Howard Bison

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Howard Bison
Howard Bison logo.svg
University Howard University
Conference MEAC (primary)
NEC (m & w golf, w lacrosse, m & w soccer, m & w swimming)
NCAA Division I (FCS)
Athletic directorKery Davis
Location Washington, D.C.
Varsity teams21
Football stadium William H. Greene Stadium
Basketball arena Burr Gymnasium
Softball stadium Washington Nationals Youth Academy
Other venues WTEF-East Capitol Campus
MascotBison
Nickname Bison
ColorsNavy blue and white [1]
   
Website hubison.com
Howard Bison wordmark.svg

The Howard Bison and Lady Bison are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Howard University, located in Washington, D.C. The Bison compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s and Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) [2] and are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for most sports. On July 16, 2015, the Athletics Department unveiled new logos, replacing the previous logo that was nearly identical to that used by the National Football League's Buffalo Bills. [3]

Contents

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Basketball Basketball
Cross countryBowling
Football Cross country
GolfGolf
Soccer Lacrosse
Swimming and divingSoccer
TennisSoftball
Track and field†Swimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

A member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Howard University currently sponsors teams in nine men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sports. Men's and women's golf became the newest varsity sports in the 2020–21 school year, with six years of program funding guaranteed by NBA superstar Stephen Curry. [4]

Howard University announced in July 2020 that it would join the Northeast Conference (NEC) as an associate member in six sports. Men's and women's swimming joined in 2020–21, with men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse and women's golf following in 2021–22. [5] Howard added men's golf to its NEC membership in 2022–23 after the MEAC and NEC entered into a partnership in baseball and golf that provided NEC associate membership to all MEAC members with teams in those sports. [6]

In 2022, Howard University signed a 20-year partnership with Nike's Michael Jordan Brand. The partnership aims to elevate Howard's athletic department. Howard is the second HBCU to partner with the Jordan Brand. [7]

As of 2023, Howard is the only HBCU that houses competitive swimming and dive teams. [8]

Soccer

As the only team in the MEAC playing men's soccer, the Bison's men's soccer team competed as an independent for many years, but the Bison became an affiliate member of the Sun Belt Conference when the conference resumed men's soccer after a 20-year absence in 2014. Over the years, Howard has had an up and down history, with NCAA championship seasons and other years seeing little success; the 2013 team had only one win in eighteen games. [9]

Bison teams qualified for the NCAA tournament in 1962, 1963, 1970†, 1971†, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1989, and 1997. In six College Cup appearances, they were NCAA Champions in 1974, runners-up in 1988, third in 1972, and fourth in 1975; additional first (1971) and third (1970) place finishes were vacated by the NCAA; their vacation of the 1971 title was the first vacated Division I title in the history of the NCAA. [10] [11]

As of the 2021–2022 season, the men's and women's soccer teams are no longer affiliate members of the Sun Belt Conference, and are now affiliate members of the Northeast Conference. [12]

Athletic facilities

William H. Greene Stadium is a 7,086-seat multi-purpose stadium in Washington, D.C., in the United States, which opened in 1926. It is home to the Howard University Bison football, soccer, track & field, and Women's lacrosse teams. Originally called Howard Stadium, it was renamed William H. Greene Stadium in 1986 in honor of William H. Greene, M.D., a Washington, D.C., physician. [13]

Marching band

Howard's marching band is known as the "Showtime" Marching Band and it also features auxiliaries, the "Ooh La La!" dance team and the "Flashy Flags" color guard. The band has performed at several NFL games, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Honda Battle of the Bands, and the 56th Inaugural Parade for former U.S. President Barack Obama. The marching band's mission is to serve as a Howard ambassador and Bison athletics supporter. [14]

Honors

Division I National Championships

Men's Soccer – 1971(Vacated) See Note

Men's Soccer – 1974 [15]

Rivals

Howard's top rival is Hampton University. The two schools call their intense rivalry Battle of "The Real HU". [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Howard also has a strong rivalry with Morgan State University. [23] [24] [25]

Another of Howard's historic rivals is Morehouse College, more popularly known as the Howard/ "Spel-House" rivalry due to Morehouse's close association with the all-women's HBCU Spelman College. This rivalry is not often played because Morehouse is an NCAA Division II athletic program, while Howard is NCAA Division I. [26] [27] [28]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Bison football</span> American college football program

The Howard Bison football team represents Howard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Bison men's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The Howard Bison men's soccer team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Howard University in Washington, D.C., United States. The team is an associate member of the Northeast Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. Howard's first men's soccer team was fielded in 1965. The team plays its home games at Greene Stadium near the Park View neighborhood of the District. The Bison are coached by Howard alumnus and former U.S. national team player, Phillip Gyau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Bison women's basketball</span> Basketball team that represents Howard University

The Howard Bison women's basketball team represents Howard University in women's basketball. The school competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bison play their home games at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Real HU</span> American college football rivalry

The Real HU is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Bison of Howard University and the Pirates of Hampton University. The series started in 1908 and is driven by several factors, which include the close proximity of the two Mid-Atlantic schools, the historically high academic standing of both these private institutions as Howard and Hampton are considered Black Ivy League universities and have student-alumni populations from similar backgrounds, and that the two schools have competed in the same athletic conferences for approximately a century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Howard Bison football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Howard Bison football team represented Howard University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Mike London in his second and final season as head coach, the Bison compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 4–3, tying for fourth place in the MEAC. Howard played home games at William H. Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C.

