Howard-Alabama A&M MEAC-SWAC Challenge, Will Michael Vick improve, Will DeSean Jackson keep winning
Howard-Alabama A&M MEAC-SWAC Challenge, Will Michael Vick improve, Will DeSean Jackson keep winning
Video Transcript
What's going on, everybody?
This is Randall Barnes, the founder of HBCU Pulse and the host of HBCU Pulse Radio, in the building for another special edition of the show on today.
We're back talking HBCU football.
The MEAC SWAC Challenge is about to go down really soon, coming out end of August, Howard University versus Alabama A&M, and I think it's gonna be a very interesting football season.
Marshall Falk as coach, Deshaun Jackson, Michael Vick year two.
A lot of action going on in HBCU football.
I have Ariel Kilgore in the building, North Carolina A&T alumna.
Ariel, how you doing today?
You know, I'm doing good.
I guess I'm on track with the newness that is happening around HBCU football.
New quarterbacks for everybody, new game plans for everybody, new schedules for everybody, and it's looking that we might have a really good season that we get to talk about this year.
There has been so much drama in the off-season, so much indecisiveness getting so close to this MEAC SWAC Challenge, and getting started into our HBCU football season.
And of course, since you wanna point out my alma mater, we're about to get into the centennial of homecoming, and it's about to get real scary with two major games that are happening on the 31st.
So I'm, I'm excited to have football season back.
It's about to be a very interesting year on the way to the Celebration Bowl in December.
Indeed, it will be.
And we start off with Alabama A&M versus Howard University in the MEAC SWAC Challenge.
I have a lot of thoughts about this that I think that some people might get mad.
It's not gonna be, like, disrespectful, but, but some people might get mad at me for, for this, and it's okay.
But I will toss to you first.
What do you think about this game?
Who wins this game and why?
And I think we have an interesting matchup.
It's not something that's decisive where we're seeing, like, a Jackson State and FAMU play, or we're seeing South Carolina State play maybe against Howard, more dominant teams.
We're seeing two teams that are really rebuilding themselves and their program.
First, first-year coaches versus a team that has never had a deciding factor offensively when it came to the QB, or really just ramping up their offensive matter.
So Alabama A&M at Howard, I think really describes what we are going to see throughout this season.
And just a recap for e- everybody.
Alabama A&M went four and eight overall when it came to their schedule, having a five-game losing streak.
And I think some of the things that were really surprising is that win against Alcorn State that they have, and then they win against Tennessee State, and then they kinda jumped a little bit when it came to their schedule.
So necessarily they weren't really bad.
Marshall Falk's team wasn't really bad.
Going into that season, I think one of the stars was the kicker at that point.
But we're about to see a team go into their second year, develop who they really are, and I think some of the things that we do have to talk about is actually finishing these drives and finishing these games, going down the field and becoming that dominant team that they know that we are.
And I think that's also the same story that we're seeing for Howard.
Howard not really having a great season, but also not really being as dominant on the field either.
And then Howard coming off a five and seven overall.
They only had that one winning streak going into that conference that they had, winning zero games away, but having some success at home going two and one.
And so let's take out some of the outliers of Howard, right?
When we're talking about Florida A&M, and we're talking about Morehouse, and then we really gotta look at their wins against Hampton, and then we have Tennessee at Sacred Heart, and then we have North Carolina Central and that upset.
They were really one of those teams that just couldn't figure it out, and that was one of the things that really bothers me about Howard.
They'll get on this really, really good streak of finding the confidence of their team, making those plays, and then it all crumbles down the field.
So both of these teams are gonna have to realize where their strengths are this season, how they can actually score against their opponent, where they are constructively.
And I think this is gonna be one of the games that really sets off where the SWAC is, ultimately, with Alabama A&M and how they're going to play, and also where the MEAC is with Howard.
Howard not ranking at the top, which we'll get to later, about where they stand in the MEAC.
I personally believe, this is a early prediction, I think Alabama A&M is definitely going to take this game, and I feel like it's gonna be decisive no matter what.
I don't think Howard-- Howard's gonna go into this game with a little bit more confidence going into their season once they figure out who they are, if they're an offensive attack first or if their defense is really going to make some of those struggles that they had last time, not able to putting pressure on that QB.
They able to force those turnovers, and those third and fourth down conversions are really gonna be important, especially while playing this Alabama A&M team.
But I think Alabama A&M is coming into their own, in that they will provide the more controlling factor of this game, and the SWAC may have more to prove than the MEAC right now, is if they are able to be viable competition against those dominant teams that we could say is Jackson State.
And if FAMU will make a comeback.
But I think this is more a deciding factor where the SWAC is going to be what they're going to look like and how dominant they can be than it is the MEAC, and if Howard has something going for them this year where they can move up in the rankings and play against those challenging teams with South Carolina State coming back off of that national championship, and playing against Central, and playing against Delaware State.
I feel that.
I think that that's an amazing breakdown.
I just wanna start with this, and I've been thinking about how I want to phrase this about this game for a very long time.
This is where I landed as we're doing this recording I'm not really that excited about this game and about this matchup.
I mean, I am 'cause HBC football season, this is like my job, and I, we have this show.
