HBCU Legends

First Take's Stephen A. Smith And Shannon Sharpe 'Showed Up & Showed Out' At Howard University

The First Take crew made its first stop at an HBCU campus for this football season.

Kyle T. Mosley

Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe
Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe / CREDIT: ESPN
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ESPN's First Take "Showed Up and Showed Out" on Howard University's campus for its first HBCU stop of the 2024 football season. Popular co-hosts and HBCU alums Shannon Sharpe (Pro Football Hall of Fame) and Stephen A. Smith, along with co-host Molly Qerim, arrived before the "Battle of the Real H.U." that will take place on Saturday at 4:00 PM ET between Hampton University (2-1) and Howard University (2-1) at Audi Field in Washington D.C.

In Week 3, Howard defeated Morehouse College 35-21, at the 2024 HBCU NY Classic and Hampton trounced Norfolk State, 37-7 on the road. As in all rivalry games, experts can through out the records because this annual battle is personal and for bragging rights.

FIRST TAKE NEXT STOPS AT HBCUs 

  • Oct. 11 at Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tenn.) The First Take team will be joined by former NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, who has been the head football coach at Tennessee State since 2021.
  • On November 8th, Clark Atlanta will face Morehouse College at B.T. Harvey Stadium in Atlanta for their annual showdown. The historic Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University make up one of the world's oldest and largest associations of HBCUs.

The three scheduled broadcasts will piggyback off last season's highly successful outings at Florida A&M and Winston-Salem State. In 2024, Howard University, Tennessee State, and Morehouse College will be honored to host First Take on their respective campuses.   

Each program will be held on the Fridays before Hampton meets Howard; Tennessee State hosts Eastern Illinois and the premiere Atlanta University Center (AUC) rivalry game as Clark Atlanta visits Morehouse College.

FROM FIRST TAKE

First Take has a history of visiting HBCUs or supporting HBCU Week since 2019. The show has traveled to Winston-Salem State University (2023) and is home to alum Smith. Savannah State University (2023) is home to alum Shannon Sharpe. The show was at Florida A&M with comedian Kevin Hart and movie producer Will Packer (2021). 

The show also celebrated HBCU Week at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in 2022 and at 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del. in 2019. 

First Take airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN.  

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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: