Five HBCUs earned places in the NCAA Division II Playoffs: Albany State, Benedict, and Kentucky State from the SIAC, and the CIAA’s Johnson C. Smith and Virginia Union.
South Carolina State head coach Chennai’s Berry, who has extensive roots in the SIAC, playing and coaching in the league, was asked his thoughts on the historic number of HBCUs being in the postseason and his thoughts on the level of football that is being played amongst the HBCU ranks, and here is what he had to say:
I have nothing but love for HBCUs, man. Anytime you can get a chance to see HBCU play good ball on the national level, because at the end of the day, it’s football. I tell guys all the time, whether you are at an HBCU, a P4, a group of 5, a curl flat is a curl flat. Inside zone is inside zone. So you can get an opportunity to see these guys put their abilities on the national stage, man I love to see it.
I’m grateful to see, like you say, 3 teams in the SIAC [in the playoffs], which I actually played at Savannah State. I coached in the SIAC, but also [to] see two teams out of the CIAA. You’re talking about Johnson C. Smith, man it’s been 69 years since they won a championship. That’s amazing for Coach Flowers and his staff and to see what Dr. Parker is doing up at Virginia Union, that’s always great. These are guys I know well, Quinn Gray.
He’s an HBCU guy, playing at FAMU [and then] the NFL a little bit, and now he’s doing some good things at Albany State. Everything these guys are doing is really special. So proud of these young men, these coaches, because it’s hard getting these opportunities. I talk about it all the time. It took me 26 years to become a head coach. I was an assistant at several different HBCUs in the SWAC, MEAC, and the SIAC. I never coached in the CIAA, so it’s always great to see the HBCUs excel. Now [they] just have to get on that next stage and get some victories and keep chopping wood, carrying wood, and fall in love with the process.”
Albany State, who won their 16th SIAC Championship last week by defeating Benedict 22-16 is the No.1 seed in Super Region Two and takes on in-state foe and perennial D-II powerhouse Valdosta State.
Benedict is the No.5 seed in Super Region Two. The Tigers will face Wingate on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST. Wingate defeated Benedict 23-6 in the Tigers’ last postseason appearance in 2022.
At 9-2 overall and 7-1 within the SIAC, Kentucky State had its most successful season in 90 years. The Thorobreds, No.6 in Super Region Two will face No.3 Newberry.
Johnson C. Smith won its first CIAA Championship since 1969 and set a program record with 10 wins. The Golden Bulls, the No. 2 seed in Super Region One, host Frostburg State.
Virginia Union was denied for a third consecutive CIAA crown via a 45-21 defeat at the hands of Johnson C. Smith in the CIAA Championship game. However, despite the loss the Panthers were still able to secure a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. Saturday the Panthers host California University of Pennsylvania.
