Fisk University’s groundbreaking gymnastics team will be no more after next season, the school announced on Friday. 

According to a release, the Bulldogs plan to discontinue the nation’s first historically Black college or university gymnastics program at the end of the spring 2026 season. 

The decision came after “a comprehensive review of the gymnastics program and its alignment with the HBCU Athletic Conference.” Fisk faced considerable challenges, per the release, in scheduling and recruitment because gymnastics is not sanctioned by the conference.

“While we are tremendously proud of the history our gymnastics team has made in just three years, we look forward to focusing on our conference-affiliated teams to strengthen our impact in the HBCU Athletic Conference,” Fisk Director of Athletics Valencia Jordan said in the release.

“Fisk is grateful for the hard work, dedication and tenacity of its gymnasts, staff members, and coaches who made this program possible.”

Fisk previously promoted donations for the gymnastics team through its university website. Funds supported scholarships, training, nutrition, travel assistance and equipment upgrades among other expenses, according to the site.

Already departed from the program are its inaugural head coach Corrinne Tarver and six-time national champion Morgan Price. 

Tarver announced her exit from Fisk in February. Price transferred to Arkansas last month. 

The school said after Tarver’s departure that a national search would commence for a new head coach. Former meet director and social media manager Nuriya Mack was named interim coach for the rest of the spring season.

Together they founded the first HBCU to compete in NCAA gymnastics. 

Long before becoming Fisk’s coach in March 2022, Tarver was the first Black woman to win an NCAA all-around gymnastics championship. 

She was promoted to the role of athletic director for the Bulldogs in July 2022 but was replaced by Jordan in 2023.

Price, a Lebanon native and multi-time All-American, was the first HBCU gymnast to record a perfect score with her uneven bar performance this season at Temple University. In April she won five individual titles for Fisk at the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitation Championship.

“Morgan Price has served as a phenomenal ambassador for Fisk University and embodied the incredible ways our institution continues its history-making legacy,” Fisk President Agenia Clark said in a statement following Price’s transfer. “I am extremely proud of all she has accomplished and the light she’s been able to shine on Fisk.”

Fisk’s final gymnastics season will run through April of next year.

Unveiling the Intrigue: Eric Blum’s Controversial Symphony

In the world of sports, where every move is scrutinized and every word dissected, few figures command attention quite like Eric Blum. Known for his incisive commentary and ability to stir the pot, Blum has once again captured the spotlight with his latest revelation, leaving fans and critics alike buzzing with speculation and intrigue.

The Maestro of Controversy

Eric Blum’s latest disclosure has set the sports world ablaze, reminiscent of a conductor leading an orchestra through a tumultuous symphony. His words, sharp and precise, have a way of resonating deeply, challenging the status quo and prompting a reevaluation of long-held beliefs. Blum’s reputation for not shying away from controversial topics has made him a polarizing figure, yet undeniably influential in shaping public discourse.

A Legacy of Provocation

Blum’s career has been marked by a series of bold statements and daring insights that have often put him at odds with conventional wisdom. His ability to articulate complex issues with clarity and conviction has earned him a devoted following, as well as a fair share of detractors. Whether addressing the intricacies of team dynamics or the broader implications of sports in society, Blum’s commentary is never short of thought-provoking.

The Latest Revelation

The recent revelation that has everyone talking is no exception to Blum’s storied history of stirring debate. While details remain shrouded in mystery, the impact of his words is undeniable. Fans are left to ponder the implications, dissecting every nuance in search of deeper meaning. Blum’s ability to keep audiences engaged, even when the full picture is yet to be revealed, speaks to his mastery of narrative and timing.

Reflection and Future Possibilities

As the dust begins to settle and the sports community grapples with the latest wave of controversy, one thing remains clear: Eric Blum’s influence is as potent as ever. His revelations serve as a reminder of the power of words to inspire change and ignite conversation. Looking ahead, the question on everyone’s mind is what Blum will unveil next and how it will continue to shape the ever-evolving landscape of sports commentary.

In the grand tapestry of sports, Eric Blum stands as a figure who challenges norms and invites us to look beyond the surface. His latest revelation is not just a moment of controversy but an invitation to engage with the complexities of the sporting world in a meaningful way.

The Tulane Green Wave football team has about two more months until fall camp begins in preparation for the 2025 college football season.

The Green Wave are entering their second season under head coach Jon Sumrall, who led the team to a 9-5 record last year, a third straight trip to the American Athletic Conference title game, and a berth to the Gasparilla Bowl.

