The Evolving Landscape Of HBCU Athletics
These opportunities have not only existed in the classroom but also on the playing field. HBCU sports programs were critical in producing Hall of Fame athletes like NFL running back Walter Payton and NBA guard Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. Black colleges — and were critical in establishing football and basketball as the so-called “traditionally Black” sports that they are today — also gave chances to many student-athletes who at one point in time were not allowed to compete at traditional powerhouse universities and who were overlooked by coaches at bigger universities simply because of the color of their skin. […]