WTF Sports: Savannah State football players sold to the highest bidder - twice

I watched the waning moments of the Michigan vs. Alabama massacre game waiting for takeout at Buffalo Wild Wings in Ann Arbor. The mood in the restaurant was as solemn as the suddenly rainy weather. Pushing the magic overtime button was not even a viable option. Then a score popped up on the ESPN/ABC ticker: Savannah State 0, Oklahoma State 84. Surely this was an error. How did Oklahoma State achieve a shut out while putting up a basketball score on a football field? Suddenly, as a Michigan fan, your football woes seem less significant. You can go to bed thinking, "well hey, at least we weren't Savannah State today!".

Jokes aside, we all know FBS (the artist formerly known as Division 1-A) schools scheduling "cupcake" games against FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) programs is nothing new. I figured Savannah State would get paid handsomely, go home to lick their physical and emotional wounds and begin preparing for a more equally matched opponent in week two. Nope. While their Athletic Director counted to make sure he wasn't short any of the $385,000 paid to him by Oklahoma State, the Tigers were gearing up for a second ass beating at the hands of the Florida State Seminoles. This time for an even greater payday - just $25k short of half a million dollars. All deposited into the coffers of Savannah's State's Athletic Department. The players wouldn't see a dime. They were paid in bruises to their bodies and their egos.

As a graduate of Howard University School of Law, I am well aware of the challenges facing HBCUs and FCS athletic programs. I am sensitive to the demands of working with small budgets and the desire to raise the school's profile along with its bank balance. I get it. What surprised me was Savannah State's willingness to send their players out as sacrificial lambs TWO WEEKS IN A ROW. It is worth noting that the university knew they already had Oklahoma State on their schedule when they accepted this highly paid challenge from FSU just a few months ago after West Virginia reneged on a game and the Seminoles found themselves needing a replacement opponent. Savannah State's Athletic Director, who would not play a down of football and knowing what was already facing his players in Stillwater, doubled down and decided a trip to Tallahassee wouldn't be so bad. Two weeks later and $660,000 richer*, I wonder if he still thinks it was worth it.


*While Savannah State took in $385,000 and $475,000 from Oklahoma State and Florida State respectively, they also forfeited $200,000 when they dropped a scheduled game against the University of Northern Iowa in order to play the Seminoles instead.