The recent news comes after Talladega College underwent a self-imposed legal audit to rectify its financial struggles, which included the university missing payroll, a decline in enrollment, and the private four-year institution tackling its deferred payments to vendors.

“We just saw a period where we sort of got off track from the thing that we have done historically,” said Talladega College interim president Walter M. Kimbrough during the school’s recent “State of the College” news conference last week. “The DNA is still there to me. We just got to get back and start being true to the DNA of Talladega College, and if we do that, we’ll be in a good situation.”

Bold Decision

In 2024, Talladega College’s operating budget was only $34 million. In September, Sara Weissman of Inside Higher Ed reported that enrollment decreased by 24% in recent years, the college faced a “significant” amount of debt, and issues with the school’s payroll delayed students’ receipt of financial aid refund checks.

Kimbrough and board chairwoman Rica-Lewis Payton made some “bold” decisions to improve the university’s financial trajectory. In February, the college announced that it was cutting its acrobatics, men’s volleyball, tumbling, men’s and women’s golf, and indoor track programs.

As a result, those cuts have allowed the school to save between $300,000 and $400,000 a month, according to WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Alabama. Kimbrough also stated that the college received a $15 million Hope Credit Union loan to strengthen its financial position and steer a more improved revenue model in the future.

“We have to trust but verify that accountability piece,” Lewis-Payton said, per WBRC-TV. “So, it’s not enough to just tell me; I need to see it. And we’re now putting into place those internal controls and accountability systems and processes.”

As the 157-year-old HBCU continues to progress financially, Kimbrough does not plan to raise tuition rates for students. However, if the rates increase in the future, he said the costs would remain cost-effective for students to earn an excellent education.

The post Athletic cuts help HBCU chart new course after fiscal challenges appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“In making these tough decisions, it is essential to note that a feasibility study was not conducted before establishing these programs,” the school stated in a release. “The decision to establish these programs was made in the spirit of fostering a diverse and inclusive athletic environment. However, early on, such studies would have revealed that these programs were not sustainable under present institutional conditions.”

Less than a year ago, Talladega College was making strides in its first season as a program. Freshman Kyrstin Johnson won a national title in April only to see the program discontinued over the summer. She left the HBCU and is now competing at Temple University. 

“While the conclusion of these programs is difficult, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing quality education and supporting all students in their endeavors,” the school release said. We extend our deepest gratitude to our athletes, coaches, and fans for their unwavering support and dedication throughout the programs’ history.”

The post HBCU set to drop six programs due to lack of resources appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

HBCU Gymnastics Legacy: From Fisk to Talladega

Fisk University holds the distinction of being the first HBCU to establish a gymnastics team, paving the way for increased representation in the sport. Talladega College followed as the second HBCU to sponsor a gymnastics program, providing opportunities for talented athletes like Johnson. However, Talladega’s program was recently shut down due to a lack of funding, underscoring the challenges HBCU athletic programs often face.

During her time at Talladega, Kyrstin Johnson excelled as a four-time First Team All-American and the 2023 USAG National Vault Champion. Her accomplishments cemented her status as one of the top gymnasts in collegiate competition and showcased the level of talent developed within HBCU programs.

Thriving at Temple University

At Temple, Johnson has brought the same determination that made her a star at Talladega. Her recent floor routine, paired with Kendrick Lamar’s anthem “Not Like Us”, captivated audiences online and demonstrated her ability to perform at the highest level. Now majoring in Biology, she balances academic rigor with her athletic career, embodying the values of perseverance and excellence.

Honoring and Advancing HBCU Gymnastics

The loss of Talladega’s gymnastics program is a blow to HBCU athletics, but athletes like Johnson continue to carry the legacy forward. By thriving at Temple, she ensures that the contributions of HBCU gymnastics programs remain recognized and celebrated.

Kristin Johnson’s journey highlights the significance of supporting and expanding gymnastics at HBCUs. Through her performances, she honors her roots while paving the way for future generations of Black gymnasts. Her story is a testament to the resilience of HBCU athletes and the lasting impact they have on the sport.

The post Former HBCU gymnast wows with Kendrick Lamar floor routine appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

LORMAN, Miss. – The Talladega College men’s basketball team, an HBCU in the NAIA division, has defeated Alcorn State University, a D1 HBCU in the SWAC, 68-67 in an exhibition game tonight in the closing seconds. The Tornadoes placed three players in double figures in scoring which helped them rally in the second half.

Talladega jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the first half before the Braves hit their first field goal of the game when it came off a three at 14:07 to make it a seven-point game. The Tornadoes responded when Lamont Sams hit a three with just over 13 and a half minutes remaining. With just over 10 minutes left in the half, Talladega used a 9-5 run to push its lead to 20-9, but the Braves chipped away cut the lead to single digits, and trailed, 22-13. Both teams traded points for almost seven minutes with the Tornadoes clinging to a one-point lead at 32-31 with 1:43 left. Alcorn State used a 5-2 run to take a 36-34 lead going into the locker room.

