BRAVEHEART123
The Clown Prince of Crime
Example (No Smack): Shawn played High School Football at Madison Central High School in Madison, MS and now plays for Jackson State University. He was not heavily recruited out of high school so Alcorn or JSU was his only option. However, Jackson residents know of him and rather Alcorn or JSU Alumni, they will support him because he is considered a "hometown hero". When he puts on that Jackson State uniform, more times than naught, he knows he is not only representing JSU but representing his city as well. He is motivated to play harder because his city looks up to him. Win or lose, the city is proud of him because he is a true Positive Product of their environment.
-Then there is Jamal. Jamal has never been in the state of Mississippi. Jamal is considered a superstar high school player IN HIS OWN STATE but it just so happens a coach at Valley or Alcorn sees film on him and says, This is MY QB. Jamal has only heard of the Mississippi Stereotypes and REALLY doesn't want to sign a scholarship in Mississippi but what other choice does he have? He signs on the dotted line and has officially become a 4-year resident of the state of Mississippi as member of the Alcorn State University Braves.He soon sees the campus and notices that it is nowehere near the magnitude and luxary the FBS School or even "small" HBCU in his hometown portrayed. Jamal starts to really believe that he is a "Big Fish in a Little Pond" and begins to feel that Alcorn needs Him more than He Needs Alcorn. Jamal's mentality becomes, "I'm just here to pay my way through school. Really don't care about what happens on the field, rather it affects the prestige of "this" school's athletic programs or not. Just want my degree so I can get the heck away from this place. I care not about these people and what they represent about his college. I'm just here to play football and to graduate. Championships or not. Wins or not. Just here to get in and get out." Due to this mentality, Jamal is not as motivated to play harder as Shawn.
My question to you SWAC Alumni: Is this attitude of some Out-State-Athletes really hurting the overall products of HBCU Athletics?
-Then there is Jamal. Jamal has never been in the state of Mississippi. Jamal is considered a superstar high school player IN HIS OWN STATE but it just so happens a coach at Valley or Alcorn sees film on him and says, This is MY QB. Jamal has only heard of the Mississippi Stereotypes and REALLY doesn't want to sign a scholarship in Mississippi but what other choice does he have? He signs on the dotted line and has officially become a 4-year resident of the state of Mississippi as member of the Alcorn State University Braves.He soon sees the campus and notices that it is nowehere near the magnitude and luxary the FBS School or even "small" HBCU in his hometown portrayed. Jamal starts to really believe that he is a "Big Fish in a Little Pond" and begins to feel that Alcorn needs Him more than He Needs Alcorn. Jamal's mentality becomes, "I'm just here to pay my way through school. Really don't care about what happens on the field, rather it affects the prestige of "this" school's athletic programs or not. Just want my degree so I can get the heck away from this place. I care not about these people and what they represent about his college. I'm just here to play football and to graduate. Championships or not. Wins or not. Just here to get in and get out." Due to this mentality, Jamal is not as motivated to play harder as Shawn.
My question to you SWAC Alumni: Is this attitude of some Out-State-Athletes really hurting the overall products of HBCU Athletics?
