Randall Barnes Articles - Page 3

As the MEAC football slate kicks off this Saturday, there should be no debate that North Carolina Central is the conference’s best team. Sure, the Eagles have faced several teams that aren’t deemed as contenders in the early season, as Florida A&M & Southern are in disarray on the football field, and North Carolina A&T […]

As I scrolled through social media recently, looking for topics to cover on HBCU Pulse and ClutchPoints, I noticed a firestorm erupting around a new web series from Keke Palmer’s Key TV Network called Southern Fried Rice. The show centers on KoKo Johnson, an Asian American young woman who was adopted and raised by a […]

In a move that shocked and perplexed the HBCU football world, Terrence Graves was fired as head coach of Southern University following his appearance on the SWAC Coaches Call and even filming his weekly coaches show. Despite Southern’s 17-3 loss to Prairie View A&M and Southern University Athletic Director Roman Banks’s rather intriguing post-game presser, […]

When the schedules were released this spring, the Norfolk State vs. South Carolina State matchup was one I circled immediately. It was set to be an iconic showdown: the first MEAC game for Michael Vick as head coach of Norfolk State, squaring off against Chennis Berry, a celebrated coach who successfully set the standard for success […]

Before Norfolk State starts its MEAC slate of games, Michael Vick confirmed that he made changes to his coaching staff. Vick confirmed the rumors during Monday’s MEAC Coaches Call. “We obviously, in this game, have to look for opportunities to grow and get better and put our players in the best situation possible, and my […]

As Norfolk State starts its MEAC conference slate, Michael Vick is relying on quarterback Otto Khuns to give the team the bost it need to power them to success. Per Vick’s comments on the MEAC Coaches Call, he believes that this will be Khun’s “most important five games of his life.” “This is a very […]

DeSean Jackson and Delaware State have had an amazing start to the season, emerging from the non-conference slate with a 4-3 record. Under Jackson, the team is off to its best start since the 2007 season and is in serious conversations to be a contender in the MEAC this year. The first true test of […]

Trei Oliver and North Carolina Central look poised for another championship run but, with a homecoming matchup against DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets, they aren’t looking too far ahead. Jackson has buit a formidable Delaware State team that drew the attention of Oliver, who expressed his respect for what the Horents were doing in Monday’s […]

Southern University has announced that Terrence Graves has been fired as head coach of Southern University. The move is shocking, as it comes hours after Graves appeared on the SWAC Coaches Call and addressed the conversation around his possible termination. “We’ve talked. We always have conversations every week,” Graves he said during the call. “And […]

So, ESPN’s College Gameday is heading to Vanderbilt University this Saturday for the Commodores’ matchup against Missouri and a lot of people are upset. Vanderbilt has been an amazing story this season, currently sitting at 6-1 following a tremendous rise last season that included a breakthrough win over Alabama. This year, they’ve continued their momentum […]

Update: Terrence Graves has been fired from Southern University. This aticle was written following his apperance on the SWAC Coaches call. He was relieved on Monday evening. Read more here. It looks like Terrence Graves is staying at the helm of Southern University football for right now. After a interesitng press confernce by Southern University […]

After a few days of speculation, Tremaine Jackson addressed his name being linked to the vacant UAB coaching position on Monday’s SWAC Coaches Call after the program fired Trent Dilfer. Jackson is coming off of a huge victory over Southern University on Saturday, virtually opening up the team’s path to a division title and an […]

Quarterback R.J. Johnson III emerged as the hero for Florida A&M this afternoon as the Rattlers narrowly escaped their homecoming game victorious against Alcorn State, winning 33-28. The game was a hard-fought battle that saw the struggling Alcorn State Braves, looking for a season-turning win, lead 14-9 at halftime. However, Florida A&M ultimately found a way […]

Tennessee State celebrated their homecoming with a decisive victory over Howard University, winning 24-7 for the second consecutive year against the Bison. The win was a huge boost for the Tigers, snapping a five-game losing streak that dated back to their Week One victory over North Carolina A&T. Meanwhile, the loss compounded Howard’s recent struggles, […]

After the Jaguars’ 24-3 homecoming loss to Prairie View A&M, Southern University coach Terrence Graves might really be on the hot seat. With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 1-6 and have one of the worst offenses in HBCU football. Whether Graves will be relieved of his duties as head coach is purely conjecture, but […]

In a hard-fought and dominating performance, the Prairie View A&M Panthers defeated Southern University 24-3, spoiling the Jaguars’ homecoming. The result was hardly a shock, as Southern had struggled immensely on offense throughout the season, while Prairie View showed consistent promise under first-year coach Tremaine Jackson. Jackson entered the game with considerable buzz, having been […]

Legendary comedian Katt Williams has received an immense honor, receiving a doctorate in Humane Letters from Fairfield, Alabama-based HBCU Miles College. Williams received the honor on Thursday. “It’s not every day that people get an honorary doctorate,” said Miles President Bobbie Knight in her introduction of Williams, per AL.com. “It’s because of you and what […]

Not even half a season into his tenure at Prairie View A&M, Tremaine Jackson’s name is circulating in FBS coaching conversations. Last Sunday, UAB fired head coach Trent Dilfer after an unfortunate 2-4 start as well as a 53-33 loss to Florida Atlantic. Also of note, Dilfer’s UAB escaped Alabama State in the season opener […]

Former Howard University star Steve Settle III has officially joined the Miami Heat, as the former HBCU standout signed a deal with the squad for an undisclosed amount, per a release by the Heat. This comes after Settle signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the team following the 2025 NBA Draft in July. The Exhibit […]

