Latest news with #Tuskegee
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Historic HBCU set to play first-ever night game
Tuskegee University is about to flip the switch on history. On Saturday, September 6, the Golden Tigers will host their first-ever home night football game under the lights at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium, facing off against HBCU conference rival Central State. But this isn't just a game. It's the fulfillment of a 99-year-old dream. Back in 1926, legendary Tuskegee coach Cleve Abbott-yes, the man the stadium is named after-first proposed lighting the field for night games. It was an audacious idea at a time when electricity itself wasn't a guarantee on Southern campuses. Now, nearly a century later, Abbott's vision finally beams to life. Thanks to a partnership with Alabama Power, new lighting has been installed at the historic 10,000-seat stadium, setting the stage for a game that means more than just football. It's a symbol of progress, perseverance, and pride for one of the most storied programs in HBCU history. 'It gives me great pride to see how Alabama Power has helped light up the Tuskegee campus,' said Jonathan Porter, a Tuskegee alum, Trustee, and Senior Vice President of Customer Operations for Alabama Power. 'Our commitment to the university has been ongoing and these enhancements are another example of our efforts to be strategic partners. Personally, as a second-generation Tuskegee alum. I cannot wait for the first night game and the celebrations that will come with it.' Tuskegee isn't just any program-they're the winningest team in HBCU football. Now, they're entering a new era, and they're doing it in prime time. 'This is a transformational moment not only for Tuskegee Athletics but for the entire university and community,' said Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin. 'Playing under the lights at Abbott Memorial Stadium gives us new opportunities to engage our fanbase, provide a better game day experience, and showcase our rich traditions to a national audience. We're proud to take this step forward and make history in 2025.' Last time these two teams clashed, Tuskegee handled business with a 30–14 win over Central State. But this rematch has extra juice. The lights, the legacy, the national spotlight-this will be about more than bragging rights. It's about reclaiming the narrative around HBCU football, investing in facilities, and creating moments that players-and fans-will never forget. Tuskegee. Central State. Under the lights. The post Historic HBCU set to play first-ever night game appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority to honor Tuskegee Airmen hero with distinguished award
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority announced that Tuskegee Airman Flight Officer Daniel Keel will be the 2025 recipient of the Col. Joe Kittinger Award on June 28, 2025 28 during the annual Liberty Weekend concert at the Orlando International Airport. Officer Keel was selected for the honor by a group of local veterans. Officer Keel, who is out of Central Florida, is the only triple-rated Tuskegee Airman. Drafted into service during World War II, Mr. Keel served his nation with courage and bravery during a time of conflict and racial discrimination. 'In honoring Flight Officer Daniel Keel, we not only recognize a trailblazer in American aviation, but we also pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and unyielding spirit of all who have worn the uniform,' said Mr. Lyttle. 'As a living embodiment of duty, dignity, and history, Mr. Keel's selection for the Col. Joe Kittinger Award reflects the deep pride the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority holds in its legacy, and in the veterans whose service continues to uplift this nation.' Officer Keel will be the 10th recipient of the Col. Joe Kittinger Award. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU AD lays out path for potential Division I move
As Tuskegee University continues to modernize its athletic infrastructure and celebrate record-setting achievements, the conversation around a potential move to NCAA Division I competition continues to linger around the HBCU. While the university has not made any formal declaration, Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin acknowledged that the decision ultimately lies in the hands of President Dr. Mark Brown and the university's board of trustees. "That will not be a decision alone by me," Ruffin told HBCU Gameday's Steven J. Gaither. "It's going to be President Mark Brown… what he wants to see in the next… three-year plan, his five-year plan-what he sees in athletics." The buzz surrounding Tuskegee's future comes at a time when the university is seeing measurable success across multiple sports. Ruffin noted that during the 2024–25 academic year alone, Tuskegee played for seven conference championships and came away with three titles while finishing as runner-up in four others. "That's a lot of championships," he emphasized. There are currently 23 Division I HBCUs. Twelve of them are in the SWAC, with eight residing in the MEAC and three others in non-HBCU leagues. For Tuskegee, a move up would mean not only meeting NCAA requirements in sports sponsorship and scholarships but also sustaining success and funding at a higher level. Ruffin emphasized that the university's top priority is maintaining full support for its current programs. "You have to also make sure you're maintaining your sports, and not only maintaining sports-you gotta be supporting your sports," he said. According to Ruffin, both President Brown and former interim president Dr. Charlotte Morris made full athletic funding a priority-setting the foundation for what could be a long-term trajectory toward Division I. That administrative support has paid dividends according to Ruffin. However, Ruffin made clear that for now, Tuskegee remains focused on building where it is-with one eye on the future. "For now we're just going to continue to sell out the crowd, and we have to go play FCS schools and be your largest attendance when we play those schools - until the president and the administration, decide, hey, it's time to to make that next step,' Ruffin said. 