A Staff Report
ATLANTA — The Internal Revenue Service tax filings for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) for the 2023 calendar year — the tax year beginning July 2, 2023 and ending on June 20, 2024 – field in February 2025 show a huge difference between the Division I HBCU sports conference.
The SWAC, with 12 membership schools, doubled the MEAC’s revenue, $20.4 million to $11.1 million. The MEAC with recent defections for Florida A&M (2021), N.C. A&T (2021), Bethune-Cookman (2021) and Hampton (2018), has just eight members and six with football programs.
Dr. Charles McClelland is the commissioner of the SWAC. Sonja Still is the commissioner of the MEAC, which is expected to receive a boost from Michael Vick being named head football coach at Norfolk State and DeSean Jackson being named head coach at Delaware State.
Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore do not field football programs.
FAMU and Bethune-Cookman left for the SWAC. N.C. A&T and Hampton left for the Big South, but both are currently in the Colonial Athletic Conference.
Tennessee State, a former SIAC (1926-29) and Midwest Athletic Association (1945-1966) member, have been in the Ohio Valley Conference since 1986.
Langston competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and is a former member of the SWAC (1931-32, 1956-57). The Lions are currently a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.
There have been reports that Morehouse is considering a move to Division I and could be eyeing the MEAC, which has longed to have a bigger presence in Atlanta.
Before Morehouse HBCU NYC Classic battle with Howard in 2024, new head football coach Terance Mathis, a former NFL star, confirmed that discussions are in progress about Morehouse moving up a level and likely joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
“There has been talk about moving up, and we’re preparing ourselves for that,” Mathis said during the coaches’ press conference. “If that is the future of this program, we’ll be ready when it happens.”
The MEAC also operated at a $2 million deficit as they have $13.1 million in expenses, with just $11.1 million in revenue.
The SWAC had $8.29 million in expenses as they $11.11 million in surplus.
Here’s a side by side look at the two conferences:
MEAC, headquarters in Norfolk, Va. (Tax exempt since 1973) (EIN – 56-0992403)
Designated: 501 c 4 (Donations to this organization are not tax deductible)
$11.1 million revenue (2024)
$13.1 million expenses (2024)
$4.06 million total assets (2024)
$2.88 million total liabilities (2024)
SWAC, headquarters in Birmingham, Ala. (Tax exempt since 1986) (EIN 64-0679979)
Designated: 501 c 3 (Donations to this organization are tax deductible)
$20.4 million revenue (2024)
$8.29 million expenses (2024)
$18 million total assets (2024)
$0 total liabilities (2024)
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is set to host its 54th of intercollegiate competition with the 2025-26 academic school year approaching. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is comprised of eight outstanding historically Black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.
About the Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) was established in 1920. The founding fathers of the original “Super Six” were C.H. Fuller of Bishop College, Red Randolph and C.H. Patterson of Paul Quinn, E.G. Evans, H.J. Evans and H.J. Starns of Prairie View A&M, D.C. Fuller of Texas College and G. Whitte Jordan of Wiley College. The current members are Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Grambling State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.