First Take “On The Road”
Football, tailgates, homecoming, and seasoned rivalries! The fall semester brings much excitement to the campus of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In the midst of these activities lies ample opportunity for prominent members of the community to pour into black youth, and highlight HBCU culture.
Starring hosts, Steven A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Shannon Sharpe, the renowned sports talk show, First Take, will engage in this occasion. Starting on September 20, the show will be “on the Road” set to feature at several HBCUs throughout this fall. This tour will start at Howard University, and travel down south stopping at Tennessee State University, concluding at Clark Atlanta.
The show, and its hosts, are not new to the realm of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Both Steven A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe are alumni of HBCUs. Smith attended Winston Salem State University, in North Carolina, and Sharpe, Savannah State University in Georgia.
According to espnpressroom.com In 2023 the sports show visited the homecomings of both Sharpe, and Smiths respective Alma Maters. This sentimental visit to the schools in which they spent their time in undergrad, displayed their commitment to young black scholars, as well as the excelling potential of HBCU students.
Howard University: September 20th
Howard University is historically known for its rivalry with Hampton University, regarding who is the “Real HU”.
This in part, is what makes Howard the ideal place for First Take to kick off their HBCU tour. On Saturday, September 21, the fourth annual Truth and Service Classic will take place in Audi Field. Hampton and Howard will face off once again, as they have been for over a century.
However, just a day prior, Smith, Qerim, and Sharpe will take to the campus of Howard University to set expectations, and groundwork for the discourse of their 2024 “On the Road” tour.
This decision leaves room for insightful discussions over the prominence of HBCU rivalries and traditions within the media.
Tennessee State University: October 11th
As they head down south, Tennessee State University will be next on the list for the First Take group.
While Tennessee state will not be participating in a heated rivalry game, Smith, Qerim, and Sharpe will get the opportunity to sit down with TSU’s head coach Eddie George (Manzo, espnpressroom.com). George is a former NFL athlete who is also a Heisman Trophy winner.
The October 11th visit will likely constitute much discussion on TSU’s hoped performance in their scheduled game against Eastern Illinois University the following day. It shall also leave room for George to account for the transition from professional athlete, to training young black men, who may hold dreams of pursuing his former profession.
Clark Atlanta at Morehouse College: November 8th
“Atlanta University Center (AUC) love” is a likely core philosophy for Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, and Spelman Students. Except, perhaps, each fall when Clark and Morehouse have their annual rivalry game.
This November 9th, competition will presumably be welcomed, as the teams fight it out to see whose football program will reign supreme over the AUC. The atmosphere of friendly yet spirited rivalry shall create a captivating presence for the First Take crew on their show the day before.
Tune In
This tour serves as a valuable opportunity for sports fans to interact with HBCU culture, and athletics. Anyone interested in watching these segments can tune in to ESPN from 10am-12pm on weekdays.
All photo and media credit go to https://espnpressroom.com/ “First Take Announces HBCU Schedule for This Fall” by John R. Manzo
