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HBCU’s 10 Greatest Football Dynasties

By Donald Hunt For The Birmingham Times College football fans have seen a lot of great teams over the years. However, it’s one thing to have an outstanding team, but to sustain a level of greatness over an extended period of time is another. There are several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with dominant […]
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3 years ago

October 25, 2023

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You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant team in Black college football from 1923-30 than Tuskegee University which won six national championships (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929). (HBCU Gameday)

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By Donald Hunt

For The Birmingham Times

College football fans have seen a lot of great teams over the years. However, it’s one thing to have an outstanding team, but to sustain a level of greatness over an extended period of time is another.

There are several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with dominant football programs that went on to become dynasties. These teams were able to showcase their talents in different eras. No matter what decade you followed HBCU football there was at least one team that stood out.

With the 82nd Magic City Classic between Alabama A&M and Alabama State University on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Birmingham’s Legion Field it’s time to present our list of the most dominant HBCU football teams alphabetically.

CENTRAL STATE

Dynasty: 1987-93. Combined record of 72-11-3 during this period, which produced two NAIA national titles in 1990 and 1992.

Central State had one of the best small college football programs in the nation. The Marauders had two major stretches under head coach Billy Joe. Central State was really dominant as an NCAA Division II independent program from 1982-86. The Marauders were 46-11-1 during those seasons. Then, Central State became a NAIA Division I independent. They were a powerhouse from 1987-93. They had an tremendous 72-11-3 during this period, which produced two NAIA national titles in 1990 and 1992. Joe coached Hugh Douglas, Erik Williams and Vice Buck who all played in the NFL.

FLORIDA A&M

Dynasty: 1950-62. Eight Black college national championships.

Florida A&M has one of the most prolific Black college football programs in the country. The Rattlers are well known for their football prowess.

William “Bill” Bell was a tremendous coach at FAMU where he had his moments with a 49-9-6 record from 1936-42. They had quite a run from 1937-42 where they grabbed two national Black college championships in 1938 and 1942. The ’38 and ‘42 team were both undefeated with 8-0 and 9-0 records respectively. They were 35-5-5 during this stretch. The Rattlers dominated the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during those years.

Alonzo “Jake” Gaither was an assistant coach on Bell’s staff. Gaither was the head coach of the Rattlers from 1945-1969. He had an incredible 204-36-9 record. He had an unbelievable stretch from 1950-62 where he won eight Black college national championships. His 1959 and ’61 teams finished with undefeated 10-0 records and were winners of the Orange Blossom Classic, which usually had two of the nation’s top HBCU teams. Gaither had three sensational players – running backs Clarence Childs and Robert Paremore, Jr. and center Curtis Miranda who catapulted them to the top of HBCU football.

Gaither went on to coach some magnificent players such as Hall of Famers Ken Riley and Bob Hayes, Willie Galimore and Hewritt Dixon. He sent 42 players to the NFL. They’re all part of the FAMU football tradition.

GRAMBLING STATE

Dynasty: 1972-77. A record of 60-13 which included four Black college national crowns (’72, ‘74-75 and ‘77 and shared two SWAC titles in ’74, ’75 and captured one outright in ’77.

Grambling State has a strong history producing some of the best teams in HBCU football under legendary head coach Eddie Robinson who was the Tigers’ mentor from 1941-1997. Robinson captured nine Black college national championships and 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference crowns. In his 56 years, he had an overall 408-165-15 record.

His strongest run at Grambling State was 1972-77 where they were really dominant. The program put together a 60-13 record during those seasons. This includes four Black college national crowns (’72, ‘74-75 and ‘77 and shared two SWAC titles in ’74, ’75 and captured one outright in ’77.

In1974, Grambling State had a sensational year losing just one game to Alcorn State. The Tigers were led by quarterback Doug Williams who was just a freshman at the time. Of course, Williams had a 37-5 record as a signal caller with the Tigers. He would go onto become a 1978 first round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1988, he became the first Black quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory as the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders) to a 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos.

There were three other NFL players on that ’74 team – wide receivers Carlos Pennywell and Dwight Scales and defensive tackle Gary “Big Hands” Johnson.

Robinson also coached Hall of Famers Willie Brown, Charlie Joiner, Buck Buchannan and Willie Davis.

MORGAN STATE

Dynasty: 1932-37. Six straight undefeated seasons. Honorable mention: 1943 season: Undefeated and unscored upon.

