(Source: The Voice Atlanta)
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“There’s not a lot of wins you get as an Athletic Director, but this is definitely one of them,” said Morehouse College Athletic Director, former NBA guard, and Morehouse College basketball legend Harold Ellis.
One of the most watched sports morning shows was set up in the middle of the Atlanta University Center on Friday morning and Ellis was all smiles. As he made his way through the growing crowd of students, faculty, and student-athletes from both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), he couldn’t help but be pleased.
“I really tried to get First Take here for this game,” Ellis told The Atlanta Voice. “I think this is great. It’s not just about the [football game], it’s about the schools. This show is going to be seen all over the country.”
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Though Morehouse College has a national and international student body, the football and basketball programs recruit mainly from Atlanta and surrounding Georgia counties. Being seen on ESPN’s First Take can be seen as a major recruiting tool for both Morehouse and Clark Atlanta.
“We are going to be all over the world today,” Ellis said.
One of the best sports rivalries in Atlanta will renew acquaintances this weekend. Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College are scheduled to meet on the gridiron at B.T. Harvey Stadium on Saturday, but the big show came to town this morning.
ESPN’s First Take, which stars Historically Black College and University (HBCU) alums Stephen A. Smith (Winston Salem State University), former National Football League star Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State University) and Molly Qerim was in the Atlanta University Center on Friday morning. First Take airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Hundreds of students from Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morris Brown College filled the yard hours before the show began taping. Morehouse College head football coach and former National Football League receiver Terance Mathis was also in attendance.
The visit to Atlanta comes as part of First Take’s “On the Road” live shows on HBCU campuses. The show previously visited Howard University on Sept. 20 and Tennessee State University on Oct. 11. The show comes to downtown Atlanta as Clark Atlanta is having one of its best seasons, the Panthers are 6-2-1 overall, and Morehouse continues its losing ways. The Maroon Tigers, 1-8 this season, the first under head football coach Terance Mathis, are currently on a five-game losing streak following a 37-3 loss at Miles College on Nov. 2.
Morris Brown College President Dr. Kevin James stood near the stage and watched the students dance and sing to the music being played by a DJ. “The students are turned up out here,” he said with a smile. “I think it’s a beautiful thing to represent the HBCUs in Atlanta, Georgia.”
What’s Next:
Morehouse Athletic Director Harold Ellis told The Atlanta Voice that the Maroon Tigers basketball programs will play Tuskegee University during NBA All-Star Weekend next year.
