Loving The Hill Isn’t the Same for Everyone… And That’s the New Reality

For Alabama A&M alumnus, The Hill is personal.

It’s not just where we went to school. It’s where we became who we are. The Marching Maroon & White, tailgates on game day, late nights on campus, Homecoming memories, lifelong friendships, all that stays with us long after graduation. Our love for Alabama A&M doesn’t end. It grows.

But in today’s era of NIL and the transfer portal, Bulldog fans and alumni must accept a difficult truth. Many players don’t and won’t love Alabama A&M the way we do. And that doesn’t mean they’re wrong.

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HBCU Love Hits Different… But So Does Reality

At HBCUs, the connection is deeper. Culture matters. Legacy matters. We talk about family, brotherhood, and “once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.” That language means something to alumni because we lived it. But for today’s athletes, especially in the SWAC, Alabama A&M may be a stop, not a destination.

When another opportunity offers more money, more visibility, or a clearer path to the next level, many players will move, even if they appreciated their time on The Hill. That’s not betrayal. That’s survival.

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NIL Changed the HBCU Equation

NIL didn’t change the culture of HBCUs, it exposed the imbalance.

While alumni are emotionally invested, many SWAC programs simply can’t match the NIL money or marketing opportunities available elsewhere. Players, agents and families notice that.

Alumni were raised on loyalty. Players are raised on leverage. That gap creates frustration, but it’s not the player’s fault.

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The Transfer Portal Hurts More at HBCUs

When a player leaves an HBCU, it feels personal. It feels like they didn’t value the culture, they didn’t appreciate the opportunity and like they used the program.

But the reality is this: many players do appreciate Alabama A&M, they just can’t afford to stay if something better presents itself.

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Loving Alabama A&M vs. Expecting Lifetime Loyalty

Bulldog fans must adjust. We have to support the program, support the brand and support the institution. We have stop expecting every player to love Alabama A&M forever. Some will and those players will always mean more to the fan base. Others won’t and that doesn’t erase what they gave while they were here.

Effort, professionalism, and respect matter more than promises of loyalty that the system no longer supports.

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What Will Always Matter

Alabama A&M will always belong to the alumni. The players change. The rosters change. The coaches change. The president changes. The athletics department personnel changes… But The Hill remains because alumni keep it alive, through attendance, donations, support, and pride.

Our responsibility is not to guilt players into staying. Our responsibility is to strengthen the program so staying becomes competitive again.

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A Necessary Shift for Bulldog Nation

College athletics at HBCUs is no longer about lifelong bonds between players and institutions. It’s about temporary alignment. Alabama A&M provides opportunity and platform. Players provide talent and effort. When the alignment ends, both move forward.

That doesn’t diminish the culture, it challenges us to protect it.

Alumni will always love Alabama A&M deeply. Players may only love it briefly. And both truths can exist, if we’re honest about the era we’re in.

-Tonarius T. Gooden