Morgan State University will be in Detroit for the SMSB HBCU Football Academy
The second annual Sound Mind Sound Body (SMSB) HBCU College Academy will be held in Detroit from May 12-14 at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. This year, SMSB will have twice as many colleges and their football coaches in attendance. The FREE event will feature football coaches from Morgan State University.
Morgan State University is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and was founded in 1867 as Centenary Biblical Institute. The Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore had the vision to train young African American men for the Methodist ministry. They started with a budget of $5,000 and chose to name the school in honor of the 100th or Centennial anniversary of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first classes were held on April 30, 1867, at Sharp Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Morgan name was adopted in 1890, in honor of Rev. Lyttleton F. Morgan, a long-time board member who gave a large endowment to the institution. In the same year, Morgan College acquired the authority to grant college degrees. George W. F. McMechen became its first college graduate and later earned a law degree from Yale University.
On November 9, 1939, Morgan College was officially transferred to the State of Maryland and became Morgan State College. On July 1, 1975, Morgan State College was renamed Morgan State University and was designated as the state’s public urban university.
U.S. News ranked Morgan State University as the 12th best HBCU in the nation in 2022. Notable alumni of Morgan include Black Enterprise Magazine founder Earl G. Graves, comedian and actress Mo’Nique, journalist April Ryan, and former Detroit Eastern (King) running back and NFL player John Fuqua.
Morgan State University football has fielded a team since 1898 and plays in the MEAC Conference. One of its close rivals is Howard University. Morgan State has had a number of ties to Detroit football over years. On its current roster is Detroit King 2018 grad, Jae’Veyon Morton. William Carr is the interim head coach after the departure of Tyrone Wheatley Sr. back to the NFL.
