Shannon Sharpe is facing much backlash after admitting he would not have attended an HBCU if he didn’t have to.
The admission came amid Deion Sanders’ announcement that he was leaving Jackson State for the University of Colorado two years after publicly advocating for HBCUs.
On Sunday, the Savannah State University alum and sports analyst responded to a Twitter user who asked, “So black institutions and things are a downgrade?”
https://twitter.com/pjznuur/status/1599475495384788993?s=20&t=fHENCzLMbEAHik1Hj0XHtg
He replied, “I went to an HBCU, but only because I was prop 48. It worked out gr8 for me. Had I had the grades coming out of hs. I wouldn’t haven’t chosen an HBCU.”
Maybe you wouldn't have made the league if you didn't go to that HBCU.
— Militant.Midget (@MiilitantMidget) December 4, 2022
Prop 48 is a rule the NCAA adopted in 1986 to require high school athletes to get a specific minimum score on standardized college-entrance tests to participate in sports as a freshman.
Many fans/users were outraged that the former athlete would say he only attended his HBCU because he had terrible grades, while others supported him.
Take a look at a few of the tweets:
Shannon Sharpe why??? pic.twitter.com/3uXdMhAyBy
— yardtalkhbcu (@yardtalkhbcu) December 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/iTerryTommy/status/1599566258932191232?s=20&t=FULFuidA1Ompbe50RfMLrw
That Shannon Sharpe tweet about HBCUs was really sloppy
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 5, 2022
Shannon Sharpe was the biggest cheerleader of this transformative HBCU sports agenda they had going, btw. Now he wouldn’t have went to his HBCU. Some people stand for nothing but dickriding
— Pepé Silvia ⚜️ (@SlayYoung23) December 4, 2022
Shaq, Charles Barkley, Stephen A Smith, Shannon
Sharpe are House Negros #shaq #charlesbarkley#stephenasmith #shannonsharpe #kyrieirving #standwithkyrie pic.twitter.com/GrcTO2OgTk— Khalil A. (@KhalilRaAli) November 29, 2022
An HBCU gave Shannon Sharpe a chance when he used to live in shack and got the nerve to insinuate that he settled for them. Very wild.
— Grammy Songwriter Loading (@Tony_Still_Sang) December 5, 2022
I really dont think Shannon Sharpe was trying to bad mouth HBCUs. I think he was strictly talking bout athletics. It worked out for him but he wasnt his first choice.
— Head Broke Boi Will (@MrGee54) December 5, 2022
Lmao niggas mad at Shannon Sharpe for no reason. Most athletes coming out of high school are absolutely choosing a big D1 school over a HBCU. This isn’t breaking news lol
— Don Julio (@Take_EmToChurch) December 5, 2022
People are fake mad that Shannon Sharpe said the HBCU he attended wasn’t his 1st choice. Y’all are ridiculous 🤦🏾♂️. No NFL bound athlete’s 1st choice is a school no NFL players came from. They want to attend D1 schools.
Y’all’s performative outrage is misplaced envy. Do better
— B. Chordial (@BChordial) December 5, 2022