So many men, women, media outlets, and sports personalities from HBCUs have made significant contributions to football. Athletes like Doug Williams, Shack Harris, and Shannon Sharpe, media outlets like HBCU GameDay and Black College Experience, and sports personalities like Dr. Cavil, Stephen A. Smith, and Tiffany Greene have all played pivotal roles. The Maxwell Football Club (MFC) is recognizing these contributions with the creation of the HBCU Contributions to Football Award, aimed at honoring outstanding contributors from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the realm of football. This award will honor individuals or groups from HBCU athletic departments, football programs, or conferences for their efforts on or off the field. HBCU football has a rich history, beginning in the late 19th century with the first game in 1892 between Biddle College and Livingstone College. Today, there are 21 HBCU football programs at the FCS level, mainly in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), along with a few in non-HBCU conferences. The 2024 HBCU football season will start with the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge and end with the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert expressed the club’s commitment to recognizing excellence in all aspects of football and highlighting the significant contributions of HBCU football programs. He emphasized the long-standing legacy of HBCU institutions in providing educational and athletic opportunities to student-athletes. John Grant, Executive Director of ESPN Events, noted the importance of honoring these contributions and celebrating the rich history of HBCU football. The first HBCU Contributions to Football Award will be presented on March 14, 2025, at the 88th Maxwell Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
