(Washington, D.C.) - First Take, ESPN’s popular morning sports debate show, has announced Howard University as the first stop for its “First Take on The Road” series highlighting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).  

The show, which airs live from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., (ET) on weekdays, will broadcast from The Yard on Friday, September 20, the day before the Truth and Service Classic football game, pitting the Howard University Bison against the Hampton University Pirates in a battle to see which school is the “Real HU.” 

“Traveling to HBCUs is a priority for our team at “First Take” and is an initiative our group is very passionate about. It was easy for us to select Howard University, as it’s known for rich history filled with many years of educational and leadership excellence within the African American community,” said Dave Roberts, executive vice president and executive editor of Sports News and Entertainment at ESPN.  “We expect the fans to bring the energy on September 20, and create an electrifying environment for Stephen A., Molly, Shannon, and the rest of the “First Take” team.” 

First Take has been a staple of ESPN’s morning lineup since 2007.  This past Spring, the show reported 21 months of consecutive year-over-year growth, averaging nearly 500,000 daily viewers.  In addition to the live broadcast, ESPN will be working with the University to host an event for students who may be interested in careers in sports and media. 

“Having First Take broadcast live from Howard University is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the campus, educate viewers about the University’s rich tradition, and celebrate HBCU culture,” said Howard University Athletics Director Kery Davis. 

“This is a major get for Howard University and we are thrilled to have ESPN kick off its “First Take on The Road” series on our campus,” Davis said. “The show is immensely popular and we’re excited that our students, alumni, and staff will have the opportunity to see the live production up close. And we are looking forward to seeing what celebrities and influencers the show invites to participate in the show that day.” 

Following its visit to Howard University, “First Take” is scheduled to make stops at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., on October 11 and Clark Atlanta and Morehouse College in Atlanta on November 8. 

Contacts: 

Lydia Sermons, Lydia.Sermons@Howard.edu 

Monica Lewis, Monica.Lewis@Howard.edu 

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