James "Shack" Harris and Doug Williams, two of the co-founders of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, wanted to address a major issue: football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) not being drafted by NFL teams. Thus, the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl was born.
The goal is to provide more exposure to NFL draft-eligible football players from HBCUs. The inaugural all-star showcase takes place on Feb. 19 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. The 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl, proudly sponsored by The Home Depot, will bring together the best draft-eligible football players attending HBCUs.
Team Gaither, named after Florida A&M University football coach Jake Gaither, will consist of coaches and players representing the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Team Robinson, named after Grambling State University football coach Eddie Robinson, will consist of coaches and players from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
But this isn’t simply another football game. The Legacy Bowl is a career fair bringing job opportunities and professional presentations like resume writing and interview tips to juniors and seniors attending HBCUs. And it’s all happening just in time for Black History Month as a weeklong celebration of Black culture and history, broadcasting live on the NFL Network.
The Home Depot is dedicated to uplifting HBCUs. Since 2009, the company’s Retool Your School program has invested millions of dollars, funding more than 100 campus projects for 87% of the nation’s HBCUs. To learn more about the program visit retoolyourschool.com.
