Tennessee State’s foray into NCAA Division I hockey has been nothing short of a masterclass in how not to launch an athletic program.
Let’s be clear: according to the university’s own admission, there was no funding for this program before 2030. But hey… details.
Apparently, “Oops” is now considered a viable business strategy in higher education. These are the same people entrusted with preparing young adults to run companies, manage budgets, and make sound decisions. That’s… comforting.
The facts aren’t exactly complicated. This is a university that had to take out loans just to keep its doors open. Naturally, the next logical step was adding another expensive varsity sport to the books. Because if you’re drowning in debt, the obvious solution is to grab another anchor.
Reality has now arrived.
Once again, dozens of student-athletes are left holding the bag, scrambling to find new programs—assuming roster spots even exist.
And the ripple effects don’t stop there. Every player who lands somewhere new bumps another player down the line. But sure, let’s call this “leadership.”
For the parents, players, and coaches still convinced this can’t happen elsewhere: don’t get too comfortable. This won’t be the last program to disappear. There are at least three more on the brink, and six wouldn’t be surprising across Division I and Division III over the next 12 to 24 months.
We said this was coming back on May 15. At the time, some people called us crazy.
Funny how reality keeps having such an inconvenient sense of timing.
Good luck, boys. You’re going to need it.
