HBCU Commissioners Will Participate in 'NFL x HBCU 2021 Open House"

HBCU Commissioners and stakeholders will participate in the 2nd Annual NFL + HBCU Open House to be held on Monday, August 30, and continue Tuesday, August 31 in Los Angeles, CA, and virtual.

The 2nd Annual NFL + HBCU Open House will kick off on Monday, August 30, and continue Tuesday, August 31. The hybrid event will be onsite at the NFL West offices in Los Angeles, CA, and virtual. The HBCU conference commissioners will tour the NFL West offices.

The NFL Football Operations department will host the annual event for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), football stakeholders, and sports conference leaders. Intimate discussions on the NFL's portfolio of initiatives and opportunities for HBCUs will be the topics of focus.

HBCU graduate (Howard University), NFL Network reporter, and senior writer Steve Wyche confirmed that he will host a roundtable discussion with the four Conference Commissioners (CIAA, MEAC, SIAA, SWAC) at the event in Los Angeles, CA. This discussion will be recorded and produced by the NFL Media team.

The HBCU conferences' leaders and other participants will hear from and engage with various speakers from NFL leadership and personnel from football strategy, development, data and analytics, talent acquisition, experienceship program, and more.

Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland, left, speaks with media during the SWAC annual Football Media Day at the Sheraton-Birmingham Hotel in Birmingham, Ala., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Swac Media Day4

2021 NFL x HBCU OPEN HOUSE

• WHAT: 2021 NFL x HBCU Open House
• WHO: NFL Football Operations and stakeholders across the HBCU and football landscape
• CIAA, MEAC, SIAC, and SWAC Conference Commissioners
• WHERE: Hybrid event - Onsite at the NFL West offices (Los Angeles, CA) and Virtual
• WHEN: August 30 - 31, 2021

The NFL Football Operations team is excited to share this year’s NFL x HBCU programming that includes the following initiatives:

Campus Connection

Campus Connection is part of our ongoing and continuous commitment to celebrating the impact HBCUs have had on the game of professional football, driving awareness around career opportunities, and providing access to the business of sport. Participating schools are Howard University, Grambling State University, Florida Memorial University, St. Augustine’s University, and Morgan State University. Programming includes case study competition, access to NFL initiatives, and collaboration on school-specific programming with the NFL.

NFL Experienceships

The NFL Experienceship program was designed to connect, develop, and assist diverse collegiate candidates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities interested in establishing a career in Football Operations with equitable opportunities to learn the intricacies of the business through practical learning and shadowing experiences. The initiative has since expanded to include various departments.

It serves as a diversity pipeline platform for students at HBCUs to engage with NFL leadership and employees in various departments across the league. It will provide several educational and experiential touchpoints throughout the calendar year. Students will receive a transformative learning experience with NFL business units, clubs, and partners, offering the opportunity to expand both their skillsets and network and the chance to garner tangible work experience under the pillars of mentorship, experience, and access. Programming: Mentor program, seed kit challenge, virtual speaker series, shadowing opportunities at NFL tentpoles.

NFL Virtual Speaker Series

In continuance of developing relationships and serving as a conduit for students to receive firsthand experiences and knowledge of working in the industry, the League Office offered several virtual development sessions throughout the 2020 – 2021 season. These sessions will continue this season and provide an inside look at various fields in the sports industry, opportunities for students to engage with industry professionals, and soft skills development.

HBCU Careers in Football Forum

The HBCU Careers in Football Forum brings together students from HBCUs across the country with the objective of inspiring, developing, and connecting students with industry professionals and League partners. The event is traditionally hosted in Atlanta, GA during the Celebration Bowl. Participants are selected through an application-based process and have the opportunity to attend lectures and panel discussions with NFL leadership and club executives; take part in resume and skill-building workshops, and participate in networking sessions.

NFL + HBCU Madden Tournament

Madden NFL 21 x HBCU Tournament players representing HBCUs from CIAA, MEAC, SIAC, and SWAC, participated in the single-elimination qualifiers in November 2020. The top four gamers from each HBCU conference – a total of 16 players – advanced to the Madden NFL 21 x HBCU Tournament ahead of Super Bowl LV in February 2021. The final two rounds were broadcasted live on the EA Madden NFL Twitch channel.

This year’s tournament will be open to all HBCUs. 

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