The conversation surrounding Tennessee State University joining an HBCU conference has been fervent for years. HBCU football fans, desiring strengthened Black college conferences, have consistently called for programs like TSU to return to their traditional roots. TSU is currently a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, a conference it joined in 1986 and became a […]

Howard University remains one of the season’s most confounding teams. Coming off a dominant 2023 campaign that culminated in an outright MEAC Championship and a Celebration Bowl berth, the 2024 season was an underwhelming step back, finishing 4-8 overall with a disappointing 1-4 conference record. As the team regressed, they were totally absent from the […]

Despite the festive atmosphere of Florida A&M’s homecoming, the reality for two traditional HBCU powerhouses is grim. Both FAMU and Alcorn State are struggling mightily, and their respective coaches, James Colzie and Cedric Thomas, find themselves firmly planted on the proverbial hot seat. This fall from grace is shocking given their recent histories. Just two […]

The Alabama State-Jackson State game ultimately came down to one heavily debated play that could’ve gone either way. Lined up on the goal line, the Hornets ran a speed option where Andrew Body pitched the ball to Jamarie Hostzclaw, but his dive into the endzone was stopped by Jackson State linebacker Ashton Taylor. Meaning in […]

In a fairly weak HBCU football slate, the Prairie View A&M-Southern matchup is easily the most consequential game this weekend. Southern University has struggled mightily, and they are searching for what happens with their team next. Wow, they’re not out of contention for the SWAC West as far as record, they clearly aren’t going to […]

Michael Vick and the Norfolk State Spartans are turning the page on a challenging 1-6 start to the season, viewing their upcoming bye week as a chance to recalibrate the entire program before the critical MEAC conference schedule begins. Despite the difficult 1-6 record, Head Coach Michael Vick stated in Monday’s MEAC Coaches Call that […]

Despite the struggles that Florida A&M has undergone this season, James Colzie III still believes that his team has a shot. During Monday’s SWAC Coaches Call, he was tasked with assessing his team’s performance and refused to call them “below average.” “I look at the guys in the locker room, I thought we had, you […]

The HBCU clash in Puerto Rico, featuring Kentucky State has been called off, as the clash has been moved to Rindge, New Hampshire. The statement from Kentucky State’s Athletics is below. “Due to field conditions and concerns for student-athlete safety, Kentucky State University and Franklin Pierce University have mutually agreed not to travel to Puerto […]

On Saturday, Bethune-Cookman pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season as they beat Southern University 45-14. While Southern University has struggled immensely this season, many didn’t have a blowout win for the Wildcasts on the cards. But, Bethune-Cookman has put together several high-scoring games over the past few weeks that have showcased […]

Michael Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans have suffered greatly to start this season. The team has emerged from its out-of-conference slate with a 1-6 record, losing to previously winless Wofford College on Saturday. Their lone win comes from their overtime victory of Division II rival Virginia State, in which the Trojans missed an end-of-regulation field goal […]

Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, is significantly expanding his philanthropic support for HBCUs. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced on a Monday morning that it is committing $50 million to scholarships for four Atlanta-based HBCUs: Morehouse College, Spelman College, Morris Brown, and Clark Atlanta University. This monetary commitment, a 10-year pledge, aims […]

The hazing investigation surrounding Fort Valley State’s Blue Machine Marching Band has concluded, per a statement by the institution on Monday afternoon. The band can return to regular activities, with the Good Trouble Classic in Augusta, Georgia, against Savannah State, as well as the Fountain City Classic in Columbus, Georgia, looming. The university said in […]

North Carolina A&T showed glimpses of promise versus the reigning MEAC Champion South Carolina State, but ultimately fell short. The game was a low-scoring affair at the start, with the Aggies jumping out to a 9-0 lead at halftime after three straight field goal makes from Andrew Brown. But, South Carolina State regained its footing […]

Hornet faithful left homecoming with a smile on their face, as DeSean Jackson and Delaware State put up a historic performance. Delaware State notched a 70-23 victory over Southern Connecticut State, once again proving their status as one of the bst running teams in the FCS as they look ahead to their MEAC slate of […]

The matchup between Alabama State and Jackson State absolutely lived up to the hype. It was, without a doubt, the HBCU game of the year, with both teams bringing their very best effort. The game featured a great quarterback battle between Andrew Body and Jacobian Morgan. Body played as he has all year: showcasing elite […]

Michael Vick is continuing to struggle in his debut season with the Norfolk State Spartans, losing to previously winless Wofford College 31-14. The Spartans were competitive with the Terriers early on, striking first and taking the lead early in the first quarter. But, Wofford eventually settled into their offense and took control of the game. […]

Jackson State is celebrating its homecoming by paying tribute to its revered marching band. Jackson State shared their homecoming threads in a post on their social media accounts. The Sonic Boom of the South is one of the most popular HBCU marching bands in HBCU culture.  Established in the 1940s at Jackson State College, the […]

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has quickly become a breakout story at the start of the NFL season, generating significant buzz. Following an injury to fellow running back Austin Ekeler, Merritt has stepped into a feature role in the Commanders’ rushing attack. He was highly effective in the team’s 27-10 victory over the Los […]

North Carolina A&T’s homecoming this year carries extra weight. Although the football team has struggled, a new surge of energy surrounds the program under first-year head coach Shawn Gibbs. Gibbs, a former assistant under the legendary Rod Broadway at both Grambling State and A&T, served as the running backs coach on the Aggies’ four Celebration […]

Just a couple of years ago, a Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central matchup was the dream scenario for the Celebration Bowl. In 2023, both the Rattlers and the Eagles were arguably battling for the title of the best team in HBCU football, but their paths diverged. The 2023 Season: A Tale of Two Teams […]