Hampton University men’s basketball team defeated the Bison by a one-point upset in overtime this weekend, adding another page to the century long “Battle of the Real H.U.” saga
After Hampton’s departure from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2017, the intensity of the decades-long rivalry has begun to change, allowing for other schools to vie for the throne.
The long-standing rivalry between Hampton and Howard has deep roots dating back to their first football matchup in 1908 where the Pirates won 6-0 and has since then adopted the name of the “Battle of the Real H.U.”
The historic battle between Hampton and Howard has consistently drawn the attention of students and sports enthusiasts, but since Hampton left the MEAC, some athletes, coaches and fans view the rivalry as a part of the culture and no longer consider the Pirates to be a top competitor.
Chancie Posada, a sophomore psychology major from Houston, Texas and a member of Howard’s swim and dive team, believes that Hampton will always be considered one of Howard’s biggest rivals based on the history ingrained between the schools.
“Since [Hampton] left the MEAC, the rivalry has lost some of its competitive intensity, especially in conference play,” Posada said. “Now, schools like Morgan State or North Carolina A&T feel like bigger rivals in certain sports. With that being said the cultural weight of the Battle of the Real H.U. keeps the rivalry alive, even if it’s not as defining as it once was.”
Zuilda (ZuZu) Nwaeze, a junior psychology major and political science minor from Columbia, Maryland and a member of Howard’s swim and dive team, feels that Hampton has faded behind other competition.
“In terms of watching sports like football and basketball…I’m more likely to go to a game against Morgan State or Norfolk State than Hampton,” she said.
Zahria Liggins, creative director for Howard football and associate director for sports management for the Howard University Student Association (HUSA), said that, “Hampton will always be considered a rival because they now want to call themselves ‘H.U.’ although we know who was first.”
The ongoing battle between Hampton and Howard has been a staple in sports rival culture, even soliciting commentary from former President Barack Obama at Hampton’s commencement address in 2010.
“I’m excited the Battle of the Real H.U. will be taking place in Washington this year. You know I am not going to pick sides, but my understanding is it’s been 13 years since the Pirates lost. As one Hampton alum on my staff put it, the last time Howard beat Hampton, The Fugees were still together,” he said.
Posada believes the rival culture between Hampton and Howard has added representation to HBCU culture outside of athletics, helping to portray Black excellence and tradition.
“The Hampton-Howard rivalry brought so much visibility to HBCU sports. It wasn’t just about the games—it was about pride, legacy and representation. Our matchups drew national attention and helped highlight the talent within HBCU athletics, which often gets overlooked in mainstream sports media,” Posada said.
Posada said those moments showcased Black excellence, culture and community on a national stage.
Liggins contends that the rivalry brought attention to both programs, academically and athletically as they perform at high levels. She strongly feels that HBCUs became popular due to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) with celebrity coaches like Deion Sanders, Tomeika Reed and DeSean Jackson.
With Hampton’s absence in the MEAC, the Bison community has witnessed the change in dynamics and strength within Howard Athletics and the conference.
“Without Hampton in the mix, we’ve had the chance to redefine our rivalries and assert dominance in different areas,” Posada said. “For swimming specifically, we compete in the Northeast Conference (NEC) because we are the only HBCU with a swim team. That sets us apart and gives us a unique platform, but it also motivates us to inspire other HBCUs to reinstate their swim programs.”
The battle between Hampton and Howard remains a debate as the Bison look ahead to other competitors on the rise.
Cope edited by Aniyah Genama
