Saban Follows Path of HBCU Legends

By: Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil and Bryan Fulford

When the clock hit 0:00 in the last quarter of the college football playoff’s national championship game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban won his sixth national championship at the school (seventh overall) in his 14th season in Tuscaloosa becoming in many eyes the greatest college football coach of the modern era, and possibly the history of college football. Does this history include all college football programs (i.e. historically black college programs)? More on that later.

The latter is a stretch, especially to those that still may call him the second greatest coach at Alabama, but if you consider the last 13 seasons, Saban has done something that very few have accomplished before, built a dynasty at one school so quickly into his years at the school. In those years, he has amassed a 163-17 (.906) overall record, 94-11 (.895) record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with seven SEC championships, and a 13-5 postseason record. His teams have been ranked No.1 at some point during the season every year.

Saban has accomplished more than two names most mainstream media associate with being the greatest of their era, Alabama’s Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and Ohio State’s Woody Hayes. 

From 1958 to 1982 (25 years) Bryant won 232 games, lost 46 with 9 ties. It was his last coaching stop after four years at Texas A&M, eight at Kentucky and one at Maryland. His best 13 years were at the end of his career (1970 - 1982) when he had a 130-24-2 (.840) overall record leading the Tide to three of his six national championships (73, 78, 79) and nine SEC titles (eight outright) during a 75-11 (.872) record. He had one unbeaten team (1979) and a postseason bowl record of 7-5-1 winning the Sugar Bowl four times. 

From 1951 to 1978 (28 years) Hayes led the Buckeyes won 205 games, lost 61 with 10 ties. It was also his last coaching stop after two seasons at Miami (OH) and three at (Div-III) Denison University. Like Bryant, Hayes’ best 13 years were at the end of his coaching years (1966 - 1978). He had a 108-27-3 (.793) overall record where he led Ohio State to two of his five national championships (‘68, ‘70) and 9 Big Ten titles (three outright) during a 82-16-1 (.833) record. Hayes had one unbeaten team (1968) and another that finished unbeaten with a tie (1973) while earning a 3-6 postseason bowl record, winning the Rose Bowl twice and Orange Bowl once.

And while the mainstream media focuses on comparison between football coaches at historically White colleges and universities (HWCUs) from two different generations that benefited from the desegregation of the sport beginning in earnest in the early 70’s, whether intentional or not, they fail to mention comparable dynastic programs on the other side of the tracks, those dynasties created by historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) football coaches, such as Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University, Alonzo ‘Jake’ Gaither at Florida A&M University, and Prairie View A&M University, William ‘Billy’ Nicks during segregation and afterwards cheapens the historical placement of Saban among the best leaders of young men in the college sport.

The Greatest Tiger

Grambling hired Robinson in 1941 when it was known as Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute. He would become the first coach to win 400 games on the way to a record of 408-165-15 (.707). Only two coaches have accomplished the milestone since. 

Robinson began his career during a period when Jim Crow segregation laws prevented the young African-American men he coached from playing at schools like Alabama, yet the dynasty he built produced national and conference champions, All-Americans and over 200 future professional football players on par with the success of Saban.

The best 13-year period during Robinson’s 55-year Grambling era is arguably from 1971 to 1983 when he led the Tigers to 118 wins, 29 losses with six ties (.791) while winning six of his nine Black college national championships, 10 of his 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles, four outright, while earning a 64-12-3 (.829) record in conference.

Grambling was 4-3 in postseason bowl and playoff games during this time period, which included two different trips to the NCAA semifinals of the playoffs at different levels. The 1973 team played in the NCAA D-II semifinals while the 1980 team, ranked No.2 in the country, played in the NCAA I-AA (FCS) semifinals.

While Eddie Robinson found great success at the start of a period in college football when the best African-American young men from around the country were being recruited away from HBCUs to campuses in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Columbus, Ohio, Alonzo ‘Jake’ Gaither put together a dynasty in the 50’s at Florida A&M University (FAMU), formerly Florida A&M College (FAMC) when Gaither was hired in 1945, that most resembles what Saban has done in this century.

