Interviewed by Taylor Banks, Black College Football Hall of Fame Liaison
Q – Taylor: Tell the readers a little about yourself.
A – Adrian: I grew up in Canton, Ohio, and have lived in Ohio my entire life. I am a proud Canton McKinley High School, Baldwin-Wallace University and Case Western Reserve University Law School alum.
I married a beautiful lady from Canton (Krista) and our kids (Averi and Anastasia) are also Canton McKinley graduates. One recently graduated from The Ohio State University and the other is a sophomore there.
Q – Taylor: So you clearly have an affinity for Ohio…
A – Adrian: Yes! I am not one that apologizes for my Ohio roots. There are many great things in Ohio and I am proud that my family and I are from Ohio and northeast Ohio in particular.
As a professional, I have worked for the Canton City School District and the State of Ohio. And then in 2019, I came to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as…
Q – Taylor: Now wait a second, you can’t say that you just “worked” for the Canton City School District and the State of Ohio…
A – Adrian: Well, it is true! But to your point, I have served in several positions including Associate Superintendent for the Ohio Department of Education and Superintendent of the Canton City School District.
Q – Taylor: And…?
Adrian: I was the first African-American and youngest superintendent of that school district.
Q – Taylor: That’s a big deal! Next time, you are going to have to share more about that experience. But before I cut you off, you were talking about joining the Hall of Fame…
A – Adrian: Yes, when I came to the Hall in April 2019, the first Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic was being planned between Alabama A&M and Morehouse. I jumped in to help not thinking that three years later, I would be responsible for it!
We learned a lot from the first one. The most important thing we learned was that the Classic could become a tentpole event in Canton with the right formula.
Q – Taylor: Cleveland used to host an HBCU Classic, but generally, they are played in the south. How did a Classic game end up in Canton?
A – Adrian: Great question. The Classic is a fundraiser to help build a permanent museum for the Black College Football Hall of Fame at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
Q – Taylor: Ok. You said a lot in that sentence. Let’s start with “a permanent museum for the Black College Football Hall of Fame”.
A – Adrian: The Black College Football Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 by trailblazing quarterbacks, James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches, and contributors from HBCUs. There have been over 90 inductees since its founding.
An annual induction ceremony is held in Atlanta. But there is no physical museum where people can see and hear the stories of these trailblazers. So in 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame agreed to place a “museum within a museum” to house the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Q – Taylor: Does that make sense? Why is a hall of fame for pro athletes housing a hall of fame for college athletes? Isn’t there a college football hall of Fame? Why not have a museum there?
A – Adrian: I think the question about the College Football Hall of Fame is fair and also complex. I know that they recognize HBCUs at that museum, but I think there is an opportunity to do more. There are many connections between pro football and HBCUs.
We don’t have enough time for a full history lesson, but 34 of the 362 individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame have direct connections to HBCUs. And of those 34, many are recognized as the greatest players to ever play their respective positions.
Q – Taylor: For example?
A – Adrian: The NFL Network’s greatest player of all time, Jerry Rice, attended Mississippi Valley State. NFL Man of the Year namesake, Walter Payton, attended Jackson State. The inventor of the sack, Deacon Jones, graduated from Mississippi Valley State. The NFL’s single-season sack leader, Michael Strahan, attended Texas Southern.
Art Shell, a Hall of Fame left tackle and the first black head coach in the modern era, played for Maryland Eastern Shore. Cornerback Mel Blount from Southern University was so dominant that the NFL changed its rules to allow wide receivers a better chance to catch the ball.
Q – Taylor: Ok. I understand the connection. When will this “museum inside the museum” be built?
A – Adrian: Well, that’s the five million dollar question. We need to raise about five million dollars to really create a great museum. Thus, the idea of hosting a Classic football game as a fundraiser for the museum.
Q – Taylor: How has the fundraising gone?
A – Adrian: Not well, YET! We learned that the dynamics and economics of hosting a college football game, especially two teams primarily from the south, are not easy. Transparently, we have lost money on the first two Classics we have hosted.
The goal moving forward is to find a financially sustainable model to host the Classic every year. We also want to use the Classic as a platform to share the ultimate goal of building the museum.
Q – Taylor: Outside of the economics, what other challenges have you faced?
A – Adrian: The biggest challenge we face is educating people about why this is important. There are many worthy causes in our country. How do you effectively convey that the preservation of the history of HBCU football is a worthy cause? There are many people who don’t even know that there are HBCUs.
Q – Taylor: So can you share it now? Why is the Black College Football Hall of Fame important?
A – Adrian: The story of Black college football is about so much more than the sport of football. It’s about community, unity and education. The story of Black college football is like no other. It’s a story of perseverance, competition, and triumph. It’s a story of character and talent and the transformation of not just sports, but America itself.
Black college football, as noted by award-winning author, journalist and educator, Samuel Freedman, is “an essential chapter in sports history, Black history and, most of all, American history.”
Q – Taylor: Thank you and well said. Let’s talk about the Classic.
A – Adrian: You don’t want to miss Labor Day weekend in Canton! I sound like a hype man I know! (laughs).
After two years of featuring HBCU’s from Alabama (Alabama A&M), Louisiana (Grambling), Tennessee (Tennessee State), and Georgia (Morehouse), this year’s Classic will showcase one of Ohio’s HBCU’s, Central State University.
Q – Taylor: Tell us about Central State?
