The problem (and I use that term loosely) is that the vast majority of people equate all HBCUs to be on the same level as far as facilities... no matter whether D1, D2, or NAIA. When we speak about HBCUs we often do so speaking on all HBCUs, but that shouldn't carry over into athletics. Whenever I get into discussions like this (even with fellow HBCU alums) they do the same thing until I show them pictures and evidence that their argument is based on ignorance and perception. Not just that, but all HBCUs are NOT on the same level. That's why I've always hated us bragging about the mythical Black College Football Championship. It compares us and competes us against lower division competition. How does that make any sense from a marketing strategy? There are high school stadiums in DC that are better looking, larger, more advanced than Howard's football stadium. But Howard gets a lot more publicity than most other HBCUs, and as a result are the standard bearers for all other HBCUs. That obviously isn't the standard at SWAC stadiums where our facilities rival FBS G5 conference facilities.
We (SWAC) have to do a better job of marketing ourselves to the general public, because we compete at the same level as the Alabama's, Clemson's, USC's, UCLA's, Notre Dame's, Texas' in every sport other than football, but if you ask most recruits or general public to tell it, we compete on a lower level than those schools.
When people think of HBCU facilities they're more than likely picturing some dilapidated structure being held together by duct tape and rust, and not stadiums and arenas that are in the SWAC. We need to change that narrative, and the best way to do that is through improving our marketing and national TV exposure in our home stadiums playing marquee games.