The Agile, Mobile, Hostile Rattler

After five seasons at Florida A&M, coach Gaither put together a run from 1950 to 1962 that began with a Black college national championship, the first of eight during those 13 seasons, and concluded it with the AP Small College National Championship in 1962. He had a record of 110-12-3 (.892) during those years, winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) 12 times (11 outright) with a 60-2 (.968) record. There were only three seasons in his 25 years that FAMC, later known as FAMU, did not win a conference championship.

Gaither’s teams went undefeated three times during his period (‘57, ‘59, ‘61) and went 7-6 in the Orange Blossom Classic, the only postseason bowl game opportunity FAMU had during this period of segregation in the South. It was during this period that Gaither held annual coaching clinics in Tallahassee, FL that staffed coaches like Bryant, Hayes, and others, such as Darrell Royal, Frank Broyles, and Adolph Rupp.

After 204 career wins, 36 losses with four ties at Florida A&M, Gaither retired from coaching after the 1969 season.  He coached 36 All-Americans and 42 players that went on to the NFL.

While Gaither was pacing the sidelines in Florida and Robinson motivating players in north Louisiana, still another peer was leaving his mark on the game in the state of Texas. Whether it was winning championships in arguable one of the strongest conferences in the country (i.e. SWAC) against Robinson, challenging Gaither for a national Black college national championship, or becoming the first African American to lead a Black college football program to play in a desegregated national football championship game, coach William ‘Billy’ Nicks put his stamp on the game.

The Texas Panther

William James Nicks coached at historically Black colleges in the South from 1930 to 1965. Nicks had three different stints (1930–1935, 1937–1939, 1941–1942) as a head football coach at Morris Brown College in Georgia and then at Prairie View College in Texas (1945–1947, 1952–1965), compiling a career college football record of 192–60–21 (.742). He was the NAIA Football Coach of the Year in 1963.

This is the same year his Prairie View Panthers football team became the first Black college to play in a desegregated national championship football game. The Panthers lost to the Saint John’s Johnnies football team out of Minnesota, 33 to 27, in the NAIA Championship Game Camellia Bowl in Sacramento, California. During Nicks’ career his teams were declared the Black college football national champions six times. Nicks was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1999.

The 13 seasons (1952 - 1964) that make up the second stint began with a run of three unbeaten conference championship seasons, a perfect 12-0 season in 1953 that ended with two bowl wins in the Orange Blossom Classic and Prairie View Classic, and a second Black college national championship during a 10-1 season in 1954.  He also had one of the most notable coaching stretches against the greatest collection of coaches regardless of ethnic designation from 1958 to 1961 (See details below). The 1963-64 seasons were significant for the NAIA championship game as previously mentioned, a 19-1 overall record, 14-0 conference record and back-to-back Black college national championships.  Nicks led Prairie View to a 106-24-4 record (.806) and 69-14-1 (.827) in conference with a 9-3 (.750) postseason bowl record.

Eventually, Bryant and Hayes would see the future of the sport through programs built by men like Robinson, Gaither and Nicks who had less resources than them, but accomplished just as much on their own roads into induction to the college football hall of fame. Now the modern era of players and teams that Saban recruits and builds are stocked with the best, many of them young African-American men that had limited school options 75-50  years ago.

As college football and sports historians move into this new millennium where all future coaches are compared to Nick Saban, it goes without saying that his success should be viewed in comparison to predecessors that never were afforded the resources and freedoms Bryant, Hayes and later Saban enjoy.  Their accomplishments are no less grander or eye-catching given the challenges that came with being an African-American football coach. We'll never get to compare head-to-head or era because of the various changes of the sport through the decades. But, we have the numbers and the championships that can should never be disputed.