Coming out of the half, the Braves hit a three in less than 30 seconds to go up 39-34, but Arthur Williams answered with a jumper to cut the lead to three for Talladega College. Each team traded baskets for much of the second half with the Braves in front 47-46 with 14:00 left, but Michael Kinnard’s three at 12:56 put the Tornadoes back in front, 49-47. Alcorn State tied things up at 49 off a dunk and then took the lead off a jumper at 11:04. Talladega answered when Shaun Walker tied things at 51 and Jordan Brewer put the team in front 52-51 off a foul shot. The Braves used a 9-0 run to reclaim the lead and go up 60-52 with exactly seven minutes left in the game.  Talladega climbed back into it to find themselves tied at 66 with under 10 seconds left. Down 67-66 with seconds left, Tre Simmons hit back-to-back foul shots for the Tornadoes to give them the win with no time remaining on the clock.

Sams paced all Talladega players with 13 points while going 5-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-4 for three-point range. Teammates Brewer and Kinnard each finished with 11 points. Kinnard also went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Walker led the Tornadoes on the glass as he grabbed 10 boards with seven of them coming on the defensive side.

Wilfred Campbell finished a team-high seven assists while tallying six points.

Talladega men’s basketball kicks off its conference season at home this Saturday at 2 pm against fellow NAIA HBCU Southern University at New Orleans.

The post NAIA HBCU upsets Division 1 squad in road exhibition appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Johnson is headed to Temple University to continue her career. She announced her decision on Monday.

“Next Chapter! Please to announce! I’m an Owl!!!” Johnson posted.

Johnson transferred to Temple following an announcement that the Talladega College gymnastics program was going to be shut down due to funding. The program was just the second HBCU program, coming in one season after the Fisk University squad. 

Kyrstin Johnson thrived in her first year, winning a national title in the vault at the USA Gymnastics Championships. As the first athlete to commit to Talladega’s inaugural gymnastics program, Johnson scored 9.8750, surpassing competitors from Texas Women’s University and Cornell.

Not only did Johnson achieve athletic success –  she also found personal growth and community. Reflecting on her time at Talladega, Johnson highlighted the supportive environment which allowed her the confidence to wear her natural hair.

“It’s something I just started. I feel like now that I’m at Talladega, I can actually be free to be myself,” Johnson told HBCU Gameday in April. “I felt like in J-O (junior olympics), I always had to pull my hair up or put it in a braids. I would see the other girls braiding each other’s hair, doing this, and I would be in the back struggling, trying to take off my bonnet, trying to lay down my edges, and try to make sure the part was straight in the back of my head. But now I can just do a wash and go. Let my hair out and flow and just do my thing out on the floor.”

Months later, however, Kyrstin Johnson has been forced to take her talents elsewhere as the second HBCU gymnastics program has been put on the shelf.

The post Gymnastics star headed to PWI after HBCU program ax’d appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Talladega College announced on Friday that it was disbanding its gymnastics program. Sunday morning, members of its team released a crowd funding attempt to keep the program alive. Its goal is $499,999.

The following message was posted with the link: 

The Talladega Gymnastics Team – The 2nd HBCU Gymnastics team in the country. The 1st in the state of Alabama. The HBCU with the most National Qualifiers in a year. The 1st HBCU to win a sanctioned NCAA competition. The 1st HBCU with a USAG National Event Title.

With one hour to prepare, the Talladega team was told that the announcement would go public that their team would be no more. Tears in their eyes and sadness in their hearts, they congratulated each other on their accomplishments given the short time that they had. 24 hours later, they decided they weren’t taking no for an answer!

This fundraiser was created to show the world that Dega Gym is here to stay and the community is behind them 100%. We know that our goal is daunting, but without it we will be forced to put our education and athletic careers on hold. It is too late for our team to find homes. More than the aforementioned, we wouldn’t want to if we could. We set forth on a journey to make history and we are not done yet!

We have until July 30, 2024 to show that the community wants to keep this program alive! Let’s unite to keep the dreams of these young women alive. Together, we can make a difference.

The post HBCU students fight to keep gymnastics dream alive appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The Alabama-based HBCU stated in a release that it doesn’t have the resources to continue the program. 

“While the decision to discontinue the gymnastics program was undoubtedly difficult, we remain incredibly proud of our gymnasts, coaches, and their remarkable achievements. Their dedication and resilience have set a high standard, and their legacy will continue to inspire, Talladega College Interim President Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough said.

“This strategic move is part of our broader vision to position Talladega College to be stronger and more vibrant on all levels, ensuring that we can continue to provide exceptional opportunities for our students,” he said.

Talladega College became the second HBCU program when it launched in 2023, coming on the heels of the inaugural one at Fisk University which piloted one year earlier. 

