Celebration Bowl Commentators Greene, Walker Represent Opposing Schools

ESPN Events’ Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta this Saturday, Dec. 16 (noon ET, ABC, and ESPN+) matches Howard University, winner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), against Florida A&M University, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion, in a bowl game that will determine the 2023 Black College Football National Champion.

It’s the first time Howard or FAMU has advanced to the Celebration Bowl in the event’s nine-year history. Two people who are particularly excited about the matchup are the ESPN voices who will call the game – Tiffany Greene, a FAMU alum (Class of 2003), and her longtime broadcast partner, analyst Jay “Sky” Walker (’98), a Howard alum and former standout Bison quarterback, who also happens to be a 2024 finalist for the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Greene and Walker discuss their respective schools, share their favorite memories as students, and highlight why the Celebration Bowl is such a special event.

What’s your favorite college memory?
Greene: There are so many amazing memories I had as a student, but my favorite was being voted Queen of Orange and Green by the student body. It meant the world to me because it was a goal I set for myself before I got to FAMU. What makes it even better is that it helped write my FAMU love story years later when I married my King of Orange Green, Aaron Berry.
Walker: My favorite memory at Howard was winning the 1993 HBCU National Championship with my boys and also experiencing the Howard Yard.

What does being an alum of FAMU/Howard mean to you?
Greene: It is a legacy that began 115 years ago with my great grandmother, Mary Thomas Edwards, when she graduated from the Florida Normal College for Colored Students, now known as FAMU. As a fourth-generation Rattler, the “College of Love and Charity” is woven into the fabric of my family and my being.
Walker: It’s special because that is the reason why you choose Howard, joining the illustrious list of those who have come before you and made a difference in culture, medicine, law, politics, and entertainment.

Why makes the Celebration Bowl so special?
Greene: In many ways, Atlanta is seen as the “Black Mecca.” This bowl game illuminates HBCUs with the backdrop of a city that has both historical significance and present relevance. It is a time to share our collective stories. It is a time to highlight the NFL-level talent that exists in Black college football. It is a time to play for a national championship. It is a time to celebrate.
Walker: The Celebration Bowl has grown into a true bowl game experience. The players are treated like royalty. The game means something, and bragging rights are on the line. It is truly conference versus conference, North versus South, and fan versus fan. Also, Atlanta is the perfect host.

#TBT Former Howard QB Jay Walker. Known today for being an outstanding college football analyst, Walker earned All-MEAC first-team honors in 1992 and ’93, adding the conference’s 1993 offensive of the year award while the Bison captured the black college football national title. pic.twitter.com/wGVWo9InrQ

— FCS Football (@FCS_STATS) June 23, 2022

What does it mean to be a finalist for the Black College Football Hall of Fame?
Walker: Being a finalist for the BCFHOF is an honor and something that means a lot to me, but not for me. I am proud of my teammates, coaches, and alma mater. We did something special. I am also happy for my family, especially my children, who have only heard about “Sky Walker” but have never seen him play.

HBCU MARCHING BANDS DUEL FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HONORS FRIDAY IN ATLANTA

The Cricket Celebration Bowl has established itself as a premier college football game while celebrating the heritage, legacy, pageantry, and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The weekend in Atlanta features a full schedule of events, including the inaugural Band of the Year National Championship on Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The competition (6 p.m. on ESPN3 and ESPN+) will feature North Carolina A&T’s “Blue & Gold Marching Machine” versus Jackson State’s “Sonic Boom of the South” in the Division I competition and Florida Memorial’s “The ROAR” versus Virginia State’s “Trojan Explosion” at the Division II/NAIA level.

“HBCU bands are part of the football culture, and this will enhance the experience of the weekend,” said Walker.

Greene adds: “This event incentivizes each school’s band throughout the season to be crowned the Band of the Year, and it helps set the stage for the entire Celebration Bowl weekend.”