| During Super Bowl Weekend, the media gave | | | | get into the profession at the top. You must be |
| much attention to two African Americans making | | | | consistent, diligent and hard working. At some |
| coaching history. Unfortunately, many barriers, | | | | point your chance will come and when it does |
| such as the lack of graduates from Historically | | | | take full advantage of it and make the best of it. |
| Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the | | | | Another way to embark into the profession is |
| National Football League, are still present as | | | | through sales. This is actually the way I got in. |
| African Americans fight for a level playing field in | | | | And just like the old cliché goes "once you |
| the front office of professional sports. | | | | are in, you are in." |
| Regal Magazine sat down with Tony Wyllie, Vice | | | | Wyllie: You need to network. Who you know gets |
| President of Communications for the Houston | | | | you in the door, but what you know keeps you in |
| Texans, and Langston Adair, Sales Representative | | | | the door. Send emails, seek a mentor and don't |
| for the Oakland Raiders, to talk about their | | | | take no for an answer. Go to conventions, make |
| experiences as HBCU graduates working in the | | | | phone calls and get advice on how to get on right |
| front office of a professional sports team. Wyllie | | | | path. |
| graduated from Texas Southern University, while | | | | Regal: Do you think things are improving for HBCU |
| Adair earned his undergraduate degree from | | | | graduates? |
| Prairie View A&M University. | | | | Adair: I believe they are as long as instructors do |
| Regal: Is your degree from a HBCU respected on | | | | what they need to do and the students do what |
| the same level as a degree from a White | | | | they need to do. This is critical because you can |
| institution? | | | | almost bet that many of the students at the |
| Adair: I would say it is. Being blessed with the | | | | bigger schools are doing what they need to do in |
| opportunity to pursue and complete a degree in | | | | order to beat others out. Unfortunately, many of |
| architecture was a daunting but rewarding | | | | the big schools have decision makers in the |
| accomplishment for me. It opened up doors to | | | | executive level and it leaves others from HBCUs |
| other avenues other than just architecture. It | | | | out. |
| taught me discipline and consistency. It didn't hurt | | | | Wyllie: Absolutely. Things are improving for our |
| to also apply and complete my Masters for the | | | | people as a whole, not just HBCU grads. Take |
| University of Houston (Sports Administration). | | | | Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith coaching in the |
| Wyllie: I can't answer that. I assume so because | | | | Super Bowl for instance. Their success will also |
| how do you explain my rise from intern to Vice | | | | help corporate America see that African |
| President. I wouldn't have been able to achieve | | | | Americans can be excellent decision makers. Dr. |
| that if my degree was not respected. | | | | Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that once we are |
| Regal: What are some of the hurdles you face as | | | | given opportunities we will exceed expectations. |
| a NFL executive from a HBCU? | | | | But we still have a long way to go as far as Black |
| Adair: Learning the ropes and trying to move up | | | | general managers. |
| the social ladder. | | | | Regal: What improvements need to be made? |
| Wyllie: Because of the fact that I am Black in | | | | Adair: I think that any student coming from a |
| corporate America, I always have to prove | | | | HBCU needs to understand that getting into |
| myself everyday. Everyday you have to work | | | | sports is a rewarding and fulfilling career. It is also |
| twice as hard even if you didn't go to a HBCU. | | | | a lot of work. The biggest misconception is that |
| Regal: Do your co-workers view your degree any | | | | many students believe that they can come in at |
| differently? | | | | the top (i.e. sports agents, marketing to major |
| Adair: Actually, my co-workers respect the fact | | | | corporations, etc.). It takes a lot of hard work and |
| that I was able to obtain an undergraduate | | | | diligence. I also believe that universities need to |
| degree such as mine. Many of my colleagues | | | | address sales as a critical piece in entering the |
| have come from big and small schools all over the | | | | sports world. Many colleges and universities, big |
| nation and many of them have studies in various | | | | and small, address other issues that are important |
| undergraduate programs. I am one of seven | | | | but not as important as sales. Many of your high |
| people who have either accomplished an | | | | level executives and administrators got their |
| advanced degree or are still pursuing one. What | | | | opportunity in sales. |
| makes that number more impressing is the fact I | | | | Wyllie: We need to improve our communication |
| am one of the two who are African American. | | | | skills. People need to be able to write to work in |
| Wyllie: That is hard for me to say. I would have | | | | public relations. Websites at HBCUs are outdated. |
| to ask them. They know how much I love TSU | | | | We need to be able to keep up with technologies |
| (Texas Southern University). But I hope they | | | | such as You Tube. It is important that we tale |
| don't. | | | | advantage of websites for marketing and |
| Regal: What are some of the advantages of being | | | | promoting. We must also be aggressive, |
| a HBCU graduate in regards to working for a NFL | | | | persistent and determined. |
| franchise? | | | | Regal: What would you say to NFL franchises that |
| Adair: I would say speaking with players and other | | | | are reluctant to hire HBCU grads? |
| administrative persons that have come from the | | | | Adair: I believe that it is important that not only |
| same HBCU community. It is a built rapport that is | | | | the NFL but other leagues need to address this |
| unique and humbling. You can also speak with the | | | | situation. African American have made great |
| minority community and have some continuity | | | | strives in basketball and football. I do believe that |
| with them. | | | | overall we could improve. |
| Wyllie: When you go to a HBCU and work in | | | | Wyllie: Shame on them. They are losing out on |
| sports, you learn how to do more with less. You | | | | opportunities to get talented individuals. A large |
| then get more tools in the NFL. It makes you | | | | number of Black college graduates come from |
| really appreciative and it enables you to take your | | | | HBCUs. Those talented individuals will improve their |
| talents to the next level. At a HBCU you learn to | | | | organization. |
| multi-task. | | | | Regal: What can HBCUs do to improve their |
| Regal: Do NFL franchises make a conscious effort | | | | students' chances of obtaining employment with |
| to recruit front office personnel from HBCUs? | | | | the NFL? |
| Adair: I believe that if you have talent or a skill | | | | Adair: As mentioned previously, I believe that |
| they will make the effort to find you. I also | | | | fundamental training in sales is important and I |
| believe that individuals need to be aware and | | | | would go as far and say critical for the success |
| proactive in their pursuit in fulfilling their dreams or | | | | of aspiring HBCU students to make it into sports. |
| professional careers. | | | | Wyllie: They can reach out regionally to |
| Wyllie: I know I do. When I got my job with the | | | | professional teams in their area. HBCUs should |
| Tennessee Titans, I went straight to Tennessee | | | | help their students get their foot in the doors and |
| State to recruit game day employees. I wanted | | | | get a reputation of sending good students as |
| to give them the same opportunities I had. Now | | | | interns. It is important that they form relationships |
| you have 10 HBCU graduates working in public | | | | with different departments. Students should let |
| relations for NFL teams. Everyone makes effort | | | | teams know who they are and that they will go |
| to be diverse, but you have to bring in talented | | | | wherever the opportunities are. The schools |
| people. | | | | should make sure the kids are prepared by |
| Regal: What advice would you give a HBCU | | | | working in the school's athletic department. Once |
| student who is interested in working for a | | | | you are given an opportunity, take it to the next |
| professional sports franchise? | | | | level. |
| Adair: Students must understand that they can't | | | | |