'But right now, Steven, I think we're grounded where we're planted and we're planted where we grounded. And we are just going to do what we can to continue building the legacy of Tuskegee University, With a revitalized campus, major facility upgrades, and growing support from alumni and the community, the foundation is being laid for the university to make a serious evaluation. But Ruffin reiterated that such a move must align with the university's strategic vision-not just athletic ambition. For now, Tuskegee University remains one of the most successful and tradition-rich programs in HBCU athletics. Whether that legacy will one day extend to the Division I level remains to be seen, but the infrastructure, leadership, and success metrics are increasingly pointing toward the possibility. The post HBCU AD lays out path for potential Division I move appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU football's winningest program set to make history
Tuskegee University, the winningest program in HBCU football history, will host its first-ever home night game on September 6, 2025-a milestone decades in the making. The historic moment comes as part of a larger transformation underway within the athletic department, led by Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin. The addition of lights at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium are more than a game-day upgrade-it's a strategic investment in the future of Tuskegee's athletes and the university's broader goals."We have lights to practice with. We have lights for our first upcoming night football game in the history of a home football game for Tuskegee University," Ruffin said during an interview with HBCU Gameday's Steven J. Gaither. That game, set against Central State University, will be nationally televised and billed as a "mini homecoming." It represents more than just a scheduling novelty; it's a signal of modernization and institutional alignment."We have a president that's at every game. We have a president that's showing up. We have a presidents that has us at the table, has athletics at the table - which we are the front porch to any man university," Ruffin said, emphasizing the critical support he receives from university leadership, including President Mark Brown. Ruffin explained that the decision to install lights wasn't primarily about adding a primetime feel to football games. "Everybody thought we were trying to get lights for to be able to play games. Night games. That wasn't the problem… The purpose was to be able to just align our students to opportunity, to be able to set their schedule according to the availability of practice time."In essence, the lights provide scheduling flexibility so student-athletes can prioritize academics-something that remains central to the HBCU mission. Beyond athletics, the new infrastructure also benefits the broader student body. "We have movie nights for our regular students, our students, to be able to come to the field, to use the jumbotron at night," Ruffin noted. "We had classroom presentations out there on the field, at night." The lights have quickly become a tool for both academic enrichment and student engagement. Ruffin pointed out that the issue of extreme heat was also a major factor in the push for change as he had personally witnessed emergency services having to go into the stands to help people suffering from heat exhaustion."The lights was more than me thinking about a football game. But it was more than thinking about the health and safety, the well-being of our student-athletes, our student body, our fans, our parents and alums. As one of the winningest programs in HBCU football history, Tuskegee's commitment to modernizing while honoring its legacy speaks volumes. Ruffin added historical context by noting that legendary coach Cleve Abbott proposed the idea of stadium lighting back in 1926. Nearly a century later, his vision has come to life. For Ruffin and Tuskegee University, this moment is about more than football-it's about evolving the HBCU experience while keeping its values intact. The post HBCU football's winningest program set to make history appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DeLand road named for Florida's first Tuskegee Airman
A decorated Tuskegee Airman and one of the country's first Black combat pilots got a special honor in his hometown of DeLand. The city dedicated Charles P. Bailey Road in the growing Northwest Industrial Business Park by the DeLand Municipal Airport. The road intersects with Eidson Drive. The city Bailey was the first Floridan to join the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Bailey, a lieutenant, flew 133 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After his military service, he returned to the area, earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education and became a teacher in DeLand. He later opened Charles P. Bailey Funeral Home, which the city says merged with J.E. Cusack Mortuary in 2014. 'Charles P. Bailey is a shining example of bravery, determination, and excellence — not just for DeLand, but for the entire nation,' said DeLand Mayor Christopher Cloudman. 'Naming this road in his honor ensures that future generations will remember the legacy of a man who helped change the course of history, and who once called this city home.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