While they lost a lot of star talent this offseason in the transfer portal, namely starting quarterback Darian Mensah and running back Makhi Hughes, Tulane football kept Sumrall and both coordinators, giving the program stability.

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Sumrall is only in his fourth year as a head coach in college football, but he’s catching attention across the nation as a coach to watch in the Group of Five.

Sumrall appeared on Josh Pate’s College Football Show this past offseason and made an impression on the CFB host in his first year with the Green Wave.

Pate recently named the most underrated head coaches in college football on his show.

More News: Tulane Football Transfer Impresses with ‘Shock and Shed’ Spring Performance

When Pate got to the G5 level, he immediately zeroed in on two AAC coaches he believes will be at Power Four jobs soon: Sumrall and South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Golesh.

Pate thinks Sumrall and Golesh could already have jobs at that level, but they know college football is a business first and foremost, and they’re both in good spots.

That’s good news for Tulane fans as he continued to boost Sumrall’s profile.

“Jon Sumrall is only a fourth-year head coach, but he’s got two titles at Troy,” Pate said. “He just went 9-5 at Tulane. We went down there a couple of months ago, spent the afternoon with him, and he just gets it. I don’t know; you know when you’re sitting with the real deal. He’s the real deal.”

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Pate likely saw a candid version of Sumrall, as that sit-down was around the time Mensah left for the Duke Blue Devils, and things were still raw.

That type of passion is also what has resonated with fans and insiders across the sport, as has his adaptable mentality that’s critical for success in the current NIL era.

Now, the Green Wave walloped the Bulls last year in a 45-10 win to start conference play, but they were a team that went toe-to-toe with the Alabama Crimson Tide and lost their quarterback to an injury in the loss at Yulman Stadium.

They won’t see them this season unless both make the title game—undoubtedly a goal for Tulane that they know they can reach.

For More Green Wave News, Head to Tulane Green Wave on SI

The New England Patriots’ running back room will largely revolve around workhorse Rhamondre Stevenson and incoming second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson. That leaves veteran Antonio Gibson to compete for the scraps, a battle he seems to be losing at the moment.

Jordy McElroy of the Patriots Wire identified Gibson as one of the biggest losers from New England’s organized team activities (OTAs) thus far. The listing isn’t necessarily because of what the rising sixth-year pro is or isn’t doing; it’s more about undrafted free agent (UDFA) tailback Lan Larison.

UDFA Lan Larison may spell the end of veteran RB Antonio Gibson’s time with the Patriots

Gibson’s “name is starting to fade into the background,” McElroy said, citing Henderson and Larison as reasons why. However, the writer sensibly highlights that this notion may be a tad premature, knowing the Patriots are still practicing in shorts and t-shirts.

Declaring the Pats ready to cut Gibson loose at this juncture in the offseason “might seem somewhat unfair, considering [they’ve] practiced without pads,” McElroy stated. Yet, Henderson’s arrival instantly moves him down the depth chart. Moreover, he “might not even be the No. 3 option if Larison’s stock continues to rise.”

Getting to know Patriots UDFA RB Lan Larison

Why favor Larison, an older (23) prospect from UC Davis who didn’t hear his name called in this year’s draft, over Gibson, you may ask? Versatility.

Larison can do it all. He can carve up opponents on the ground and through the air. His 2,387 all-purpose yards in 2024 marked a UC Davis school record, including a 284-1,465-17 rushing line and 62-847-6 receiving tally.

Furthermore, Larison was both effective and protective with the football in his hands in college. He never fumbled across five campaigns at UC Davis. Being able to tote and hold onto the rock is notable, especially because Gibson and Stevenson have each had their fair share of fumble problems.

Not only did Larison dominate the FCS out of the backfield, but he’s a kicking unit weapon. UC Davis relinquished him of this role during his final two collegiate seasons because he was too valuable as their offensive centerpiece. Nonetheless, his All-Big Sky First Team selection in 2022 came as a special teamer.

A true jack of all trades, Larison was even deployed as a passer at times! He completed 5-of-7 attempts for 45 scoreless yards and an interception as a fifth-year senior. So, Gibson isn’t the only one who should be on alert: Franchise quarterback Drake Maye could also be in trouble (kidding).

Sydney Moore and Sabrina Ootsburg were surrounded by hundreds of college athletes at a convention in Charlotte when news broke that the $2.8 billion NCAA settlement had been approved by a federal judge. In a room full of college athletes, they felt like the only two people who understood the gravity of the situation.

