There’s something special about returning to the spaces that helped shape your purpose—even if you haven’t stood in them for a while.
Although I haven’t been directly involved with the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) since coaching the team at Tougaloo College in 2006, the program has never left me. It’s always lived in the back of my mind—a reminder of the power of intellect, connection, and culture. So when I recently returned to the HCASC National Championship Tournament, it was more than a homecoming. It was a reawakening.
As a former player and coach, I’ve long admired what HCASC represents. For almost four decades, it has celebrated Black academic excellence, cultivating a space where brilliance thrives, culture is centered, and curiosity is currency. But this year, as I watched the tournament unfold, I found myself asking a question that many might not have considered:
Why did it take so long for this HBCU-centered legacy to be led by an HBCU graduate?
I had the opportunity to sit down with Eric Conn, the man behind the original vision for HCASC. Back in the 1980s, Eric was the Assistant Vice President of Advertising at Honda. At a time when diversity in media was virtually nonexistent, Eric made a bold decision to hire both Black- and Hispanic-owned advertising agencies—not just divisions within white-led firms. He didn’t want surface-level representation; he wanted real partnership.
His thinking was simple, but revolutionary: “We (Honda) have to earn the right to be in the community before we ask them to consider our product.” He built a marketing plan rooted in youth, health, and education—values that aligned with Honda’s brand but, more importantly, aligned with what our communities actually needed. From that, HCASC was born.
It started with 18 teams in Washington, D.C. in the snow. Since then, HCASC has awarded over $8 million in institutional grants to HBCUs, built lifelong bonds across campuses, and elevated Black students in ways that most academic competitions never have.
And yet, for all its impact, until now, no HBCU graduate had ever been behind the wheel.
That changed with Jasmine Cockfield, a proud graduate of Jackson State University and the current Project Leader for both HCASC and Honda Battle of the Bands. Jasmine’s leadership this year has been transformative. She didn’t just bring structure—she brought soul. She brought an understanding of our HBCUs that can’t be taught in a corporate training. It’s lived. And it showed in every part of this experience.
As someone who now works in creative direction and cultural storytelling, I couldn’t help but imagine the potential future for HCASC. Why isn’t this a household game we play on an app? Why don’t we see it streaming weekly with Black celebrity hosts and nationwide school brackets? Maybe Black With No Chaser can help make that happen.
Because here’s the thing: HCASC is more than a game. It’s Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit, Name That Tune, and a senior thesis defense all rolled into one. It’s a showcase of Black genius that we should all be watching—and now, you can.
This Thursday (3:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM CT), Black With No Chaser will livestream the HCASC National Championship Tournament on our YouTube channel, Black With No Chaser TV. CJ Lawrence and I will be hosting a pre-show and providing live commentary throughout the championship. It’s our way of honoring the legacy—and making sure it continues to grow.
As Eric Conn said during our conversation:
“You’re the shoulders now. You’re the ones future generations will stand on. Go lead and be strong.”
And we are. We’re leading with curiosity. With culture. And with community. HCASC has always been a gem. Now, it’s time for the rest of the world to see just how bright it shines.
About the Author:
George “Chuck” Patterson, Jr. is the Chief Creative & Design Officer at Black With No Chaser, a former HCASC player and coach, and an unapologetic advocate for Black storytelling, culture, and creativity.
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