The Howard University golf team celebrated a milestone as they made their television debut, featuring as cast members in the critically acclaimed series “Why Not Us.” This remarkable production was brought to life by Andscape, FILM 45, and ESPN+ Originals. The series premiered on Monday, August 21, with episodes one through four airing on ESPNU. Additionally, these episodes became immediately accessible for streaming on ESPN+.
Titled “Why Not Us: Howard Golf,” the series delves into the lives of both coaches and student-athletes. It chronicles their journey filled with triumphs and challenges as they navigate the path of a young Division I program. Their overarching goal is to bring national awareness and diversity to the world of golf.
Brian Lockhart, Vice President of Original Content, expressed his admiration for the Howard University golf team and Stephen Curry, emphasizing the inspiration they bring to the project. He noted that through the “Why Not Us” series, they aimed to shed light on HBCU culture and celebrate the institutions’ rich history while forging new legacies.
The Howard University golf program had been inactive for nearly half a century until Stephen Curry stepped in to revive it in 2021. The results achieved since then have exceeded all expectations.
Kendall Jackson, a junior majoring in sports management with a minor in economics hailing from Houston, Texas, is a member of the women’s golf team. She chose Howard because she saw an opportunity to make history. In her words, “I chose to play golf at Howard because I knew I had an opportunity to make history. My first year was the inaugural season of the women’s team. Also growing up in predominantly white spaces, the opportunity to attend the most prestigious HBCU and be surrounded by so many driven, passionate, and elite people of color, on top of having a chance to meet NBA superstar, Stephen Curry, the opportunity was too good to pass up.”
According to ESPN, in the three years since the program’s revival, the men’s golf team secured victory in the PGA Works Collegiate Championship (PWCC) and clinched the HBCU national title for the second consecutive year, outperforming North Carolina A&T by a staggering 57 strokes.
In just their second year of existence, the Howard women’s golf team earned recognition with three players making it to the 2023
All-American Scholar Team. The team also set its sights on a Northeast Conference championship.
Maya Brown-Edwards, a 2022 Howard University graduate and current ESPN Production Assistant, contributed to the production of the series. She emphasized the significance of doing justice to the university’s golf program. She said, “Being part of ‘Why Not Us: Howard Golf,’ especially as an alumna, is surreal and truly honoring. We, the producers at ESPN knew we had a gem on our hands and worked diligently to ensure the Howard Golf story was told authentically and to the highest standard.”
For the students of Howard University, this opportunity to be featured on ESPN is monumental. While the platform has the potential to work wonders for the university, many expressed their excitement about reaching a larger audience.
Raquel Simpson, a senior majoring in political science with a minor in journalism, is featured in the series for her role as the social media manager. She is thrilled about the impact this series will have on young Black golfers. Simpson stated, “This story will impact young Black golfers because it will show them that possibilities are limitless. Our program started from complete scratch and within three years we achieved so much great merit and success. I would hope young black golfers watching this know that they can achieve their goals both in the golf space and academic space, as institutions like HBCUs help amplify and excel students from our community.”