And also it's like there's gonna be a bunch of HBC football games on at the same time, 'cause this, this game is, is Au- August 29th, and it's like, I guess, week one 'cause That's very confusing 'cause it's like I'm, I'm looking at like the schedule and Grambling's playing that day.
Like you got like a bunch of games.
Like Al- Albany State and FAMU is playing that day.
Jackson State, Tennessee State is playing that day.
I, I had to look to make sure, this is correct, like Saturday, August 29th, you got like one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, you got nine SWAC games.
And then you, like you have like, of course, the MEAC's gonna be playing too.
So I'm just a little bit thrown off because typically the MEAC SWAC Challenge occurs like when there's no other real competition outside of the Kickoff Classics and stuff, so that's odd.
But another thing is, shout out to Sam Shade and Alabama A&M.
I'm excited to see Cornelius Brown do his thing.
Shout out to Howard University, Ted White, alumnus, one of the greatest quarterbacks in HBC football history, and specifically at Howard.
He's coming back, first head coaching job.
I don't really like this matchup.
I wanna read to you, and you of course, you've been here for these 'cause we covered these, but I wanna just take you down memory lane and read to you the matchups that we've had since 2023.
Okay?
Jackson State, South Carolina State.
If we recall, they played in 2021 during the Celebration Bowl.
This is the first year without Deion Sanders, and Buddy Pugh announces he's retiring.
Year after that, FAMU, Florida A&M versus Norfolk State.
Dawson Dorleus fighting for his job, and then you have Willie Simmons at FAMU.
They go on to win the Celebration Bowl.
Very high-scoring game, right?
Then you have North Carolina Central last year versus Southern.
North Carolina Central, we know Tre Oliver.
They're a known quotient.
They had a lot of really great players.
And then you have Southern, they just made the SWAC Championship.
And you have the introduction of Trey Holly, former LSU running back, one of the best running backs from Louisiana, that is gonna be having his debut on ABC in Atlanta, MEAC SWAC Challenge.
What's the hook for this year?
Just as a, as a casual I'm not a casual viewer.
You're not a casual viewer, but as a casual viewer, what can I tell somebody that ain't really following HBC football that to watch this game?
Great fan bases.
Of course we love, we always love Howard and Alabama A&M.
Listen, that's a Fort Valley State University alumnus, okay?
I got my Fort Valley shout out.
A Fort Valley State University alumnus is the president of Alabama A&M, and they brought in a very huge freshman class.
They are growing.
They are thriving.
Shout out to that Fort Valley State alumnus for leading, okay?
But I'm not really all that enthused.
You know I love Sam Shade.
SIAC, he, he, he led Miles College to SIAC championship that he dipped.
Okay?
But still, I'm just not that excited.
And I just feel like if we're looking at Norfolk State versus Jackson State in 2028, and we're looking at South Carolina State versus Alcorn, that's not really a, a matchup I would wanna see either.
And I just wanna know, like why can't we announce these matchups like, like a year in advance?
Say, "Hey, next year we, we not gonna do Morgan State and like Alabama State.
We gonna do Delaware State and like, FAMU," or something like that.
Why we gotta wait three years and hope and pray and wish upon a star that Alabama A&M gonna be fire, and that Howard University's gonna be the team that we saw in 2023?
Listen, and I wanna say to the people that's probably gonna comment on YouTube, the, "Oh, this and that," I know ball.
I clearly do.
Okay?
My picks showed that last year.
I know ball.
But I'm just saying that I just am not really enthused for this game.
Like I, I think Cornelius Brown is g- is gonna win this game for Alabama A&M.
He got injured, last year.
He's an eight-year senior, so he's playing his last year in college.
He's poised, tall, great thrower.
I think that he didn't get the opportunity to really showcase his skill with Sam Shade because of the injury, and I think he's gonna be the X factor.
And I think that ultimately, I feel bad for Ted White, but I think Alabama A&M is ultimately just gonna, gonna score them out the building, and it's gonna be a pretty boring day in Atlanta.
There's so many football games going on, Ariel, that I'ma pick up my pho- I'm not gonna be there, but I'ma pick up my phone and I'ma look at the Jackson State, Tennessee State game.
May- maybe, maybe Albany State, FAMU is in four overtimes like the Celebration Bowl.
I don't know.
But I'm not that enthused, to be honest with you.
And I'm not saying that you're wrong.
Like both of these teams that are playing are not in either Like they're not in the ranking for the top 10 teams of the FCS.
None of them are there.
I think, and what I'm saying, like the overall is, is more of the bigger picture than it is having two powerhouse teams.
So the bigger picture of Tariq Starks not being there for Howard, what is Howard gonna do with their new quarterback?
The overall rising story of Sam Shade in his second year going into Alabama, what is that going to look like?
We're, we're thinking of those things and, like I said, who is actually going to run this HBCU space?
Because it has been South Carolina State, it has been the MEAC that has been running this space, and the championship is back home with us.
But as we have seen-- Hey, man, I'm just saying, you know, championship back home in the MEAC.
But as I, like as I was saying, the SWAC is powerful, but they have lost control of who is the most powerful team running in the HBCU space.
They haven't shown much of- Who's going to be that it factor?
Who, what is the recruiting like?
What are the team Every team is following the same story.
When, and we'll, we'll get this w- what players we're gonna have, what we're going to look like in the season, and who our identity is at the end of the day.
And I don't think we really need powerhouse teams right now.
I don't, personally to me, I don't wanna see a South Carolina State, I don't wanna see a Jackson State really going head-to-head because I know what, I know what they bring.
I think, granted, as boring as these teams may seem, these teams are going to be idols, basically figureheads of what our season is going to look like.
And I think they're great figureheads to see what our season's gonna look like.
Howard isn't really great, but they're not really bad.
Alabama A&M isn't really that great, but they're not really bad.
And it would be nice just to see, and if we might get it, two teams that may show us really, really great signs of life and what we could expect.
It's not necessarily like glitter and gold, but it's, you know, I don't mind looking at rough teams coming together and showing me what they can actually bring to the field.
And at this point they may be agreeing with you, "Hey, y'all don't wanna see this game.
There are so many other games that are playing right now.
We just want you to know that HBC football is back."
And that may be it, period, point-blank.
Not saying it's the most interesting, but I do think that having these two teams being showcased outside of our regulars is a little different, and kinda intrigues me more than me just trying to see Chennis Berry run through everybody right now, or DeShun Jackson, who was our HBCU Coach of the Year, come back and do it again.
Like I, I'm, I'm excited, but I'm not like, "Ah."
But I'm exci- I- it matters to me just to see two different teams that aren't really dominating but are trying to build a legacy.
It's, and you know, I, it's not the best argument, but it's like you get what you get.
Be happy that HBC football back.
That's all it is.
Yeah.
A- and, and this is not, I wanna say before we move on to who needs to win more, this is not to disrespect Alabama A&M.
That's once again led by a Fort Valley State University alumnus leads Alabama A&M.
So I'm not dissing Alabama A&M.
Love Alabama A&M, and you know, Ariel, we love Howard because the opportunity that they gave us and also the institution that they are, oh my gosh, right?
But like, I just, I'm not enthused, and hopefully this game lives up to the hype, but I agree with you.
I think that Alabama A&M is gonna win.
Now I wanna ask you, who needs this win more?
You think that Howard with Ted White in his first year needs this win more to sort of prove something to the fan base, or you think that Sam Shade in his second year, had a injury, you know, riddled year, Cornelius Brown is back.
Do you think that Sam Shade needs to win more?
I mean, both of these teams have, you know, backstories with new coach at Howard, new q- new QB for Howard.
Then we're talking about Sam Shade coming off those injuries, trying to prove himself as a coach.
But like I said, we gotta think bigger picture, and if we are thinking bigger picture, to me it's more about the competition.
Oh, who really needs this win to me is the SWAC.
The SWAC has been declining to me in their progression as being a dominant football base, and really presenting competition that can go against what the MEAC is building.
I think it has been offset.
So I believe this is more of a SWAC win, what the SWAC needs to be like, "Hey, we're still here.
The South still has something to say," than it is for the MEAC that, yes, we have all these new coaches and we have all these new recruits, we're coming in, but we're dominating.
And you're seeing the uprise of excessive talent of Hall of Fame coaches that are being built.
They don't need anything else from that.
They're gonna be good whether they win this game regardless.
If Howard wins, that would be great.
That goes into their season as, you know, all right, we get to see Howard perform with competition, maybe be in this Howard-Hampton game.
We may see them win.
We may see them actually put up some numbers against Morgan State, which I think Morgan State this year is gonna be a very tough team, that I hate to say that.
So Ariel, so you of course are covering the MEAC, and it's a lot that's going on in the MEAC.
So what are your thoughts on the MEAC, you know, contention race, and who do you think ultimately will become the MEAC champion and clinch a bid in the Celebration Bowl?
Listen, when I looked at this schedule and everything that's about to happen, I will agree with the polls that I will release at the end of my statement, at the end of my speech.
But let's first just go through the games that we're just about to have and all the great picks that we are gonna get to do, but mostly all the excitement that I get to have in the MEAC.
So we start off with the MEAC SWAC Challenge, and then we go from there to South Carolina, going to Florida A&M on September 6th.
Very, very excited about that.
And then we get to these other games where we have Delaware State, and they hold North Carolina Central on October 23rd.
We also gotta remember this October 31st game with North Carolina Central State and also with Delaware State.
And then we have this October 29th game where Morgan State is welcoming South Carolina State.
So all these really great lineups that are about to happen that are really great for me.
I don't know about you, I don't know what your SWAC team looking like, but I'm just saying over here it's about to get really, really nitty and gritty.
And so going into after my speech, we have some rankings that have came out from the MEAC, and also just an overall FCS poll that has South Carolina State taking the whole thing and staying at number one.
This is from the MEAC, which apparently they have South Carolina State.
Then it's North Carolina Central and their new QB, if you guys did not know that Walker Harris is no longer there.
His fifth year has gone by.
We have to have a new QB.
And then we have Delaware State, who was dominant and fighting for that Celebration Bowl position with South Carolina State at number three But then when we look at this total FCS poll, we still have South Carolina State, which is amazing, at the top as number one, and then you jump down to see North Carolina Central and Delaware State.
