In April, the HBCU community was rocked by the situation involving Grambling State University’s volleyball team.
After being hired as the new head coach of the Tigers women’s volleyball team, Chelsey Lucas went scorched earth and, reportedly, cut the entire squad (the original number was disputed but the final count, according to the Washington Post, was 19; 12 scholarship players and 7 walk-ons).
The shocking decision spread like wide fire across both the HBCU landscape and the entire college sports community.
While it’s not unheard of to cut players and/or rescind scholarships, the number of players affected at once was surprising.
Afterward, the program and university went into crisis mode and tried to protect the institution and coach Lucas’ decision.
Then in early July, Grambling fired Lucas, “due to the determination of an internal investigation within the volleyball program,” said the school said in a statement.
Lucas has hired an attorney and is weighing her options against the school as she attempts to clear her name.
But in the meantime, many players left behind in the wake of this situation are suffering.
As the fall semester draws closer, it’s a confusing time for many of the program’s student-athletes.
Some, like senior setter Sheila Borders, have had their scholarships renewed.
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