WASHINGTON (October 19, 2023) - In 1993, the Howard University football team did something that no team before or since has done: go undefeated 11-0 and win its first Black National Championship.
 
It was like a magical ride each week, resulting in the highest national ranking in school history and a first and only trip to the NCAA 1-AA/FCS Playoffs.
 
Fittingly, there will be a special ceremony during Saturday's homecoming game against Norfolk State to honor their 30^th anniversary.
 
Among the honorees are former head coach Steve Wilson, the winningest coach in school history, Jay "Sky" Walker, who was named All-American and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year; Gary "Flea" Harrell, former head coach at Howard and currently running backs coach at the University of Colorado and Pep Hamilton, former quarterbacks coach in both college and in the NFL. He is now an analyst for NFL Network, alongside fellow alum Steve Wyche.
 
"I am especially happy for the members of the team," noted Walker, who will be doing the color commentary for the ESPN broadcast of the game. "It is a defining moment for me, but I know that it means a lot to the members of the team."
 
Hamilton, who is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in football, has changed careers from coaching and calling plays to analyst, "There was a uniqueness about that team in 1993. It was a group of highly skilled players, who were close on and off the field that carried over to our success. This ceremony is special because we can all come back together and celebrate our accomplishment."
 
Neal Downing, yet another All-MEAC selection and one of the team captains, says that while the honor is special, it has much more value than what was accomplished on the field.
 
"Being a part of that experience and to be honored by Howard is very humbling," notes Downing, a Director of Athletics at a middle school. "Howard University afforded us so many opportunities to represent it throughout the world. So being part of history just adds to the whole experience."
 
That season, Harrell became the top receiver in school and MEAC history after hauling in 72 passes for 982 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight end David Sierra became a star with a career-best 25 receptions. Rupert Grant scored 20 touchdowns.
 
"This is a great honor," says Harrell, a Howard and MEAC Hall of Famer. "For the University to honor us for this accomplishment is something that we value greatly. That whole experience was something that we all dedicated ourselves making commitments and sacrifices."
 
And, of course, one cannot forget the achievements Walker, who in two years became one of the finest quarterbacks in school and MEAC history. Behind a vastly improved offensive line that gave up only 10 sacks, Walker completed 55-percent of his passes, finishing with 3,364 passing yards and 24 touchdowns for a team averaging nearly 40 points a game.
 
There were many memorable moments, but here are just a few:

• A 38-36 shootout over the late Steve "Air" McNair in the Gateway Classic in St. Louis. Freshman kicker Jason DeCuir kicked the game-winning 29-yard field goal with less than a minute left.
• A hard-fought 21-7 win over Bethune Cookman in Daytona Beach in which the start of the game was delayed for two hours due to lightning. A strip and forced fumble by safety Neal Downing in the end zone helped secure the win and preserve the streak.
• A 44-41 come-from behind win at Towson in which Walker connected with senior transfer wide receiver Germaine Kohn with six seconds left on the clock.
• A 41-35 overtime win at North Carolina A&T State as Walker ran untouched for the game-deciding touchdown.
• A 66-37 win at Morgan State in a game that was called with a little over four minutes in the fourth quarter due to darkness. Grant scored four TDs in that game, two rushing and two receiving.

 
The team comprised of 88 players from 18 different states, including Alaska.
 
Coaching Staff:

• Head Coach: Steve Wilson (HU alum)
• Offensive Line: Fred Dean (HU alum)
• QBs/Receivers: A.C. Cauthorn
• Running Backs: Ron Springs
• Defensive Coordinator/LBs: Rayford Petty
• Defensive Backs: Greg Butler (HU alum)
• Defensive Line: Sanders Shiver

Graduate Assistant: James Moses (HU alum)
 
Coach Wilson, Harrell and Walker are all Howard and MEAC Hall of Fame inductees.
 
Seven members went on to play professionally in either the NFL, Canadian League or the XFL.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.