How B-CU Was Able To Get $17 Million Of Florida’s New Budget

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DAYTONA BEACH — Lawmakers and leaders at Bethune-Cookman University on Friday basked in the glow of news that the private school, on the edge of surviving for the past couple of years, would be getting $17 million, including $13 million of that in new, recurring money from the state. 

That state budget, passed by the House and Senate Thursday, includes plans to spend $93.2 billion on running the government, proving new money for affordable housing, teachers’ pay and utility projects. Locally, the biggest story, though, was the embrace of Florida’s private historically black colleges.

In all, B-CU, Edward Waters College and Florida Memorial University will be getting a $33 million injection annually in recurring funds.

“This funding commitment should convey to the community, parents, alumni, current and future students that we as a state government are committed to the success of Bethune-Cookman University and our HBCUs,” said Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, one of a host of lawmakers who helped shepherd a large portion of the money — providing gap funding to the three schools — into the budget.

That money aims to close the gaps students face in attempting to pay for college. More than 90% of B-CU’s students qualify for Pell Grants and many receive other kinds of assistance for tuition, books and housing, but they are also coming from families who cannot afford to provide any assistance, said Brent Chrite, the university president.

“This is a historic and unprecedented occasion,” said Chrite, whose team will be sending a report to the school’s accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and School’s Commission on College, which had placed the school on probation in 2018. Last month, Chrite had said he was attempting to close an $8 million deficit he said was necessary to meet the accrediting requirements.

Five philanthropic Volusia County families had each contributed $50,000 or more, while one of those donors, the influential home building magnate Mori Hosseini, lent his political clout to the cause.

Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff, R-DeLand, sponsored the bill in the House. B-CU’s main campus is in her district.

“I’ve met with these students here and I realize how important these dollars are to keep feeling like they have security in their education and being able to graduate on time,” Fetterhoff said.

Retired Judge Belvin Perry, who chairs B-CU’s Board of Trustees, said convincing House and Senate leadership, as well as Gov. Ron DeSantis, of the worthiness of funding the state’s HBCUs involved many hands.

“We worked this thing from top to bottom,” Perry said. “This was a team effort and one of the most important elements … were our students.

″(Some of our) students went to Tallahassee and they made an impression on legislators. They saw the product that Bethune-Cookman was producing,” Perry said.

Chrite, the university president, said Perry himself was a big part of landing the money.

“He has spent more time in the capital than is either fair or reasonable for a board chair,” Chrite said. “This is what stewardship and governance and leadership looks like. … Our fight has been for the survival and the well-being of this institution and this community and the students we serve and I am blessed and pleased and have a partner in all our Board of Trustees.

Read more here.

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Andrew Gillum’s Hotel Incident Uncovers Personal Battle With Depression And Alcoholism

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New information and photos have surfaced from the hotel room where Andrew Gillum was allegedly with “a known male escort.”

Last Friday, the politician, husband, father of two, and FAMU alumnus was in a Miami Beach hotel with two gentlemen when emergency responders were summoned. Tallahassee Democrat reported, “emergency responders were summoned to revive one of the men(not Gillum), who apparently sustained a drug overdose. Three plastic bags thought to contain meth amphetamine were found in the room.”

In the event following that Friday—where the politician was said to be celebrating a wedding—Gillum announced that he will no longer be living a public life, and instead will be seeking treatment for alcoholism and depression:

“This has been a wake-up call for me,” Gillum said in a brief statement issued via e-mail. “Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse.”

We desperately hope Gillum receives the rehabilitation and mental health attention he needs as depression nor alcoholism are illnesses and aren’t anything to take lightly. We are rooting for him to make a solid and sound recovery.

“Plastic baggies of suspected crystal meth, empty beer bottles and prescription pills are seen scattered among trash and soiled bedding in the shocking images obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com...

Gillum, a married dad-of-three who narrowly missed out on becoming Florida’s first black governor, was too ‘inebriated’ to tell cops what went down when they arrived at Miami’s Mondrian Hotel early last Friday…

‘At this time the incident is not being investigated as a criminal matter,’ said a spokesman for the Miami Beach Police Department. Read the original story shared by Daily Mail.”