North Carolina Central number five, and Delaware State at number six.
Regardless, we have those top three teams that are getting ready to run the MEAC.
And the most part, the reason why that a lot of these polls are saying that South Carolina State is winning it just because they had dominant honors offensively, defensively, and they have a lot of returning players that are making them one of those teams that is going to be impossible to stop.
And if everybody remembers, South Carolina State offensively is a good team.
But what everybody has started to model from these past three years is how their defense plays.
They are number one at stopping the one.
They are number one when it comes to pressure.
They are number one when it comes down to conversions.
This kind of team is what coaches dream about.
First year and second year success are what coaches dream about, and the only coach that we see emulate this kind of turnaround is Deshaun Jackson at Delaware State.
Not necessarily going all the way, just the same as Chavis Berry did in his first year, and then Chavis Berry now being s- being a champion and the reigning champion of that Celebration Bowl, and now Deshaun Jackson trying to do the same thing.
You can see that what they're doing over there at South Carolina State is working, and that they're trying to do that at other places.
When it comes to Central and Central trying to get back to that number two or one spot, like I said, they're having some rearrangements at the QB level also offensively of who they're gonna look at.
They were also on that board sweeping a little bit offensively in honors as well.
But then you look at Delaware State and you're just like, "Hey, what are they gonna bring to the table?"
Like I said, we're not, we're not stressing enough, you know, about Norfolk State.
We're not stressing enough about Morgan State.
Like j- I say they do have something to prove this season, and I think we're gonna see them rise as well.
But the MEAC has a lot of contention going on.
And if we just had to point out a lot of players, we're looking at Chance Peterson, that wide receiver out of North Carolina Central.
He is going to be a game changer when it comes to playing and having that rematch against South Carolina State, because that was one of the things that they could not go-- That air defense has to be better this year.
And what we realized with Walker Harris playing last year, that wasn't really his specialty.
He was mostly a pocket passer, and if he did have to take the run, he took the run.
But I believe that this year it's gonna be important if Central wants to climb those rankings to get some kinda air raid defense going, and really have a quarterback who is mobile but is able to do it with the players on his team.
Because with South Carolina State, they can do it both ways.
Really, really great run game, but they know how to switch it up, and I think that was one things that North Carolina Central wasn't as versatile as South Carolina State, and they're going to develop that as well.
Then we look at some of the key offensive catalysts that we're going to see this year.
Like I said, South Carolina State really running it, and Tyler Smith as their running back.
And then we also see Central have Josh Jones as their QB, so maybe we'll see that.
And then we also have Joshua Barker, who's going to be there for South Carolina State, and Kevon Chisholm.
Excuse me if I mispronounced their name.
But those two returning and also being on there for these teams is going to be really, really great to have those linemen.
South Carolina State is just stacked up right now, and you're not seeing the kind of weapons that they are bringing back or have added to.
The only thing that I can say to that is that Delaware State, even though the seven picks that Deshaun Jackson is bringing, man, he is starting to make a run for it.
When you have starting just with the safeties, you have Mark Griggs, and then your cornerbacks with Jalen Whittaker, and then you add Hayden Thompson and Connor Thompson to that wide receiver group, and then you're adding a better kicker now so that way-- 'Cause mostly with Delaware State, what we saw was really great plays, but a lot of missed field goals, a lot of missed punt, a lot of opportunities that could've been rounded well games if they just had a better kicker.
So now that you got Mateo, I think we can see some competition.
But if it wasn't clear, my ranking still stands.
I think South Carolina State takes the top again.
But there will be a battle this year with these key picks and with these All-American and these team honors that are coming back, and some of the additions, like I said, from Delaware State that is about to be put in play.
I think that's a great breakdown.
South Carolina State is the best team in the MEAC until proven otherwise.
It was so interesting because I was, doing my HBCU post work before we started, and Instagram has the explore feature.
Like you go to the search page and it'll show you these different posts that because of your algorithm, they're geared to you.
And I'm looking and there is a page that I think might have been an HBCU page.
It might not have been, but they spotlighted that Chavis Berry has not lost a conference game in four years.
He is 25 and 0.
This is not just the MEAC.
This is the SIAC with Benedict, and then going on to the MEAC.
And when I look at that, it's just so interesting because I remember those first games.
I remember that year where they, you know, weren't a championship contender.
And then I remember those years they were beating all of us in the SIAC, then they beat down Fort Valley.
They beat down Fort Valley for fun.
You know what I'm saying?
They used to blow us out.
Blew us out on like ESPN.
It was crazy.
And you know, just seeing what Chavis Berry has become and just, you know, his offense and, you know, just the, his offensive defense and his, you know, the pressure defense that he has.
And the offensive line is always stout because he's a former offensive lineman for South-- for, for Savannah State, you know.
And I really am excited to see how Chavis Berry cements his legacy this year.
Because I think that him going undefeated again is on the board I think that there is a team that can get him.
I think that team that could possibly get him, I don't even think really is North Carolina Central.
I think he might have North Carolina Central figured out.
I think it might be a team like Delaware State.
