The Baltimore Ravens will have some special guests to wrap up their late spring preparation.
As part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, sideline representatives from local historically black universities Bowie State and Morgan State are soaking up the action.
Coaches were on hand for the Ravens' final organized team activities and some, like Morgan State defensive coordinator Antone’ Sewell, can't wait to take in the upcoming mandatory minicamp that will lead into the summer.
“From a tangible standpoint, it’s been about getting some new ideas," Sewell told The Baltimore Sun. "(I got) some fresh ideas to implement defensively as well as taking notes on some things I can share with coach (MSU head coach Damon) Wilson and our staff in terms of how we can possibly operate more efficiently on a day-to-day basis.”
The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship's mission statement is to serve "as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches." It affords coaches at HBUs a chance to work head-on with professional coaching staffs and paves the way for them to eventually don an NFL headset.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was more than happy to welcome the sideline visitors.
"They’ve been involved in everything," Harbaugh said, mentioning that the coaches also sat in on positional meetings before taking the field. "(It's) a great opportunity to get to know those guys, great opportunity just to kind of give back from a football perspective. I know, coaches, we like talking ball, so it’s good having those guys here.”
While the conversation has been rich, Sewell and Co. are keeping things professional as their continued mentorship awaits.
“I expected it to be strictly business," Sewell said Every day, (Harbaugh) is sharing nuggets and giving guys information that can help you be a better football player but also just be a better man. That’s refreshing because it’s also something that [Morgan State head] coach [Damon] Wilson has always been about.”
Among those joining Sewell in Owings Mills was Bowie State offensive line coach Maurice Paulk, who was said to have shadowed Ravens blocking boss Joe D’Alessandris. Each is looking to carry on the recent momentum HBCU football generated thanks to part to events like former Ravens corner Deion Sanders' head coaching tenure at Jackson State and the Celebration Bowl's elevation to national television at the onset of Football Bowl Subdivision's postseason.
"I don’t want to be considered just an HBCU football coach,” Paulk declared. “It’s great because I went to an HBCU. There’s a lot of talent, you can see the NFL is taking heed to it, and just being able to give back is a great deal. But I just want to be the best coach I can be.”
Division II Bowie State finished 6-4 last season and will open its 2023 campaign on Sept. 2 against Delaware State. Morgan State is looking to recover from a 4-7 mark and kicks off on that same day against Richmond.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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