Hampton University Pirates: A Legacy of Excellence
Hampton University, a historically black research university located in Hampton, Virginia, boasts a storied history that extends beyond academics into the realm of athletics. The university's athletic teams, known as the Hampton Pirates and Lady Pirates, have a long-standing tradition of competitiveness and achievement. The origin of the "Pirates" mascot is a unique story in itself, deeply connected to the spirit and identity of the university.
The Birth of a Mascot: From Buccaneers and Wildcats to Pirates
The selection of the "Pirates" as the mascot for Hampton University was a decision made by the students themselves. It seems the final choice was between Buccaneers, Wildcats, and Pirates, but students were clearly victorious in this fight. Of the 577 votes cast, "Pirates" emerged as the favorite. From this point on Hamptonians were known as the Pirates. The adoption of the "Pirates" moniker was not arbitrary; it was a choice imbued with symbolism. The Pirate mascot interacting with the referee at the Hampton vs. games.
A Pirate's Life: Embracing the Mascot
The Hampton community has wholeheartedly embraced the "Pirates" mascot, integrating it into the very fabric of university life. There's even a chant that goes: “You gotta walk, walk, walk, walk like a pirate." For many, living like a pirate is not hard to do, 365 days out of the year. Being a Pirate is more than just a name; it is a way of life.
Evolution of the Hampton Pirates Logo
The Hampton Pirates logo has undergone several transformations over the years, each reflecting the changing times and the evolving identity of the athletic program.
- 1979 - 1996: The initial logo resembled a hand-drawn sketch, with an uneven circle frame.
- 1997 - 2001: A more professional-looking logo was introduced, featuring a smiling, somewhat cartoonish pirate.
- 2002 - 2006: This version showcased the pirate's torso, a prominent hat, and a sword, set above the program's name.
- 2007 - Present: The current logo was introduced, marking a more contemporary and refined representation of the Pirates mascot.
Despite these changes, the pirate theme has remained constant, a testament to the enduring appeal and relevance of the mascot to the Hampton University community.
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Hampton Pirates in Collegiate Athletics
Hampton sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (FCS for football) in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). They joined in 2022 upon leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and then later the Big South Conference. The Hampton Pirates and Lady Pirates refer to the sports teams representing Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in intercollegiate athletics. A member of the Coastal Athletic Association, Hampton sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The school also sponsors a co-ed varsity sailing team, but sailing is not an NCAA sanctioned sport.
Success in Various Sports
The Hampton Pirates have achieved significant success in various sports, with their most notable achievements including multiple conference championships in basketball, football, and track and field.
During their time in the MEAC, the Pirates were known for their fierce competitiveness and sportsmanship. They have won numerous conference championships, especially in men’s and women’s basketball. The men’s basketball team, in particular, has made several appearances in the NCAA Tournament, creating memorable moments in college basketball history. In 2001, the Hampton basketball team won its first NCAA tournament game, when they beat Iowa State 58-57, in one of the largest upsets of all time. They were only the fourth fifteen-seed to upset a two-seed in the tournament's history. They returned to the tournament a year later, as well as in 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2016, having won their conference basketball tournament. Additionally, their football team has consistently been a force in the conference, winning several championships and producing NFL-caliber talent. The Pirates won their conference title in football in 1997, shared the title 1998 and 2004, and won it again outright in 2005 and 2006. From 2004 to 2006, the team won three MEAC Championships and three SBN-Black College National Championships, and was ranked in the Division I FCS top 25 poll each year. The Pirates also sent five players to the NFL Combine in 2007, the most out of any FCS subdivision school for that year.
Currently, the Hampton Pirates continue to excel in collegiate athletics. In 2018, they made a significant move by joining the Big South Conference, marking a new era in their athletic history. This transition signifies their ongoing commitment to excellence in sports and their aim to compete at even higher levels. On November 16, 2017, Hampton announced they would be leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to join the Big South Conference. During Hampton's switch from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to the Big South Conference, both rivalries were put on hold. In September 2019, Hampton revived their rivalry with Howard during the Chicago Football Classic. In 2016, Hampton became the first and only HBCU to field a Division I men's lacrosse team.
Lady Pirates: A Force to be Reckoned With
The "Lady Pirates" basketball team has made trips to the NCAA tournament in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2010-2014, and 2017. In 1988, as a Division II school, the Lady Pirates won the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship, defeating West Texas State. In 2011, as a number-13 seed, the Lady Pirates nearly upset Kentucky, but fell in overtime, 66-62. In 2015, the Lady Pirates played in the Women's NIT, where they defeated Drexel 45-42 in the opening round.
