Alabama State’s football team is slated to play against Florida State on November 16th, and amongst all the storylines associated with the matchup, the one that’s the most intriguing…is the money.
The Seminoles paid the Hornets six figures for the game to take place this season, this is the second time in as many years a top tier FBS team paid Alabama State (Auburn did the same in 2018). While there are some monetary benefits to accepting these invitations, with no noticeable improvements to the school, whether to the athletic programs or otherwise, a question is raised: Is the money worth it?
Games of such circumstances (known as “cupcake” games) are nothing new to the college football world, and the purpose of these games are nothing new either. Small schools have been receiving big paydays for years; SB Nation’s article highlighted UT- Chattanooga making at least $450,000 for a high-profile game every year from 2010 to 2018, three consecutive years (2015-17) of receiving half a million dollars.
The small schools use the money for a variety of reasons, from facility improvements, to buying new equipment, and Alabama State is no different. Don’t get me wrong; the money is well earned. Those young men compete to win, risking injury playing against the best the FBS has to offer, and the program have the same shopping list of needs as everyone else. That said, there comes a time where jerseys can’t get any newer, or the facilities any nicer. So, what is the goal for ASU?
Even the argument of exposure and bettering recruits is a tough one to make. Currently the team is 4-4, with a 3-2 conference record, the closest they’ve been to a winning record since 2015. They are going to Houston to play a winless Texas Southern team, but that is followed by the trip down to Tallahassee. With Prairie View (currently 3-5 overall but a rather easy schedule to finish the year) looking very winnable, how can you convince a student body, alumni, or the university leaders after several years of losing, investing more in the football program than any other in recent memory taking cupcake games, that merely 6-5 is justifiable?
Bama State is a small school, and the money is needed, but the physical strain, the losing, and lack of progression takes its toll. And the only aspect the program has struggled with is wins. This is my alma mater, so I hope that I am wrong, and these thoughts will be a thing of the past sooner than later. Only thing left to do is wait and see.
Mason Smith is a student at Alabama State University, and a writer for his school newspaper, The Hornet Tribune. The articles are in an effort to improve his writing skills and to be better prepared for work after graduation, where he hopes to earn a writer/editor position.
The Seminoles paid the Hornets six figures for the game to take place this season, this is the second time in as many years a top tier FBS team paid Alabama State (Auburn did the same in 2018). While there are some monetary benefits to accepting these invitations, with no noticeable improvements to the school, whether to the athletic programs or otherwise, a question is raised: Is the money worth it?
Games of such circumstances (known as “cupcake” games) are nothing new to the college football world, and the purpose of these games are nothing new either. Small schools have been receiving big paydays for years; SB Nation’s article highlighted UT- Chattanooga making at least $450,000 for a high-profile game every year from 2010 to 2018, three consecutive years (2015-17) of receiving half a million dollars.
The small schools use the money for a variety of reasons, from facility improvements, to buying new equipment, and Alabama State is no different. Don’t get me wrong; the money is well earned. Those young men compete to win, risking injury playing against the best the FBS has to offer, and the program have the same shopping list of needs as everyone else. That said, there comes a time where jerseys can’t get any newer, or the facilities any nicer. So, what is the goal for ASU?
Even the argument of exposure and bettering recruits is a tough one to make. Currently the team is 4-4, with a 3-2 conference record, the closest they’ve been to a winning record since 2015. They are going to Houston to play a winless Texas Southern team, but that is followed by the trip down to Tallahassee. With Prairie View (currently 3-5 overall but a rather easy schedule to finish the year) looking very winnable, how can you convince a student body, alumni, or the university leaders after several years of losing, investing more in the football program than any other in recent memory taking cupcake games, that merely 6-5 is justifiable?
Bama State is a small school, and the money is needed, but the physical strain, the losing, and lack of progression takes its toll. And the only aspect the program has struggled with is wins. This is my alma mater, so I hope that I am wrong, and these thoughts will be a thing of the past sooner than later. Only thing left to do is wait and see.
Mason Smith is a student at Alabama State University, and a writer for his school newspaper, The Hornet Tribune. The articles are in an effort to improve his writing skills and to be better prepared for work after graduation, where he hopes to earn a writer/editor position.