The program produced a national champion in its lone season. Freshman Kyrstin Johnson won the USGA national title in vault this spring. She talked about the impact that the HBCU had on her as a person as well as a gymnast. 

“It’s something I just started. I feel like now that I’m at Talladega, I can actually be free to be myself,” Johnson told HBCU Gameday. “I felt like in J-O (junior olympics), I always had to pull my hair up or put it in a braids. I would see the other girls braiding each other’s hair, doing this, and I would be in the back struggling, trying to take off my bonnet, trying to lay down my edges, and try to make sure the part was straight in the back of my head. But now I can just do a wash and go. Let my hair out and flow and just do my thing out on the floor.”

The post HBCU gymnastics program cut after just one season appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“It’s different. Because in high school I was homeschooled – so I wasn’t really around people a lot,” Johnson said in an exclusive interview with HBCU Gameday. “I’ve always just been going to my house doing homework – then practice so it’s just like a routine like every day.”

Kyrstin Johnson is definitely making the adjustment look easy. The Baltimore, MD gymnast is the newly minted USAG national champion in the vault. Not bad for a first-year student at a first year program. But as we learned in our interview, Johnson is a fast learner. 

Self-taught, with inspiration

Johnson was always doing gymnastics – whether she was in a gym or not. She didn’t get active in the sport until she was 10 because her parents were dissuaded from getting her involved due to time and cost. But even at that age, she had a passion for the sport that could not be ignored. 

“Before starting gymnastics, I was self-taught,” she said. “I was flipping everywhere. So it couldn’t have been ignored. So I’m glad to be where I am. It’s a blessing.”

Eventually, her parents gave in and her path to becoming a national champion was there. Despite growing up in the Baltimore area, she says she didn’t have a lot of black role models around her, so Gabby Douglas and Trinity Thomas became her inspirations. Attending an HBCU was something Johnson says she wasn’t sure would happen because when she started high school there were no HBCUs.

Then came Fisk University, which began competing in 2023. Johnson was initially verbally committed there. But then Talladega College announced it would be fielding a program and Johnson felt that it would be a better academic fit for her needs. So she became the first gymnast to commit to TC. 

In addition to having a place to compete in gymnastics with people who look like her and having academic programs that fit her goal to be a veterinarian, she has also found community at Talladega. 

“Now I’m always surrounded by people getting to know people it’s like a family,” Johnson said. “Plus I’m loving the band and watching the fraternities, and sororities.”

The post HBCU gymnastics freshman, champ Kyrstin Johnson inspiring future appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Johnson posted the highest score of the day on vault, a 9.8750, to take the title ahead of Texas Women’s University’s Kaitlyn Hoiland and Cornell’s Sydney Beers, who tied for second (9.8250). She joined Fisk University’s Morgan Price, just a sophomore herself, as historic first national champions to come from the HBCU ranks. 

“I could not have asked or even dreamed of this type of season,” Johnson tweeted on X after her victory. “I’M ONLY A FRESHIE!!!”

Finishing behind gold medalist Maggie Slife of Air Force (9.900), Johnson also tied with Gayla Griswold of Lindenwood for silver on floor exercise with a 9.8625. She was named first-team All-American on the floor exercise, balance beam and vault. 

Kyrstin Johnson was one of several Talladga gymnasts who achieved All-American status. Alexa Chuy received first-team status in the all-around and second-team status in the floor exercise. Alondra Maldonado received first-team honors on the balance beam and Kiora Peart-Williams received the same honors on the vault.

Not bad for a first-year program and just the second in HBCU history. 

The post Talladega HBCU gymnast Kyrstin Johnson wins title as a freshman appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Former Florida State star and NFL quarterback Danny Kanell took issue with Sanders saying that he wasn’t a ‘Nole, noting that he graduated from Talladega College. 

“Wow,” Kanell tweeted in response to a video of Sanders answering the question. “The lack of respect for the school that gave him his start is wild. The same school that retired his jersey. The same school that let him be Prime. There is a way to handle this question and this ain’t it.”

Sanders took the time to address Kannell on Twitter. 

“My man ain’t Nobody let me be me! I was Him and still is,” Sanders tweeted. “Your jersey only get retired if you’re a Dogg and 1 of the greatest ever and I was. Ain’t nobody give me nothing, I took it and earned it. Stay out of Grown folks business u have no idea what is what. The Truth hurts my man. I got time!”

The former Jackson State head football coach famously played his college football at Tallahasee’s non-HBCU in the 1980s, playing under the legendary Bobby Bowden before embarking on NFL and MLB careers and becoming a household name. Over the years he has represented Florida State in media and even in recruiting battles. But he never got his degree from Florida State, where he reportedly wanted to take over as head football coach. 

Instead, Sanders got his degree from Talladega College, a small private HBCU in Alabama. He then went on to become a head coach at Jackson State, leading that program to back-to-back SWAC titles before taking over as head coach at Colorado. 

