N.C. Central coach Trei Oliver.

The MEAC Digital Network is now the MEAC Network.

Dropping the “Digital” expands the network to include more than just streaming games or student-produced studio shows. Like its FCS rival the SWAC, the MEAC plans to branch out to cover more live events, championship competitions, plus original programming and exclusive content from member institutions that fans can’t find anywhere else.

“The evolution represents our continued commitment to enhancing the fan experience and showcasing the incredible stories, student-athletes and institutions that make this conference special,” MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said Tuesday at media day.

The MEAC Network is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android and the Network’s website.

Stills was literally beaming on The Pivot podcast with co-hosts Ryan Clark, who was fired by ESPN the day before, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. Ironically, the event was streamed live on ESPN+.

Stills has every reason to glow. The conference took back its crowns from the SWAC last season, winning both the MEAC-SWAC Challenge to open the season and the Cricket Celebration Bowl to close out the season. In between, MEAC teams went undefeated against their SWAC rivals to complete a 5-0 season sweep.

When asked by Clark what makes the MEAC so special, Stills referenced that it is the only conference with all research-based institutions. Howard is the crème de la crème in that area, with the remaining seven a step behind but also producing important work.

“I feel like we are the Ivy League of HBCUs,” she said. “They are eight (teams) and we are eight. And we’re (MEAC) strong together. We want those investors and those brands to understand how valuable MEAC football can be. It’s about the culture of who we are.” 

Don’t Forget Who’s In Charge

The head coaches were the stars of the podcast show.

The Pivot crew interviewed N.C. Central coach Trei Oliver, Delaware State coach DeSean Jackson and Howard coach Ted White in one roundtable 30-minute segment, and South Carolina State coach Chennis Berry, Norfolk State coach Michael Vick and Morgan State coach Damon Wilson in the second.

The conversations didn’t center around who’s coming back, preseason rankings or other boring stuff the media will write about all season.

Instead, it was barbershop talk about what it takes to coach at an HBCU, how to engage with today’s student-athletes, how the landscape has changed with NIL, the continuous fight for respect within the coaching profession and much more.

Jackson, who enters his second season at DSU, admitted he had no idea coaching was going to be the least of his duties.

Oliver, now in his seventh season on the field (eighth overall), held cooking classes for players and even had them learn how to change a tire

When Taylor jokingly asked if he was wasting his time, Oliver replied: “Somebody’s going to take out my granddaughter one day.”

White, proudly sporting a Howard jersey that said “Unapologetically HBCU Educated” recalled his close relationship with Howard coach Steve Wilson and how he wants to parlay the same with his players as the Bison’s new coach.

There is so much more. Watch both segments below and enjoy. You can thank me later.

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