On the latest edition of the Nightcap podcast, Shannon Sharpe announced that he would not be broadcasting live from North Carolina at his homecoming. On October 26, Nightcap announced that they would be broadcasting from North Carolina A&T on Thursday afternoon at 1:15 pm. However, Sharpe detailed a process of miscommunication and changing requirements after working on the appearance for 10 weeks.

Sharpe said the fee requests came late, and he questioned why A&T chose that route after 10 weeks of planning.

“You gotta pay a fee if you get this person, that person, this person to come on. I say, ‘You know what, guys? At some point in time, it’s just not worth it.’ And so unfortunately, it’s not gonna happen. So again, ask A&T why they chose to go this route when they knew 10 weeks in advance that we were coming and what we had requested.”

He then said the university, not Nightcap, canceled, and named the official he said was in charge.

“There’s a young lady that’s in charge that just basically gave us her butt to kiss, Dr. Kecia Williams Smith. I don’t really like to call people names. But you put us in a very tough spot, because people are looking at us like, ‘Well, Nightcap, y’all canceled last minute.’ Nah, ain’t no Nightcap cancel last minute. Dr. Kecia Williams Smith, she canceled us last minute.”

Sharpe said the school’s own band had been excited to participate before he was told otherwise.

“When she started making all these requests, the band sent an email, ‘We’re looking forward to seeing you guys. We can’t wait to participate.’ Well, we were told you guys weren’t gonna be available. That’s bull jive, is what they said. I use the term bull jive, but that’s not what they said.”

He questioned what the school was passing up by turning away a broadcast meant to showcase its homecoming.

“You have to ask yourself, you have to ask A&T, when we’re coming to highlight your university, to show what homecoming at an HBCU is all about, the pageantry…”

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Sharpe added that the fee requests extended to the Greek organizations that were expected to take part.

“Oh yeah, by the way, any Greeks or sorors, that was gonna be a fee for each one that participated. Unfortunately, it’s not gonna happen.”

He closed by describing how much the crew had already invested and how disappointed he is, especially as an HBCU alumnus.

“I’m disappointed because this was a big undertaking. We had a lot of people, a lot of things, and we weren’t able to cancel those rooms. So we spent a lot of money to get there, to do what we needed to do, and unfortunately, it’s not gonna happen. I am very, very disappointed. I’m very disappointed an HBCU would behave in this manner. Because I went to an HBCU, and I understand that sometimes they’re not highlighted in a positive light, or highlighted like they should.”