The successful stints of the Morgan State football program can be directly attributed to two Hall of Fame coaches Eddie P. Hurt and Earl Banks. Hurt coached the Bears from 1929-1959 where he compiled a 173-59-19 record. He had six straight undefeated seasons from 1932-37. Overall, he had 11 undefeated seasons in his career.

His best team may have been the 1943 team that was undefeated and unscored upon. Clarence “big House” Gaines was an All-American on that team. Gaines later became a Hall of Fame basketball coach at Winston-Salem State who coached NBA legend Earl Monroe. Hurt also coached NFL standouts Len Ford and Roosevelt Brown.

Banks was Morgan State’s head coach from 1960-73 posting a 94-30-2 record. He had three straight undefeated teams from 1965-67. Banks coached Hall of Fame middle linebacker Willie Lanier, running back Kenneth Duke and lineman Carlton Dabney. He coached Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly too.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T

Dynasty: 2014-17. A combined 40-4 record with two Celebration Bowls in 2015 and ’17 giving it two National Black College Championships.

North Carolina A&T certainly had its moments of taking over the HBCU landscape. The Aggies clearly demonstrated their ability to win consistently from 2014-17 under the tutelage of head coach Rod Broadway.

NCA&T had a 40-4 record during that era. The Aggies also won two Celebration Bowls in 2015 and ’17 giving them two National Black College Championships.

NCA&T had a real special player in running back Tarik Cohen who became the MEAC’s all—time leading rusher with 5,619 yards. Cohen is one of four Aggies that went on to play in the NFL. He currently plays for the Carolina Panthers. The other standouts were Brandon Parker, Darryl Johnson and Franklin “Mac” McCain. They all played in the NFL. The 2017 season NCA&T went undefeated with a 12-0 record. They won three MEAC crowns too.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

Dynasty: 1953-64. A combined 51-2-1 record that included five SWAC titles and five Black college national championships (’53, ’54, ’58, ’63, ’64).

Prairie View A&M may not be a household name to some people who follow Black college football. But the Panthers had one of the best HBCU football programs under Hall of Fame coach William J. “Billy” Hicks from 1953-64.

During that stretch, PVAM had a 51-2-1 record that included five SWAC titles and five Black college national championships (’53, ’54, ’58, ’63, ’64). Charlie “Choo Choo” Brackens was the starting quarterback on the ’53 and ’54 teams. The ’53 team was 12-0. Brackens was one of the early African American signal callers in the NFL. He played for the Green Bay Packers.

Jim Kearney was the star quarterback on the 1964 championship team. Kearney went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs 1970 Super Bowl championship team.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

Dynasty: 1973-78. A combined record of 50-13-2.

South Carolina State had some football teams that regularly stood in the winner’s circle of HBCU football. The Bulldogs major success took place from 1973-78. South Carolina State had a 50-13-2 record during that time. Under head coach Willie Jeffries, South Carolina State had some brilliant players like Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell along with NFL standouts Robert Porcher, Orlando Brown and others.

Jeffries led the Bulldogs to five MEAC titles. He guided South Carolina State to two Black college national championships.

Jeffries, a College Football Hall of Famer, had two stints at South Carolina State. In 1979, he became the first Black head coach at a NCAA Division I school at a white university when Wichita State hired him. He was the Shockers’ head coach for five years (1979-83). After that, he left to coach Howard University’s football team. He coached the Bison for five years (1984-88) before returning to South Carolina State.

His best team was the 1976 club that would was led by defensive tackle Robert Sims, Sr. who was named Defensive Player of the Year.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Dynasty: 1948-50. A combined 32-0-2 mark that included three national Black college championships; 1993-99. A 66-5 record during winning four Black college national championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998) and four SWAC crowns (’93, ’97-’99)

Southern had a huge three-year reign in Black college football. The Jaguars under Arnett “Ace” Mumford had an amazing 32-0-2 mark from 1948-50 that included three national Black college championships. He won three SWAC titles too. Running back Warren Braden and offensive tackle Normell Keller were key players on those teams.

Southern had a good length of supreme dominance under head coach Pete Richardson from 1993-99. The Jaguars had a fantastic 66-5 record during those years winning four Black college national championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998) and four SWAC crowns (’93, ’97-’99). Richardson had a 128-62 record during his 16 years tenure at Southern.

The Jaguars have developed some marvelous players such as Hall of Famers Harold Carmichael, Mel Blount and Aeneas Williams and NFL standouts Isiah Robertson and Frank Pitts over the years.

