Beyond the Headlines: Leadership, Relationships, and the Future of HBCU Football
Posted on July 25, 2026
Inside the 2026 MEAC Football Media Day with the Odd Coaches Podcast
By Dr. Keith Adams, Ed.D., CMAA
Founder & President, CKA SAVE Project | Host & Executive Producer, Odd Coaches Podcast
There are media days where the biggest stories revolve around preseason rankings, championship predictions, and player awards.
Then there are media days that remind us why college athletics exists in the first place.
The 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Media Day in Baltimore was the latter.
For the Odd Coaches Podcast (OCP), the event represented far more than another assignment on the calendar. It marked our first conference media day as a credentialed media organization—a milestone in the continued growth of the OCP Global Access Initiative, our commitment to providing thoughtful, coach-centered coverage that highlights leadership, education, and student-athlete development.
Rather than chasing controversy or clickbait, the Odd Coaches Podcast seeks to tell the stories that often go untold—the conversations taking place before kickoff, inside meeting rooms, and within locker rooms where culture is built, leaders are developed, and futures are shaped.
Before discussing football, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills, Isaiah Green, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications, the conference staff, Sports Information Directors, coaches, student-athletes, and media professionals whose professionalism and hospitality made our first MEAC Media Day an unforgettable experience.
If this inaugural experience is any indication, it certainly won't be our last.
Education Remains the MEAC's North Star
College athletics continues to navigate unprecedented change.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, conference realignment, and the transfer portal have fundamentally reshaped the collegiate landscape.
Yet amid all the uncertainty, Commissioner Sonja Stills delivered perhaps the day's clearest message.
"Our job is to graduate student-athletes."
Those seven words captured everything that distinguishes the MEAC.
While athletics creates opportunities, education transforms lives.
That philosophy mirrors the mission of the CKA SAVE Project, whose Structure. Discipline. Support. (SDS) Framework and 100/100 Standard encourage student-athletes to pursue excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Championships matter.
Degrees matter more.
Stability Through Strategic Leadership
While many conferences continue responding to rapid shifts throughout college athletics, the MEAC demonstrated a refreshing sense of stability.
Conference leadership emphasized thoughtful strategic planning, sustainable institutional growth, and remaining true to the conference's historic mission.
Expansion will come—but only when institutions align academically, athletically, and culturally.
That same intentionality can also be seen in the conference's continued investment in Women's Flag Football and Women's Golf, creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes while maintaining fiscal responsibility and Title IX compliance.
Growth, the conference reminded us, isn't measured by numbers.
It's measured by purpose.
Coaching Through Change: Leading in the NIL Era
One of the most thought-provoking conversations throughout MEAC Football Media Day centered on the changing climate of college football.
With the transfer portal, NIL, and increased student-athlete mobility transforming the sport, each head coach was asked the same question:
What is the biggest challenge in maintaining a positive, growth-oriented coaching climate in today's landscape?
Although each coach answered differently, their responses shared a common thread.
The challenge isn't resisting change.
It's leading through it.
Delaware State – Head Coach DeSean Jackson
Former NFL Pro Bowl receiver DeSean Jackson approached the question with the perspective of someone who understands both professional football and today's college game.
"Keep your head in the right space. We can't change the dynamics—we have to adjust. We can't get caught up in all these rules. We just have to figure out how to adapt to them."
Jackson's response reflected a reality facing coaches across the country. The landscape will continue evolving. The programs that thrive won't necessarily be the ones with the fewest challenges—they'll be the ones most willing to adapt while maintaining their core values.
Howard University – Head Coach Ted White
Coach Ted White focused less on the external environment and more on what happens inside the building every day.
"Have a great attitude every single day. Eliminate distractions."
White's philosophy reminds us that while coaches cannot control NIL policies or transfer decisions, they can absolutely control culture, mindset, and daily habits.
Morgan State – Head Coach Damon Wilson
For Damon Wilson, everything begins with culture.
"You've got to have a foundation. You've got to find guys in your locker room who preach the same message."
Wilson emphasized that championship cultures become sustainable only when veteran players embrace the program's mission and reinforce it throughout the locker room.
South Carolina State – Head Coach Chennis Berry
Coach Chennis Berry perhaps summarized today's coaching climate most powerfully.
"Football has become more transactional, but we're still personal. We focus on love. The biggest aspect is love, so we focus on relationships."
Berry's comments served as a reminder that while college football continues evolving as a business, relationships remain the heartbeat of successful programs.
Collectively, these four coaches painted a compelling picture of modern leadership.
Adapt.
Protect your culture.
Invest in relationships.
Never lose sight of people.
Leadership Isn't Given—It's Developed
When coaches discussed leadership development, another common philosophy emerged.
Leadership isn't assigned.
It's intentionally developed.
Delaware State
Coach DeSean Jackson believes every player has the opportunity to become a leader.
"Everyone is held to the same standard. You can come in and be a leader. The older guys help the younger guys."
Leadership, in Jackson's program, is about influence—not seniority.
Howard University
Coach Ted White is intentional about creating player ownership.
"We focus on being player-driven. We create a leadership council and have player-led practices."
Rather than making every decision himself, White empowers student-athletes to lead one another, creating ownership that extends beyond Saturdays.
Morgan State
Coach Damon Wilson echoed that philosophy.
"The Players' Council leads the program. There's give and take, but you win championships with player-led teams."