“I’m about to get paid,” Moore said a Division I football player told her.

“Yes, you are about to get paid, and a lot of your women athlete friends are about to get cut,” she responded.

Moore acknowledged that her response might be a stretch, but while the sprawling House settlement clears the way for college athletes to get a share of revenue directly from their schools and provides a lucky few a shot at long-term financial stability, it raises genuine concerns for others.

Schools that opt in will be able to share up to $20.5 million with their athletes over the next year starting July 1. The majority is expected to be spent on high-revenue generating sports, with most projections estimating 75% of funds will go toward football.

So what happens to the non-revenue-generating sports which, outside of football and basketball, is pretty much all of them?

It’s a query that’s top of mind for Ootsburg as she enters her senior year at Belmont, where she competes on the track and field team.

“My initial thought was, is this good or bad? What does this mean for me? How does this affect me? But more importantly, in the bigger picture, how does it affect athletes as a whole?” Ootsburg said.

“You look at the numbers where it says most of the revenue, up to 75% to 85%, will go toward football players. You understand it’s coming from the TV deals, but then it’s like, how does that affect you on the back end?” Ootsburg asked. “Let’s say $800K goes toward other athletes. Will they be able to afford other things like care, facilities, resources or even just snacks?”

Moore has similar concerns. She just completed her fifth and final year of eligibility at Syracuse University, where she was a key member of the volleyball team. Like Ootsburg, she’s become a pioneer in the NIL space and an advocate for college athletes, even though her on-court ventures are behind her.

Moore says most female athletes aren’t worried about how much – if any – money they’ll receive. They fear how changes could impact the student-athlete experience.

“A lot of us would much rather know that our resources and our experience as a student-athlete is going to stay the same, or possibly get better, rather than be given $3,000, but now I have to cover my meals, I have to pay for my insurance, I have to buy ankle braces because we don’t have any, and the athletic training room isn’t stocked,” Moore said over the weekend as news of Friday night’s settlement approval spread.

One of the biggest problems, Ootsburg and Moore said, is that athletes aren’t familiar with the changes. At AthleteCon in Charlotte, North Carolina, they said, perhaps the biggest change in college sports history was a push notification generally shrugged off by those directly impacted.

“Athletes do not know what’s happening,” Ootsburg said. “Talking to my teammates, it’s so new, and they see the headlines and they’re like, ‘OK, cool, but is someone going to explain this?’ because they can read it, but then there’s so many underlying factors that go into this. This is a complex problem that you have to understand the nuances behind, and not every athlete truly does.”

Some coaches, too, are still trying to understand what’s coming.

Mike White, coach of the national champion Texas softball team, called it “the great unknown right now.”

“My athletic director, Chris Del Conte, said it’s like sailing out on a flat world and coming off the edge; we just don’t know what’s going to be out there yet, especially the way the landscape is changing,” he said at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. “Who knows what it’s going to be?”

Jake Rimmel got a crash course on the settlement in the fall of 2024, when he said he was cut from the Virginia Tech cross-country team alongside several other walk-ons. The topic held up the House case for weeks as the judge basically forced schools to give athletes cut in anticipation of approval a chance to play — they have to earn the spot, no guarantees — without counting against roster limits.

Rimmel packed up and moved back to his parents’ house in Purcellville, Virginia. For the past six months, he’s held on to a glimmer of hope that maybe he could return.

“The past six months have been very tough,” he said. “I’ve felt so alone through this, even though I wasn’t. I just felt like the whole world was out there – I would see teammates of mine and other people I knew just doing all of these things and still being part of a team. I felt like I was sidelined and on pause, while they’re continuing to do all these things.”

News that the settlement had been approved sent Rimmel looking for details.

“I didn’t see much about roster limits,” he said. “Everyone wants to talk about NIL and the revenue-sharing and I mean, that’s definitely a big piece of it, but I just didn’t see anything about the roster limits, and that’s obviously my biggest concern.”

The answer only presents more questions for Rimmel.

“We were hoping for more of a forced decision with the grandfathering, which now it’s only voluntary, so I’m a little skeptical of things because I have zero clue how schools are going to react to that,” Rimmel told The Associated Press.

Rimmel is still deciding what’s best for him, but echoed Moore and Ootsburg in saying that answers are not obvious: “I’m just hoping the schools can make the right decisions with things and have the best interest of the people who were cut.”

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AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt contributed.

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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports