JACKSON, Miss. – Just in time for the Fourth of July holiday, Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II set off fireworks in Mississippi, and beyond, by proclaiming, “Alcorn declares independence from Capital City Classic.”
In a detailed document published on the university’s website, Brown and interim athletic director Dwayne White said the annual game between Alcorn and Jackson State University, now informally dubbed “the Soul Bowl” will be held Nov. 17, 2012 in the Spinks-Casem Stadium on the Lorman campus.
Alcorn’s administrators said the school will be exercising the home team’s preference in 2012, which is to play in Lorman rather than in Jackson. Although the game has been called the Capital City Classic for 18 years, the teams have played their annual game 19 consecutive times. The annual game is expected to be played in Jackson in 2013.
In language inspired by the Declaration of Independence, Brown stated, “The facts are self-evident that the Lorman campus is an equal and adequate venue for ANY football game, including Jackson State. The time has come to declare our independence from hosting the Capital City Classic on our rival school’s home field.”
Brown, who began his presidency in 2011, also stated, “As president, I have a fiscal and leadership responsibility to Alcorn State University and this decision is in our best long-term interest.”
Jackson State’s official response was relatively muted, considering the convenience of previously having the games at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, which was a state property but full control was recently transferred to Jackson State University.
JSU sports information officer Wesley Peterson released the university’s official statement to Diverse, which read: “We respect Alcorn State’s decision to move the Nov. 17 football game to its home stadium in Lorman, Miss. We look forward to the JSU Tiger Nation traveling in force to Casem-Spinks Stadium.”
