‘First Take’ will be on-site at HBCU alma maters of Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe in November

ESPN’s First Take is going on the road in November to a pair of schools not frequented by sports networks.

On Monday, ESPN announced that the HBCU alma maters of Stephen A. Smith (Winston-Salem State) and Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State) would host First Take for a pair of shows in November.

Savannah State hosts the show on November 6, with Sharpe’s brother Sterling joining as a guest. Winston-Salem State will host the November 7 edition of First Take. Other guests for both shows will also make appearances.

Smith and Sharpe both seemed excited about the on-site shows.

Stephen A. Smith, Winston-Salem State Alum & HBCU Week Ambassador: “I’ve been a part of a whole bunch of exciting things throughout my years on First Take. But this may take the cake. To have back-to-back days at HBCUs – on campus, LIVE – providing Black Colleges with national television exposure is sensational within itself. But for the two universities to be the alma maters of Shannon Sharpe and myself…I just can’t express how excited I am. Shannon can’t wait. Neither can I. This is going to be some of the greatest moments of my career. And I know Shannon feels the same. Buckle Up! Here we come!”

Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State Alum & Pro Football Hall of Famer: “If somebody would have told me, when I stepped on to that Savannah State Campus, that I would one day return to my alma mater in this capacity, I would have laughed. This is incredible, and to be able to come back this way means so much to me and I am so very excited. I have to thank Stephen A. for making this happen, and I have to thank ESPN and Disney for making this possible. We get to be a part of showing the world how great HBCUs are, and that is very special. We’re coming home!”

First Take going on the road is nothing new, nor is the show’s support of HBCUs. In 2021, First Take went on the road to Florida A&M and it went to Orlando in 2022 for HBCU Week (which resulted in a blunt exchange with Dan Orlovsky). Prior to the pandemic, First Take went to Delaware for HBCU Week in 2019.

[ESPN]