Morgan State President On The Coronavirus: ‘Stay Positive, Stay Informed, And Stay Safe’

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On Thursday, HBCU Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson offered additional insight into recent decisions in response to COVID-19 and the safety of the MSU community by stating that the black university is “navigating a new normal against” the disease, and “It is a health crisis that is impacting our lives in every way imaginable. As the positive cases of COVID-19 in Maryland continue to escalate, we will maintain our foremost responsibility here at Morgan, which is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff.”

03.28.11 BALTIMORE, MD- Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University. Portraits on campus for Influential Marylanders. (The Daily Record/Maximilian Franz).

Wilson said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is pervasive and is rapidly involving. And though at this time, there have been no confirmed cases at Morgan. The university must continue to implement campus-wide measures that are consisted with the directives and guidance from federal and state governments, and from public health officials. To that end, we have enacted a number of measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. Some of these measures include, developing a pandemic disease preparation plan in advance of any COVID-19 incidents on our campus.”

You can watch the entire video below.

Edward Waters Adds Former Two-Sport Star For Palatka High School To The Program

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While the attention this year will be on the $4 million Nathaniel Glover Community Field and Stadium on campus at HBCU Edward Waters College, a talented football player with some “upside” got his shot to play on the program as a walk-on.

Mitchell McKinnon, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound quarterback coming out of Palatka High School, will resume his football career at EWC, enrolling at the black college earlier this year. And it’s predicted that big days are ahead of him.

PHS coach Willie Fells said, “They’re going to play him as a walk-on. They encouraged him to come.”

In his only full-time varsity season for the Panthers he passed for almost 1,000 yards in seven games in 2018, completing 56 of 100 passes for 979 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions, per Palatka Daily News.

Fells said, “They (EWC) showed him what they could offer. He had some things he had to get in line, which he has done and now he’s there. I think they see the athleticism as an upside. He only really played one year of football for us. I wish we’d had a little more time with him. When (college) coaches saw him in 2018, they liked his upside but just couldn’t take the chance on him.”

McKinnon was a three-time all-county basketball player during his time at PHS.

‘We Shall Overcome’: This Is The Perfect Time To Embrace The Words Of HBCU Grad MLK

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The video on Bernice King’s Twitter features her father Martin Luther King Jr. giving his incredible speech at Southern Methodist University on March 17, 1966. You can see remarkable photos of him throughout the short clip.

https://twitter.com/berniceking/status/1240713252713066496?s=21

“We shall overcome,” she captioned the video, leaving space for her followers to respond, giving them an opportunity to be still, and trust the process. The tape from her official account is exactly what we need to hear right now amid the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

Martin graduated from HBCU Morehouse College.

“Thanks for sharing your fathers words Bernice,” a Twitter user commented.

Amen and amen

American Baptist College President Kevin W. Cosby shared the video on his Twitter account, saying that Martin’s speech “infuses hope into the hearts of those in his day seeking justice,” and “let his voice infuse hope in your heart in our day.”

Today’s the perfect day to embrace the wise words of Martin, who insisted that “we shall overcome” at a time of racial tension between white and black people in the country.

There’s no better time than now to love one another and be of good cheer, knowing that there’s a purpose for all things, not to be afraid.

This too shall pass.

Two Campus Police Officers Placed On Leave Following Forceful Arrest Of HBCU Student

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Two campus police officers at an historically black university in North Carolina were placed on leave after a video of the violent arrest of a college student went viral.

The incident occurred Wednesday, March 18 on the campus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. Sophomore Verdant Julius and a group of friends were at McCain Residence Hall, a dormitory, to help each other move out after NCAT announced it was temporarily closing due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to an account written by Mantryll Williams, one of Julius’ friends, the group was asked to show their student identification cards to gain entry. After showing the cards, one of them was turned away because she didn’t live in the residence hall. 

What should have been a mundane encounter became tense after Julius, who is president of the class of 2022, asked why his friend was asked to leave.

“Hearing that his friend who was there to assist him was being asked to leave, Verdant Julius asked the campus security guard and police officer for an explanation,” Williams wrote. “The officer responded to this request by saying, ‘If you take one step closer I am going to have you arrested for obstruction of an investigation.’ This was the first time the officer informed Verdant Julius and the other two students that an investigation was in progress.”

Williams filmed the arrest and posted the footage on his Twitter page. In the video, Julius calmly asks one of his friends to take his keys and wallet as two officers — one white, one Black — cuff him.

“If you resist, I’m going to mace you,” the Black officer said repeatedly.

“You’re honestly ridiculous,” Julius responded. 

