Black college football teams do not play in bowl games. The only venues that come close to duplicating a bowl atmosphere are the annual classic games that are played during the regular season at a variety of locales across the U.S.
Black college football got major media attention for the first time in 1968 when Grambling State University, coached by the legendary Eddie Robinson, played Morgan State in the Invitational Football Classic at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The game drew more than 64,000 people. This was proof that Black college football, under the right circumstances, could be financially viable. The proceeds from that game — $200,000 — helped to bankroll a local academy and a scholarship fund to help inner-city youth pay for college.
Over the years, other “classic” games have come on the scene and the results have been mixed. Some remain viable while others have fallen by the wayside.
The classics with the most longevity and magnetism that keep huge crowds coming back year after year tend to be those games involving schools with storied rivalries. The games are played at neutral sites at big stadiums in big cities.
“Eddie Robinson was my mentor and he always reminded me about why a classic game has value,” said Joe Taylor, FAMU’s head football coach. “He explained that he could play a game at home and not have a sellout. But when he took that same game to Dallas to play a classic, the stadium would be packed. Because of the larger crowds, the schools get more exposure than they would normally, and it helps with recruiting. It’s a win-win for both schools. In most cases, the classics have a huge impact on their local communities. They allot a portion of the profits to pay for college scholarships and that’s always a positive.”
There’s more to these classics than just the action on the field. They are weekend-long events, much like a school’s homecoming, only on a grander scale. Fashion shows, tailgating, job fairs, step shows, parades and a vast array of other events add flavor to the classics experience.
Jackson State University plays in three classics annually, a number surpassed only by Black college football powerhouses Florida A&M, Prairie View A&M, Southern and Grambling State Universities.