Deion Sanders downplaying his affiliation with Florida State and claiming Talladega received blowback from a lot of Florida State fans, but clearly he’s made his proclamation and he’s not

The post Deion Sanders gathers Florida State legend on HBCU grad comment appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

An on-site reporter decided to interject with a statement rather than a question.

“I’ve got to check you, though, because those Hall of Famers were all Hurricanes like myself – and you’re a ‘Nole my friend.”

Deion Sanders stopped her and asked if anyone knew where he graduated from. Another media member responded correctly that he had graduated from Talladega College.

“I graduated from an HBCU, so I’m still a who?” Sanders shot back at the reporter.

“But you’re still a ‘Nole?” She retorted.

“So I’m a who?” Sanders said with a laugh. “I’m a who? I thought it was where you graduated from, isn’t it.”

Sanders graduated from Talladega College in August of 2020 – just before taking the head coaching job at Jackson State.

“Why do you keep calling me that instead of where I graduated from,” Sanders said. I’m an HBCU grad.”

Sanders went on to explain that both Sapp and Irvin are from Florida just like him and that their ties are deeper than where they played college football. But he made sure to clarify where he got his degree from.

“Talladega,” Sanders said before leaving the platform. “That’s where I graduated from.”

The post Deion Sanders corrects reporter: ‘I’m an HBCU grad’ appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Talladega College Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Grant announced that Talladega College President Gregory J. Vincent and the Board of Trustees made the decision to pursue NCAA membership, and the college has submitted its application.

“This is a strategic and transformative move that will strengthen our athletic programs and elevate our brand,” said Grant. “Most importantly, joining NCAA Division II will benefit our student-athletes by expanding opportunities for them to train, compete and reach their full potential in academics and athletics.” 

“In every major decision that we make, we consider how the decision will impact our students and how it aligns with our commitment to being a student-centered institution.  NCAA Division ll shares our values and dedication to excellence in academics and sports,” said President Vincent.  “After extensive research and careful consideration, we have determined that the NCAA would be an excellent fit for Talladega College.”

One of the charter members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in 1913, the Tornadoes will explore a return to the SIAC membership for most of its current 18 competitive teams. Plans are underway to add at least three new sports teams.

Currently, Talladega College competes in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Talladega joined the SSAC in 2021 after spending most of the previous two decades in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference of the NAIA.

Founded in 1867, Talladega College is Alabama’s first private historically black liberal arts college. The institution was recognized as #13 in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2022 and named one of Princeton Review’s 2023 Best Colleges Region by Region.

The post Talladega College making D2 plans appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

(Talladega, AL) – Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG) and Talladega College have partnered with the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance to launch the college’s first-ever women’s artistic gymnastics team.  The partnership was unveiled during the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance Collaboration on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Talladega will join Fisk University, which has also partnered with BGDG and the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance, in developing the only HBCU women’s artistic gymnastics programs in the nation.

“This historic moment will have a lasting impact. Establishing a women’s gymnastics team at Talladega College will expand opportunities for HBCU student-athletes to compete in a rewarding sport that fosters discipline, confidence, and success,” said Talladega College President Gregory J. Vincent. “Developing our first-ever women’s gymnastics team will also promote student and alumni engagement and pride; enhance the college’s brand; and help create a pipeline of diverse gymnasts.”

“While there are over eighty intercollegiate women’s gymnastics teams in the nation and many gymnastics clubs, Talladega will be one of only two HBCU teams,” added Talladega College Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Grant.  “Having a team will give our athletes greater visibility and recognition.”

In addition to providing more opportunities for black and brown gymnasts to compete, BGDG creates awareness surrounding issues such as injury prevention, coaching, recruiting, and judging.  The organization also promotes camaraderie among HBCUs via diverse gymnastics events and activities, including an annual conference.

Talladega will host the 8^th Annual BGDG Conference, which will be held July 18 — 21, 2024.

The post Talladega College to launch second-ever HBCU gymnastics team appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The AAUL HBCU Basketball Invitational seeks to elevate HBCU sports as a key driver of sports entertainment, but its impact extends beyond the court. “This invitational is the first of the exciting programming we want to develop as part of the AAUL HBCU Live Xperience,” said Quincy Dunlap, President and CEO, Austin Area Urban League. “We are committed to creating programs that make a discernible change in our community and continue to drive support to HBCU academic and sporting programs.”

HBCU College Fair

In addition to the games, the AAUL will host its Full Court Prep for Success youth program, College Fair and Career Expo. The youth development initiative will provide personal development skills for underserved boys and girls, ages 10-16, in cities across Central Texas. The college and career fair will feature a host of colleges and universities to engage with prospective students and top employers who are interested in diverse recruitment opportunities. These efforts will bring together various employers, experienced professionals, community-based organizations, and job seekers under one roof to deliver a best-in-class experience.

