Eight year a ago, Dr. William R. Harvey had a vision.
The Hampton University president was convinced
that with the right approach, the school could hold
its own at the highest level of collegiate competition. Now
that is is clear that Harvey’s vision was not just a case of
wishful thinking, there appears to be another school — Norfolk
State University (NSU) — ready to follow his lead.
Although Hampton is just in its second year of
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division
I competition, the institution is holding its own. The
Pirates, as they are athletically known, are members of
the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), which is
one of the two Division I conferences composed of historically
Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The
women’s tennis and softball teams have already won
conference titles and the football and basketball teams
are on the site.
“It took a lot of research and planning to make sure
that we would have a smooth transition [to Division I],”
says Dr. Dennis Thomas, Hampton athletics director.
“Dr. harvey provided the leadership for that. We felt our
program had developed to a point where we could
compete on the highest level of the NCAA — and that’s
Division I.”
Hampton’s move to Division I is just the first — if all
goes according to plan, Norfolk State will also make the
move to Division I this summer. Currently, NSU is
completing the application process with the NCAA and
expects to get a decision in it’s request by June 1. The
school is severing its Division II and Central Intercollegiate
Athletic Association (CIAA) ties in an attempt to
“keep up with the Joneses.”
“The exposure a school gets in Division I is not only
good for athletics, but good for the academic side,” says
William Price, Norfolk State’s athletics director. “And in
our situation, we’re in a hotbed. Our main rival, Hampton,
is seven miles away and Old Dominion (another
Division I competitor) is four miles form us. We’re
recruiting the same kids as they are for athletics and
academics, so it benefits us to move on too.”
It’s no secret why the former Division II school made
the move. Playing in Division I provides more visibility
for the school — especially through television appearances — and
generates more revenue from is athletic
programs.
On the other hand, more is required of schools that
move up to Division I. For example, they have to offer
more sports and scholarships — for men and women — than
Division II schools. There is also more of a
commitment needed for staffing, facilities and corporate
sponsorships. Additionally, they must alter their schedules
because the bulk of their competition must be
against division I schools in every sport offered by the
newcomers.
