Wendy Raquel Robinson and Fonzworth Bentley on stage during the 2012 AT&T NFC
Written by | Ray Cornelius
All eyes will be on Washington, D.C. this weekend for the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic between longtime rivals Morehouse College and Howard University.
Serving as the official kick-off of HBCU Football Season, this two-day “family reunion” of sorts features an array of activities including steps shows, games, musical performances, prize giveaways and of course the game on Saturday, September 7 at RFK Stadium.
The Game’s Wendy Raquel Robinson and fashion icon, Fonnzworth Bentley have been tapped once again to serve as hosts of the pre-game festivities including the AT&T Kickoff Rally on Friday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Robinson is an alumna of Howard University and Bentley is a proud alumnus of Morehouse College. Both were eagerly excited to be back for the game but most of all for the students.
“I am just so excited to be back and ignite the energy of the young people that are on campus. We are here to get them excited about not only the game but also getting back to school and getting focused. I am just delighted to be partnered up again with AT&T and I firmly stand behind everything they do for the community and their support of HBCU’s. I think it’s a wonderful fit and I am ready to rock and roll.”
Robinson graduated cum laude from Howard and recalls why she chose to attend an HBCU over a traditional college and/or university.
“I was attracted to Howard based on its alumni. I started out my career out as a dancer and when I was graduating high, I looked at that roster and saw names like Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad and Roxie Roker. They were all of the women that I admired and whose careers I had followed. I also admired them for being strong roles models in this industry, especially black women in the industry. I believe they had such a positive impact that I wanted to step into their shoes and take that task. As a result, I have been blessed not just in terms of my education but in my responsibility as an artist, as an activist and as a woman. The experience has really transformed my life in so many ways.”
Bentley, who just recently celebrated the birth of his daughter, Zoie Alecia Watkins, was just as thrilled to back for this year’s festivities. “This is like a huge freaking deal. I am really excited that AT&T came in to undergird what I think is going to be a long standing historical event.”
Bentley has been keeping busy these days. He recently consulted with his former boss, Diddy for the new Revolt Network as well as helped write six songs on Kanye West’s controversial Yeezus album. Bentley will also appear in the sequel to the hit romantic comedy, Think Like a Man 2, which is due out next year.
When asked about his fondest memory of attending Morehouse College, Bentley quickly recalls a quote from the late president of the college, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, who served the school from 1940-67 and was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“There is a quote that comes to mind from Dr. Benjamin E. Mays that says, ‘Whatever you do, do it so well that no man living, no man dead and no man yet to be born, can ever do it any better.’ I probably heard that my freshman year but it really didn’t take root until my junior year. So I decided at that moment to make that my mantra. Any job or opportunity that I approached was done with that point of view.”
Click here to see a full schedule of all AT&T NFC events as well as ticket information.
Photo Credit: www.nationsfootballclassic.com
