The Real HU

The Real HU
	Hampton Pirates Howard Bison
Sport	Football
First meeting	1908; Hampton 6, Howard 0
Latest meeting	September 16, 2023; Hampton 35, Howard 34
Statistics
Meetings total	98
All-time series	Hampton leads 56–41–1
Largest victory	Hampton, 52–2 (2002); Howard, 51–0 (1973)
Longest win streak	Hampton, 14 (1997–2010); Howard, 12 (1969–1980)
Current win streak	Hampton, 7 (2015–present)

Last updated February 24, 2024

Locations of Hampton and Howard

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.

Previously the two schools competed in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). On November 16, 2017, Hampton announced that they were becoming a member of the Big South Conference in 2018. Due to scheduling reasons, Hampton was to remain in the MEAC for 2018, but the MEAC refused to allow Hampton to play MEAC opponents in 2018, as punishment for leaving the MEAC for the Big South.^[1] The rivalry resumed in 2019, with Hampton facing Howard on September 14 in the 22nd Annual Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field.^[2]

The annual football contest has primarily been played at the two respective campus facilities: Armstrong Stadium for Hampton, and Howard's Greene Stadium, although the contest has been played at other locations such as Polo Grounds in New York City, old Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, RFK Stadium in Washington, DC and Audi Field also in Washington, DC.^[3]

President Obama's "Real HU" remarks

The rivalry is well-known and has been referenced by President Barack Obama. During his 2010 commencement address at Hampton, President Obama quipped, "Now, before we get started, I just want to say, I’m excited the Battle of the Real H.U. will be taking place in Washington this year. (laughter) You know I am not going to pick sides. (laughter) But my understanding is it's been 13 years since the Pirates lost. (applause) As one Hampton alum on my staff put it, the last time Howard beat Hampton, The Fugees were still together."^[4] At the time, Hampton was in the midst of a series long 14-game win streak.

Vice President Kamala Harris

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attended the 2021 Football Game between Howard & Hampton.^[5] Vice President Harris is a Howard University Alum, Class of 1986.

Hampton won the game 48–32.

Game results

Hampton victories	Howard victories	Tie games	Vacated wins

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	1908		Hampton	6–0
2	November 13, 1909	Hampton, VA	Howard	5–0
3	November 19, 1910	Washington, D.C.	Howard	32–0
4	October 19, 1911		Howard	11–0
5	November 9, 1912	Washington, D.C.	Howard	13–7
6	1913		Hampton	8–6
7	November 26, 1914	Washington, D.C.	Howard	6–0
8	1915		Hampton	18–0
9	November 30, 1916	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	12–3
10	November 29, 1917	Hampton, VA	Hampton	37–0
11	1918		Hampton	6–2
12	1919		Howard	12–7
13	November 13, 1920	Washington, D.C.	Howard	18–0
14	November 5, 1921	Hampton, VA	Howard	34–0
15	November 18, 1922	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	13–0
16	November 17, 1923	Hampton, VA	Howard	19–6
17	November 15, 1924	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	13–0
18	October 5, 1929	Hampton, VA	Hampton	6–0
19	November 15, 1930	Hampton, VA	Hampton	13–6
20	November 14, 1931	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	25–0
21	November 12, 1932	New York City, NY	Hampton	19–6
22	November 11, 1933	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	28–0
23	November 11, 1934	Hampton, VA	Howard	7–0
24	November 9, 1935	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	26–0
25	November 7, 1936	Hampton, VA	Hampton	35–0
26	November 6, 1937	Washington, D.C.	Howard	13–6
27	November 5, 1938	Hampton, VA	Hampton	13–12
28	November 11, 1939	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	25–6
29	November 9, 1940	Hampton, VA	Hampton	25–0
30	November 8, 1941	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	19–6
31	November 7, 1942	Hampton, VA	Hampton	12–0
32	November 11, 1944	Hampton, VA	Hampton	7–0
33	November 10, 1945	Washington, D.C.	Howard	19–6
34	November 9, 1946	Hampton, VA	Howard	9–6
35	November 8, 1947	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	19–13
36	November 6, 1948	Hampton, VA	Howard	6–0
37	November 5, 1949	Washington, D.C.	Howard	7–0
38	November 4, 1950	Hampton, VA	Howard	12–7
39	November 3, 1951	Washington, D.C.	Howard	7–0
40	November 8, 1952	Hampton, VA	Hampton	34–7
41	November 7, 1953	Washington, D.C.	Howard	11–7
42	November 6, 1954	Hampton, VA	Tie	13–13
43	November 5, 1955	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	14–0
44	November 3, 1956	Hampton, VA	Hampton	20–0
45	November 9, 1957	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	19–6
46	November 8, 1958	Hampton, VA	Howard	18–12
47	November 7, 1959	Washington, D.C.	Howard	14–7
48	November 5, 1960	Hampton, VA	Hampton	24–20
49	October 28, 1961	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	37–0
50	October 27, 1962	Hampton, VA	Hampton	33–14