The 1971 Howard Bison men's soccer team represented Howard University in Washington, D.C. during the 1971 NCAA men's soccer season. The team finished the season undefeated and won the 1971 NCAA tournament, defeating the Saint Louis Billikens 3–2 in the final. However, following an anonymous tip, the NCAA investigated the team and ruled they had fielded ineligible players. In January 1973, the NCAA vacated the national championship and banned the Bison from the 1973 playoffs. The team protested the punishment, arguing that they had been targeted because of their success as a historically black university (HBCU). Although they were unable to get the 1971 championship reinstated, Howard went on to win the 1974 NCAA tournament and again beat Saint Louis in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Howard Bison football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 Howard Bison football team represented Howard University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Larry Scott, the Bison finished with an overall record of 6–6 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, winning the MEAC title outright and a invitation to the Celebration Bowl.

The 2023 Celebration Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 16, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The eighth annual Celebration Bowl featured the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the Howard Bison, and the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the Florida A&M Rattlers. The game began at approximately 12:00 p.m. EST and was aired on ABC. Sponsored by Cricket Wireless, the game was officially known as the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024–25 Howard Bison men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2024–25 Howard Bison men's basketball team represents Howard University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bison, led by sixth-year head coach Kenny Blakeney, play their home games at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C. as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

References

  1. ↑ Howard Bison Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Identity Guide (PDF). December 13, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ "The Official Website of NCAA Championships". Ncaa.com. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Howard Unveils New Athletics Logo". HUBison.com. July 16, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Stephen Curry Partners With Howard University to Launch First Division I Golf Program" (Press release). Howard Bison. August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Six Howard University Athletics Programs Join the Northeast Conference As Associate Members" (Press release). Northeast Conference. July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ "NEC & MEAC Announce Three-Sport Associate Member Partnership" (Press release). Northeast Conference. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Howard University Welcomes Jordan Brand to the Family".
  8. ↑ Howard swimming daily cover Sports Illustrated
  9. ↑ "Howard University Bison". Hubison.com. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Louisville isn't the 1st NCAA champion to vacate a championship -- here are the rest". February 20, 2018.
  11. ↑ Williams, Jack (December 6, 2016). "Howard's history-making men's soccer champions needed to be twice as good". the Guardian. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Six Howard University Sports to Join the Northeast Conference as Associate Members". July 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ "William H. Greene Memorial Stadium" (PDF). Footsteps of Achievement: Historic Kappa Heritage Trail (Report). Washington, D.C.: Humanities Council of Washington, D.C. 2010. pp. 12–13. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Howard University Bands - Pep - Marching - Concert". coas.howard.edu. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  15. ↑ "DI Men's Soccer". NCAA.com.
  16. ↑ "Division I Men's Soccer Championship History". NCAA.com. February 25, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  17. ↑ Wahl, Grant (February 24, 1997). "Men on a mission: The 1974 Howard University soccer team wanted to win more than an NCAA title". SI.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Column: Historically, Who's the Real HU?". thehilltoponline.com. September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Howard and Hampton reprise the battle for the 'real HU'". Washington Post. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Howard-Hampton: the real 'HU' rivalry continues – News4usonline". news4usonline.com. September 22, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  21. ↑ "HU VS HU: Nation's Classic To Highlight The Greatest HBCU Rivalry". thehilltoponline.com. September 17, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Who is the real HU? 100 year old football rivalry kicks off" . Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  23. ↑ Wilbon, Michael (November 21, 1980). "Howard-Morgan State: The Game" . Retrieved August 3, 2018– via www.washingtonpost.com.
  24. ↑ "Rivalry And Revelry". October 2, 2005. Archived from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Howard & Morgan Take Rivalry North to a Big Stage in the Big Apple - Afro". afro.com. September 25, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  26. ↑ "With rivalry renewed, Morehouse and Howard wrap up four-year series at RFK Stadium". Washington Post. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  27. ↑ Crockett Jr., Stephen A. (September 13, 2014). "Howard vs. Morehouse: A Rivalry for the Ages" . Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  28. ↑ Seymour Jr., Add. "Morehouse and Howard Renew Rivalry in the 2011 Nation's Football Classic in Washington, D.C." (Press release). Retrieved August 2, 2018.
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