CHAUNTE’L POWELL: Albany State athletics heading in the right direction

Last Friday felt pretty routine. I walked into the football stadium, put my things down in the press box and assumed my post on the sidelines, ready to take some good action photos.

As Albany State hit the field for its spring scrimmage at the ASU Coliseum, I had to check my phone calendar to make sure it wasn’t September.

Although I don’t keep an official tally on attendance, the number of empty seats in the stands looked significantly lower than years past and I’m told close to 4,000 were in attendance. From the sidelines, I could hear voices from the crowd cheering, critiquing, but, most importantly, supporting the team on the field.

The buzz generated Friday night was nothing new and not completely unique to just football at ASU. Students and members of the community alike seem to be getting excited for ASU sports, both old and new, year-round.

As the merger between the former Darton State College and ASU took place, both parties had doubts. Albany State faithful wanted to ensure their rich heritage, legacies and traditions as a Historically Black College and University remained intact, and a lot of Darton fans struggled to understand how they fit into that.

The athletics staff has laid the blueprint on how to successfully blend two different institutions with two different ways of doing things; through support of one another, hard work and optimism.

During every home football game, I could see softball head coach Amber Baker and her husband in their same seats right in front of the press box. Men’s basketball head coach Michael Moore could be seen donning an ASU football jersey.

They and many other ASU football fans had reason to be excited. The season started with a historic victory, with the Rams taking down Valdosta State.

During the basketball season, athletics director Sherie Gordon made an effort to ensure alumni and ASU legends felt a part of the “New ASU.”

The baseball and softball teams continue to have vocal supporters, and the results pretty much speak for themselves. The softball team is currently first in the SIAC and the baseball team picked up historic wins earlier this season.

In short, things are starting to take off.

To be clear, this is no way a dig at former football and baseball coaches Dan Land and Daniel Stockdale, whom I thoroughly enjoyed working with. They put both programs in a position to flourish as the consolidation loomed over them and the current staff and made the best of what was a very tricky situation.

Also, as a disclaimer, this particular column wasn’t written to gain brownie points or because I enjoy the homecoming tailgate and appreciate the timely snacks during basketball season, although I do.

It was written out of frustration.

Seeing billboards advertising other schools just a few feet from the east campus is insulting. I break the first rule of journalism constantly and read the comment section of our articles, and seeing individuals continue to trash the school and make it out to be a bottom-tier institution due to people wanting to preserve its rich and meaningful history as an HBCU, gets under my dark skin. Seeing Squawkbox comments saying the athletics department is moving anywhere but forward is a lie, and I can’t let that ride.

I’m not saying everything behind the scenes is perfect, either, because there’s no way for me to truly know that. What I am saying is the effort is there. The results are there. And most importantly, the opportunity to get on board and truly make ASU Albany’s school is right there, as well.

Contact Chaunte’l Powell at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @chauntelpowell.