FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 14th, 2021

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS INAUGURAL ‘TRUTH AND SERVICE CLASSIC’ FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND HAMPTON UNIVERSITY THIS SAT., SEPT. 18 AT NOON ET ON NBCSN

‘Truth and Service Classic’ Marks First-Ever College Football Game Held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Commentators: Chris Lewis, Jay Walker, Zora Stephenson

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 14, 2021 – NBC Sports will present the inaugural ‘Truth and Service Classic’ football game as Howard University hosts Hampton University this Saturday, September 18 at Noon ET on NBCSN from Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

The first edition of the Truth and Service Classic – a collaboration between Howard University, Audi Field, and Events DC – features the 96th all-time meeting in the historic rivalry between Howard and Hampton. The game, which serves as a home matchup for Howard, will mark the first-ever college football game to be played at Audi Field, home of Major League Soccer club D.C. United.

Chris Lewis will handle play-by-play, and will be joined by analyst Jay Walker – a former Howard University quarterback – and reporter Zora Stephenson.

“We are excited to have NBC Sports as our broadcast partner for the inaugural Truth and Service Classic,” said Kery Davis, Director of Athletics, Howard University. “We are thrilled to bring this game to a national television audience and to have a media partner who understands the importance of the game’s mission and will present it with journalistic integrity.”

Through NBCU Academy – an innovative, multiplatform journalism training and development program designed to prepare college-level students for a career in the media industry – NBC Sports will present select journalism students from both Howard and Hampton the opportunity to cover the Truth and Service Classic for NBCSports.com. NBC Sports will also host a career panel for Howard and Hampton students  featuring NBCUniversal executives who will provide insight and advice about media careers.

“We’re pleased to present the first ever Truth and Service Classic with a historic matchup between these two iconic HBCU football programs,” said Damon Phillips, SVP, Strategic Initiatives, NBC Sports. “We are equally excited to expose Howard and Hampton students to careers in the media industry through NBCU Academy programs that will take place around the event.”

“It’s an honor to welcome such a historic rivalry between two long-standing HBCUs to Audi Field for what we expect will deliver an unrivaled gameday atmosphere,” said Danita Johnson, President of Business Operations for D.C. United. “We’re excited to partner with NBCUniversal to bring this game to a national audience and to further the exposure of Howard University, a wonderful academic and athletic institution in our region.”

“The Truth and Service Classic is larger than football. Showcasing two iconic football programs and their storied rivalry for a national TV audience on NBC Sports will help tell the story of the culture, passion and pride of HBCU athletics,” said Greg O’Dell, president and CEO of Events DC. “Together with the District, our partners at Audi Field and Howard University, we look forward to highlighting DC as a world-class sports destination.”

The Howard Bison, who compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and the Hampton Pirates, who are part of the Big South, both did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOW TO WATCH – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Date Network Time (ET)
Sat., Sept. 18 NBCSN Noon (LIVE)

 

    • STREAMING: All coverage also streams on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

 

COMMENTATORS

    • Play-by-play: Chris Lewis
    • Analyst: Jay Walker
    • Reporter: Zora Stephenson

 

EVENT INFORMATION

    • Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
    • 96th all-time meeting between Howard University and Hampton University

 

About Audi Field

D.C. United have called the District home for the past 24 seasons and continued that tradition when they moved into their new state-of-the-art and soccer-specific stadium, Audi Field, in Buzzard Point, Southwest D.C., in July 2018.

The iconic 20,000-seat LEED certified new home of D.C. United is located in the fastest growing area in downtown D.C. An entertainment and event destination 365-days, Audi Field hosts over 100 events year-round. Complete with a brand new FanDuel sportsbook, Audi Field houses corporate outings, a culinary and music festival, Unite the District Fest, and world class international sporting events from D.C. United and the Washington Spirit, to Premier League Lacrosse and College Football, and many more.

-NBC SPORTS-