More HBCU Dynasty Makers

Cleveland Abbott (Tuskegee institute 1924 - 1933) might have had the FIRST college football dynasty. Hired by Booker T. Washington ten years before he became the head coach and athletic director in 1923, Abbott won four consecutive black college national championships and six in seven years from 1924-1930. Tuskegee lost one game during those seven years, and had two seasons where they were unbeaten with no ties. He led Tuskegee to 10 consecutive SIAC championships from 1924 - 1933, and an 11th in 1935.  During that 13 year run Abbott’s record was 109-19-18 (.808) with a 4-1 bowl/playoff record in the Prairie View Bowl against Prairie View College (later known as Prairie View A&M University).  Abbott coached 32 seasons at Tuskegee with an overall record of 206-99-27 (.661).

Edward P. Hurt (Morgan State 1930 - 1949) should be considered the first coach to have a dynasty that spanned two decades, and it’s debatable as to which decade was more impressive. During the 1930’s, Hurt led the Morgan Bears to two black college national championships and six Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships. The Bears had a 54-game unbeaten streak from 1931 to ‘38, and three teams went unbeaten with no ties (‘33, ‘35, ‘37). Hurt was 63-7-9 (.854) with just eight of those games played outside of the conference schedule (Morgan was 8-0-1) during this period.

The second decade (1940s) was equally as impressive as the previous. Known as Morgan State beginning in 1939, Hurt led the Bears to four black college national championships and seven CIAA championships with a 61-9-4 (.851) record that includes a 9-0-1 non-conference record. The 1943 team did not allow a single point to their opponents over five games during a season where many schools had seasons cancelled or shortened due to World War II. That team, along with the 1946 and ‘49 teams went unbeaten with no ties.

That 20-year period produced 124 wins, .853 win percentage, 13 conference championships and six black college national championships. Hurt coached 31 seasons at Morgan State with a record of 173-51-20 (.750) and not solely as the football coach. He coached basketball (1929-47) and track (1929-70) where he also won conference and national championships.

Arnett William “Ace” Mumford (Southern University 1948-1960) found his greatest period of success in his 12th season at Southern where he would lead the Jaguars to a perfect 12-0 season and black college national championship. It was his first at Southern and second overall having previously won with Texas College in 1935, his last year before departing for Southern. Beginning with that season, Southern won 3 consecutive national championships and had a 38-game unbeaten streak from 1948 to ‘51. 

In total, Mumford led the Jaguars to five black college national championships during this period, and won six SWAC championships (four outright), finishing second in the other seven years with a 108-25-4 (.803) record. Mumford only coached Southern in one postseason bowl game, the historic 1948 Fruit Bowl in San Francisco. It was the first interracial college football game. Southern beat San Francisco State 30-0. Overall, Mumford coached 26 seasons at Southern with an overall record of 179-61-33 (.716) and 233-85-23 (.717) career coaching record.

John Merritt (Tennessee State 1970-1982) found early success with Tennessee A&I, which is what Tennessee State University was formerly known, in his first four years after departing Jackson State in 1962 after winning back-to-back SWAC Championships. But, the best period of his 21 seasons began in his eighth season when he led the Tigers to a perfect 11-0 season and first of three black college national championships over four years where TSU had two 1-loss seasons and two perfect seasons. They were 41-2 and won three postseason bowl games in consecutive seasons. In the later years of this dynasty, Merritt won two more national championships and TSU began participating in the recently created NCAA I-AA (FCS) division playoffs in 1981 and ‘82 as an independent. 

Merritt’s Tennessee A&I/State teams were not in a conference during his years and those teams never had a losing season. In these 13 seasons, TSU was 112-20-3 (.841) with a 4-2 bowl/postseason record. Overall, Merritt had a 172-33-7 (.828) career record at Tennessee State with a combined record of 235-70-12 (.760) for his 32 years of coaching at two blue-blood HBCU programs.

