City of Columbia, Benedict and SC State Announce Inaugural Palmetto Capital City Classic

Columbia, SC -- City of Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, along with school officials from Benedict College and South Carolina State University held a press conference today to officially announce the inaugural Palmetto Capital City Classic.

Mayor Bob Coble at press conference held to announce the Palmetto Capital City Classic

The Palmetto Capital City Classic will match up intrastate rivals Benedict College and South Carolina State University for a September 7, 2002 battle on the gridiron of Williams-Brice Stadium. Benedict will be the initial home team with the schools alternating there after.

Although other games have been held in Columbia, the Palmetto Capital City Classic is the first football event to be actively sponsored by the City of Columbia. It will involve three days of celebratory events that include concerts, a step show, a Mayor's gala, a golf tournament, pep rallies, a battle of marching bands and tailgate parties.

The Palmetto Capital City Classic is the result of a three-way partnership sought by Mayor Bob Coble between the City of Columbia, Benedict and South Carolina State.

"For a long time, a lot of people have wanted to see this happen," said Coble. "It will be great for the fans of black college football, great for the city of Columbia as well as the entire state of South Carolina." An economic benefit is expected from the event as over 45,000 attendees are expected to converge from all over the state and beyond.

School and city officials cite the last S.C. State and Benedict football battle in 1999 as evidence of how zealously students, alumni and fans will attend the upcoming Palmetto Capital City Classic. S.C. State's narrow win over Benedict took place in front of 25,000 after an additional 7,000 were turned away at the gate due to capacity. The Benedict Tigers and S.C. State Bulldogs once waged one of the most heated rivalries in college football, playing every season between 1926-66 (with the exception of 1942-44 due to World War II). That all changed after the 1966 season when Benedict discontinued its football program. The rivalry was revived in 1999 with S.C. State taking a 26-23 victory.

The 2000 game was canceled due to boycotts regarding the Confederate flag and schedule conflicts prevented a game last season. Both schools ended last season playing well. The S.C. State Bulldogs maintained an impressive standing in the historically strong Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and won five in a row under retiring coach Willie Jeffries. Benedict coach Tony Felder has taken great strides with the reinstated Tiger program.

As an independent, the Benedict Tigers won four games in a row last season. The Palmetto Capital City Classic will begin the 2002 football schedule of both schools. It will be Buddy Pough's first game as head football coach at South Carolina State. It will be Benedict's first game following their recent selection into the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Sponsorship and vendor opportunities still exist with the Palmetto Capital City Classic. Inquiries can be made at 803-407-2531.

Palmetto Capital City Classic at a Glance:
What:   Football confrontation between Benedict College and South Carolina 
State University. Will include three days of celebratory events

Where:  Williams-Brice Stadium (home of the USC Gamecocks) - Columbia, SC
            
When:   Game will kick off at 6 P.M. on September 7, 2002

Website:     www.palmettocapitalcityclassic.com

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