Like I, I think that maybe Deshaun Jackson could be the one that ultimately dethrones him and stops the dominance, right?
But I think that absolutely they're the team to beat in the class of the conference, they're the class of HBCU football.
And if Chennis Berry has another very successful season, of course, we're gonna start to have some very uncomfortable conversations about what Chennis Berry's future looks like.
Because if you win these games again, you have another winning season, and you're beating everyone in conference again, and you're getting these NFL quality guys again, now what happens with some of these other FCS programs that might have some money that might wanna try to have him do a lateral move, because that would be a lateral move in FCS to try to get him.
Or maybe you have like an FBS program or a Power Five program that might wanna get him as a coordinator or they might want to have him as a coach.
You never know, because I think it's very possible.
We see what Willie Simmons did, leaving FAMU going to Duke and then becoming the coach of Florida International.
I don't wanna have those conversations because I want Chennis Berry to stay in the HBCU space, but that's how great he is.
But when I look at the predicted order of finish for the MEAC, and I see that North Carolina Central is over Delaware State, I start to, to scratch my, my beard a little bit.
And I got a haircut so it looks nice.
I scratch my beard a little bit.
And I'm like, "Wait a minute.
Did I not see Delaware State beat North Carolina Central out during their homecoming?"
I'm like, I think that Delaware State and Deshaun Jackson deserves a little bit more like respect because I know they lost a lot.
I know that they were a great rush team.
You lost-- You lose Markes Gillies, you lose James Jones, you, you lose Kaden Bennett.
You gotta replace these guys.
But I think Delaware State, I, I wonder what they're gonna be.
And also I wonder, and we'll talk about this in a second, I really wonder if Michael Vick is gonna make me out to be a liar because I told you back in February, and we'll talk about it in a second, that I think he gonna win five games this year.
And I think I also said in, in the reviews I did of the Coach Vick Experience, I think like six or seven games could be on the board because this, this is, this is an, an easy schedule.
But is he gonna make me out to be a liar and have me all up on BET in Paramount+ lying?
Okay.
Like this, like this is That's all I wanna know.
That's all I wanna know.
And see, this is where we start right here, where I start my villain origin story.
As I usually begin, I'm always the antagonist, a, a part of our podcast.
So hear me out, right?
When, when you say that I, I have to disagree that I think Deshaun Jackson and Delaware State being at number three is perfect.
I only say that let's, let's, you know, let's start with just the surface level that we are going into his second year, right?
So I'm not And his second year is very similar and like I said, it was like a, like a perfect simulation of what Chennis Berry did his first year.
Had very, had much success in his team, but then you lost a lot of people.
And he's also emulating that he can recruit the heck out of people to make his team seem like they haven't dropped the ball.
We also have to take into account, into fact that yes, he did lost people, so that's just surface level.
Him being a second year coach and him losing people, we gotta see how he does.
So I personally don't mind him being under Trey Oliver and the Eagles.
And then let's also go into the fact that there's history behind Trey Oliver and North Carolina Central.
Like they are champions.
They have been champions before.
They have shown consistency when it does come staying in that number two, number one spot.
It's just like you said, that Chennis Berry and the South Carolina State Bulldogs has been pulling their numbers for the past couple years.
But that does not negate their success and what they have done, and that they do have a championship in the HBCU space.
So I, you know, that right there, I'm definitely saying Deshaun Jackson is where he needs to be.
Number three is not bad.
You gotta prove to me that you can be on top.
On top of that, we also have what is kind of unprecedented in the MEAC, and I don't think it has happened in a while.
Nobody outside of Central Morgan State have a QB.
Everybody is still battling and we don't know who is going to be it for the rest of these four teams.
Like I said, we have Josh Jones, which is now the successor after being the apprentice for three years to Walker Harris that's going to take over this Eagles offense.
Then you have Cameron Edge who is coming from Maryland and that Eastern Michigan transfer that has officially been named as the game starter.
But with Norfolk State we're still having that battle and there has been a lot of eyes on one recruit that I think I can see Michael Vick going for.
South Carolina State has a three-way competition when it comes to Jayden Saure and Marquis Adams, and then you have that William & Mary transfers from Nolan Brunoch.
And then you have Howard who is still trying to battle between Jeshaun Scroggins and then that Hampton transfer of Isaiah Freeman.
And then like I said, you go to Delaware State and it's, you know, everything is up in the air.
Nobody has made a choice.
So when you look at stuff like that you're kind of just like, you know, I gotta see what these teams are bringing because this was one of the main things that we said about Howard, that we said about, um- Norfolk State, you gotta have a QB that knows how to demand the field.
And everybody knows that goes into my evil villager story point two, offense wins games to me, bump the defense.
So if you don't have somebody commanding that team and somebody that is coachable and that can call these plays on the field, then you have nothing.
So I also think that kind of goes into where Delaware State falls against Central, but also what this whole MEAC, it's finna look like.
So, you know, you gotta take those into consideration about what we're finna see in the season and what's finna go down and, you know, play into the story of what this MEAC Swag Challenge is finna look like as well.
But those deciding factors, I can say, you know, like that's, that makes a lot of sense.