“While one team may walk away with the top prize, it’s our hope that everyone who attends, participates, or supports the tournament walks away feeling like a champion,” said Mario Davis, Special Initiatives Coordinator, Austin Area Urban League. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this.

About Austin Area Urban League (AAUL)

Founded in 1977, the Austin Area Urban League is a nonprofit organization aimed at enriching the lives of citizens within the greater Central Texas Region. The Austin Area Urban League is one of more than 90 affiliates of the National Urban League providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of thousands in the Central Texas region. Aligning with the Empowerment pillars of the National Urban League, the Austin Area Urban League seeks to meet the needs of underserved populations in the Austin and Central Texas region by focusing on programming and services in the areas of Education and Youth Development, Workforce and Career Development, Health and Wellness, Housing and Community Development, and Justice and Advocacy.

The post Austin HBCU basketball event features NAIA teams appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

To say Grant has had more pressing matters to handle or has been busy would be an understatement. Swamped, is more like it. He had to hire eight head coaches or staff members in 15 days.

“I had to come in and hire a men’s basketball coach, women’s basketball coach, a soccer coach, a deputy (athletics) director, a SID (sports information director), an athletic trainer, and a men’s and women’s golf coach,” Grant said. “Job one was getting those people in place.”

Talladega restarting football and joining the SIAC?

Bringing back football and rejoining the SIAC are still on the table. But it’s not a priority right now, Grant said.

“That’s very important (rejoining the SIAC) and something that the president (Dr. Gregory J. Vincent) and I have talked about.

“But it’s something that’s way down the line right now. We need to get to the point that we’re successful where we are. Right now, we’re NAIA. We need to have all of our sports competitive and moving in the right direction. Maybe then we can consider moving to Div. II.”

The next biggest thing is bringing football back, Grant said.

“We’re exploring it. We’re in the midst of a feasibility study right now. We want to see how it will look three or four years from now. We want to gauge the impact it will have on the college’s student body and to our campus. That is way down the line, too. We are putting feelers out there to see if it’s even possible to do it.”

A little Talladega athletics history

Talladega is an Alabama NAIA school located about 120 miles from Atlanta, 20 miles off I-20 in Talladega, Alabama. It had a record enrollment of 1,313 students for the 2021-2022 school year. The school made headlines in August 2020 when it awarded a FasTtrack degree to Deion Sanders. Sanders became the head football coach at Jackson State a month later.

Grant is the former head basketball coach at four HBCUs — Central State, Stillman, Southern and Coppin State. He most recently was associate athletics director at Morehouse before taking over Talladega athletics on July 1. The school currently fields 11 athletic teams but does not play football. It competes in the NAIA Southern States Conference.

Talladega was one of ten founding charter members of the SIAC when the conference was organized in 1913 and 1914. The others were Lincoln Junior College (now Alabama State University), Atlanta University, Clark College, Fisk University, Jackson College (now Jackson State University), Morris Brown College, Morehouse College, and Tuskegee University.

Drew Taylor of CBS TV 42 in Birmingham, Alabama covered Talladega looking to bring back football in a story on the station’s website last September.

Talladega, one of the best

At one point, Talladega College, founded in 1867, had one of the best football teams among the country’s historically Black colleges and universities, Taylor reported. According to Edwin Bancroft Henderson’s 1939 book, “The Negro in Sports,” the school first started its team in 1894, the same time other colleges like Howard, Tuskegee, and Atlanta University started them.

In 1920 and 1921, the Pittsburgh Courier selected Talladega College as being the best Black college football team in the country. Both teams were led by Jubie Bragg, who went on to become the first head football coach at Florida A&M University.

However, World War II ultimately brought on the demise of Talladega College’s football program. Talladega last played football in 1941 as a member of the SIAC. Talladega along with Fisk, Lemoyne-Owen and Fort Valley State, four of the 15 schools then in the SIAC, felt that the demands of the war on manpower and educational services made football impractical, Taylor’s report said. Only FVSU has resumed football, apparently bringing back the sport in 1947.

The recent fallout

After the 2021-22 season, Talladega lost Men’s Head Basketball Coach Chris Wright and Women’s Head Basketball Coach and Athletics Director Kevin Herod, both to Langston University ten days apart. Wright led the Tornadoes to a 32-6 record last season and to the 2021 NAIA championship game. He compiled a 106-25 record over four seasons with his team reaching the NAIA national tournament all four seasons.

Herod had just finished his eighth year leading the Lady Tornadoes and compiled a record of 171-68, the most wins of any HBCU women’s basketball head coach over that eight-year span.

“It’s very unfortunate what happened,” Grant said, “but when I got the job, there was only one player left on the men’s basketball side and two left on the women’s basketball side. So the coaches had 40 days or so to fill a team before students returned.”

