On the morning of Friday, September 20, Howard University was coated with campus-wide energy. ESPN’s “First Take” would broadcast its “On The Road” season opener on The Yard to spotlight the Truth and Service Classic between the Howard Bison and the Hampton University Pirates. Now in its second season, On the Road features three stops to HBCU campuses and their football games.
At 5:50 a.m., an unrested but ecstatic Kenneth Barnes, a first-year finance major from Glenwood, Md., could be found arriving to The Yard.
“I haven’t been up this early since the summertime,” said Barnes. He was second in line to receive free Truth and Service Classic tickets as 750 passes were available to the very first audience members. “I already have a ticket for the game, but depending on how nice these are, we’ll have to see.”
Barnes was just one example of the excitement around “First Take” at Howard. For the first time, hosts Molly Qerim, Stephen A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe recorded their broadcast of ESPN’s popular morning show on The Yard.
Hundreds of students and community members witnessed Smith, a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, and Sharpe, a Savannah State University alumnus, inspire the next generation of Black media personalities. The vibe was festive and lively. At times, the famed “HU” You know" call and response chant overpowered the trio of reporters, who anchored their show just steps away from Founders Library.
“Howard University sets the tone for other HBCUs, so to have Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith, who are both HBCU alums be here back on an HBCU campus, it makes it all so special,” Barnes said. “They’re showing people how real the impact HBCUs have in their surrounding communities but also internationally.”
Bison Excitement Fuels “First Take”
In their displays of pride, Howard students exemplified HBCU football culture at its finest. The University’s Showtime Marching Band performed to open to show, and a DJ played fan favorites as Black Greek Letter Organizations strolled during commercial breaks.
“This is everything,” Barnes said of The Yard’s lively camaraderie. “I’m glad that people are able to see all the people who came out to The Yard on live television.”
Amongst the campus buzz, local sports reporters covered the event, including Fox 5’s Chad Ricardo. Ricardo, a Hampton native, is a 20-year sports reporting veteran and the color commentator for Howard’s men’s basketball games. Ricardo says that “First Take” and its authentic showcase of the Truth and Service Classic creates positive aftershocks for HBCUs and the DMV sports culture at-large.
“It’s major for HBCUs and Black culture to see our conference [the Mideastern Athletic Conference] highlighted at this level,” Ricardo said. “It’s a microcosm of what we as a people can do when we decide to come together and celebrate one another.”
The head coaches of the Truth and Service Classic, Howard’s Larry Scott and Hampton’s Trent Boykin, participated in a live interview segment with Sharpe and Smith to highlight the game’s mythical status and its importance to fans of both teams.
“Because of how deep it runs, it’s just not the sport: it’s the stories. You get a chance to sit down with each and every one of these young students at a time...you’ll hear these amazing stories about what it means to be here at Howard University,” Scott said.
“This is my third opportunity playing [Hampton] and they’ve been a thorn in our side. It’s time for that streak to change.”
Highlighting the Sports Broadcasters of Tomorrow
While the “First Take” On the Road series showcases HBCU’s sports culture, it also spotlights how students fulfill their academic commitments. Four Bison asked questions during the student show; senior NFL intern Oseghale Esen, men’s basketball senior guard Bryce Harris, sophomore softball player Kelsie Jarrett, and Harmony Bailey, a junior broadcasting major from Los Angeles.
An aspiring sports reporter, Bailey asked Smith to give advice to up-and-coming broadcast journalism students.
“Be addicted to the work and the process,” Smith answered. “Don’t be addicted to the finished product...you’ve got to be willing to put in the work.”
The live spot wasn’t a first-time interview between Bailey and Smith.
“Five years old and curious,” Bailey recalled going to work with her father, celebrity photographer Hiltron Bailey, and interviewing Smith in 2010 during Jesse Jackson’s 69th birthday celebration. After reconnecting with Smith on live television at Howard, Bailey called the moment a “surreal full circle.”
“Stephen is an HBCU alum, but he was also a journalism major,” Bailey said. “I felt that there was no better opportunity for him to speak to the future of HBCUs and journalism at one place and one time.”
The Bison in Sports Media Pay it Forward
Following the broadcast, Howard University hosted a panel discussion featuring notable alumni who have made significant contributions to the sports media industry. Held at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, the event offered students a unique opportunity to hear from successful professionals and gain insights into the world of sports media.
The panelists included Aisha Chaney (BA ’04), a coordinating producer for SportsCenter’s Los Angeles studio; Demetrius Harris (BA ’00), a producer for NBA & WNBA Countdown; and Monica Belk, a supervising director in studio production at ESPN.
The discussion addressed key topics such as the importance of diversity and representation in sports media, advocating for underrepresented voices, the WNBA’s growth and impact, and the essential skills to succeed in the competitive, fast-evolving sports media landscape.
Reflecting on the obstacles she overcame; Belk spoke candidly about her journey as a Black woman in sports media. “I didn't really have anybody advocating for me in those spaces and places,” Belk said. “So, I started advocating for myself.”
Belk encouraged students to recognize the power of perseverance and self-advocacy in pursuing their goals. She advised them to remember that, once you are in those positions of power, always reach back and help the next person.
Panelists urged attendees to join organizations like the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), pursue internships, and build relationships with peers and professionals alike to establish a strong industry foundation.
Students were reminded that the best time to prepare for their future careers is now. “The more that you do before you even get to the job, whether it's an internship or production assistant or an entry level position, you must keep working hard,” Chaney said. “Don't just do the bare minimum. Go above and beyond and do something that's going to make you stand out.”
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