That makes, that makes a big deal to me.
So I'm not mad about these rankings, I'm not mad about what's going on, and I understand that everybody's trying to figure out what's happening, what Norfolk State's gonna do, what Delaware State's gonna do, who's really gonna try to dethrone Cheunis Berry, and I can agree with you, I don't think no one is this year.
It would be a mad shock if it was.
And if anybody can make somebody lose in conference, it's Morgan State.
Morgan State has upsetted great teams just like Central, just like Delaware State, just like Howard.
Morgan State comes from everybody.
Everybody has a spooky season when it comes to Morgan State.
But when you look at all these factors and what's going on, I like, I like my rankings.
I like them, and South Carolina State can stay at that number one.
If I had to do a s- like a spooky dethroning, I'm not gonna hold you.
I would love for it to be Deshaun Jackson.
I would love for him to have the same simulation going into his next year and probably winning the championship.
I think it's gonna be Central.
I think Central's finna climb back at the top.
And nonetheless, I don't agree.
I think I said that too.
I don't agree that Michael Vick is winning five games this year.
I think I said like three or four.
Looking at this schedule, there are winnable games, and I think that first game against Winston-Salem State is actually winnable.
But they have disappointed us before.
I'm sticking to my three or four games.
I'm scared.
Until he chooses a QB, a good QB that's not gonna ruin his plans and like, he has new coaches, everything is going on, like that's fine.
I'm not Three or four games max.
But this ranking, this system that they have going on, I think is perfect.
I, I can't agree with you that I think Deshaun Jackson needs to be higher.
All right, Ariel, let's get to the celebrity coaches.
So we have three former NFL players that like are like, I guess popping, super popping NFL players that are coaches at HBCUs.
We have Michael Vick at Norfolk State, Deshaun Jackson at Delaware State, both of them going into year two, and Marshall Faulk at Southern University.
Now, before we get started, and I didn't put this in the outline, Ariel, we didn't get the opportunity, you and I, to react to the Coach Vick Experience, show, mention, because that happened after we did that, that episode.
So I wanna talk about it real quick, 'cause we, we were featured on the Coach Vick Experience in the montage where, um- Wait, wait.
Who is, who is we?
You were featured.
The sh- the show.
You, you were on that episode You were featured.
I don't care if I was on the episode.
I don't want the credit.
You, my big dog.
You were featured.
You was cut.
And I, I That's not, that's not no shade.
I love that for you.
Because when I watched it, well, I didn't watch the show, but when I watched the clip that you cut, and I was watching the, the preview that they were giving, I, I watched that episode 'cause you was in it.
But like, when I, when I looked at the preview, you said what needed to be said while everybody else was hyping him.
And I think you being that voice that went against the grain was super important, despite, you know.
'Cause everybody was just like, "Yeah, you know, we're trying to see what he does his first year."
Here you go, "I'm just trying to see what's going on.
He, he needs to Coach, Coach Vick got some decisions to make."
And I'm like, "Yeah, Randall.
Yeah.
He got some decisions to make.
You better tell him.
You better tell him."
That's what, that's what we needed to hear.
You feel me?
So I'm-- It's not about me having my voice, and yes, I'm part of the show, but really this was a moment for you, and I want you to take this moment.
I, I appreciate you saying we, and I appreciate that you acknowledge I'm part of the show.
But this was a moment for you, and I'm proud of you, and this is a really big step for HBCU Pulse, that they are hearing us and that not only are we a voice, but we are a voice of reason, a voice of non-bias.
You don't want the smoke over here.
You don't, 'cause we gonna keep it real, while everybody else is just gonna play it cute and sweet.
Get Randall Barnes to tell you what it really is.
So I'm, I'm proud of you.
I'm proud of you in that aspect.
Don't draw me into this.
It's, this is you.
This is you, man, and I'm very happy to hype you up.
I, I appreciate that.
Bec- because like I say we because like I said, like you said, th- th- this is, this is our, our show at the HBC Sports, you know, show.
Like we, this is our show, so.
Like when I was So h- here's the chronology.
So we're, we were doing, and because that actually wasn't my idea.
That was Akaya who, works with us, with Clutch Points, and she, former content creator.
She went to Norfolk State for grad school, and she went to, she went to Virginia State.
She texted me and was like, "Hey, let's cover the Coach Vick Experience."
I'm like, "Oh."
'Cause she, she says, and I quote, "She's not a sports girly."
So in my mind I'm like , "Why you wanna cover the sports show?
This is, this is a sports show.
I'm, I'ma write these articles up.
You wanna cover the sports show?"
We covered the show and I was like, "Okay."
And then I made a, a, a joke because, Scotty from Off Script TV, he now works at Alabama A&M doing great things, he was featured.
HBCU Game Day was featured early in the s- in the season.
So I'm like, "Man, I would love to be featured, but they not gonna feature us."
We were, we were very critical.
We were very critical.
Even though we were respectful, we were very critical.
So w- but made a whole joke about it.
Then a producer, his name was Joseph, was in the comments.
He was like, "As far as you being featured, you know, stay tuned."
I'm like, "Oh."
So I, I did research and I'm, and I did, I literally did research.