“They’ve been working hard, grinding trying to fill out a roster,” Grant said. As of this week, the women’s team was at 15 players and the men’s team at 13.

Danton Jackson, who was the head coach at Xavier (La.) for 15 years before being an associate head coach at UAB and at Albany (NY), is the new men’s hoops coach. “He was very familiar with the NAIA and being at this level,” Grant said. “I thought he would be a good fit. He was looking to be a head coach again so I gave him an opportunity.”

Akia Stanton, who was the associate head coach at Allen in 2021, is the new women’s coach

The post Talladega not ready yet for football, SIAC appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The Tornadoes, playing less than 24 hours after a nail-biting overtime victory over Thomas More, put up a valiant effort against Loyola, which finished the season 37-1.

The Tornadoes concluded the stellar season at 32-6. Four of the six losses were to the Wolf Pack.  

Leading the way for head coach Chris Wright‘s experienced team (nine seniors and four juniors) was Darryl Baker‘s game-high 22 points. He hit eight-of-18 from the floor, including four-of-nine from downtown. Baker chipped in six boards. Davion Thomas added eight points. Kamron Brice contributed six markers, while Jervay Green had five points, six rebounds, and five assists. Camron Reese snagged a team-best nine rebounds in the loss.

In the first half, Brice buried a three-point shot off a pass from Green, knotting the contest at 13-13. Trailing 18-13, Green found Thomas for a thunderous dunk with 10:16 to play. The Wolf Pack embarked on an 18-2 spurt to make it 36-17 with just 3:14 to go in the half. The Tornadoes battled back, slicing it to 15 at the half. Edwin Louis and Baker hit jumpers to make it a 36-21 game at the break.

Trailing 44-25, Wright’s team went on an 11-0 spurt, slicing the deficit to eight, 44-36. During the run, Baker nailed a three-point bucket. Moments later, Baker found the bottom of the net with another jumper. At the 14:05 mark, Baker continued his attack on the home team, taking a pass from Thomas and rattling home a three-point basket. Thomas’ three-pointer off a pass from Louis made it an eight-point game with 13:15 to play.

Behind 48-36, the Tornadoes continued to attack. Green found Baker for a shot from a distance. Down 50-39, Green found Markel Williams for another basket from deep, pulling the visitors within eight at 50-42. Baker’s three-point bucket helped Talladega pull within five at 50-45, but that was as close as the team would get.

Loyola stretched the margin to 14 at 61-47 with 5:20 to go. Wright’s team cut the deficit to 11, but the squad could not cut it to single digits.  

For the game, Talladega College connected on 19-of-53 from the floor (35.8 percent), including nine-of-27 from downtown (33.3 percent). The team distributed 11 assists, had four steals, and swatted three shots.  

It marked the first time an HBCU program reached the NAIA Championship since West Virginia State did in 1987. The Yellow Jackets lost that game to Washburn 79-77.

The post Talladega College falls in NAIA title game appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Kameron Brice led the way for Talladega with 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting from 3-point range off the bench. Cam Potts had 15 points, 11 assists and six rebounds and Darryl Baker chipped in 10 points. Talladga really took advantage of the 3-point line, hitting 11 of 26 attempts (42.3 percent).

TC continued to play tough defense. It held Concordia to 11 points below its season average as it shot just 15 percent from the 3-point line.

It will play no. 2 Thomas Moore for a trip to the national championship game.

Talladega hopping to end HBCU drought

Talladega has never won an NAIA title, but plenty of HBCUs have. The NAIA was the first national tournament to open its doors to HBCUs, preceding the NCAA. At one point teams could elect to play in either the NCAA or the NAIA Tournaments. Many HBCUs found success there. 

Tennessee State won three titles in a row as Tennessee A&I from 1957 through 1959 under the tutelage of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer John McClendon. Grambling and Prairie View won titles in 1961 and 1962. Central State won a pair of NAIA titles in 1965 and 1969, but Kentucky State did even better, winning three in a row from 1970 through 1972. Coppin State (1976) and Texas Southern  (1977) would win national titles just before NCAA teams became ineligible to compete in the NAIA Tournament.

No HBCU has won the NAIA title since then. If Talladega is able to win it would be the second national championship won by a men’s basketball program at an HBCU this year as Paul Quinn College did so earlier this month at Virginia State University.

Tipoff for Sunday’s game is set for 7 P.M. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. 

The post HBCU one step closer to bringing home national title appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Talledega came in leading the NAIA in fewest points per game allowed at 58.1 and did even better after allowing Jamestown to score the first seven points of the game.

Talladega took its first lead of the half on a three-pointer to break a 15-15 tie, then the teams would trade the lead until back-to-back baskets by Devon Schultz (SR/Arlington, MN) and Walters gave the Jimmies a three-point lead. With UJ ahead 25-23 and the clock nearing zero, Markel Williams made a long-range three-pointer to put the Tornados in front by a point at the break.

