HBCU Football: Coach Chennis Berry Discusses East-West Shrine Bowl, HBCU Fellowship, Aaron Smith

The MEAC Championship head coach is a member of the HBCU Coaching Fellowship at this year's event.
Coach Chennis Berry and Bonnie-Jill Laflin
Coach Chennis Berry and Bonnie-Jill Laflin / Credit: East-West Shrine

Thursday night's 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl will have two HBCU football coaches, Chennis Berry (South Carolina State) and Dr. Alvin Parker (VA Union), working as members of the HBCU Coaching Fellowship.

South Carolina State linebacker Aaron Smith is the lone HBCU player represented at the 100th all-star classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.  

Bonnie-Jill Laflin spoke with Chennis Berry about his role and Smith's appearance in tonight's game, and here are his quotes:

HBCU Fellowship Program

"First of all, I was grateful to be here to represent South Carolina State University. When I'm part of the HBCU fellowship program here with the East West Shrine, and it's great just to be able to network with the different coaches and the different people in the NFL organizations..."

Coach Chennis Berry on Aaron Smith

"Speaking of Aaron, he definitely spoke about how you've been such a mentor and how you've helped him through this journey."

On Preparing Players for Life

"We just try to give him life lessons to get him ready for the game of life, because we know ultimately at the end of the day, these young men are their game's gonna end one day, and it has an expiration date, and we gotta get him ready for the game of life."

Life Beyond Football

"Although football is important and and them exceeding on the football field, but being better men, better fathers, better husbands is what we're all about in our program."

HBCU IN EAST-WEST SHRINE HALL OF FAME

On Wednesday night, Tennessee State head coach Eddie George was inducted into the East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame alongside former NFL Super Bowl Champion and LSU standout Andrew Whitworth.

George was named the Big South-OVC Coach of the Year in 2024 and was a finalist for the 2024 Eddie Robinson Award, which recognizes the top coach in NCAA FCS Division I football.

Tennessee State (9-4) earned a trip to the NCAA FCS Playoffs and lost against Montana, 41-27.

HBCU PLAYERS ON THE ALL-CENTURY TEAM

Several legendary football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been selected for the East-West Shrine All-Century Team.

  • Doug Williams - Grambling State
  • Walter Payton - Jackson State
  • Robet Brazile - Jackson State
  • Shannon Sharpe - Savannah State

HOW TO WATCH THE 2025 EAST-WEST SHRINE BEOW

  • Network: NFL Network
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Date: Thursday, Jan. 30  
  • Venue: AT&T Stadium   
  • Where: Arlington, Texas

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Kyle T. Mosley
KYLE T. MOSLEY

I am Kyle T. Mosley, the Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends, Saints News Network, and Pelicans Scoop on FanNation a Sports Illustrated team channel since October 2019.  Morehouse Alum, McDonogh #35 Roneagles (NOLA), Drum Major of the Tenacious Four.  My Father, Mother, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles were HBCU graduates! Host of "Blow the Whistle" HBCU Legends, "The Quad" with Coach Steward, and "Bayou Blitz" Podcasts. Radio/Media Appearances:  WWL AM/FM Radio in New Orleans (Mike Detillier/Bobby Hebert),  KCOH AM 1230 in Houston (Ralph Cooper), WBOK AM in New Orleans (Reggie Flood/Ro Brown), and 103.7FM "The Game" (Jordy Hultberg/Clint Domingue), College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt), Jeff Lightsly Show, and Offscript TV on YouTube. Television Appearance: Fox26 in Houston on The Isiah Carey Factor, College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt). My Notable Interviews:  Byron Allen (Media Mogul), Deion Sanders (Jackson State University, Head Coach), Tomekia Reed (Jackson State Lady Tigers Basketball Coach), Taylor Rooks (NBA Reporter), Swin Cash (VP of Basketball - New Orlean Pelicans), Demario and Tamala Davis (NFL Player), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Doug Williams (HBCU & NFL Legend), Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer), James "Shack" Harris (HBCU & NFL Legend), Cris Carter (Hall of Famer), Solomon Wilcots (SiriusXM NFL Host), Steve Wyche (NFL Network), Jim Trotter (NFL Network), Travis Williams (Founder of HBCU All-Stars, LLC), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL Player), Cam Jordan (NFL), Demario Davis (NFL), Allan Houston (NBA All-Star), Drew Brees (Former NFL QB), Deuce McAllister (Former NFL RB), Willie Roaf (NFL Hall of Fame), Jim Everett (Former NFL Player), Quinn Early (Former NFL Player), Dr. Reef (NFL Players' Trainer Specialist), Nataria Holloway (VP of the NFL). I am building a new team of journalists, podcasters, videographers, and interns.  For media requests, interviews, or interest in joining HBCU Legends, please contact me at kmosley@hbcusi.com. Follow me: