[hr][hr]
Jackson State University will be featured on ESPN’s “First Take” hosted by Stephen A. Smith. The virtual visit will feature JSU at 9 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday, Feb. 24, as part of a higher education series during Black History Month.
Smith, is using his platform to showcase four HBCU institutions, including his alma mater Winston Salem State University. Every Wednesday in February, a different HBCU took the national stage in the 2-hour show, which caters to a large sports audience.
Throughout the segment, viewers can expect videos of JSU students lobbing sports questions to the popular host and talking about HBCU pride. One may also catch a glimpse of “thee baddest” band in the land – the Sonic Boom.
Producer James Dunn told New York Sports Day that the idea for the show started during a conversation with the show’s coordinator producer, Antoine Lewis. Since Black History Month is about great people and events, they wanted to expand the celebration to include higher education.
Dunn said, “Obviously, we’ve got Deion Sanders on the show. And with Deion being a high-profile member of HBCU athletics as a coach now for Jackson State, we thought that would be a really good school to profile as well as get a perspective from someone of his caliber to talk about the importance of HBCUs and him joining the HBCU family.”
The show kicked off with WSSU on Feb. 3, Howard University on Feb. 10, followed by Morehouse College on Feb. 17, and Jackson State University brings it home on Feb. 24.