Talladega turned the ball over just six times the entire game and got to the free throw line consistently, hitting 17 of 23 from the line.

Cam Potts led the way for TC with a game-high 21 points and four assists, scoring 14 in the first half. Daryl Baker had 13 points, 11 of them coming in the second half. Amir Yusuf added 12 points (10 in the second half) and nine rebounds.

Mason Walters led Jamestown with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Talledega College is now 30-5 and the HBCU will advance to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament. 

The post Talladega College repping for HBCUs in the NAIA Tournament appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The National Battle of the Bands took place at NRG stadium in Houston, Texas. Better known to Houstonians as home to the NFL Houston Texans. This was the second year for the event in Houston, since the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic.

This year featured bands from Talladega College, Langston University, Norfolk State, Tennessee State, Jackson State, North Carolina A&T, and Southern University. All eight bands competed in choreographed field performances and stand battles.

The post National Battle of The Bands: 2021 Photo Gallery appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“We are excited to welcome back Talladega College’s “Great Tornado Band” to the Cracker Barrel National Battle of the Bands presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar at NRG Stadium this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. The “Marching Tornadoes” participated in the inaugural National Battle of the Bands in 2019 and were thrilled to make the trip back down to Houston to take the field and perform again,” Derrick Ross, spokesperson for Webber Marketing.

“Currently, 90 percent or more of our participating bands, including members of the “Great Tornado Band”,  are fully vaccinated.  Each band is taking the necessary precautions and following CDC COVID-19 guidelines to ensure safe travels and participation in this year’s event.  

The current lineup is as follows: 

Bethune-Cookman University – Marching Wildcats
Langston University – “Marching Pride” Band
North Carolina A&T State University – The Blue and Gold Marching Machine
Southern University – Human Jukebox 
Jackson State University – The Sonic Boom of The South
Norfolk State University – “The Spartan Legion” Marching Band
Talladega College – “Great Tornado Band”
Tennessee State University – Aristocrat of Bands 

The post National Battle of The Bands has late lineup change appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“Given the success of our academic and athletic programs; the recent growth and transformation of the college; and the myriad benefits of having a football program, now may be the time to revive our team,” Billy C. Hawkins, president of Talladega College told CBS42.  “This could be great for the college, the community, and central Alabama. However, our decision will be based upon the findings of a formal feasibility study,” Billy C. Hawkins, president of Talladega College.”

For years, the small, private school has been known as the HBCU with a marching band with no football team. But the NAIA school is in the heart of football country and clearly, a football program would add excitement. 

“The band would love to actually march at home games, and many students are excited about the possibility of attending football games on campus,” Shakayah Midgette, a 2021 graduate who served as student representative to the Talladega College Board of Trustees. “School pride has increased a great deal, and I believe a football team would help it to increase even further.  Football would attract new students as well as sponsors.”

Talladega was an HBCU football power in the early 1920s, winning a pair of Black College National Championships. It is one of several HBCUs which eventually disbanded their programs. Several of them have brought the sport back in recent decades (Edward Waters, Shaw, St. Aug and most recently Florida Memorial University).

The University of Maryland-Eastern Shore explored bringing its football program back a decade ago, but ultimately decided against the move.

The post Talladega College exploring return to football appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Talladega College ran roughshod through the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in 2019-20, blowing away the competition with an undefeated regular season in conference play before getting shocked by the third-seeded Philander Smith Lady Panthers in the Championship.

[inArticle]

Rust College was not far behind in terms of league dominance as its only two GCAC losses came by a combined total of four points to the Lady Tornadoes.

Talladega and Rust each earned three first-place votes while the rest of the field received none.

Philander Smith had a strong regular season before capping it off with a GCAC Tournament Title, knocking off the two heavy favorites (Rust and Talladega) in succession to earn its first GCAC Championship. The Lady Panthers had just four losses in conference play heading into the tournament, with all four defeats coming at the hands of Rust and Talladega.

Behind Rust, Talladega and Philander Smith in the polls are Edward Waters, Xavier (La.), Tougaloo and Dillard in that order.

[postBannerAd]

The post Talladega, Rust favorites in GCAC women’s hoops appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

[postBannerAd]

He addressed his fellow graduates in a ceremony in which he talked about the journey to the degree.

30 years in the making

“I understand the screams and the yells and the adulation from your peers because I felt that on the field,” Deion Sanders said. “But, sitting here, seeing your faces, seeing the joy, seeing the respect, seeing the work, seeing the toil, and the satisfaction when you walk across the stage blessed me so, so much.”

Sanders’ journey to his degree started nearly 35 years ago when he enrolled at Florida State. He played baseball and ran track while becoming a two-time consensus All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner. He left college following his junior season in 1988, and was picked fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL Draft.