Pete Richardson (Southern 1993-2004) brought back the football dominance in the SWAC and black college football that Southern University enjoyed in the SWAC with “Ace” Mumford back in the late 40’s and 50’s. Richardson made an immediate impact in the conference and the program by leading the Jaguars to the first of three black college national championships over 5 seasons and posting 11-win seasons with one regular season loss every other year from 1993 - 1999. Southern closed the decade with three unbeaten conference championship seasons, which included winning the inaugural conference championship game in 1999. After a few years just above .500 at the turn of the century, Richardson won his fourth black college national championship, second undisputed, and fifth conference championship in 2003. 

Over these 12 years, Southern was 105-38 (.734), and 69-14 (.831) with four unbeaten seasons in the SWAC. Along with winning the inaugural SWAC Championship game, Richardson’s Jaguars were regular postseason bowl participants in the Heritage Bowl, which matched the SWAC conference champion against one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) top teams. Richardson’s teams went 4-2 in the Heritage Bowl during his first seven seasons and participated in the game five consecutive years. It’s hard to argue that Southern was not the team of the 90’s under Richardson, who coached 17 seasons at Southern with a record of 128-62 (.674) and career record of 169-76-1 (.689) with five highly successful seasons at Winston Salem State University.

Henry Kean (Kentucky State 1931-1942, Tennessee A&I 1944-1954) had two dynasties at two different schools which were notably separated by WWII in 1943.  In 12 seasons with the Kentucky State Thorobreds, Kean won two black college national championships and six conference championships in the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA). They twice finished with a perfect season (1934 and 1937) and he led KSU to the Orange Blossom Classic twice where they won once and lost another.  His overall record was 72-18-6 (.781). 

In 1944 Kean resurfaced at another MAA school, Tennessee A&I (later known as Tennessee State) and proceeded to win four black college national championships and five conference championships with two perfect seasons, 1947 and 1954, his last year coaching football. He won three consecutive Vulcan Bowls his first three seasons with the Tigers. His record at Tennessee A&I was 95-13-3 (.851). The combined 23 years led to an overall record of 165-33-9 (.819), six black college national championships, 11 conference championships and four perfect seasons.

William 'Billy' Joe (Central State 1981-1993, Florida A&M 1994-2004) is one of two HBCU coaches to win a national championship in a major football division (NCAA I-AA or FCS/NAIA) after desegregation and network television reshaped the competitive playing field among football programs at historically black, and white, colleges and universities. He is the only coach to lead a HBCU football program to the playoffs in three different divisions (NCAA Division-II, I-AA and NAIA). 

In just his third season at Central State, Joe led the Marauders to the NCAA D-II National Championship game where they would lose their only game of the season. But, that season kicked off a run of 10 more playoff appearances on the NCAA D-II level and later the NAIA Division-I level that Central State moved to in 1987. From 1990 to 1992, Joe led Central State won two NAIA Division I National Championships (‘90 and ‘92) and a National Runner-Up in ‘91. Central State won five consecutive black college national championships from 1986 to 1990 and a sixth in 1992. In three of these seasons (‘86, ‘88 and ‘89), CSU was the undisputed black college champion. Joe tallied a 120-30-4 (.792) record with a 3-4 NCAA D-II postseason record and 11-4 NAIA postseason record. 

In 1994, Joe took over the head coaching position at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and looked to bring the Rattlers back to a championship level that FAMU experienced when they won the first NCAA I-AA National championship in 1978. Under Joe, FAMU made the first of six consecutive I-AA playoff appearances in 1996. They would host and win their first playoff game since their ‘78 championship season in 1998. He led the Rattlers to the semifinals in 1999, narrowly losing late in the fourth quarter.  Joe won two black college national championships (‘98 and ‘01) and five MEAC championships with FAMU.  He had a career record of 86-46 (.652) over his 11 seasons with a 56-17 (.767) conference record. Joe held a 3-6 record in the playoffs.

