NORFOLK, Va. (July 5, 2023) – In conjunction with Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Media Day, the league will host its inaugural Men's Empowerment Breakfast where Howard University former standout and Super Bowl Champion Antoine Bethea will serve as a keynote speaker. The event takes place Friday (July 21) from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Hilton Norfolk the Main [100 E. Main St., Norfolk, VA 23510].
In 2006, Bethea was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts after a stellar collegiate career at The Mecca. In his rookie season, he helped the franchise win its first championship since 1971 by defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI (41). From there, he went on to play 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with three Pro Bowl appearances.
In 2015, Bethea was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame. Two years later (2017), he was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year Award, presented by the NFLPA. The honor is given to the most outstanding professional football player from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
"I'm excited to have the MEAC host the Men's Empowerment Breakfast," MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said. "For years, the conference's tagline was 'Educating Student-Athletes for the Game of Life,' and this initiative is a large part of sharing that philosophy with the broader community, helping to ensure the men in our communities have the knowledge and tools they need to live successful and meaningful lives."
The Men's Empowerment Breakfast tackles topics, including Building a Championship Mindset Without Burnout; Developing Your Brand and Legacy; Managing Money; Eliminating Violence and Gun Control and How to Coach the Next Generation.
Attendees will also be able to watch the live Football Media Day show, which will be live streamed on ESPN+ at noon in-person.
Coming off a share of the 2022 MEAC Championship, Howard will begin its season with a road game at Eastern Michigan (Sept. 1).
Original article posted on the Howard University Athletic Department's website.
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