The following decade he became not only one of the premier players in the league, but one of its faces. Widely known as “Prime Time” the eight-time Pro Bowler and 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was a two-time Super Bowl winner. Since then he’s gone on to commentating and coaching, sending many of his players – and his own children– to college. Now, he has one of his own.

“I got mine. It may be 30 years later, but I got mine. One of my kids got his before me, but guess what– I got mine,” Sanders said. “I got another kid at South Carolina in college but guess what – I got mine. I got another one going to FAU, but guess what– I got mine.”

Sanders made headlines recently when he lobbied for an NFL Combine for HBCU football prospects. That was set to happen this March, but the pandemic shut it down.

[inArticle]

Big time player, small school graduate

There is great irony in Sanders’ journey from college superstar to college graduate. Florida State University is a rich, powerful predominately white institution. One that did not allow black students to attend until 1963 – four years before Sanders was born in Fort Myers. It has an endowment of $704 million.

Talladega College was birthed when three formerly enslaved men decided they wanted to educate their children after the Civil War. It has an endowment of less than $3 million.

At Florida State University, college football is religion. At Talladega College, there is no football team (but there is a marching band).

Here is a man that helped turn one school into a $100 million-plus brand, launching a pro career that propelled him to individual prosperity. But when it came time to fulfill a journey that was as much spiritual as academic, he came to a small, private historically black college that is always a few missed donations or low enrollment semesters from closing.

Watching him celebrate his accomplishment by doing his iconic shuffle dance across the stage, there’s more going on than maybe even Sanders realized.

Now Talladega needs from Sanders what every HBCU needs from its alumni – the willingness to pay it forward.

[postBannerAd]

The post Deion Sanders realizes dream as an HBCU graduate appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Talladega, AL—  Janet Jackson gave a shout-out to the Talladega College Marching Band on her Instagram story on Friday, February 28, 2020.   Ms. Jackson, who posted a video of the band performing Velvet Rope during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, LA wrote, “I LOVE IT! Y’all are STEPPIN!”

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the incomparable Ms. Janet Jackson,” said Talladega College Band Director Miguel Bonds. “It is a great honor to be praised by such a profoundly talented performer.”

[postBannerAd]

“We are so thankful to Janet Jackson for giving us this recognition.  The last time a performer gave us a shout-out on Instagram, we ended up being featured in his video,” said head drum major Gantonio Stubbs, referring to the band’s recent performance with Max Schneider (MAX).  

“We hope history repeats itself because we would love to perform with Janet Jackson,” said Stubbs, a criminal justice major from Atlanta, GA. 

The dynamic band is comprised of 352-members

The post Janet Jackson shares Talladega Marching Band on Instagram appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Freshman point guard TJ Jones scored a career-high 23 points, 16 in the first half, to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 91-78 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory Saturday against Talladega.

The Gold Rush (22-5, 10-1), ranked 14th in the NAIA, remained a half-game behind first-place Tougaloo but clinched home-court advantage for the opening (quarterfinal) round of the GCAC Tournament March 4. XULA will be seeded no lower than second and play the No. 7 or 8 seed.

[postBannerAd]

XULA will stay on the road and play GCAC opponent Edward Waters at 7:30 p.m. EST Monday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jones entered averaging 4.2 points per game. He was 8-of-12 from the floor, 5-of-6 on 3-pointers – 4-of-5 in the first half – and 2-of-2 from the line to produce the most points in a road game by a XULA freshman since Drionne Major’s 25 in an 88-83 victory at William Carey on Dec. 16, 2003.

“TJ shot with confidence and was happy to take advantage of what the defense gave him,” XULA head coach Alfred Williams said.

Four other Gold Rush players scored in double figures. Rayshawn Mart had 18 points, six rebounds and four steals. William Loyd scored 13 points, Makye Richard 12 and Virgil Davison 11.

Davison scored all his points in the first half and put the Gold Rush ahead to stay at 13:44 with his first of three 3s. XULA led 48-33 at halftime, and Mart’s basket with 12:30 remaining gave XULA its largest lead, 66-44.

Talladega (21-7, 7-5), ranked 25th, lost its second straight at home. Ray Doby and R.J. Kelly scored 19 points apiece for the Tornadoes, and Morris Dunnigan scored 18. Doby grabbed 12 rebounds.

XULA committed a season-low nine turnovers, outshot Talladega 53.6 to 42.4 percent from the floor and scored its most points at Talladega since 1978.

XULA has won three straight, 12 of its last 13 games and 18 of its last 20. On the road, XULA has won eight of its last 10 games.

The post XULA races past Talladega on the road appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

[inArticle]

Timing is Everything

With the Honda Battle of The Bands taking a 2019 hiatus, due to Super Bowl LIII. The National Battle of The Bands was right on time, to cure every “Band Heads” withdrawals. Check out some of my photos from the battle of the bands.

The post 2019 National Battle of The Bands appeared first on HBCU Gameday.