WASHINGTON, DC --- At Friday's press conference for the fifth annual AT&T Nation's Football Classic - the annual football game featuring historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC - it was announced that Howard University would take on longtime rival Hampton University for the first time in the game's five-year history. 

Besides the bragging rights battle to claim the title of "The Real HU," something is special about this year's game as opposed to the ones in the past.

"We had four successful years in this game and when we created it back in 2011 it was about taking advantage of our unique destination the demographics of our area and the history of this city," said Erik Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC, Sports and Entertainment Division.

"It also helped that we have a great HBCU in our backyard with Howard. We got together Howard and Morehouse to play in the initial game, they hadn't played in almost fifteen years. Now we are moving  into the second phase of this game and what is really important to ensure is that the competition on the field continues to be something that is compelling to everyone. We felt like a MEAC game with Howard and Hampton already having such a great rivalry is really the way to take this to the next level."

The AT&T Nation's Classic attracts thousands of people from all across the country each year. With the Howard - Hampton rivalry being so intense, it was only fitting to have both head coaches share a few words with those in attendance to start the buildup to the September contest.

"[I always believed that] this game should be played early. It is our first conference game so outside the rivalry it is very important to us. Hampton is our biggest rivalry so we have to make sure we go out and are prepared for a tough opponent," Howard Head Coach Gary Harrell of Howard University said. 

Hampton Head Coach Connell Maynor responded similarly, stating: "It's bragging rights, it's almost like another homecoming game. They want you to win the homecoming game, they want you to win the rivalry games and those are the ones they come to so those are the ones they want you to win. For the players you don't have to do a lot of motivation for these games because they understand the magnitude of it. We just have to get them prepared to play and give them a good show".    

This year's Nation's Classic will be played "under the lights" on Friday, September 18th at RFK Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. For tickets - which are now on sale - and other information, please visit www.nationsfootballclassic.com or check back to www.HUBison.com.