Vanderbilt, Mason want to 'create opportunities' for historically black colleges

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Disparity in college athletics is nothing new. College football just has shinier and more glaring examples of it.

For every Texas locker-television-nameplate, there’s a program with facilities out-done by many powerhouse high schools.

That money divide, thanks to mainly to huge television deals, becomes even worse when the comparison showcases teams out of the SEC and Big 10 to historically black colleges and universities, like Grambling State whose facilities were so decrepit that athletes boycotted.

“Mid-major schools have challenges in meeting their financial needs. I don’t think that is just something that is principally an issue for historically black colleges (and universities),” said Tennessee State athletic director, Teresa Phillips.

While Tennessee State is a HBCU, the program plays in the Ohio Valley Conference, a true mid-major conference.

CONTINUE READING