Shaw University head coach Lamar Manigo is seeing signs of growth in his Bears squad as the team moves deeper into its season. In his assessment of the team's trajectory, Manigo noted that he has observed improvement since the opening week of play, a signal that the program is building momentum heading into its Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association schedule.
The CIAA, one of the nation's oldest and most storied historically Black college athletic conferences, represents a significant test for any program. Conference play demands consistency, discipline, and the kind of incremental progress that Manigo appears to be identifying in his current roster. The coach's public acknowledgment of improvement—even at this early stage—suggests a team that is responding to instruction and adjusting to the demands of collegiate football.
For a program like Shaw, which carries the legacy of one of North Carolina's most prominent HBCUs, the early weeks of a season often serve as a crucible. Coaches use non-conference and early-season games to identify weaknesses, build chemistry, and establish the foundational habits that will define a team's identity. Manigo's observation that his Bears have improved since week one indicates that this developmental process is underway.
The specific areas of improvement remain unclear from the coach's statement, but the fact that he is publicly noting progress is noteworthy. In college football, coaches are often measured by their ability to identify problems quickly and implement solutions. The willingness to acknowledge growth—rather than focus solely on remaining deficiencies—can be a sign of a program moving in a positive direction.
As Shaw transitions into CIAA play, the Bears will face opponents who know the conference landscape intimately. The CIAA has produced competitive football programs for decades, and success in the conference requires teams to sustain the kind of week-to-week improvement that Manigo is already observing. Whether the Bears can maintain this trajectory through a full conference schedule will be a key indicator of the program's health and direction.
Why this matters: Shaw University's football program represents an important part of the HBCU athletic ecosystem, and coaching stability combined with measurable improvement signals that the program is investing in sustainable success. For students, alumni, and the broader Shaw community, a team showing positive momentum early in the season builds confidence in the program's direction and reinforces the value of HBCU athletics as a space where young athletes develop both on and off the field.