TENNESSEE STATE

Dynasty: 1970-83 with a combined record of 130-22-4 mark that included two undefeated seasons. The 1970 (11-0) and ’71 teams (9-1) featured star quarterback Joe Gilliam who later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tennessee State has a long- standing history of generating some great teams. This goes back to when the school was known as Tennessee A&I (1912-68). The Tigers had a number of years with easily some of the best teams in HBCU football history.

The school had sustained greatness under two head coaches Henry Kean and John Merritt. Kean coached from 1944-54 with a 93-14-3 record. During those years, he never lost more than three games. He had two undefeated seasons along with six Black college national championships (’46, ’47, ’54). His best team may have been the 1947 club that finished with a 10-0 record defeating Kentucky State, 20-13, for the national Black college crown.

Merritt coached the Tigers from 1963-83 compiling a 172-33-7 record where the program had two undefeated seasons. In 1965 and ’66, the school had back-to-back undefeated seasons. Eldridge Dickey was an All-American quarterback for the TSU. He led the Tigers to 1966 national Black college championship. Dickey was the first Black field general selected in the 1968 AFL or NFL draft. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders.

TSU had a great run from 1970-83 where the team posted a 130-22-4 mark that included two undefeated seasons. The 1970 (11-0) and ’71 teams (9-1) featured star quarterback Joe Gilliam who later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1970, he led TSU to a 26-25 win over Southwestern Louisiana in the now defunct Grantland Rice Bowl. They were also selected as the Black college national champions.

In addition to Dickey and Gilliam, the Tigers have sent a lot of players to the NFL such as Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Marsalis along with Hall of Famers Claude Humphrey and Richard Dent.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

Dynasty: 1923-30. Six national championships (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929).

Tuskegee’s dominance spanned several eras: You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant team in Black college football from 1923-30 than Tuskegee University. Under the brilliance of head coach Cleve Abbott, Tuskegee won six national championships (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929). Abbott spent 31 years (1923-54) on the sidelines finishing his career with a 206-99-27. During the Golden Tigers’ big run, he had a fabulous all-around player with Ben Stevenson who was an All-American running back and defensive back.

In the modern era, Tuskegee had some marvelous years in the SIAC under Rick Comegy. The Golden Tigers were dominant from 1998-02 with a 64-3 record that included five SIAC titles and one national Black college championship in 2000. His top players were Drayton Florence and Frank Walker who both had NFL career.

Tuskegee had another strong run from 2006-09 under then head coach Willie Slater. The Golden Tigers were 42-3 winning four SIAC championship and three Black college national titles (2007-09). Jacary Atkinson was a great quarterback who starred on the 2009 Black college national championship team.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post HBCU’s 10 Greatest Football Dynasties first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled

BLACKPRESS USA NEWSWIRE — “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 day ago

June 8, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow.

The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.

“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report. “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”

Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:

• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.

• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.

• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.

• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.

The report also includes state-by-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.

Click the link to learn more: Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025.

The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy

ROLLING OUT — Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport.
The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

The seven-time major champion read frustration, not a real goodbye, in the world No. 1’s words

By David Kesiena | Rolling Out

When the world’s top-ranked player said she wanted to walk away from the sport, Venus Williams chose empathy over alarm.

Aryna Sabalenka’s blunt remark after her French Open quarterfinal collapse rattled plenty of fans, but Williams heard something different in it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion treated the comment as the raw reaction of a hurting athlete rather than a serious signal about her future.

The collapse that triggered the comment

Sabalenka looked headed for a routine win over Diana Shnaider. She took the opening set 6-3 and built a commanding lead in the second, climbing to 4-1 and later serving for the match at 5-4 while sitting just two points from victory.

Then everything unraveled. Shnaider stormed back to steal the second set 7-5 and bageled the world No. 1 in the third, with Sabalenka dropping 12 of the final 13 games in gusty conditions that reached around 26 mph. The 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 result sent Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal and extended Sabalenka’s long wait for a maiden Roland Garros title.

In the aftermath, Sabalenka did not soften her feelings. She told reporters she had no thoughts and no emotions left and felt like quitting on the spot. She described being stuck in a deep, dark mental hole during the match, unable to find her way back.

What Venus Williams said about Sabalenka

Williams reacted with understanding. She admitted the moment made her sad and said she had been swept up in Sabalenka’s emotions, feeling a surge of empathy for her. She praised the Belarusian for laying everything bare on court, where every feeling shows.

Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport. Rather than scold her, Williams offered a gentle observation about the rhythm of professional tennis. She suggested players might benefit from a little more time to gather themselves before stepping in front of the cameras, a quiet acknowledgment that athletes are routinely asked to dissect painful defeats before the sting has faded.

Sabalenka walks it back

The story did not end on that bleak note. Within days, Sabalenka signaled she was not actually quitting, framing the press-conference outburst as heat-of-the-moment honesty rather than a plan. At the time of the loss she had also left the door open, saying she would see how she felt in a few days and hoped to get back on track mentally. The walk-back lined up with how Williams had read the situation from the start.

It is not the first time a Paris quarterfinal has pushed Sabalenka to her limit. In 2024 she exited at the same stage and skipped her press conference entirely because of illness, with the tour later releasing her quotes on her behalf. The pattern underscores how heavily this particular tournament has weighed on her despite deep runs in recent years.

For now, attention shifts to the grass. Wimbledon offers Sabalenka a quick chance to reset, and a strong showing there would turn this French Open meltdown into a footnote rather than a turning point.

Originally published by Rolling Out — https://rollingout.com.

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COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue

THE CAROLINIAN — Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.
The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

By Judaea Ingram | Special to The Carolinian

RALEIGH, N.C. – Music filled the air as families danced through the crowd, children gathered around activity stations, and community members explored wellness resources from local organizations. Black-owned businesses lined the streets while people stopped for chair massages, conversations, and moments of connection inside the wellness suite.

At the center of the event stood a simple but powerful reminder:

“You Matter.”

For Darkness RISING, those words represent far more than a slogan. They reflect the organization’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community while creating spaces centered on healing, honesty, and hope.

Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.

The organization hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including block parties, wellness workshops, mixers, kickoff events, community classes, and Darkness RISING: Live — a free annual arts and wellness festival now celebrating its ninth year.

The festival combines entertainment with healing-centered resources, featuring live music, dancing, singing, food trucks, Black vendors, children’s activities, mental health resources, wellness spaces, and opportunities for open conversations about mental health.

While the events may feel celebratory on the surface, organizers say the deeper purpose is creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable discussing mental health without fear of judgment.

Darkness RISING also provides free nationwide resources, including a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, a Black Mental Health Provider Database, and its “Find Me a Therapist” initiative, which helps connect individuals with culturally competent care.

The organization’s work is rooted in addressing longstanding inequities that continue impacting mental health access within Black communities.

Historically, segregation, redlining, racial discrimination, incarceration, poverty, and unequal healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of behavioral health challenges while simultaneously limiting access to proper treatment and support. Darkness RISING approaches those issues through what organizers describe as a transformative justice lens, focusing on healing rather than punishment and creating equitable wellness opportunities for marginalized communities.

Its REBUILD program specifically supports justice-involved and formerly incarcerated people of color through free therapy and wellness support, while the REBUILD Youth program focuses on young people impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs.

For Rudolph, therapy became life-changing after decades of incarceration and years of rejection after returning home.

“Came home in 2015, started my own computer company, investing in real estate, did the normal thing and got some jobs here and there and was met with rejection after rejection and people telling me I am not a good person,” Rudolph shared. “Even had a rejection in church.”

He said one of the hardest battles became overcoming the mental barriers created during incarceration.

“I got in touch with a couple of friends, and they explained to me how I had to get over the mental hurdles and get rid of the way my prison mindset was in order to survive and become successful,” he said.

Rudolph later moved to North Carolina hoping for a fresh start, but the struggle continued.

“Things were looking bad,” he said. “Could not get a job. The struggle was real.”

Eventually, therapy and support through organizations like Darkness RISING helped begin his healing process. He said working alongside other justice-involved men through therapy gave him the ability to rebuild mentally while finding community with people who understood his experiences.

Stories like Rudolph’s reflect the foundation behind Darkness RISING’s mission: ensuring people feel seen, supported, and worthy of healing regardless of their background or circumstances.

Community members who attend the organization’s events often describe them as emotionally transformative.

Some participants say Darkness RISING encouraged them to seek therapy for the first time, while others say the organization gave them a safe space to openly discuss struggles they previously kept hidden.

“I have been encouraged by the beautiful, generous, brave and open individuals who come together and use their talents to create art, share personal experiences and provide hope to those who may be struggling with mental health,” one participant shared.

By combining art, wellness, education, and community outreach, Darkness RISING continues changing how mental health conversations happen within the Black community.

Not through silence.

But through healing, honesty, connection, and joy.

Originally published by The Carolinian — https://caro.news.

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