Tuskegee sent shockwaves through HBCU and Division II football on Monday when it announced that Albany State had pulled out of an agreed upon game that would have made them playoff-eligible.
Albany State athletic director Sherie Cornish Gordon explained the sequence of events and reasoning behind the school’s decision.
Gordon told HBCU Gameday that Albany State initially refused Tuskegee’s invitation to play on Nov. 12 if ASU lost Saturday’s game to Fort Valley State on Friday. She said the school was asked to re-consider prior to Saturday’s game and ASU verbally agreed to play TU if they lost.
After ASU lost, according to Gordon, the administration decided to pull out of the verbal agreement as it was “not in the best interest of our student-athletes.”
ASU informed Tuskegee of its decision following the game on Saturday. Gordon, ASU President Dr. Arthur Dunning and head coach Dan Land met again on Sunday to confirm that decision, and sent a letter of apology to Tuskegee, according to Gordon.
Tuskegee is looking to add a 10th game to its schedule in order to become eligible for the D2 playoffs.
Albany State officials should be ashamed.