Why I wrote HBCU Sports 101

After covering HBCU sports for over 30 years, I felt it was time to write something. Honestly, I should’ve done it a long time ago. There are so many stories I’ve come across that deserve to be told, and I’ve been blessed to witness a lot of history firsthand.

But what pushed me to write this book was seeing so many HBCU-related books and stories written by people who didn’t even attend an HBCU. And I don’t say that to knock anyone. But let’s be real — if HBCUs are as special as folks say they are, then why aren’t more HBCU grads the ones telling these stories?

Why My Experience Matters

I’ve been in this space for a long time, not just as a journalist but as someone who actually went to an HBCU. And when you’ve been covering this culture for decades, you start to see things differently.

This book gave me a chance to provide some real perspective, not from the outside looking in, but from someone who lived it, watched it, and covered it year after year. A lot of people look at HBCUs and only see the challenges. I see the strength. The ability to do more with less and keep going when folks count you out is what makes HBCUs special.

Who This Is For

I wrote HBCU Sports 101 for anybody who wants to better understand what HBCU sports are really about. Whether you’re new to it or you’ve been following it for a while, this book gives you a solid foundation.

And while we do talk about the lack of funding and other struggles, I want people to understand that those aren’t just problems — they’re also part of the story of resilience. HBCUs make it happen no matter what, and that’s worth celebrating.

What Folks Miss

People sometimes think we’re just trying to catch up to everyone else. But we’ve never been about trying to fit in. We had to build our own lane because nobody was checking for us. And we did it. We created our own classics, our own bowls, our own bands, our own traditions.

And we didn’t do it for approval. We did it because we had to. And I think folks outside the culture don’t always see the power in that.

What I Want You to Take Away

If you read this book all the way through, I hope you walk away knowing that HBCUs aren’t going anywhere. We’re still dealing with a lot of the same issues we’ve faced for decades, and there are new challenges too.

But we’re still here. Still pushing. Still making a way.

And while sports are a big part of HBCU culture, it’s important to remember why these schools exist. They were never created to be athletic powerhouses. They were created to educate Black minds. That’s the mission. Everything else — football, bands, rivalries — flows from that.

This book is my way of putting that into words, sharing what I’ve seen, and hopefully, giving people something real to walk away with.

Purchase your copy of HBCU Sports 101 today.