Randall Barnes Articles - Page 4

Following Jackson State’s statement about ESPN’s Band of the Year competition, Bethune-Cookman band director Donovan Wells released a lengthy statement on social media speaking about the competition as well as saying that he has requested that the band be removed from competition rankings. Wells’s statement is below “Marching Wildcats, Alumni, and Supporters, I pray that […]

It looks as if Florida A&M Marching 100 announcer Joe Bullard will be facing more punishment for his disrespectful comments about the Honeybeez during Alabama State’s matchup with Florida A&M in Bragg Memorial Stadium. Bullard made an inappropriate remark about the weight of the Honeybeez during the halftime performance of the Marching 100. This comment sparked […]

Norfolk State has struggled mightily this season, and Michael Vick might have the answer as to why. Among the problems his Spartan team has faced, Vick identified excessive penalties as one thing holding his team back from true greatness. “Do I like what I see? No, I don’t. We’ve got to stop beating ourselves. Penalties […]

It’s a rare occurrence when the Game of the Year in HBCU football falls on your Homecoming, but that’s the gravity of this weekend’s matchup. Jackson State’s homecoming clash with Alabama State could very well determine the direction of the SWAC and, potentially, HBCU football as a whole. On Saturday, the Alabama State Hornets (4-1) […]

South Carolina State University was rocked by two separate shootings this past weekend, tragically resulting in one fatality and one person left in critical condition, according to ABC News. The Orangeburg County Coroner identified 19-year-old Julia Butler as the victim who perished from her injuries in one of the incidents. The first shooting, reported by […]

A mass shooting in Montgomery, Alabama, over the weekend left two people dead and 14 injured, according to a report by WVTM 13. The violence erupted on Saturday evening at 11:30 p.m. CST near Bibb and Commerce Streets. The incident began as a shootout between two groups in the middle of a crowd, resulting in […]

The SIAC has issued a statement announcing significant penalties against Fort Valley State and Central State following Saturday’s physical altercation that occurred following the game. 20 players in total, 11 from Central State and nine from Fort Valley State, have been suspended, as well as Fort Valley State head coach Marlon Watson and Central State […]

Yesterday, I attended my third Fort Valley State homecoming as an alumnus. I graduated in 2019 and have always wanted to attend our annual homecoming festivities, but it has always been challenging. My work obligations and personal commitments sometimes precluded me. But yesterday, I had the time of my life. I reconnected with many former […]

Jackson State has been arguably the best team in HBCU football this season, successfully showing their championship medal as they look to earn back-to-back championships. They showed their high level of play as they hit their midseason groove, as they bested Alabama A&M 57-24 in the Gulf South Challenge. Coming intot he game, Alabama A&M […]

DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State kept pace with one of the best teams in the FCS in Monmouth but ultimately they fell 49-38 on Saturday afternoon. Looking at the box score alone, the outcome is astonishing. How were the Hornets able to stay in the game against a Monmouth team in which star QB Derek Robertson […]

Hampton University emerged from the Battle of the Bay victorious in a 41-34 contest, causing Michael Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans to drop to 1-5 on the season and 0-3 in their road contests. The Spartans were formidable, finishing the game with 415 total offensive yards and even holding a commanding lead early in the contest. […]

The DeSean Jackson era at Delaware State is off to the Hornets’ best start in years, currently sitting at 3-2. Their recent loss against Sacred Heart was controversial, in part due to the loss of starting quarterback Kaiden Bennett early in the game after he was ejected for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which was reportedly […]

The Michael Vick era at Norfolk State has gotten off to a rocky start, with the team sitting at 1-4 heading into this week. They’ve dropped what were considered winnable games against Sacred Heart and Wagner in recent weeks. A quarterback battle still appears to be ongoing, as Otto Kunz and Israel Carter have shared […]

In a statement released on Thursday morning, Fort Valley State announced the initial findings of the investigation into hazing involving members of the Blue Machine Marching Band. Per the statement, local authorities have concluded their investigation and have evidence that supports the charge of hazing and have made arrests. The statement is below. “The City […]

HBCU legend Shaquille Leonard has officially called it a career, announcing his retirement from the game of football in a statement released by the Indianapolis Colts. Leonard will formally mark his retirement during this week’s Colts matchup against the Raiders. Leonard not only leaves behind an amazing professional football legacy but also an inspiring HBCU […]

One of the most interesting matchups of the season has found a television home, as the Jackson State vs. Alabama State game will be broadcast on ESPNU. The SWAC announced via a statement that the Jackson State Homecoming matchup, featuring the red-hot Alabama State Hornets, will be broadcast on the channel. The Jackson State-Alabama State […]

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has suspended Joe Bullard for two games following his insensitive comments towards Alabama State Honeybeez, per a statement released by the conference on Wednesday afternoon. The SWAC also fined Florida A&M $10,000. The statement is below: “In accordance with the Southwestern Athletic Conference Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship, the Conference has […]

The saga over the location of the Florida A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State game is finally over, as the game will now be played on November 29th at 2 PM. The new game details were confirmed in a joint statement by both athletic departments. The statement reads: “The SWAC contest on October 4, 2025, a […]

Florida A&M band announcer Joe Bullard has apologized for his comments regarding the Alabama State Honeybeez on Saturday. Bullard made an inappropriate remark about the weight of the Honeybeez during the halftime performance of the Marching 100. This comment sparked outrage within the Alabama State community. But in the statement, Bullard says that his remarks […]

It appears that the highly anticipated Florida A&M and Mississippi Valley State game location has once again become a source of confusion. After months of speculation, the location of the “Georgia Football Classic” has moved from being definitively played at the Mercedes-Benz Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons, to a location in Atlanta that is […]

