As the Indiana University Hoosiers prepare to take the field against the Howard University Bison on Sept. 12, local football fans are invited to gather for a community watch party on the city’s West Side.
The Howard University Alumni Association will host the game day festivities at the 16 Tech Innovation District, located at 1220 Waterway Blvd. The family-friendly event will feature a live DJ and will run from noon to 3 p.m. to capture the action of the afternoon broadcast.
Before the general admission watch party, the organization is holding an exclusive pre-game networking hour specifically for Howard University alums from 11 a.m. to noon.
Jerrah Hamer, the regional chair of Howard University Alumni, noted the unique significance of the weekend’s matchup, as it marks the first time the two programs have ever met on the gridiron. The Hoosiers are hosting the Bison at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington for the second week of the 2026 college football season.
“This is the first time in history this matchup is happening,” Hamer told the Indianapolis Recorder. “It is always important to highlight the successes of HBCUs. It is also a good opportunity to connect with Howard alums and even some current students.”
While the HBCU’s alum network organizes the event, Hamer emphasized that the afternoon is designed to bring residents together regardless of their collegiate loyalties.
“Whether you are for Howard or IU, come out and have some family fun,” Hamer said.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