The officers grabbed Julius by his neck and slammed him into a wall before wrestling him to the ground. The video ends with Julius pinned to the ground as one of his friends urges him to relax. Julius was charged with resist, delay or obstruct of a public officer and trespassing, per The Winston-Salem Journal. Atlanta Black Star reached out to Julius for comment, but did not hear back. He later confirmed he was safe via his personal Twitter page. 

“Thank you so much! Thank you all so much for being supportive & checking in,” he tweeted. “I honestly do not know how to feel right now about the incident, but I will be okay.”

Williams’ video has garnered more than 1.5 million views since it was posted on early Wednesday morning. Many viewers, including some NCAT students, were angered by how Julius was treated.

“Verdant is the most selfless person I know. He’s always fighting for what he believes in and does it with pride and excellence,” wrote one student. “Knowing the backstory and wondering why the hell our campus policeman have to be this way baffles me. I don’t feel safe.”

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“Disgusting, I hope NCAT addresses this because the campus police have failed not only the legacy of the university, but it’s black students,” wrote one person. 

“I read the backstory & this is too much! Baby boy wasn’t even resisting and was clearly planning to cooperate by asking his friend to take his stuff and was met with ‘if you resist I’m going to mace you’ and then met with aggressive grabbing,” said another viewer. “Who wouldn’t react to that??”

On Wednesday, NCAT announced the officers were removed from duty while the incident was being investigated.

“University administrators are evaluating the matter in an effort to reach an appropriate resolution,” the university said in a statement. “Further, we have met with the individual student, as well as Student Government Association leadership, to understand their concerns. Be assured that the issue of campus safety is one of our top priorities and maintaining that safe environment requires the cooperation and understanding of every member of our community.”

Williams started a petition on Julius’ behalf with three demands: he wants charges against Julius dropped; a statement condemning Julius’ treatment; and the establishment of a police review committee to oversee hiring and complaints. The officers’ names have not been released.

Atlanta Black Star contacted the campus police department, but did not receive a response.

This post originally appeared on Atlanta Black Star.

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WSSU’s Daryus Skinner, Three N.C. A&T Players Will Have To Adjust After HBCU NFL Combine Canceled

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Daryus Skinner of Winston-Salem State was hoping to show off his football skills at the HBCU Combine in Miami at the Dolphins training facility.

Three players from black college national champion N.C. A&T – wide receiver Elijah Bell, offensive lineman Marcus Pettiford and defensive lineman Justin Cates – were also invited to the combine, scheduled for the last weekend in March.

But those plans fell through when the combine, the first devoted entirely to players at historically black colleges and universities, was canceled by the NFL because of novel coronavirus. 

The HBCU combine was created for those who didn’t get invited to the NFL combine held in Indianapolis.

Skinner made 22 career interceptions, second-best in WSSU history.

“I’m hearing that because we were actually invited to the HBCU combine that gives us something for the scouts to go on,” Skinner said by phone. “I was hoping to go down there and do what I could to get noticed even more.”

The adage of the NFL is that if you can play, a team will find you. That will be put the test for this year’s NFL Draft because the pro days at individual colleges have been canceled.

For somebody like Skinner, who is 5-10 and 182 pounds, there’s a disadvantage coming from a small school where there has been limited contact with a few scouts.

Skinner, a Division II All-America and an All-CIAA selection, has been a four-year starter. Skinner has been working out in a gym in Greensboro.

“I’ve been pretty dedicated and I’m trying to gain some good weight and it’s working pretty well,” said Skinner, who ended the season weighing 175 pounds.

Read more here.

FAMU Mourns Student Who Died After Boating Accident Off Panama City Coast

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Florida A&M University community is mourning the loss of 21-year-old Te-Andre Brown after he drowned while trying to save someone else.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission said 21-year-old Te-Andre Brown was in a pontoon boat with about 10 others, and was reported missing after a boating accident in St. Andrew’s Bay off the coast of Panama City.

According to a report issued by FAMU, Brown went missing after jumping off the boat to help someone in distress. However, FWC told WMBB Brown became distressed as well, went underwater and did not resurface.

In response to the news, dean of the School of Business and Industry, Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., said,“Our hearts are saddened by the tragic loss of Te-Andre Brown, one of SBI’s high performing students.”

