That is why HBCUs should make fielding strong, diverse athletic programs, a priority.
Hampton University has done just that.
When the Hampton men’s lacrosse team took the field last week against Robert Wesleyan, they made history. It was the first varsity lacrosse game in school history.
The Pirates lost the game, 20-3, but far more important was the historical significance. Hampton is also the first HBCU Division I athletic program, to offer lacrosse as a sport. Morgan State fielded a D-II lacrosse program in the ’80s, which included Lloyd Carter, the current Hampton coach was a member.
Strong, diverse athletic programs can play a key role in shaping a school’s image, and finances. Now, HBCU athletics will never have the economic impact of big time conference programs.
However, it can play a significant part in cultivating a vibrant campus life, recruiting new students, and keeping alumni engaged (and in a giving mood) with their alma mater.
Check out the video link on Hampton’s historic game.
