Athletic Director faces backlash on Twitter over fundraising attempt

Embattled FAMU AD Tiffani Sykes found herself at the center of controversy, once again, yesterday after a Twitter/X post aimed at raising funds for FAMU athletics backfired spectacularly.

In her tweet, Sykes touted donations from various Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) but expressed disappointment in the lack of support from FAMU alumni. However, the response from Rattler Nation was swift and unforgiving.

 

"Ummm we gave, JUST NOT to you!" the clapback said, highlighting the lingering resentment towards Sykes following a tumultuous series of events earlier in the year.

Just less than 90 days prior, Sykes had faced intense criticism during a football coach search, during which fans felt ignored and disregarded. The perceived mishandling of the search, coupled with an overspending her operating budget by $148,000 (108 percent) and December's revelation that athletics track to have a projected budget deficit of over $817,000, despite her inheriting a $300,000 budget surplus, has eroded trust in Sykes' leadership.

 

Fans frustration with Sykes peaked during the football coaches search, with accusations of incompetence, arrogance, and the barrage of misinformation .

 

The dissatisfaction culminated in a resounding vote of no confidence from the Executive Board of the FAMU National Alumni Association, further highlighting the deep-seated issues within the athletics department.

 

Furthermore, the tweet reignited memories of Sykes' previous fundraising efforts, notably in December when she asked alumni to raise $25,000 to retain the former head coach, Willie Simmons. Alumni responded overwhelmingly, raising more than six times the requested amount —$148,000—in less than 24 hrs.  Sykes then attempted to take that money and add it to a compensation package to lure another coach.

 

Ultimately, Sykes raised 73 percent of her $2,500 fundraising goal, with 20 percent of the total coming from her own contribution. The recent Twitter incident underscores the persistent dissatisfaction among the FAMU community regarding Sykes' leadership, further highlighting her role as a burdensome challenge to  Larry Robinson's presidency.