Wilson believes coaches establish standards, but players ultimately determine whether those standards become reality.
South Carolina State
For Chennis Berry, leadership begins with teaching.
"I came from humble beginnings. I show them how hard I work. I teach them so they lead in the classroom, the weight room, conditioning, and life. Be consistent."
Berry's philosophy extends well beyond football.
His objective is to develop disciplined men prepared to lead wherever life takes them.
Listening to every coach, one realization became unmistakable.
Although their personalities differ, their philosophies align remarkably well.
Leadership is built through consistency.
Leadership grows through relationships.
Leadership is measured through service.
Student-Athletes Offered the Day's Greatest Lessons
If the coaches provided perspective, the student-athletes provided inspiration.
When asked how they balance Division I football, academics, and personal responsibilities, their answers reflected remarkable maturity.
North Carolina Central
Student-athletes repeatedly emphasized discipline.
"You've got to have discipline. You're a student-athlete—not an athlete-student."
They also credited the university's academic support system.
"Our academic advisors make sure we stay on top of our work."
Delaware State
The Hornets focused on organization.
"Keep the main thing the main thing."
"Stay organized. Use your scheduler."
Regardless of institution, their advice remained remarkably consistent.
- Plan your day.
- Stay organized.
- Prioritize academics.
- Protect your time.
- Be disciplined.
- Keep the main thing the main thing.
Those responses reinforce a concept we discuss frequently through the CKA SAVE Project.
Success is rarely accidental.
It is scheduled.
Time management isn't simply a productivity skill.
For today's student-athlete, it is a competitive advantage.
Family, Faith, and Mentorship Continue to Shape Leaders
Perhaps the most heartfelt conversation of the day centered on mentorship.
When student-athletes were asked who had the greatest influence on their lives—and what lesson they learned that had nothing to do with football—their answers reflected humility and gratitude.
A North Carolina Central student-athlete credited his defensive line coach with instilling confidence beyond football while also recognizing the influence of his mother, father, and extended family.
Another simply stated:
"Family first. God. My coaching staff. My father showed me how to be a man and be responsible."
Student-athletes from Delaware State echoed those same values.
One immediately pointed to his older brother.
"He leads by example."
Another credited both of his parents for the sacrifices they made throughout his life.
These conversations reminded everyone in attendance that leadership development rarely begins inside a football facility.
It begins at home.
Behind every successful student-athlete stands parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, mentors, teammates, and faith communities investing in that young person's future.
Programs to Watch in 2026
South Carolina State Bulldogs
Head Coach: Chennis Berry
The defending MEAC champions enter the season as the conference's preseason favorite after placing nine players on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team.
North Carolina Central Eagles
Head Coach: Trei Oliver
The Eagles remain one of the premier HBCU football programs in the country and return with championship expectations behind an experienced roster led by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Chance Peterson.
Delaware State Hornets
Head Coach: DeSean Jackson
Jackson continues energizing Delaware State with professional experience, player-first leadership, and an adaptable approach to the modern college football landscape.
Morgan State Bears
Head Coach: Damon Wilson
Wilson continues building one of the conference's strongest cultures through accountability, player ownership, and leadership development.
Norfolk State Spartans
Head Coach: Michael Vick
One of the most anticipated coaching stories in college football belongs to Norfolk State, where NFL legend Michael Vick begins building a new era for Spartan football.
Howard Bison
Head Coach: Ted White
Howard enters a new chapter under Ted White, emphasizing discipline, positivity, and player-led leadership while continuing the university's tradition of academic and athletic excellence.
The 2026 Preseason Outlook
The MEAC selected South Carolina State as the preseason favorite:
- South Carolina State
- North Carolina Central
- Delaware State
- Morgan State
- Norfolk State
- Howard
The conference also announced:
- Chance Peterson (North Carolina Central) — Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
- Jordan Franklin (South Carolina State) — Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
With legendary coaches, emerging stars, and one of the strongest cultures in FCS football, the 2026 MEAC season promises to be one of the nation's most compelling.
More Than Football
As I left Baltimore, one thought continued to resonate.
The conversations weren't really about football.
They were about leadership.
About adapting without compromising values.
About education remaining the foundation upon which championships are built.
About preparing young people for life beyond athletics.
That is precisely why the Odd Coaches Podcast exists.
As we continue expanding our national coverage through the OCP Global Access Initiative, our mission remains unchanged.
We'll continue highlighting coaches who develop leaders.
We'll continue amplifying student-athlete voices.
We'll continue telling stories that exist beyond the scoreboard.
Because behind every successful program is a culture.
Behind every culture is leadership.
And behind every leader is someone who chose to invest in another person's future.
Thank You, MEAC
On behalf of the CKA SAVE Project and the Odd Coaches Podcast, thank you to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for welcoming us as credentialed media.
We appreciate your unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student-athlete development, competitive integrity, and leadership.
We look forward to following the conference throughout football season—and again on the basketball court this winter.
Because at the Odd Coaches Podcast, we believe:
Conversation Over Confrontation.
Credibility Over Clicks.
Leadership Over Noise.
We don't simply cover games.
We tell the stories that shape tomorrow's leaders.
The Odd Coaches Podcast operates with full editorial control over its content. While owned by the CKA SAVE Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all media coverage is conducted independently and is not influenced by donors, sponsors, or partner institutions. Content is for informational and educational purposes only.
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