HBCU DIGEST: Deion Sanders' star search demands more corporate buy-in for HBCU athletics

Dec 17, 2021

Former Education News Flash Founding Editor Jarrett Carter Sr. weighed in on Jackson State University and head football coach Deion Sanders’ historic high school football signing this morning.

Jarrett Carter Sr. @jarrettcartersr

I’ve always viewed corporate, not recruit buy-in as the metric of what separates Power 5 from everyone else. Also - no coincidence that NCAA rules on NIL, transfer portal changed when more Black athletes started seriously considering HBCUs…

Jarrett Carter Sr. @jarrettcartersr

I’m happy about Deion getting the top recruit, more prominent Black coaches and ex-players coaching at HBCUs (which is the bigger story to me). We just have to brace for how racism, and the corporate money that supports it, will react to a multiverse with HBCUs forcing equity.

Jarrett Carter Sr. @jarrettcartersr

If the power company, construction company, largest law firm, alcohol manufacturer, agricultural company, tech company and cable company aren’t on signage in your stadium, you still aren’t competing. And making those companies support HBCUs is the job of alumni.

Fredrick W. Lee

I agree that the companies in the mentioned industries need to consider the opportunities HBCU sports program have and not discount. I would add that sports apparel and equipment companies need to do more in providing marketing and products to HBCU sports that are provided to FBS programs. There is no reason why a certain markets various fashionable apparel and equipment, but HBCU sports program get basic or bare-minimum.

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