A recent article written by Dr. B.B. Robinson http://www.nationalcenter.org/P21NVRobinsonHBCU90908.html" target="_blank">suggested that historically black colleges and universities would be better suited academically by ending athletics and focusing on building the future leaders of America, particularly in the fields of science and technology.
The problem with this assertion is two fold. One, high achieving students like sports. Two, high achieving alumni like sports.
To disengage from an invaluable part a tradition that is not genuine to black colleges, but all colleges, is completely absurd. Sports are not just wins and losses. They are a catalyst for social development, and school pride. If Dr. Robinson isn’t smart enough to know that most high school students base their decisions about college heavily on those factors, then I would assume that his equation for black success is missing a few figures.
Additionally, sports serves as an impetus for many black athletes, male and female, to escape less than favorable conditions, achieve at a higher academic level than they could’ve imagined, and illuminates the path for solid family structure and community loyalty.
A tall order for shooting a basket, dribbling a ball or running around a track.
But not only that, those alumni and supporters who continue to make HBCUs an invaluable part of communities across the nation use sports as a vehicle to spread the total message of the HBCU mission. Here is one aspect of Dr. Robinson’s essay:
HBCUs should consider converting resources set aside for athletic programs into resources for scientific research and development.
For example, Howard University reported that its athletic program in fiscal year (FY) 2006 would have incurred a nearly $1.1 million loss without revenues from the NCAA and sponsorships, which cut the overall loss to a little over $100,000.
For FY 2007, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) reported that, without $1.4 million from the NCAA and sponsorships, it would have incurred an operating loss of $1.8 million. As a result, FAMU’s athletic program lost around $400,000.
Preserving the status quo won’t change anything. Consequently, if black Americans desire a different set of outcomes, they must take new and different action.
In other words, federal and private grants are not enough for HBCUs to develop training forums on campus. Sports needs to go because they are hemorraghing funds that could be used for research and development.
But I wonder if Dr. Robinson did his research, and fully understood that while athletic departments are going in to the red, their primary objectives are to keep enrollment and retention rates in the black. It’s true, many black college athletic departments do not turn profits. But they are self-sufficient enough to foot most of the bill, and exciting enough to engage potential and current students to be a part of their global network of proud alumni.
Imagine the prospect of an academian suggesting Duke University cut its basketball program in favor of more resources for medical funding. Better yet, imagine Howard University without homecoming festivities, because there is no football team to come home to.
I am sure that Dr. Robinson has worked hard to arrive at a point of academic influence, but on the importance and history of black college sports, its clear he could use a few more semesters in the stands.
