Latest news with #TeddyKeaton
Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU Contender to Face DII Titan in Week Zero Classic
The stage is set. On August 30, 2025, at historic Legion Field, in Birmingham, Alabama, Clark Atlanta University will face DII powerhouse Valdosta State in the Week Zero Labor Day Classic. A game that should be circled on the calendars of all HBCU football fans. What makes this game even more electric? It's more than just football. The Week Zero Classic is a multi-day cultural celebration that includes celebrity flag football, live concerts, food festivals, and esports tournaments. And at the heart of it all is one of the most intriguing matchups of the 2025 season: an emerging HBCU contender versus one of Division II's most decorated programs. Just two years ago, Clark Atlanta University football was struggling, finishing the 21023 season winless at 0-10. But the hiring of head coach Teddy Keaton changed everything. Keaton, a proven program builder with previous stops at Stillman and Allen University, wasted no time flipping the culture. In 2024, Clark Atlanta shocked the conference with a 7–3-1 record and a trip to the SIAC Championship Game-their first in over a decade. The engine behind the Panthers' resurgence? Quarterback David Wright, who threw for 3,271 yards and 31 touchdowns. Wright was named SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Keaton took home Coach of the Year honors. Now, the Panthers are no longer just a feel-good story. They're a legit contender-and their Week Zero test might be their biggest yet. Valdosta State is the gold standard of DII football. With four national championships (2004, 2007, 2012, 2018) and countless Gulf South titles, the Blazers have dominated the division for over two decades. But 2025 marks a new chapter. Former head coach Tremaine Jackson-a rising star in coaching circles-recently accepted the head job at FCS HBCU Prairie View A&M, creating a ripple effect through the program. While Valdosta remains loaded with talent, the departure opens the door for challengers-and Clark Atlanta aims to kick it in. This game is also the first of two back to back marquee matchups for Valdosta against rising HBCU powers. The Blazers will face Johnson C. Smith University the following week in Charlotte. Games that could help close the gap between PWI dominance and HBCU resurgence in DII football. The Week Zero Labor Day Classic is the ultimate fusion of culture, competition, and community. Celebrity Flag Football Game featuring top athletes, entertainers, and influencersBBQ Festival hosted by Thyron Mathews, with 150 vendors bringing their bestDJ Spinoff and TUF Music Festival, where music meets nightlifeUltimate Fan Zone & Esports Dome-a 4,000-seat interactive fan experienceAutograph sessions, alumni mixers, and comedy legends like Nephew Tommy and Bill Bellamy The post HBCU Contender to Face DII Titan in Week Zero Classic appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU coach gets real about D1 transfers
The college football transfer portal continues to reshape rosters across the country- including at the Division II HBCU level -and Clark Atlanta head coach Teddy Keaton isn't sugarcoating his thoughts. On the latest episode of The Teddy Keaton Show, presented by HBCU Gameday, the coach delivered a raw, unfiltered breakdown of how HBCUs like CAU must navigate the ever-evolving landscape. "It all depends on who that kid is and how much value he's created for himself as an individual," Keaton said when asked if he lets players return after entering the portal. "There's a lot of coaches that have that philosophy to say that their best player got in the portal and they'll say, 'Well, I'm not going to let him come back.' But that's not the way of the world no more." Keaton, whose HBCU squad went from multiple losing seasons to a 7–3 record, emphasized honest conversations and player development over ego. "It's all about the conversation that happens before the conversation," he said. "A lot of coaches don't have exit interviews, meetings with their kids. Can you win with that kid? Can that kid help me keep my job?" The longtime HBCU coach stressed that it's not just about talent-it's about fit, academics, and mindset. "First of all, did he create value for himself wherever he was at?" Keaton said of transfers. "Can he do the academics that is stressed at Clark Atlanta University? Third, is he a good fit?" Keaton also took aim at what he calls "barbershop talk"-the false narratives surrounding former D1 players dropping down to HBCU programs. "And then we don't think about the mindset of a kid when he drops from a ranks of Alabama or Florida or these places and nobody else in that Power Five/ Group of five anywhere else see any value for him. And now he's talking…He's still in that portal and he thinking about, okay, now I'm at D2. 'What is his mindset?A lot of them don't come in with that mindset," he said. "When they come down, they expect to not really work. I'm banking off what I've already did somewhere else… but you find out when you come to D2 that there's a lot of football players." He wrapped the conversation by stressing what makes the HBCU experience unique. "We suffer from that at Division II, because if he fails, it's never going to be his fault. We all, as coaches, try to take it on our shoulders." Watch the full episode on YouTube to hear more of Coach Keaton's unfiltered insights into HBCU football and the transfer era. The post HBCU coach gets real about D1 transfers appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