I think I showed it on, I, I did an episode on it or whatever.
And he actually worked for the show.
So I was like, "Oh, this could be real."
And I looked at his LinkedIn, all that.
So I'm like, "Okay, I'm gonna see what happens."
It's like, okay, I know that this is the point where the, the criticism was starting to getting a little sharp, where it's like, what is going on?
'Cause I, I was losing faith a little bit that he was gonna be good.
So, so basically we get to that episode after, Deshaun Jackson and Michael Vick play, and that is the episode ultimately that we're featured and I will play the clip.
We're not gon- w- like, th- this, this video not gonna get money anyway, so go on and strike it Paramount.
It's okay.
So my thing is, Ariel, you were there for this.
You, you were right there, right there on the stream yard.
I did not say Norfolk State was not good.
That's the, that's the gag.
The gag is I did not say that.
I said that I believe that Delaware, I said Delaware State's, I think, defense was not good.
Because you remember I was saying and explaining that I believe that Otto Coons, 'cause you, you didn't, you didn't believe me 'cause I ended up being right, that Otto Coons was gonna do a good job, and he did.
I said, "Otto Coons is gonna cook."
And I said, "He's gonna have like 200 some odd yards because Delaware State's, like, secondary is not good."
And my guy And I, and it's, it's fine.
Okay, it's perfectly fine until Michael Vick and I meet one day.
And he's like, "What'd you say?"
Like it, it's fine until then, and then it's like, now we have a viral incident, okay?
And that I'm clearly not gonna win the PR war for that one 'cause he's a celebrity.
But like, nah, in all seriousness, like I, I didn't say that.
I, I, like the, the first part I absolutely said, but that other part they spliced that in.
I thought that Norfolk State, as you know, had potential.
I thought their offense was great.
Akbar Keller, 'cause also my ClutchPoints article was featured too, in a couple episodes before the, the video was featured.
That quarterback battle was showcased in the show, and I talked about it in February, in such a way where it showed why they were losing.
Because you have a seasoned quarterback, we continue to say that, a seasoned quarterback in Otto Coons that you decided to sideline to put in Israel Carter, that we find out is, is like his play nephew.
Like they, he's, he's known him ever since he was like a kid.
And it's like, yeah, he transferred from this FBS school, University of South Florida, but he was not, and I'm saying this, not all that good.
Okay?
And that's why he's currently not on the roster.
And Otto came in, in, in that Towson game, in the other games, and he was good.
So that whole entire thing, it was First I wanna say it, it was amazing.
I mean, life has to move on.
They did not ask, at all to use that, and I'm fine with that 'cause I'm not gonna sue them.
It's BET.
But like they didn't they didn't ask.
So 'cause I wouldn't have, I wouldn't be like, "Hey, here's my clip."
No.
I d- they, they I was just as shocked, and I was going for a, a I'm not gonna say what I was going for.
I'll, I'll tell you after the show.
But I, I was doing something important that next day, and I didn't watch the show that night, and that's how life works.
And I was like, "Man, I'm tired.
I'm not gonna watch the show tonight.
I, I'll watch it..." I told, I told Kyle, I'm like, "I'm, I'll watch tomorrow.
We'll do the thing."
So I wake up and I'm like, "All right man," I'm, I'm eating my breakfast.
I'm like, "Man, let, let me watch this show.
Let's, what's, what's really hitting on?"
And then at the beginning it's that clip.
I'm like, "Oh, that's crazy."
I was mad my, I was mad my hair wasn't cut.
I was very mad at that.
Remember the transition twins thing?
I had, I had those navy blue glasses.
Those glasses, my brother has them now currently at Fort Valley as we speak, probably walking around in them.
He, he's, he says those are his glasses and I have to remind him, "Sir, those are my glasses."
And I also remind him those glasses were featured on BET.
'Cause one thing's for sure, two things for certain, those are my glasses and they were featured on BET.
So if anybody is asking you.
I like, I, I hold those honors.
I just He needs, he needs to know that.
We will bring back the transition twins 'cause, like, when you text me, that's, that's your name.
It pops up obviously.
Oh, my God.
We are, rocking 2020.
You more than me.
But like, you know, we, we're here, we're here today.
I mean, we, we are The, the, the, the transition lens situation, was, you know I told you about what happened at, at the Fountain City Classic.
I- Yeah we'll, we'll see.
And then my, then my brother is probably never getting no more meta glasses.
Because tho- those were the new ones.
I, I had to pay on those.
That's the funny thing about it.
When that filmed, I was paying on those.
So now they, they, they're owned by me/my brother now.
And they, he's down in Fort Valley with those right now in probably a dope outfit.
He be, he be My boy, my brother be dressing the polo.
He be dressing.
So the, the, the glasses, the glasses probably fit the outfit he has on right now.
But I'm pretty sure he has them on listening to some music or something, on like a phone call, walking around, his hands in his pocket.
Like it's just like crystal clear and it, and, and it his ear right there.
But that, that was really cool.
It w- it was an amazing experience.
It was very, it was very affirming of, I think, what we're doing.
And I thought that episode we did was really good.
Now I, 'cause I want, I just wanted to, to touch on that 'cause we didn't get a chance to.
