i don’t think a black college is a viable model for a state where blacks make up 6% of the population, and a city where blacks are only 12%. Black colleges arose out of segregation in areas where there were large black populations.

As to whether I think Sac is breaking rules, i’m not sure. They may be able to stay under the 63 scholarship limit this year, as they got 40+ players to leave. The rule is 105 as an FCS independent in 2026 so thats also doable. It is legal to pay players.
I don’t think charisma accounts for their success. I think they are buying players with funds that there is no clear source for, making promises that will be unlikely to be met down the line. A kid doesn’t know what he’s signing up for if he stays 5 years at Sac State,

I'm well-versed in the history of HBCUs, and I truly believe there's space for one in California. Think about it—if you're a Black athlete looking to play Division I football, what are your options in the state? USC, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Fresno State, and San Diego State. That’s it.

But let’s be honest—none of those schools reflect the cultural environment or legacy of an HBCU. And to make things more difficult, schools like Stanford, Cal, UCLA, and USC are academically elite, which can pose a significant barrier for many talented athletes.

If Sacramento State (SACST) could position itself as a culturally rich, HBCU-style alternative, it could open up powerful new opportunities for Black students and athletes in California. The state produces a massive number of D1-caliber athletes every year. Offering a program with cultural relevance and a more accessible academic threshold could fill a major gap that currently exists.

The more I think about it, the more potential I see. This could really work.

Also, regarding the stats—if around 40% of California high school football players are Black, that translates to roughly 36,000 athletes. Of those, even if just 3% go on to play Division I football, that’s about 1,080 Black student-athletes in California each year. That’s a serious talent pool.

Now, imagine being a young Black athlete who wants to stay in California. If Sacramento State (SACST) can position itself as a hub for Black athletes, that could really influence college decisions. Let’s say you’re from South Central L.A., Oakland, San Jose—somewhere where you didn’t have every academic advantage and graduated with a 2.9 GPA, but you're an exceptional athlete. A school like SACST offering both cultural relevance and opportunity could be incredibly appealing.

That’s why what SACST is exploring is so compelling to me. I’m not sure if it’ll work—but it clearly fills a gap. And honestly, I’d love to see an HBCU in California. It would be a powerful addition to the state's legacy of diversity and inclusion.

How would naming a school's designation after one particular ethnic group make it more inclusive again? How would that be more inclusive- seems less inclusive to me..

It's 2025.. it's time to move past race and tribalism. I thought this country was a "melting pot?".. When people say they feel uncomfortable "because people don't look like them" isn't that the definition of racism? Wouldn't it be a bit weird if in 2025 they started say a new historically White, or Asian university? There would be an outcry over that..

You say it would "help the state's legacy of diversity and inclusion" (not sure what you're talking about there), but diversity is the opposite of one ethnic group being promoted.. you realize promoting one ethnic group above others is the opposite of diversity, right?

Also, the H in HBCU stands for Historically.. There isn't any history regarding Sac State being a school that was majority black as a result of racial segregation, I just don't get what you're talking about here.

Morgan Freeman famously said: “I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history; there is no white history month. The only way to end racism is to stop talking about it... Stop talking about it. I’m going to stop calling you a white man. And I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man."

MLK once famously said: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Creating racially backed colleges and universities seems like a step backward to me.. and doesn't make any sense at all in the Sacramento State context.

The only things standing in the way of Sac State as a BCU (obviously it lacks the History) is the demographics of the school, the region, the fans, and I suspect, the band.

You shouldn't see this as "losing" something — it's more about recognizing that something new is being built. You got so worked up over Sac State becoming an HBCU alternative that you didn't even address the points I raised.

How many schools in California offer a pathway to play Division I football? Now, of those schools, how many provide a culturally supportive environment specifically for Black athletes?

Here’s a quick look at Black student enrollment across major D1 schools in California:

UC Berkeley: 4.1%

Stanford: 4%

UCLA: 6%

USC: 5%

Fresno State: 3%

San Diego State: 3%

I’m not debating whether Sac State’s strategy is right or wrong. I’m pointing out that Sac State has hired a majority of Black coaches in football and basketball — and they’re elite. They’re also bringing in big names like Shaq, Mike Bibby, and others, which is clearly having an impact on recruiting.

Why is that? My theory is this: Sac State is intentionally creating a school environment that feels welcoming to Black students. That would explain the increasing number of high-level Black athletes choosing Sac State. If this is their model, it fills a gap that no other California D1 school is addressing.

Take a step back and it makes perfect sense. What is Sac State historically known for? Not athletics. So why are kids committing now? Why the buzz?

My take: Sac State knows it can't compete with UC Davis, Cal, Stanford, or USC in terms of academics or prestige — so it's carving out a new lane. By focusing on culture, representation, and community, they're becoming relevant in a different way. And honestly, there's a real void in California that they might be uniquely positioned to fill.

Nice work SochorField.

I think you’ve built a theory with too many holes. Your thesis seems to be that Sac State has the capacity and intent to provide a culturally supportive environment for Black athletes, and will become a de facto [H]BCU within the CSU system.

1) To be meaningful and effective, a culturally supportive environment for Black athletes has to be based on a culturally supportive environment for all Black students. Black student enrollment at Sac State in 2024 was 7%. More than the other schools you listed, but I’m not sure it’s a significant difference. I certainly don’t think that it’s enough to provide the type of environment you’re talking about. The University of Mississippi has a Black student enrollment of 12%. The University of South Carolina has 15% (Journal of Blacks in Higher Education). I suspect that a survey of those campuses might not reflect a particularly culturally supportive environment for Black students.

