Enough with the postgame handshake lines already

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL ATHLETICS

Sports information at historically Black colleges, especially the Division I MEAC and SWAC, have become more informative and efficient under the leadership of top-notch directors.

The days of student-athletes slapping hands with opponents at the end of a game and saying “good game!” should cease.

It’s not poor sportsmanship, but good old-fashioned common sense. How ludicrous is it to expect a human being that just lost a gut-wrenching game that may have been his last as a senior to suddenly collect himself and go stand in a line just to say, “good game” while his or her heart is breaking?

Then there’s the heightened tension or bad blood that may still exist. How often have you seen a player say something going down the line and a fight ensues?

But the NCAA wants the public to see everybody behaving like good little boys and girls. Not in this day and time! Let the players shake hands during pregame introductions and go their separate ways when the clock hits 0:00. Those that want to hang around can, and those that don’t can head to the locker room. How simple is that?

New era in sports information

HBCU sports information has come a long way, baby.

There was a time when you knew you were on an HBCU’s website because: the content hadn’t been updated in over a month; no roster or staff information; the links didn’t work; no historical data; and a social media presence in name only.

But times have thankfully changed. HBCU sports information is leading the charge in website and social media engagement.

Of course, some, like Kyle Serba and North Carolina Central, were way ahead of the game long before others caught on. The Eagles had a better sports information department when they were an NCAA Division II institution than many DI schools.

Ask Serba how many times he heard “surprised” comments over how well NCCU’s website looked or how professional the games were called or their social media campaigns. But it was understandable. NCCU embarrassed a lot of folks and may even have cost some their jobs.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a thousand times, sports information is THE most thankless athletics job around. Every sport – whether it’s revenue or non-revenue producing – wants the same equal slice of the pie. Coaches think they’re the best thing since sliced bread, and administrators only care that SIDs get all the work done without asking for any help – or a raise!

The Division I HBCUs in the SWAC and MEAC make social media a joy to read. You know the rivals are trying to out-create each other and journalists are the beneficiaries.
CIAA schools are better overall, but there’s still a gap between the good and the lazy. It also doesn’t help that SIDs keep leaving – understandably – and months go by before a replacement is hired.

The conference office needs staffing.  Ja’Shawn Steward-Johnson, who was doing a good job keeping the media informed, has left. He’s the second person in that position to leave in less than three years. (There’s a story there.)

The SIAC, however, is bringing up the rear. It’s the only HBCU conference that doesn’t have a media email blast. Not all of us have time to follow EVERY individual team.

The office rarely creates any original content to promote the student-athletes. Storied programs like Tuskegee, Miles and Morehouse deserve better.

Bonitta Best is sports editor at The Triangle Tribune in Durham.

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