But let's talk about the football side.
So, MEAC is, is, is your thing.
So how do you think We- we'll start, we'll, we'll do it like this.
We'll start with Michael Vick.
How do you think Michael Vick is gonna do in year two?
Is it gonna be a turnaround?
Is he gonna like really figure it out or is he gonna like be bad again?
'Cause in my- I don't- while you're posing this question, I'm just like, "Let me find the nicest thing to say," and here you come, "Is he gonna be bad again?"
so obviously I don't have to censor, outside of me not cursing, what I wanna say.
So personally, I'm looking at this, I and, you know, it sucks in this point that I'm covering it from the MEAC side.
Like I said, we- he has done a lot of transitioning during this off-season.
He has practically 40 new faces on the field.
He practically has a new coaching team, which enhanced him as a coach.
And let's, you know, let's, let's think of the positives.
Year two, right?
You can't be as bad as you was the year before.
I, I, you know, I'm saying that with optimism that you can't be as bad as the You, you can't be worse than one and 11.
I- I There's only up from here.
You already hit rock bottom.
So I'm hoping that Please stop.
I'm hoping that as we see in year two of him as a more developed coach, he sees what he did wrong.
What I will say that is scary is that we are being set up as the same way as we started, you not having a quarterback.
Necessarily, we have better options at quarterback, you know, from what they have shown in some of their practices.
And you know, I really hate HBCUs and how they're so closed off at the belt.
We don't know what's going on in most of the things, and they'll let us know when they need to know.
But you do have this quarterback situation that does need to be resolved once we get to Winston-Salem State in your first game.
But I have seen, a more alert and more tactical game plan than what we saw last season.
And in his players and in his recruitment, all I can say is surface level they don't look as bad.
They're what-- They just had their padded practice literally like two weeks ago, and it, it looked a little successful.
They're moving a little bit quicker.
That defense looks a little nicer.
You're seeing different QB plays.
And like I said, I think I may know who he may goes with.
I don't really wanna say 'cause he can throw us for a loop.
But he seems more confident than I would say that he was last year.
And speaking of the, there are a lot of b- lot of winnable games that they have going on.
Like I said, that Winston-Salem State that's happen- that's happening August 29th, I think that is a winnable game.
That then you go into Old Dominion, you go into Virginia, and then you have this Hampton game that I think could, could be possible.
We'll see about this Virginia-Lynchburg game that is going to happen.
I see a lot Like I said, maybe two, maybe three or four games that could be winnable for Michael Vick if he plays the way that I think that he should and if he coaches the way that I think he should.
If you take everybody's notes and you take what has happened from last season that has been broadcast on BET.
Well, quickly, I guess, on your side, how, how did, how do you, how are we feeling?
'Cause I You know, Michael Vick was mine.
How are you feeling about Deshaun Jackson?
Are we just not gonna cover him?
Like, this is it.
It's nothing about him.
No.
Deshaun Jackson, I think that he has to duplicate his success, and it's a gift and a curse.
Because you're able to pitch your team a little bit better, and he got some really nice recruits.
But also at the same time, can you be the team that you were?
Because can Deshaun Jackson and that coaching staff be malleable?
Because are they going to be that great run team when two, when your top two running backs leave, right?
When Kayden Bennett, who was more of a threat in the run in the past, leaves.
Now what happens?
Are you gonna be a different team?
Are you a passing team now?
Are you an option team?
Like, are you a b- a blend of both?
Like, what is gonna be that identity?
'Cause I think that those players were a huge part of that identity.
Because Deshaun Jackson sort of alluded that he went with what worked, and what worked was that run game.
So now are we gonna lean on the run game again with maybe not as good players, or are we gonna like air the ball out?
Are we gonna be wide receiver heavy?
Like, that's what I, I wanna know.
But I think that Deshaun Jackson is owed grace for if the season goes bad.
Because North Carolina Central, Trey Oliver wants that win back.
And I don't think that Deshaun Jackson will be ready to climb the mountain of South Carolina State, so I think that they're gonna have a serviceable season.
And I gotta l- I gotta look at their schedule, and I'll look at it after I talk to you.
But, like, I think they're gonna have a serviceable season.
I just don't know.
We're gonna see very quickly if last year was a fluke or a trend, in my opinion.
I mean, as, I, I You know, looking at their schedule, I don't think it's necessarily, like, bad.
They, they do have a more iffy schedule than, I would say Michael Vick does.
I mean, just starting on the 27th, you got Stony Brook, which I think is fine.
You got William & Mary.
You got them playing Bowie.
You got them playing South Florida.
They got Townsend.
They got Albany.
They, they start, they start off kind of like, "All right, this is it."
Like, they start off with some competition.
Definitely some winnable games in here.
But I don't think it's as dire as it is for Michael Vick.
This I, I don't think there's too many problems coming from Deshaun Jackson and where Delaware State has to go.
Ariel, where can we find you on social media?
You can find me on Instagram at ariel.onrecord.
And then also if you wanna put me in the hot seat, and if you're tired of putting Randall in the hot seat, you can find me on X, formerly known as Twitter, @askgreery__ .
Like what you hear?
Yeah.
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