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
51	November 2, 1963	Washington, D.C.	Howard	32–14
52	October 31, 1964	Hampton, VA	Howard	14–6
53	October 30, 1965	Washington, D.C.	Howard	26–8
54	October 29, 1966	Hampton, VA	Hampton	32–19
55	October 28, 1967	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	14–8
56	November 2, 1968	Hampton, VA	Hampton	37–6
57	November 1, 1969	Washington, D.C.	Howard	16–0
58	October 31, 1970	Hampton, VA	Howard	41–14
59	October 30, 1971	Washington, D.C.	Howard	35–0
60	October 28, 1972	Hampton, VA	Howard	21–3
61	October 27, 1973	Washington, D.C.	Howard	51–0
62	November 2, 1974	Hampton, VA	Howard	27–12
63	November 1, 1975	Washington, D.C.	Howard	19–15
64	October 30, 1976	Hampton, VA	Howard	28–7
65	October 29, 1977	Washington, D.C.	Howard	20–14
66	October 28, 1978	Hampton, VA	Howard	17–6
67	October 27, 1979	Washington, D.C.	Howard	28–12
68	November 1, 1980	Hampton, VA	Howard	38–21
69	September 8, 1984	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	13–7
70	September 13, 1986	Hampton, VA	Howard	21–7
71	September 10, 1994	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	21–20
72	September 8, 1995	Washington, D.C.	Howard	34–22
73	September 13, 1996	Washington, D.C.	Howard	26–7
74	September 13, 1997	East Rutherford, NJ	Hampton	49–21
75	September 12, 1998	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	38–31
76	September 11, 1999	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	28–27
77	September 9, 2000	East Rutherford, NJ	Hampton	28–24
78	September 8, 2001	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	27–20
79	September 14, 2002	Hampton, VA	Hampton	51–2
80	September 13, 2003	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	17–14
81	September 11, 2004	Hampton, VA	Hampton	47–14
82	September 10, 2005	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	22–12
83	September 9, 2006	Hampton, VA	Hampton	46–7
84	September 8, 2007	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	31–24
85	September 13, 2008	Hampton, VA	Hampton	38–27
86	October 13, 2009	Hampton, VA	Hampton	37–0
87	September 11, 2010	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	31–21
88	November 5, 2011	Hampton, VA	Howard	10–7
89	November 3, 2012	Washington, D.C.	Howard	20–10
90	November 23, 2013	Hampton, VA	Howard	42–39
91	November 22, 2014	Washington, D.C.	Howard	30–29
92	September 18, 2015	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	37–19
93	September 17, 2016	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	34–7
94	November 18, 2017	Hampton, VA	Hampton	20–17
95	September 14, 2019	Chicago, IL	Hampton	41–20
96	September 18, 2021	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	48–32
97	September 3, 2022	Hampton, VA	Hampton	31–28
98	September 16, 2023	Washington, D.C.	Hampton	35–34
Series: Hampton leads 56–41–1

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References

↑ "Conference quarrel: MEAC responds to Hampton's claims of conference punishing Pirates for leaving". February 21, 2018.
↑ "Chicago Football Classic". Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
↑ "Howard Game by Game against Opponents". Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
↑ "Barack Obama at Hampton: Commencement Address Transcript". Time.com. June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
↑ "Vice President Kamala Harris Flips Coin During Surprise Visit at Howard University Football Game".

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[1] "Conference quarrel: MEAC responds to Hampton's claims of conference punishing Pirates for leaving". February 21, 2018.

[2] "Chicago Football Classic". Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.

[cfbdatawarehouse-3] "Howard Game by Game against Opponents". Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[time-4] "Barack Obama at Hampton: Commencement Address Transcript". Time.com. June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

[5] "Vice President Kamala Harris Flips Coin During Surprise Visit at Howard University Football Game".

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v t e Howard Bison football
Venues	William H. Greene Stadium (1926–present)
Bowls & rivalries	2023 Celebration Bowl Hampton: The Real HU Morgan State
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Hampton Pirates football
Venues	Armstrong Stadium (1928–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Battle of the Bay (Norfolk State) The Real HU (Howard)
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football rivalries
Conference	Howard–Morgan State
Non-conference	Route 1 Rivalry (Delaware–Delaware State) The Real HU (Hampton–Howard) Battle of the Bay (Hampton–Norfolk State) The Battle for Greater Baltimore (Morgan State–Towson) Norfolk State–Old Dominion North Carolina A&T–North Carolina Central North Carolina A&T–South Carolina State