Yes, Sac State has been recognized by the State Assembly as California’s first Black-serving institution, and should be congratulated for its efforts to increase Black student enrollment and graduation rates. However, Sac has previously been designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. With the reality of budget, cuts, faculty layoffs, class cancellations and increases in student fees that are occurring, new initiatives like the Black Honors College will be impacted, as will students from underserved populations. There will be completion for the decreasing available funding.

It also runs counter to the current Federal approach to education. A Black Honors College is very likely to be seen in Washington as a DEI program, which could imperial Federal funding at Sac State and possibly the entire CSU system. Even the hiring “a Majority of Black coaches in football and basketball” could be cause for a Federal investigation in the current climate. Sad, but that’s the reality.

2) Sac State is largely a commuter college. Less than 10% of Sac State students live on campus, which has to make it a challenge to create any type of student-centered campus identity.

3) The new identity that you’re saying is being developed at Sac State would be top-down driven. That is always artificial, and seldom becomes self-sustaining. To be authentic, any cultural environment is evolutionary and almost always bottom-up. Since the intent of CSU enrollment has always been to primarily serve a geographically local student population, there’s going to be a limit on the growth of the Black student population. Hispanic/Latino students make up the largest ethnic group at Sac State (38%). I doubt that will change, so if anything a culturally supportive environment for Hispanic/Latino students and athletes will predominate. Futbol everyone!!

4) Your current thesis seems to also run counter to your previous thesis that the new paradigm in sports is that of athletes and coaches (and probably administrators like AD’s and presidents) will be made up of people who ARE NOT personally committed to an institution. Rather they are committed to building their brand and maximizing financial/personal gain. They will immediately move to wherever the best offer is made. That means athletes, coaches, and administrators will not stay at an institution. I don’t believe that a revolving door of people can build or sustain a positive, supportive environment for athletes, regardless of their ethnicity.

:rofl:

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I hate to say it but sometimes I feel that we are the only ones that really talk about Sac State. As a resident of Southern California that works with alums from big athletic/academic powerhouses they don’t even register these guys.

Whenever I mention I went to UC Davis I immediately get “that’s a good school”. I don’t think Sac State gets that. We are known primarily as an academic school who wants to bring our sports on par with that (although I do agree that some say we have already had enough success to merit that). I think of Cal Poly SLO more of a worthy rival than Sac State. If anything, I hope that in the event that Sac State becomes a highly attractive school and has success, that we no longer are associated with them.

Southeast Aggie Fan here. Can assure you all Sac State is not a topic of discussion even among the sports crowd here except for the occasional honorable mention in the bloopers. In the absence of the Woods saying anything ridiculous this week, it seems like we had to write our own content. Here’s hoping our main man puts his collectible sneaker right back in his mouth soon. It was better reality TV that way.

You have hit on Sac State’s problem, no one wants to be their rival.
That’s a combination of being tier 2 in Football (FCS), tier 2 in the California public college systems, and tier 2 among Universities in the greater Sacramento area.

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HBCUs are such due to the 1890 land grant (second round of Morrill Act) establishing land grant Universities so Sac State will never be an HBCU or even a land grant for that matter (UC system in CA are land grant Universities.

Good post. Let's see where this is come December. If SACST has successful season we might have to rethink this whole thing.

SACST becoming an HBCU in name only, but a school that caters to black athletes is pretty cool. It doesn't have to be anything formal, think Cal or Davis which has a large % of Asian students.

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Typo. Despite proofreading, that one slipped by.

Corrected.

https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article309870375.html

"It’s hard not to understand why, as they do not have a public stadium plan or scholarships in place."

I only watched a few minutes but would like to point out the old dude next to coach kept yawning, the young white guy in front row of the film room having some chafing or something because he keeps adjusting his McNuggets. And the special projects coach driving around apparently without a seatbelt. Nice edit. Are all football meetings like this? The coach stating obvious facts with a room full of dudes agreeing with everything and chuckling on cue?

"Go-Go TV" appears to be Marion's personal brand, not Sac State's. "Go-Go TV" goes with Marion where he goes next. "Go-Go-Sacramento TV" would say something different.

The guy is clearly building his brand (not Sac's) with a personalized logo and everything (like Prime). There's nothing wrong with that, and its really smart/effective, but hopefully Sac knows what they signed up for.

I'm not just bagging on Sac. If Hawkins or Plough were doing this, I'd be weary about their motive/commitment too.

Jackson Presley, the #2 ranked HS QB in Montana according to 247 Sports, has decommitted from Montana State and committed to Sac. He also had offers from 12 FBS schools including Arizona, Florida State, Boise State, Colorado, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech and Missouri among others. Click on the tweet image to expand:

This is an interesting one.....
This is his third commitment in 11 months. Boise --> Montana State --> Sac St............I'm guessing he's not done moving around.

I compare this to trading a Camry with 20k miles in for a new Geo Metro and trying to convince people you traded up.

Marion has his own YouTube channel: Go-Go Football TV.

Oregon writer John Canzano covered Sac State in his popular blog today, but I don't subscribe.

I just finished watching the Go-Go TV video posted above. The most interesting part of it for me was Marion talking about his growing up poor and how football was his way out of the hood. He's a very charismatic coach and he personally relates to the players he has been recruiting. He is certainly selling the idea that big money and success is possible with his "one good year can change your life" theme for the players.

Having a whole bunch of very expensive cars along the sideline, including a Lamborghini, to help impress some potential recruits was interesting to see. Near the end of the video it appeared that a couple of players, perhaps recruits, were getting into a private jet.

Quote from one of the players was, "...we want to go 12-0 and beat UC Davis for sure...I can't stand UC Davis..."