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 — BlueGoldAg

Bingo. This is exactly what I saw too. He is going after the market of kids who can play sports but may not have strong grades. Its pretty genius if you think about it. We value education so much and chase academic rankings we forget access can be a high hurdle. SACST can be the D1 school for the everyday student. Don't need to be top of your class to come here...I think he has a very interesting idea.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Copy. You think they are breaking rules?

I completely agree with your analysis—it makes more and more sense the longer I think about it. How many historically Black colleges do we even have in California? I mean, is there anything out here that compares to a Howard on the West Coast? Honestly, I can’t think of any. Given how many successful Black men and women are out here, it would be incredible if SACST evolved into that kind of institution. If that’s the direction this is headed, it’s a really compelling idea. A “Howard” or “Grambling” of the West could have a huge impact and draw a lot of attention.

What!!!?? Holy crap....that is unbelievable. They are def playing the SACST athletic school angle. More than that, they are using the minority angle to bring in black coaches for black students. Really smart. This is really interesting.

This is a heck of a recruiting class! Fantastic job by the Davis coaches and admins.

Remember, I'll it takes is one kid to turn a school around. Remember when Jason Kidd went to Cal? Elway to Stanford? Marshall Faulk to San Diego St?

I'm very curious on their strategy. The more I look at it the more it seems possible. What if they go undefeated? Beat South Dakota ST in the opener, then go on to beat Nevada, Montana St, etc. It could be a really interesting storyline.

I'm not saying its good or bad, I'm just saying the college sports we grew up with is effectively over. Let's not kid ourselves, if you were a decent D1 player and a school offered you $100K to play at their school, you'd probably take it. I guess if you look at the true purpose of what college is designed to do, its to give young people a chance for a career. So in a way college is working, just different than what we are used to.

I look at at SACST and I cannot for the life of me think what they are known for. Accounting? Business? I don't know, but what if they used that to be a sports school? Low entry requirements give it a really key advantage in the area. Who are they competing with Davis, Stanford, Cal, Fresno St? It's interesting...

I would hold off any projections until December. Nothing is normal right now. SACST has the horses to win a ton of games this year. If they can win and send some kids to the NFL via draft...things might be very different in a year.

The traditional college experience that we grew up with is over. College sports is really just becoming semi-pro ball. It's a job. Kids are not looking to be a Aggie, Irish, or Trojan anymore...its about building your brand to capitalize and maximize your opportunity to make money. I think SACST sees this and are going all in.

Man, that would be something if SACST secures a PAC bid.

hey this is great! We are talking football in June!!

I’m talking about us. We can capitalize on this popularity. We can use it. Gotta figure out the best way. Opportunity!!

You got to admit this is pretty fun to watch. Now we just need to figure out how to capitalize off the SACST free marketing. That UCD/SACST basketball game in Davis should be a complete white out or something special planned. Same for the football game. Might be a great environment for recruits!

have they released their full schedule? Man, if they can get some big matchups and continue to grow their brand. Very interesting.

I don't know. Honestly. it could blow up or it could fizzle. I honestly don't know. But I do know they have talent and talent gives anyone a chance. All I'm saying is we should wait and see who this turns out before jumping to any conclusions. I can say I will absolutely be at both SACST vs Davis games in basketball.

it’s in relation to popularity. Kids are looking to play in a fun highly competitive place. The old way of traditional schools has lost much of its luster. Those schools all have had excellent season that changed the perception of their universities. I can see something similar happening to sacst.