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.
Her mother, Tashia Bryce, told The News Star that her daughter’s scholarship was restored after she appeared in front of a university committee hearing.
“What we’re waiting on right now is the criteria of the scholarship – on whether she is approved and will have to play, or approved and not play. She’s an athlete. She wants to play,” said Bryce. “She got the scholarship back, which is the most important part, but she’s waiting to see if she’ll be able to play.”
Others, according to the News Star story, have yet to receive a hearing and are in limbo about the upcoming season.
Yet it remains a confusing time for all.
Although Brian Howard, GSU’s senior associate athletic director for athletic communications, said there will be a season and a new coach will be announced next week, the program doesn’t have a leader as of yet. Many don’t trust the department after what they and their daughters have been through.
To top it off, players are due to report this Sunday.
Despite Howard’s assurances, parents remain wary.
After Lucas cut the players, it was basically too late for them to enter the transfer portal.
Some thought of transferring but they wouldn’t receive full credit for classes taken, the latter that still presents a problem for some like Borders.
And the hardships endured after Lucas’ actions still exist for many families.
Bryce said that Lucas demanded that athletes living off-campus had to move on campus, and were subsequently cut from the team. These players were prohibited from using school athletic facilities, so they had to purchase gym memberships.
“There was a lot of financial damage that was done — unnecessary financial damage,” Bryce said.
All the players and their families want are assurances from the school that their scholarships are restored properly, they’ll be allowed to play on the team, use the school facilities as normal and properly take classes as student athletes.
Yet it doesn’t appear that all of those things are guaranteed to the 19 players and their families as of yet.
We’ll keep you updated on this story.
