

October 23, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

It’s all about wins and losses boys and girls. Who is the HBCU national champs (twice in the last 5 yrs), 23 game win streak, 608 (and counting) all time wins, lets forget about all the jibber jabber…just the facts!

You Know!

By Cobb County

October 23, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Tuskegee’s 7-0 record does not impress me one bit. In addition, one of the reasons why some people do not feel that the Sheridan poll is valid is because they insist on ranking FCS and Division II teams at the same time. You would never catch the AP doing this. I even thought the Sheridan poll was a joke when my alma mater (Southern University) was on top, so who is ranked #1 does not change my views toward it.

I do not know what some people define as “a few years ago”, but when I was at Southern back in the 90’s Alabama State had been in the SWAC for quite some time. Only Alabama A&M and UAPB were new additions during that era. In addition, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman had both been in the MEAC for a while when we were playing them in the 90’s. Being that it is 2008, I wouldn’t stated that these teams were in the SIAC “a few years ago”.

Since Tuskegee seems to be the focus of the thread, they won’t impress me until they take on some non-HBCU teams on the FCS level or even some FBS teams. Even if the SWAC or MEAC goes against another FCS conference team or an FBS conference team and lose, we still show that we aren’t afraid to compete against the “big boys”. A Black College National Championship means nothing if you can’t truly say that you at least played some of the best that was out there.

By ken

October 23, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Cobb County…so why is everbody talking about Tuskegee? That should give you a clue.

By Amos

October 23, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

Isn’t Black College Football racist???

What if we had an all white college football story? There would be some heck being raised.

By John

October 23, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Black College Football….thats discriminating and racist.

If there was White College Football there would be all kind of heck being raised and fussed about.

By noneya

October 23, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Tuskegee’s run is hard to ignore. And their victory over A &M was impressive. I give them the edge. I’ve seen TSU play twice this year and they are strong. Just can’t get over the Atlanta Classic Hump.

By EddieKang48

October 23, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Well it’s really a no brainer SC State is the best BLACK COLLEGE Team. People are always saying that the SEC is the toughest conference in the nation, well if that is the case the MEAC is the toughest Black college conference in the nation. Yeah that’s great for TU to beat AAMU, but when they faced a team from the MEAC a couple of years back they were destroyed. I believe that team was Morgan State or Hampton. Tell them to come up to FCS standards and then we can have a real conversation. Top tier Black College programs know that TU isn’t even on their level that’s why SC State wouldn’t even give them a second thought

By JEWELL ROLLEN

October 23, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

PLEASE…TUSKEGEE WINNINGST EVER…ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OLDEST SCHOOL. THEY COULDN’T EVEN GET ON TENNESSEE STATE SCHEDULE BACK IN THE LATE 60’S, 70’S. THAT WINNING STREAK IS FLAWED BY THEIR WEAK SCHEDULE…..GO BIG BLUE!

By SmoothE

October 23, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

No need to be so negative against Skegee… Haters seem to feel the Power that seeps from their veins. Simply put, Skegee faces the SWAC every year and beats them. When Bama State was winning in the SWAC they still lost to Skegee. Even now in their lean years, skegee gets them. yet they have beaten SWAC and MEAC teams along the way. If you listen to this MEAC/SWAC blah blah, AA&M was not suppose to lose to skegee even with their so so record but they did. PEOPLE….. Not giving Skegee credit doesn’t take away from the wins and loses they put up every year. Good Football is just that and nothing else. All of the football landscape has young black men playing in each division and conference. At some point coaching, history and team building comes into the picture. Skegee seems toget this across to their kids every year. How do you think Appalachina state beat Michigan?????? MENTAL and Team building from good coaching.

By Blue Devil

October 23, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

SEC SEC SEC!!!! ALL OTHER LEAGUES WILL BOW DOWN TO THE GREATEST FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN THE NATION!!!!

By ArtVandelay

October 23, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Amos & John,

Calm down the rhetoric. It’s called Black college footbal because these colleges were largely created for black people when we weren’t allowed to attend white colleges. You know when black people were second class citizens during that thing called segragation less than 50 years ago.

The moniker has stuck because these universities remain predominantly black even though their doors are open to all races and minorities.

By Bush

October 23, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Amos and John if it wasn’t for the middle passage/slavery and all the unequal rights provided to Blacks the result of Black Colleges would not be a reality. Since there was such an era in the America’s history, Black Colleges and it’s athletics are here to stay. So live with it my American brother.

By Lester

October 23, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Hands down, it is the Hampton Pirates. no questions, case closed.

By Brian

October 23, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

Big shout out to Stan Awtrey of AJC for devoting time to my CAU Panthers two weeks in a row in the Sunday paper. We haven’t had the coverage in the past. Big Ups AJC for providing the forum for us to discuss our teams..

By Keith

October 23, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

The Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football Poll is a REAL JOKE. Tuskegee, the No. 1 among HBCU Schools … PLEASE. That is just like saying Ball State should be No. 1 in the BCS JUST because they are undefeated. I am not saying that Tuskegee is not a good football team BUT has anyone really examined who they have played ???? If Tuskegee was in the MEAC or SWAC, trust me, they would be competitive BUT NOT undefeated. Who are the voters of this POLL. What are the standards used to the voting??? Remember when both Tenn. State and Hampton went undefeated during the regular season, they both lost in the first round of the NCAA-1A playoffs, WHAT did the SBN Poll voters do to them ….. DROP THEM FROM the No. 1 position. Can some answer me this, when was the last time Tuskegee took the field took against a TOP 20 D-II or a NON-HBCU Football Team ???? On a scale of 1-10(10 being the highest), the strength of Tuskegee schedule is a 4 (it would be a 3 if they didn’t have AL A&M on their schedule).