During Monday afternoon’s MEAC Coaches Call, Delaware State head coach DeSean Jackson weighed in on the ejection of Kaiden Bennett during the team’s Saturday matchup against Sacred Heart. Following a rushing touchdown by Bennett, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for celebrating with fans and not giving the referee the ball in a prompt fashion. […]

Hip Hop legend Luther ‘Uncle Luke’ Campbell, one half of the “2 Live Crew”, weighed in on Florida A&M band announcer Joe Bullard’s disrespectful comment towards Alabama State’s Honeybeez dance team. Bullard made an inappropriate remark about the weight of the Honeybeez during the halftime performance of the Marching 100. This comment sparked outrage within […]

Florida A&M president Marva Johnson has issued a statement regarding the inappropriate comment made about Alabama State’s Honeybeez dance team during the Marching 100’s Halftime Performance on Saturday afternoon. Florida A&M football announcer Joe Bullard made an inappropriate remark about the weight of the Honeybeez during the halftime performance of the Marching 100. This comment […]

Jackson State continued its resounding start to the season, dominating Southern University 38-13 as it pursues another SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl appearance. Jackson State entered the game as the clear favorite, as Southern University has struggled with offensive production this season. Southern’s stagnant offense recently led to the promotion of former Alcorn State coach […]

After Alabama State’s impressive victory over Florida A&M, ASU President Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr., released a statement addressing negative comments directed at the Honeybeez that occurred during the game. Florida A&M football announcer Joe Bullard made an inappropriate remark about the weight of the Honeybeez during the halftime performance of the Marching 100. This […]

Marlon Watson notched his first win as head coach of Fort Valley State University in a wire-to-wire 27-20 victory over perennial SIAC contender Tuskegee University.The matchup is a traditional rivalry between two blue-blood programs of the conference. While Tuskegee historically has the advantage, Fort Valley has won three of the last four matchups since 2021, […]

From start to finish, Alabama State absolutely dominated Florida A&M en route to a resounding 42-14 victory in Bragg Memorial Stadium. The loss was a tough blow for the Rattlers, who rarely lose at home; they had been riding a 23-game home winning streak that spanned from 2018 to 2024 before it was snapped by […]

An interception by Richmond’s Matei Fitz proved pivotal, allowing the Spiders to narrowly defeat Howard University in a 13-12 finish. Fitz, a defensive lineman, was perfectly positioned to intercept Tyriq Starks’ pass on Howard’s eight-yard line. This turnover put Richmond’s offense in a position to score the go-ahead touchdown, ultimately winning the game. Quarterback Ashten […]

Although Sacred Heart ultimately defeated DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets 35-31, the game will likely be remembered for a questionable early penalty that led to quarterback Kaiden Bennett’s removal and became a major talking point. Following a rushing touchdown by Bennett, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for celebrating with fans and not giving the […]

The struggles continue for Michael Vick and Norfolk State as they drop to 1-4 after an 18-13 loss to Wagner College. Heading into the game, Wagner was 0-4 while Norfolk State lost a heartbreaker to Sacred Heart. Prior to the game, Vick emphasized that this game was a “must-win”. “I definitely think it’s a must-win […]

With only a few days before homecoming, Fort Valley State has suspended the Blue Machine Marching band pending a hazing investigation. The news was first reported by Carlos Stephens of WGXA via his Facebook account. “JUST IN: Earlier today we received a tip about the Fort Valley State band being under investigation due to allegations […]

When discussing the best teams in Division II HBCU football, the conversation often defaults to a familiar list of perennial powerhouses. Teams with storied histories and established brands dominate the polls, while rising programs are left on the outside looking in. This year, no team embodies this phenomenon more than Edward Waters University, a program […]

The way we talk about Division II HBCU football is fundamentally destructive. Too often, the conversation is rooted in a reductive, top-down viewpoint that diminishes the quality and significance of D-II athletics, particularly from those who support Division I FCS institutions. You can see this toxic dynamic play out every season. When a top-tier FCS […]

Saturday’s matchup between the Alabama State Hornets and the Florida A&M Rattlers is more than just another conference game; it is a pivotal moment that could reshape the SWAC championship race. While Florida A&M has long been considered a perennial contender, a closer look at the two programs this season reveals that Alabama State is […]

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has often spoken about her penchant for making sure the Lady Gamecocks schedule HBCUs. In recent media availability, she spoke about it in full after answering a question about playing other competitive out-of-conference foes in comments obtained by WACH’s Jared Parker. “Scheduling is hard.  People don’t wanna play […]

Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South has pulled out of the ESPN Band of the Year competition, a huge loss for the three-year old event as they lose one of the most popular bands in college football. Jackson State Director of Bands Roderick Little released a staement via the Sonic Boom’s social media announcing […]

US News & World Report has released its 2026 Top HBCUs list, with both Spelman College and Howard University maintaining their positions at the top of the list. The list is published annually and uses several factors to determine the rankings of the HBCUs. The ranking system is based on two core components: quantitative and […]

Fort Valley State University’s men’s volleyball team has quickly become one of the most compelling stories in HBCU sports, and much of that success can be attributed to head coach Larry Rather. Now, Rather has received a significant appointment, being named an assistant coach to the U.S. Men’s National Team. Rather joined the coaching staff […]

Edward Waters University has officially named Brian Jenkins as the head coach of the Tigers, removing the interim title he held at the start of the season. The announcement was made in a statement released by the university last week. Jenkins was originally appointed interim head coach on July 16, following the sudden departure of […]