He made his mark in SBI and on this campus. We were eagerly anticipating seeing all the things Te-Andre was going to achieve including graduating with his B.S. in Business Administration and MBA. He was a caring and professional young man whose life was cut too short. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family, friends, and classmates during this difficult time. 

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D

Brown was a senior business administration and an Army ROTC student.

The FAMU Office of Counseling Services is open and available to assist students. For assistance call 850-599-3145. You may also contact WellConnect at 833-848-1765 for phone or online support 24 hours.

This post originally appeared on WTXL.com.

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Coronavirus HBCU Updates

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Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are making amendments to course instruction and sharing announcements around the clock in an effort to keep their students, faculty, staff and surrounding communities safe from COVID-19, corona virus. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.

Many colleges and universities have already shifted to online course instruction. For the latest news and updates from our nation’s historically black colleges and universities on their efforts to combat transmission of the coronavirus:

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Please feel free to email us for updates info@hbcubuzz.com

Morehouse Announces Protective Measures Against COVID-19

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Dear MSM Community:

The spread of Coronavirus across the globe and in the United States is a growing public health concern. On the evening of Monday, March 2, 2020, Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp and other state officials confirmed Georgia’s first two cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County.

You should know that the symptoms are similar to influenza and the common cold. However, in more serious cases, the virus has resulted in death. We encourage you to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and the flu, by following federal and state guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health.

To protect yourself:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home from school and work when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a household cleaning spray or wipe.

While global efforts are currently focused on containing the spread and mitigating the impact of this virus, our goal is prevention and preparedness. An Atlanta University Center Coronavirus Task Force was formed to exchange information and best practices for prevention and preparedness with our colleagues. In addition, we have updated our emergency response processes and developed a business operations plan, in the event that our campus community learns of any coronavirus cases among our faculty, students, staff, or campus visitors.

As Spring Break season approaches, based on federal and state recommendations, an MSM faculty, staff and student policy has been developed to restrict travel to countries that have been issued level 3 or 4 warnings from the U.S. Department of State. All travelers will be required to register their international destination and dates of travel with the MSM Human Resources: (404) 752-1713 or dbritt@msm.edu.

Stay informed of institutional updates by visiting our Coronavirus Advisory webpage and downloading the Campus Shield app from Google Play or Apple iTunes app store.

Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG

President and Dean

Morehouse School of Medicine

Howard University Cancels Commencement And Locks Down Campus For Remainder Of Spring 2020 Semester

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Earlier today, Howard University’s President, Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick—who is also an active and practicing medical doctor— made an announcement that we expect many universities to mirror:

Dear Howard University Community,

I am writing to inform you of a need to escalate the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A guest who attended the Howard University Charter Day Dinner has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking all March 7 dinner participants to monitor and report to your doctor if you begin exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The DC Department of Health is investigating the case, locating and counseling relevant contacts in accordance with the latest national guidance and protocols. We are working closely with the department and have been advised that the chances of contracting the virus are low. 

The individual has complied with DC Department of Health’s guidance to remain self-isolated. Our direct concern is the recovery and well-being of the affected individual and their loved ones. We will continue to prioritize the most vulnerable among us and do everything we can to safeguard the health and wellness of our university staff, students and surrounding communities.

We have consulted with medical and public-health experts and regrettably, our University leadership has arrived at the conclusion that a return to campus for face-to face instruction will not be possible for the Spring, 2020 semester. To be clear, we are taking the following steps:

  • We will not return to face-to-face instruction of courses at Howard University for the remainder of the Spring, 2020 semester and courses will continue to transition to remote and online instruction following the scheduled Spring Break. This is an evolution from our earlier statement.
  • We will close the residence halls on Sunday, March 22 at 11:59 p.m. This is an evolution from our earlier statement. We are working with our various institutional partners in consideration of any pro-rated refunds of room and board charges. Any potential refund amounts will vary based on application of Federal Aid and Title IV guidelines, current unpaid balances and the specific original room and board charges applicable to each student.  
  • Students who left for destinations other than home for spring break should not return to campus, but instead reach out to the Office of Resident Life to schedule a move out of your room at a later time.
  • Commencement and All-Class Reunions are canceled. On Sunday, the CDC issued recommendations that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. Although the CDC states that this does not apply to the day to day operations of institutions of higher education, we do not consider commencement a day-to-day operation. Given that Howard’s Commencement activities garner crowds of thousands, and the numerous elders and children regularly in attendance, we will cancel the event to avoid the potential for additional virus spread which would be problematic. 

