Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – Interview with Dr. Wes Bellamy and B. Dot on the Black College Invitational Championship + More

Release Date: March 6, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Breakfast Club, hosted by DJ Envy, Charlamagne Tha God, and featuring special guests Dr. Wes Bellamy and B. Dot, the focus centers on the inaugural Black College Invitational Championship (BCIC). The discussion delves into the origins of the tournament, the challenges faced by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and the vision behind creating a platform that celebrates black collegiate sports and culture.

Inception of the Black College Invitational Championship (BCIC)

Charlamagne Tha God opens the conversation by sharing the genesis of the BCIC. He recounts a pivotal moment on a social media platform where frustrations over HBCUs not receiving adequate representation in the NCAA tournament sparked the idea.

“We were on a social media platform that shall not be named, and we saw a bunch of people complaining that a particular school, Norfolk State, didn't get into the NCAA tournament… We need to have our own tournament.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [04:24]

He further explains how a dream in December 2023 inspired him to take concrete steps toward realizing this vision, leading to the establishment of the BCIC within a year.

Structure and Vision of the BCIC

Dr. Wes Bellamy provides insight into the organizational aspects of the BCIC, highlighting its independence from traditional entities like the NCAA.

“This is different from the NCAA because the BCIC actually pays the schools to come. That's different right there.”
– Dr. Wes Bellamy [04:13]

Charlamagne emphasizes that the BCIC is designed to be a self-sustaining tournament that fully supports participating schools by covering travel, lodging, and providing entry fees.

“We started this endeavor to do this specifically for us. We take care of all the fees. We pay for travel, lodging… the winning schools get $25,000.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [03:54]

Sponsorship and Funding Challenges

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the difficulties in securing sponsorships, a critical component for the tournament's success. Charlamagne candidly shares the financial strain of organizing the event without substantial sponsorship support.

“We've had to put on [the tournament] and we haven't had the sponsorship support in which you see again from other entities.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [15:28]

Dr. Bellamy acknowledges Charlamagne's efforts in leveraging his connections to bring various conferences and teams on board.

“Connections. The fact that he knows certain people and he was able to talk to them, that was able to…”
– Dr. Wes Bellamy [13:53]

Event Structure and Features

Charlamagne outlines the comprehensive nature of the BCIC, which extends beyond basketball games to include a variety of cultural and educational events aimed at promoting HBCU culture and community engagement.

“We have a wide variety of different in-game entertainment opportunities… themed nights… HBCU bands, giveaways, and then it's a whole week of events.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [09:07]

Specific events include:

• Golf Tournament on Tuesday
• HBCU Sustainability Summit on Wednesday, featuring HBCU presidents
• Empowerment Luncheon hosted by the Durant Family Foundation
• High School Education Days on Thursday and Friday, involving recruitment fairs
• Step Show Culminating Event on Sunday evening

“It's not just about the games. But make no mistake about it, if people don't come and support this year, there will be no year two.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [10:50]

Community Impact and Goals

The hosts and guests emphasize the importance of community support in ensuring the BCIC's sustainability and success. They discuss the tournament as a means to foster unity among HBCUs, enhance cultural exchange, and provide student-athletes with greater exposure and opportunities.

“We're building our own table. Like we don't need anybody else to do anything for us. But when we do build this table, come eat with your own.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [10:46]

Dr. Bellamy highlights the potential of the BCIC to be a cornerstone in black history by creating a lasting legacy for HBCUs.

“This is the first of his, of his calling. You dig what I'm saying? Like, again, Wes told you, like this his brainchild.”
– Dr. Wes Bellamy [06:49]

Media Coverage and Broadcast Partnership

Addressing the visibility of the BCIC, Charlamagne announces a partnership with Rise, a new network under Samsung, marking the BCIC as the first sports entity on their platform.

“We have a television partner with Rise. It's a new network. They're part of Samsung, so we're the first sports entity on their platform.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [21:38]

This partnership ensures that the tournament's games will be streamed and televised, increasing accessibility for a wider audience.

Tickets and Participation

The discussion turns to ticket sales and accessibility, with Charlamagne encouraging listeners to purchase affordable tickets to support the event.

“Tickets are $40 per session… we need butts in the seats.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [27:47]

He directs listeners to purchase tickets via Ticketmaster or the official BCIC website, emphasizing the importance of community attendance for the tournament's future.

“Look us up on Instagram. You'll see all the history of this coming together. Follow the journey.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [28:34]

Conclusion

In their final remarks, the hosts and guests reiterate the significance of the BCIC as a self-initiated endeavor to uplift HBCUs and create a sustainable platform for black collegiate sports. They call for unwavering support from the community to ensure the success of this groundbreaking tournament.

“It's going to be a first-class event with first-class basketball. It’s the same weekend as March Madness. This is HBCU March Madness.”
– Charlamagne Tha God [30:47]

The episode concludes with a unified message of empowerment, unity, and the collective responsibility to support HBCUs through initiatives like the BCIC.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• “We started this endeavor to do this specifically for us.” – Charlamagne Tha God [03:54]
• “This is different from the NCAA because the BCIC actually pays the schools to come.” – Dr. Wes Bellamy [04:13]
• “We need butts in the seats.” – Charlamagne Tha God [27:47]
• “It's the first of his, of his calling.” – Dr. Wes Bellamy [06:49]
• “Tickets are $40 per session… we need butts in the seats.” – Charlamagne Tha God [27:47]

Final Thoughts

The interview with Dr. Wes Bellamy and B. Dot provides an in-depth look into the creation and aspirations of the Black College Invitational Championship. It underscores the importance of HBCUs in the fabric of collegiate sports and the broader community. Through their proactive approach, the hosts aim to not only host a successful tournament but also to lay the groundwork for future initiatives that celebrate and support Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

For more information and to support the BCIC, visit www.blackcollegechampionship.org or follow their journey on Instagram.