Famend civil rights legal professional Ben Crump is contributing $10,000 to Tennessee State College’s (TSU) NCAA Division I males’s hockey group, marking a historic second as TSU turns into the primary Traditionally Black Faculty and College (HBCU) to area a D1 hockey program. The donation helps the group’s $5 million fundraising aim to maintain its first two seasons.
“I’m honored to help Tennessee State College as they break boundaries and convey range to the game of hockey,” Crump acknowledged. “This group represents extra than simply competitors on the ice — it’s about increasing alternatives, difficult stereotypes, and paving the best way for future generations of Black athletes.”
TSU introduced the creation of its hockey program in 2023, aiming to extend range in a sport the place Black gamers made up lower than 1% of NCAA males’s hockey in 2019. In April 2024, TSU made historical past once more by hiring Duanté Abercrombie as its first head coach, making him each the primary Black male coach to guide a D1 hockey group and the primary HBCU hockey coach.
“This program is greater than hockey,” stated Abercrombie. “It’s about opening doorways and displaying younger athletes of all backgrounds that they belong on this sport.”
TSU continues to lift funds for scholarships, services, and operations forward of its 2025-26 debut season. Donations will be made by texting “TSUHockey” to 41444 or visiting TSUTigers.com/Hockey/Donate.