This is our best plan of action in order to ensure that this global pandemic does not proliferate the campus community. We have concerns of worsening supply chain disruptions that will decrease our ability to provide services to the students on campus. Additional details will be shared regarding departures from the residence halls, online coursework and other considerations. 

We recognize that this development may cause concern among students, staff and the wider community. Over the last four days, there have been significant developments in the ongoing spread of COVID-19:  

  • The World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, with more than 135,000 cases worldwide and more than 3,300 known cases in the United States.  
  • The Federal Government has issued new guidance discouraging any travel of U.S. citizens abroad; instructing all travelers from specified countries in Europe, including U.S. citizens, to self-quarantine for 14-days upon their arrival to the United States; and restricting travel of non-U.S. citizens to the United States from the Schengen Area of Europe. 
  • In Washington, D.C., Mayor Bowser has declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency and D.C. Department of Health has recommended the canceling of large non-essential gatherings.

I appreciate the continuous patience and understanding that our community has exhibited during this evolving national crisis. As an alumnus myself, I am deeply saddened that our academic season has been disrupted and I apologize for the inconvenience that these changes have caused. However, the safety of our community is our utmost priority and each hard decision to de-densify the campus is being implemented in an effort to reduce our community’s risk to exposure. 

We will continue to share relevant updates for our community as the situation unfolds. As you leave campus, please continue to practice social distancing, self-isolate if you are not feeling well, continue checking the university’s COVID-19 page for updates and heeding counsel from DC Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Excellence in Truth and Service,

Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA

Howard University President

This letter was originally shared to the Howard University Newsroom.

General Assembly Passes Legislation For Additional Funding For Maryland’s HBCUs

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The state Senate voted unanimously Sunday to pass House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones’ legislation that would send $580 million more to the state’s four historically black colleges and universities over 10 years.

The legislation had already passed the House of Delegates by a 129-2 vote. It now goes to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk for his consideration.

The money would help the schools create academic programs, expand scholarships, recruit faculty and market the schools.

The legislation is designed to force the state to settle a long-running lawsuit that alleges Maryland’s government made decisions that harmed the viability of historically black colleges and universities.

This post originally appeared on The Baltimore Sun.

HBCU Grad James Clyburn Thinks Joe Biden Should Choose A Black Woman As His VP Choice

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HBCU family, it seems that two black women, and also HBCU grads in the political world are being vetted by Joe Biden as his potential vice president choice.

When asked what advice he would give Biden, House Majority Whip James Clyburn said during a recent interview with NPR that he should consider choosing a black woman as his running mate.

“I really believe that we’ve reached a point in this country where African American women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that they’ve given to this party,” Clyburn said. “So I would really be pushing for an African American female to go on the ticket.”

Of course, there are many black women in the field to choose from. For example, take Sen. Kamala Harris (Howard University), who had suddenly decided to end her campaign for the Democratic nomination in late 2019 or serial entrepreneur and political leader Stacey Abrams (Spelman College). Clyburn also mentioned Democratic Reps. Marcia Fudge (Ohio), Val Demings (Fla.), Karen Bass (Calif.) and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as good potential VP choices, according to The Root.

From The Root:

Incidentally, Biden had named four women who he would consider sharing a ticket with last November. Abrams’ name was among them as Biden referred to her as “the woman who should have been the governor of Georgia.” Beyond that, Biden also pledged last month to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court if he’s elected.

Black women represent one of the Democratic party’s most important voting blocks as they are the most consistent demographic in voting blue atover 90%. Black women are also not here to be political mules for Democrats or any politician for that matter, but adding one to the presidential ticket may go a long way in showing them that they are appreciated. Maybe Clyburn is right.

In the past, Biden said that he would like for Michelle Obama to be his running mate and talked with her about it too.

Clyburn graduated from South Carolina State University.

Alcorn State’s Greatest Player Steve McNair Inducted Into College Football Hall Of Fame

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IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class during “SportsCenter” on ESPN2.

Steve McNair was among 17 All-America First-Team players and two standout coaches that were selected from the national ballot of 76 players and five coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, the 101 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks and the NFF Veterans Committee candidates.

“We are extremely proud to announce the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class,” said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi. “Each of these men has established himself among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to immortalizing their incredible accomplishments.”

The 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8 at the New York Hilton Midtown. The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The announcement of the 2020 Class was made today during the Noon ET edition of “SportsCenter” on ESPN2.