I am not hating on Tuskegee’s ranking. BUT SBN HBCU Football Poll should be the “BS”-N HBCU Football Poll.

Keith Morgan State Univ. Grad

By Doug

October 23, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Well…I waited to hear the current points some valid for this year. I like the 7-0 record also. Facts: Tuskegee did have to share that SIAC Title with Albany State (‘07). Given: Back to Back Conference SIAC Titles is “Awesome”… BUT (Back to Back) and (Back to Back) Titles (twice) is “Great” (modern era- within the last 20 years)! I will let you do the research. I’m sure. There are some reasons why other Conferences will not play Albany???! - probably their history of upsets of I-AA teams outside of the SIAC. The only thing that would have given MEAC, SWAC, and Abednego and any other conference a current hint of greatness would have been in 2005. The only thing that was able to stop the sample taste of Albany was Katrina in 2005- scheduled to play Southern. Once again, not afraid to venture outside to play a team out of the SIAC conference. The Southern-ASU game would have silence all critics or current HBCU elite. I throw my hat in the ring for Albany State University - Modern HBCU -MHBCU. I stand to be corrected if possible. GO RAMS!

By Jay

October 23, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

South Carolina State University is definitely the best in the MEAC and at this point overall in D1-AA. The Hampton showdown will tell the story. They run a no huddle offense which is key to their winnings. They will go undefeated in the MEAC. As someone earlier said, look at their losses. Clemson, and UCF in which the game was tight until the Mid 3rd quarter.

By Marco

October 23, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

By the way Leo, get the facts straight!! Hampton University is 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the MEAC. Tuskegee could not beat FAMU, SC State, Del State, Hampton, Morgan State, WSSU or Norfolk State. They might lucky to beat Howard and NC A & T!!

By rave1914

October 23, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

the beloved Pirates of Hampton are 5 and 1, not 5 and 2 as listed (and i hope that is not a predictor of saturday’s outcome at s.c. state.) the winner of that game will be the best of the hbcus

By Deanna

October 23, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

What determines the Black College championship?

By Jay

October 23, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Im with Marco on that one. Im sure most of the people on here are with Marco on that one. Anybody having a party for the SCSU vs. Hampton game? We need to call the 2 live stews and tell them to get ESPN2 on the phone so the game could be televised.

By E

October 23, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

CB, If you don’t care, don’t read the blog….move on

I do argee that the AJC should change the topic of this Blog to “Small College Football” and include Div II teams like Valdosta St., West Ga. who have fans in the Atlanta area. If anything ,at least it will keep the racist happy, since having a black college blog offends them so much..

By Bill Gamble

October 23, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

By Golden Kitten

October 23, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this

Those of us who keep us with BCF know the truth. The only REAL diference between I-AA and II is the scholarships. Plain and simple. When it comes to the starting 11 on both sides of the ball, there is very little difference. The main difference is depth. So all the rest of the chatter is just that…cheap talk. Most of the BCF I-AA teams should be D-II teams - and they know it.

By Hurricane

October 23, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

Looking at how TU has dominated the SIAC and the Pioneer Bowl over the last upteen years, they need to move up to the FCS level. TU could be just as competitive on that level as they are at the D-II level. What good is it doing the TU program in the long run to keep dominating the same teams year in and year out. Not only that, we have no way of finding out how good this team really is since they desire not to compete more on a national level. What are they really proving? I like the way that the MEAC teams are playing strong OOC teams to see where they really stand. I personally know a couple of TU grads, who even by their admission have said that they have outgrown the SIAC, and need to compete on a higher level.

I really respect what TU has done in football, not only recently, but over the history of HBCU football. And Jewell, TU hasn’t played football any longer than anyone else. Most everyone except for a couple of schools have played since the turn of last century.

Plain and simply, what TU needs to do is to play more of the elite HBCU teams and beat them. Once you do that, then everyone will shut up and respect you.

By Bigdaddy

October 23, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

Tuskegee folk know what we are about. We don’t need anyone’s approval to do what we do. We are an ACADEMIC Institution and not a football factory. We get the respect that we value for Academics. We just happen to be very good in Athletics too.

By Charles Edwards

October 24, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this

Fact::;

Over the last ten years (1998-2008) the Tuskegee Golden Tigers have played 125 football games.

Their record is 107 wins and 17 losses.

South Carolina State record is 68 wins and 48 losses over the same period.

Hampton University,Grambling State, Tennessee State and other so called HBCU powerhouses what is your record over the past 10 years ? ? ?

The facts speak for themselves.

The Tuskegee Golden Tigers have been consistent winners.

They are the winningest team in the history of Black College Football.

By Atwater

October 24, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this

Speaking from a retired football player of 10 years in the NFL, I dearly respect tu record breaking season and I have played at D1 and D1AA schools there is a big difference between D1AA and D11 better players more competitive-tu beat a swac not a meac team which this seasons and previous seasons have dominated swac teams -tu beat aam not sc state or Hampton who are ranked in D1AA football along with appalanchian state who upset Michigan /tu is not on that level they a smitten above a high school team/aam is just sorry tu need to try play teams as clemson, Georgia tech, Florida, on their schedule as sc state, famu, and Hampton has before make their claim as hbcu football champs

By metcalf

October 24, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

sc state is by far the no1 hbcu in football with over 100 guys that has gone to the NFL. I think tu have 1 LOL . Please please. Tu is a joke, they need to play somebody.