'If you build it they will come'

Washington, D.C. - This past week, we have endured an 5.8 earthquake and a category 1 hurricane, but this is nothing for the struggles and life work of many of our visionary educators and artists.

There are three outstanding articles coming from Savannah State University, North Carolina Central University and Elizabeth City State University, that you do not want to miss reading today.

The first, 'If you build it they will come' is an eye opener, especially for those who do not know the true value of our national treasure -- historically black colleges and universities.

Read the story for yourself, but there is one very important statistic that jumps off the page -- "This semester there are 103 undergraduate students and 25 graduate students. Nineteen percent of undergraduates go on to master’s programs. Thirty percent of the master’s degree graduates enter doctoral programs. Thirty-three percent of all the master’s degrees in __________ earned by African-Americans in the U.S. between 2004 and 2007 came from SSU."

The "blank" is insert here purposely, so that we don't spoil the story for the readers.

The second article, "The Middle Passage", is about a current exhibit at North Carolina Central University, created and presented by Stephen Hayes, a 2006 graduate of the university's Art Department. Mr. Hayes has earned his masters of fine arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia. His exhibit, "Cash Crop" has been described as simply overwhelming, and two photos are provided in the article for your viewing.

The final article, "Air traffic program at ECSU ready for takeoff" shows you how some HBCUs are on the cutting-edge of technology and are playing a major role in the nation's transportation networks. This is a tremendous program that can lead program graduates to a six figure Federal career with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The link highlights above will take you directly to each of the articles.

Lets talk sports now that the student portion of "student-athlete" has been somewhat addressed...

Yes, its football season but we do not want to forget about NAIA and NCAA women's volleyball, SWAC women's soccer, Fall golf in the SWAC and preparations for the upcoming basketball season. We will continue to post timely links and a segue to as many HBCU sports articles as possible -- when we are not on road trips to specific games.

We think the hot topic this season will be the surprise competitiveness of MEAC football, with the new coaches--Henry Frazier III (North Carolina Central), Rod Broadway (North Carolina A&T), Kermit Blount (Delaware State), Gary Harrell (Howard) and Steve Davenport (Savannah State). This is a four horse race with South Carolina State (Oliver "Buddy" Pough) in the driver's seat, with Bethune-Cookman (Brian Jenkins), Florida A&M (Joe Taylor), and Norfolk State (Pete Adrian) able to control their own destiny for the MEAC Championship.

It's too early to guess how this is going to play out for this season.

Give credit to Elizabeth City State University for taking Delta State (ranked second in Division II) to overtime, before falling 21-28 (O.T.) on the road.

In other CIAA football action, Virginia Union University Panthers outlasted both Hurricane Irene and Saint Augustine's College Falcon's 12-0 to kick-off the 2011 season. With heavy rain and wind gusts up to 25-45 miles per hour at game time, only 100 fans loved football enough to sit 2.5 hours in the fury of Hurricane Irene for CIAA football.

This is one for the record books at historic Hovey Field -- all while Norfolk and Hampton, Virginia were being clobbered with storm surge, flooding, tornadoes and 85-100 mile per hour winds. Did I mention the coast is only 94 miles away from Virginia Union campus?

Poor Texas College Steers got pounded again-- this time 3-47 by Belhaven University Blazers (Jackson, Mississippi). The Steers were held to a total of 69 yards of total offense. For the love of building character... go Steers!

-beepbeep