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Supporting the Pirates
Pirate athletics are supported by a plethora of groups, including "The Marching Force" Marching Band. The marching band has appeared at several notable events, including a Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration parade in Washington, DC. "The Force" was chosen out of a large pool of applicants to participate in the parade as the representative for the state of Virginia.
Hampton University: A Beacon of Excellence
Hampton University's commitment to excellence extends far beyond the athletic field. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it was established by Black and White leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen. The university offers 90 degree programs, including 50 bachelor's degree programs, 25 master's degree programs, and 9 doctoral programs. The university has a satellite campus in Virginia Beach and also has online offerings.
A Legacy of Leadership
Hampton University has been led by a succession of distinguished individuals, each contributing to the institution's growth and development.
Samuel Chapman Armstrong: As the first principal of the Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, Armstrong laid the foundation for the university's commitment to both academic and vocational training. The son of missionaries, Armstrong was born January 30, 1839 in Maui, Hawaii, the sixth of ten children. He attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1860 his father suddenly died, and Armstrong, at age 21, left Hawaii for the United States and attended Williams College in Massachusetts, graduating in 1862. He also had dreams for the betterment of the freedmen. He patterned his new school after the model of his father, who had overseen the teaching of reading, writing and arithmetic to the Polynesians. He wanted to teach the skills necessary for blacks to be self-supporting in the impoverished South. Under his guidance, a Hampton-style education became well known as an education that combined cultural uplift with moral and manual training.
William R. Harvey: Dr. William R. Harvey served as the 12th President of Hampton University. He is the longest serving president in Hampton's history and one of the longest serving college presidents in the nation. A native of Brewton, Alabama, he is a graduate of Southern Normal High School, Talladega College and Virginia State University. He earned his doctorate in College Administration from Harvard University in 1972. Before coming to Hampton over four decades ago, he held administrative posts at Harvard, Fisk, and Tuskegee universities. In June 2022, William R. Harvey retired as the 12th president of Hampton University after 43 years of service.
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Darrell K. Williams: Lieutenant General Darrell K. Williams, United States Army (retired) hails from West Palm Beach, Florida and brings to Hampton University over four decades of proven success in leading complex domestic and international military, government civilian, academic institutional, and commercial business organizations. He succeeded Harvey in 2022.
A Hub of Research and Innovation
Hampton University is home to 16 research centers, including the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, the largest free-standing facility of its kind in the world.
Historic Roots
The campus was founded on the grounds of "Little Scotland", a former plantation in Elizabeth City County that is located on the Hampton River. It overlooked Hampton Roads and was not far from Fortress Monroe and the Grand Contraband Camp, that gathered formerly enslaved men and women who sought refuge with Union forces in the South during the first year of the war. In 1861 the American Missionary Association (AMA) responded to the former slaves' need for education and hired Mary Smith Peake as its first teacher at the camp. She had already secretly been teaching slaves and free Black people in the area despite the state's legal prohibition. She first taught for the AMA on September 17, 1861, and was said to gather her pupils under a large oak. In 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was read here-the first place in the Confederate states. From then on the big tree was called the Emancipation Oak.
Notable Alumni
Hampton University has produced a long list of distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Among them:
Booker T. Washington: One of Hampton's earliest students was Booker T. Washington, who arrived from West Virginia in 1872 at the age of 16. Educator, author, including his autobiography Up from Slavery, orator, first president of Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), founder of the National Business League, prominent civil rights and racial “uplift” advocate, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. After graduation, he returned to Hampton and became a teacher. This new institution eventually became Tuskegee University.
Ruth E. Carter: Academy Award-winning costume designer for films such as "Black Panther."
Mary W. Jackson: NASA human computer and its first black female engineer; namesake of the Mary W.
Katherine G. Johnson: NASA mathematician who calculated trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for many United States manned spaceflights.
Devin G. Walker: Dark matter researcher; theoretical particle physicist at Dartmouth College; first black American to earn a Ph.D.
Alberta Williams King: Mother of Martin Luther King Jr.
Support and Recognition
Typical of historically black colleges, Hampton received much of its financial support in the years following the Civil War from the American Missionary Association (whose black and white leaders represented the Congregational and Presbyterian churches), other church groups, and former officers and soldiers of the Union Army. One of the many Civil War veterans who gave substantial sums to the school was General William Jackson Palmer, a Union cavalry commander from Philadelphia. He later built the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, and founded Colorado Springs, Colorado. As the Civil War began in 1861, although his Quaker upbringing made Palmer abhor violence, his passion to see the slaves freed compelled him to enter the war. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in 1894. In July 2020, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $30 million to Hampton.
Campus Landmarks
The Hampton University Museum was founded in 1868 and is the nation's oldest African-American museum. The four libraries on campus are the William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library (main library), William H. Moses Jr.
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