A – Adrian: Central State has a proud tradition, boasting alumni such as Elizabeth Eckford (one of the Little Rock Nine), music innovator Roger Troutman, and U.S. House of Representative Joyce Beatty.
Q – Taylor: Roger Troutman?
A – Adrian: I grew up listening to Roger Troutman and Zapp! “More Bounce to the Ounce”; “So Ruff, So Tuff ”; “Dance Floor”; Doo Wa Ditty (Blow that thing)” “Heartbreaker”; “Computer Love”. I could go on and on about the fun I had…
Q – Taylor: I got it! I got it!
A – Adrian: Athletically, in the late eighties and early nineties, Central dominated Black college football and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) winning five consecutive Black college football national championships and two NAIA National Football Championships.
CSU boasts three Black College Football Hall of Famers, Hugh Douglas, Coach Billy Joe, and Erik Williams. Head coach Kevin Porter will make his debut at the helm for the Marauders at this year’s Classic. They also will be bringing the Invincible Marching Marauders band to rock the house.
Q – Taylor: And they will be facing Winston-Salem State University. Tell us more about them.
A – Adrian: Founded in 1892, WSSU boasts national sports personality Steven A. Smith, Tuskegee Airman Spurgeon Neal Ellington, and basketball Hall of Famer Earl “The Pearl” Monroe as alumni. The University also counts Coach Bill Hayes and Timmy Newsome as members of the BCFHOF.
Q – Taylor: Steven A. Smith from ESPN?
A – Adrian: Yes! Don’t tell anyone, but I think that ESPN’s First Take may broadcast live from the Hall during the weekend.
Q – Taylor: That would be fun to see!
A – Adrian: Stay tuned for more about that! WSSU’s marching band, the Red Sea of Sound, will also be here to put on a great halftime and 5th Quarter performance.
Q – Taylor: What’s the 5th Quarter?
A – Adrian: I think this is the most underrated event of the weekend. After the game is over, a “battle of the bands” breaks out in the stadium. The bands go back and forth playing some of the best music.
It’s a fun time to really see and hear the talent of the bands. It’s worth staying to see!
Q – Taylor: The Classic is a whole weekend of events. What else is going on?
A – Adrian: Other exciting festivities planned over the course of the Classic weekend include the BCFHOF Classic Funfest on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton beginning at 11 a.m.
This fun-filled day will feature local food and item vendors, food trucks and live entertainment all afternoon, including the bands from Central State and Winston-Salem State.
Capping the evening at the Plaza will be the Faith, Family & Football Gospel Concert, featuring Dove, Stellar and Grammy award-winning artist Fred Hammond. This event is free and open to the public.
Q – Taylor: A FREE concert featuring Fred Hammond?
A – Adrian: Yes! Free! You can buy reserved seats if you want. But if you want to bring your own lawn chair and watch the concert, you can.
Taylor: That’s a treat! I’ll be there!
A – Adrian: Yes you will! (laughs) I am really excited about the College Fair on Thursday, Sept. 1. Students will have an opportunity to learn about and apply to over 50 colleges and universities, including over 25 HBCU’s. The College Fair is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Center for Performance on the Hall of Fame Village’s campus.
Other activities to note include a weekend-long art show hosted by Let’s Talk Art at the DoubleTree Canton hotel, a Neighborhood Revitalization effort in Southeast Canton in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio on Saturday morning, Sept. 3, and a Red Carpet Affair featuring jazz, food and fellowship on Friday, Sept. 2 at the Metropolitan Event Center.
In addition to the game, Sunday also features the Cecilia Ponder Interfaith Service at Centennial Plaza, the Stark County Minority Business Reception at the Nash Event Center at the Hall and a pregame Classic Tailgate Party on the Hall’s campus, featuring food and entertainment for the entire family.
Q – Taylor: That’s a lot! Anything else going on?
A – Adrian: We are also proud to honor the new inductees to the Black College Football Hall of Fame: Ben Coates (TE, Livingstone College), Donald Driver (WR, Alcorn State University), John “Big Train” Moody (RB, Morris Brown College, 1939-1941), Roscoe Nance (Contributor, Tuskegee University), Nate Newton (OL, Florida A&M University), William “Billy” Nicks (Coach, Morris Brown College and Prairie View A&M University) and Sammy White (WR, Grambling State University).
Q – Taylor: How can we get tickets?
A – Adrian: Tickets are now on sale for the game. Reserved seating is available from $30 to $70. Also available are Club seats ($155), which include upscale food and beverage with the ticket price. Group rates are available.
Please visit https://www.profootballhof.com/events/2022/09/bcfhofclassic22/ for tickets.
Q – Taylor: Thank you for your time today. Any last words?
A – Adrian: Yes. I feel like the winner of an award and you only have 20 seconds to thank the people that helped me earn it. So in my last 20 seconds, I need to thank the hundreds of volunteers that have come together to support the Classic. The Classic has no chance of success without them and their passion.
Special shout out to Ron Ponder, Jerry Schroer, George Lemon, Ralph Lee, Janelle Lee, the Committee Chairpersons and volunteers, the Stark County Minority Business Association, Bob Lanier, Mark Bigsbee, Akil Blount, Jim Porter, the Hall staff and Board of Trustees, and all of the partners and sponsors.
And thank you, Taylor! Together with all these people and more, we will create an event that will make Ohio proud!