“We want to thank ESPN for the opportunity to announce the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class during ‘SportsCenter,’” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Today’s announcement shines a light on the accomplishments of some of college football’s greatest legends.”

Steve McNair
Arguably the greatest player in Alcorn history, Steve McNair rewrote the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and school record books en route to winning the 1994 Walter Payton Award as the best player in the FCS. “Air McNair” deservedly becomes the first Brave player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.

A 1994 First-Team All-American, McNair finished third for the Heisman Trophy, which is tied for the highest finish ever by an FCS player. The 1994 Eddie Robinson Trophy recipient as the nation’s best HBCU player, he remains the all-time total yards leader in FCS history with 16,823, and his 14,496 passing yards were a national record until 2018. The only four-time SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in history, McNair led Alcorn State to conference titles and FCS Playoff berths in 1992 and 1994. Those same two seasons, the four-time First Team All-SWAC selection led the nation in total offense with 4,057 yards in 1992 and an FCS single-season record 5,799 in 1994. McNair’s other career FCS records include 41 games with 200 passing yards, 32 games with 300 passing yards, 15 games with 400 total offensive yards and nine games with 500 total offensive yards.

Alcorn’s all-time leading passer with 14,496 career yards, McNair also owns school records for career completions (958) and passing touchdowns (119). During his remarkable 1994 senior campaign, he set single-season Braves records with 5,377 passing yards, 356 completions, and 47 passing touchdowns. Some of McNair’s top performances from that season led to Alcorn State single-game records, including 587 passing yards against Southern, eight passing touchdowns against Chattanooga and 52 completions against Youngstown State (an FCS Playoff record). The 1991 SWAC Freshman of the Year also ranks third in school history with 2,327 rushing yards. The two-time Dean’s Scholar is enshrined in the SWAC, Black College Football, State of Mississippi Sports and State of Tennessee Sports halls of fame.

The third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, McNair played for the Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1995-2005 and led the franchise to a berth in Super Bowl XXXIV. The three-time Pro Bowler and 2003 NFL Co-MVP finished his pro career with the Baltimore Ravens from 2006-07. McNair is a member of the Titans/Oilers Hall of Fame, and the franchise retired his No. 9 jersey in 2019.

McNair left a lasting impact in the community through the Steve McNair Foundation, which served underprivileged youth through education and civic opportunities and raised more than $1 million for charities. He organized a highly successful relief drive following Hurricane Katrina, and he trained thousands of kids at youth football camps, covering the costs for nearly 70% of the attendees. McNair received multiple awards for his work in the community, including the NFLPA’s Byron “Whizzer” White Award. He died on July 4, 2009, at the age of 36.

Courtesy: Alcorn State Athletics

U-Haul To Offer College Students Free Storage

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With universities closing campuses and moving to online classes amid the coronavirus outbreak, students across the country are scrambling to find ways to get their stuff home. U-Haul is trying to help by offering free storage for up to 30 days.

According to a U-Haul press release, the moving and storage company will offer college students throughout the country 30 days of free storage space.

“We don’t know how every student is affected. But we know they are affected,” JU-Haul’s CEO John “JT” Taylor said in the release. “More and more universities are giving instructions to leave campus and go home. Students and their parents are in need of moving and storage solutions. We have the expertise and network to help, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

U-Haul currently gives regular customers 30 days of storage with the purchase of a trailer or a truck, but according to U-Haul spokesperson Jeff Lockridge, no purchase is necessary for college students. The 30-day free self-storage offer is typically extended to communities impacted by a natural disaster. This marks the first time U-Haul has extended the offer companywide.

“There is no purchase of any kind necessary for the current offer to college students,” Lockridge told the Insider. “It is merely a gesture of goodwill given the extraordinary circumstances taking place and our ability to help.”

Lockridge added that those who need storage for their belongings while they sort out where to go next, should visit the U-Haul website to find a U-Haul location near them.

Since the coronavirus outbreak has hit US shores, colleges have increasingly been canceling classes. Twelve colleges in Florida and six colleges in California including the University of California have canceled classes. At least one school in Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, and all city and state universities in New York have been canceled.

With schools canceling classes across the country, U-Haul has said it’s prepared for an early spring moving rush. U-Haul has more than 22,000 truck- and trailer-sharing locations, across the country.

This post was written by Derek Major, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

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