Billy Nicks vs. The Legends

Coach Billy Nicks at Prairie View A&M University versus Legendary HBCU Coaches

– SWAC from 1958–1961 –

*Football Championships won by legendary coach

PVAMU vs Jackson State - Coach “Big” John Merritt = (2-1-1)

Merritt Resume:

7 - Black college national (1965–1966, 1970–1971, 1973, 1979, 1982)

5 - Midwestern Athletic Association/Midwestern/Midwest Conference (1957, 1963–1966)

2 - SWAC (1961–1962)

PVAMU vs Southern - Coach A.W. “Ace” Mumford = (2-2-0)

Mumford Resume:

6 - Black college national (1935, 1948–1950, 1954, 1960)

13 - SWAC (1934–1935, 1937–1938, 1940, 1946–1950, 1955, 1959–1960)

PVAMU vs Grambling State - Coach Eddie Robinson = (2-2-0)

Robinson Resume:

9 - Black college national (1955, 1967, 1972, 1974–1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1992)

1 - Midwestern Athletic Association/Midwestern/Midwest Conference (1955)

17 - SWAC (1960, 1965–1968, 1971–1974, 1977–1980, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994)

PVAMU vs Texas Southern - Coach Alexander Durley = (3-1-0)

Durley Resume:

1 - Black college national (1952)

1 - Midwestern Athletic Association/Midwestern/Midwest Conference (1952)

2 - SWAC (1944, 1956)

PVAMU vs Wiley College - Coach Fred “Pop” Long = (4-0-0)

Long Resume:

3 - Black college national (1928, 1932, 1945)

10 - SWAC (1923, 1927–1930, 1932, 1944–1945, 1956–1957)

 -Total- 1958–1961

SWAC 13-6-1 / Overall SWAC 20-6-0

PVAMU vs Florida A&M - Coach Jake Gaither

(1-1-0); Orange Blossom Classic; Overall (2-1-0)

Gaither Resume:

1 - AP Small College National (1962)

8 - Black college national (1950, 1952–1954, 1957, 1959, 1961–1962)

20 - SIAC (1945–1950, 1952–1965)

3 - SIAC Division A (1967–1969)

-Total- 1958–1961

All Coaches Listed 14-7-1 / Overall 30-7-2

1 - National Black College Champions

2 - SWAC Champions

About the authors

Jafus Kenyatta Cavil currently serves as the Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Education at Texas Southern University. He is a professor (sport management/sport studies/sports entertainment) in the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sport Studies with a joint appointment in the School of Communication. Cavil specializes in sport business leadership and entertainment and is one of the preeminent scholars on critical sports studies and has an area of research interest in the sporting HBCU diaspora, HBCU sports culture theory, and HBCU athletics aesthetics. 

He has published research articles such as The State of Intercollegiate Athletics at Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs): Past, Present, & Persistence, completed commission studies such as, HBCU (A Minimum of Nine, A Maximum of 12) Football Reclassification & New HBCU FBS Conference Formation Study, and a book chapter titled: The Case for Tennessee State as an expansion member of the SWAC: Economic Impact.  Cavil is the co-editor of the textbook titled, The Athletic Experience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Past, Present, and Persistence with Billy Hawkins, Joseph Cooper, and Akilah Carter-Francique. 

Dr. Cavil’s Inside the #HBCU Sports Lab with Mike Washington and Charles Bishop radio show airs live every Tuesday at 6pm CST on KCOH 1230AM, BCSN/Jericho Network, Facebook Live, and YouTube. Kenyatta is married to Faith Washington-Cavil and they have a son, Deuce.

Bryan Fulford currently serves as the Vice President of the Black College Sports Network and co-host of the "BCSN SportsWrap" podcast, which is available everywhere you can download podcasts, including Spotify, Anchor, Google and Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio Podcasts, and YouTube.

In addition to those duties, he manages the BCSN social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram (@MyBCSN1), does graphic design, writing and editing, as well as play-by-play and color commentating for various sporting events broadcast on the network.

Bryan is a graduate of Florida A&M University's School of Business and Industry. He also has coached youth and high school basketball in the Central Florida/Orlando, FL community for nearly 20 years.