Howard University head coach Larry Scott remains focused on growth, improvement and preparation as the Bison head into this weekend’s New York City Football Classic against Morehouse College.
“It was obviously a rough outing for us,” Scott said of the Bison’s 55-7 loss to Temple. “We came out with good energy, but the week of preparation was a little foggy. We didn’t snap back quickly enough after getting back at 4 a.m. from our game against FAMU in Miami.”
Howard, now 1-1 on the season, struggled against an experienced Temple team that overwhelmed them on both sides of the ball. Despite the loss, Scott emphasized the importance of learning from the performance and focusing on the fundamentals moving forward.
“The biggest piece is just our preparation and ability to snap back,” he said. “It’s about going back to the drawing board each and every week.”
Howard will face Morehouse (0–1) on Saturday, Sept. 13, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The game, which kicks off at 1 p.m., is part of the third annual New York City Football Classic and will be broadcast live on HBCU GO.
Despite the early-season struggles, Scott remains committed to the long-term development of his players—on and off the field.
“When you come to a place like Howard, you’re not pigeonholed,” Scott said. “Whether it’s law, business, medicine or football—you can excel in anything you commit yourself to.”
Scott also addressed concerns about his young quarterback Tyriq Starks’ confidence after two tough outings. The Bison have scored just 17 total points in their first two games.
“It’s about process,” Scott said. “One bad outing doesn’t predict the future. We’re teaching them to be resilient, to learn from the ups and downs—just like in life.”
Offensive struggles have been apparent for Howard. Asked what must improve, Scott didn’t mince words.
“Execute. Block. Catch. Protect,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of youth, and it’s about eliminating mental mistakes and executing routine things at a high level.”
The game against Morehouse represents more than just another opportunity to notch a win. It’s also a celebration of HBCU culture on a national stage.
“To have two powerful academic and cultural brands like Howard and Morehouse collide in New York City—it’s huge for the culture,” Scott said. “It’s exciting to go into an NFL venue with energy and fans in the stands.”
But Scott was quick to shift focus back to his team.
“Our challenge is us. It’s about correcting mistakes, adjusting our approach, and improving our standard of play—no matter who the opponent is,” he said.
This story was drafted using an AI tool based on the transcript of the MEAC weekly coaches’ conference and was then reviewed and edited by a journalist before publishing.
