Kendrick Marshall wrote a new blog post: Saint Paul's College situation proves leaders need to get their priorities in o

I am vastly disappointed in the United States Justice Department.

While the departments antitrust chief, Christine Varney, was on Capitol Hill investigating why the NCAA doesnt have a playoff at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, Saint Pauls College plans to kill its intercollegiate athletics program^[1].

The small college, member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, will shut down major athletics operations by July 1 in an attempt to alleviate some of the schools financial instability it has faced.

Saint Pauls president Robert L. Satcher and his staff say they will explore studying implementation of a full-scale program of intramural athletics, and reinstating the athletic program once their books are balanced.

The institution has worked vigorously to cut a reported $4 million from the schools $11 budget.

The Saint Paul situation is just another case in the long line of setbacks that have hit colleges and universities as the nation slowly recovers from a crippling recession.

I, like many college football fans, would love to see a playoff instead of the elitist, pay day loan scheme that is the Bowl Championship Series. However, the NCAA and its member institutions are facing more pressing issues.

Someone needs to get their priorities in order.

One of them is schools forced to drop certain teams or entire athletic programs to save money.

A postseason for college football does not fix disproportionate funding, layoffs or an increase in recruiting budget for HBCU athletic teams.

Sure, President Barack Obama proposed $98 million in new paper for HBCUs for the fiscal 2011 budget, but that cash isnt enough to plug the shortfall holes schools scramble to close.

According to a report in the Daily Tarheel^[2], a recent 17.4 percent budget cut for the UNC school system proposed by state officials could significantly and disproportionately impact HBCUs.

Florida A&M is expected to slash 200 jobs by the end of next month due to budget issues.

How can we not forget the dire situation of Southerns womens basketball team nearly being unable to make a trip to the WNIT^[3] because the coffers were running on empty. That is concurrent with the University of Greater New Orleans merger.

The Justice Department should be investigating these issues. The folks in Washington should be asking why under the NCAAs current basketball revenue distribution plan, BCS powers always get the biggest pieces of pie while the rest get the crumbs?

Of the $168 million pooled into the basketball fund, the MEAC and SWAC took away $1.3 million each.

The Big 12 share grew to $17.1 million, Big East $23. 7 million, and the Big Ten $15.3 million. Compare that 2005-06 where the Big 12 was at $14. 4 million, Big East $12.7 million and the Big Ten $15.3 million.

During that same time period the MEAC was at $1.1. Million and the SWAC $983,000.

Our elected officials should be worrying about why HBCUs have been and continue to be underfunded? Not how the national championship in football is decided.

Time should not be allotted to that matter. It would be better served for members of Congress and the Senate to ensure every school is on equal footing both athletically, academically and economically.

No student-athlete should go through the process of being told they cant compete because the school is in debt. No coach or staff member should face the unemployment line for the same reason.

It does a disservice to what collegiate athletics and the higher learning experience is all about.

Saint Paul College does not deserve to be the sacrificial lamb here.

Tags: Barack Obama^[4], Florida A&M^[5], HBCU^[6], MEAC^[7], NCAA^[8], Saint Paul's College^[9], Southern University^[10], SWAC^[11], WNIT^[12]

Category: HBCUs^[13]

References

1. ^{^} Saint Pauls College plans to kill its intercollegiate athletics program (www2.timesdispatch.com)
2. ^{^} a report in the Daily Tarheel (www.dailytarheel.com)
3. ^{^} Southern University Boosters Come Through For Lady Jags Basketball Team (fansnthestands.com)
4. ^{^} Barack Obama (fansnthestands.com)
5. ^{^} Florida A&M (fansnthestands.com)
6. ^{^} HBCU (fansnthestands.com)
7. ^{^} MEAC (fansnthestands.com)
8. ^{^} NCAA (fansnthestands.com)
9. ^{^} Saint Paul's College (fansnthestands.com)
10. ^{^} Southern University (fansnthestands.com)
11. ^{^} SWAC (fansnthestands.com)
12. ^{^} WNIT (fansnthestands.com)
13. ^{^} View all posts in HBCUs (fansnthestands.com)