When HBCU Energy meets Big-Time Sports Talk.
Imagine this: the ESPN morning talk-show lights, the pacing voice of Stephen A. Smith on the stage, and the spirited spirit of the historically Black college campus standing up to the occasion. That scene is playing this November at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach-it is a production that is not all sports talk, but rather involved in community, culture, and celebration.
Taking the Stage to Campus.
The producers of the show made an audacious decision and decided to bring First Take on the road as part of a larger tour around HBCU campuses to recognize the strength and significance of these institutions. The show will be broadcast live on the campus of Bethune-Cookman, on the core of its campus, on Thursday, November 20, just before one of the marquee games in the season by the Wildcats. It is not just an ordinary broadcast but a complete on-site event and will put the school and the community upon which it is anchored in the national limelight.
HBCU Pride, Wildcat Style
Bethune-Cookman is very historic. The institution, which was established in the early 20th century, has been the hope of higher education, leadership, and cultural empowerment. It is a name and a stage to the campus, its energy of students, and its place in the bigger sporting and scholarly scene. The coming of such a high-profile show is a milestone to students and faculty: a chance to be seen and heard nationally.
Connection and What It Means of Stephen A.
Stephen A. Smith is not only the face of a debate show, but he is also a voice that has long respected HBCUs, their alumni, and their power. He is there at Bethune-Cookman symbolically. It is giving a message when such a person enters with his stature, you matter. Your story matters. Your community matters. This may be a validation of sorts to most students who might be feeling that the institution and their experiences are being acknowledged as part of the bigger sports and cultural discourse.
What to Expect from the Day
The live show will be infused with the trademark first take energy, which is energetic debate, unfiltered takes, swarming personalities, but it will be with a twist, the backdrop being campus life. Pre-show interviews with students, staff, and faculty, segments illustrating the spirit of the school and possibly even live responses of the crowd are to be expected. The atmosphere will be charged: it will no longer be a closed studio, but open, airy, alive: students, music, the vibration of the campus life are going to tune in the coverage.
Why It Matters Outside the Broadcast.
Visibility: In the case of Bethune-Cookman, hosting this show will provide an opportunity to raise its profile, not only on the athletic level, but also academically and culturally.
Representation: The idea to showcase an HBCU on a national level is a talker as far as diversity, equity, and media recognition are concerned.
Community involvement: The event will be a way to unite students, alumni, the community, and sports fans in celebration- merging campus life and media spectacle.
History and tradition: It is not a one-time thing. It is one of the greatest movements to rebrand HBCUs. It may open up opportunities for future collaborations, events, and opportunities within the institution.
