SWAC-MEAC Challenge bogards Miles-Tuskegee contest
April 3, 2007
By Eric N. Moore
Managing Editor
With the official announcement of the date for the SWAC-MEAC Challenge, the Labor Classic between Miles and Tuskegee now has some company.
 And the company may affect an anticipated big payday.
The resumption of the Florida A&M-Southern University football series will open the 2007 season for both schools in the third SWAC-MEAC Challenge on Sunday, September 2 at 1:30 p.m. at Legion Field in Birmingham. The game is set to be televised on ESPN2.
Miles and Tuskegee had previously announced that they would meet on the same day at the same field at 6:00pm. It would be the beginning of an anticipated series of games between the two SIAC rivals during Labor Day weekend in Birmingham.
Tuskegee ranked #2 and Miles #12 in Division II football attendance last year. The last time they met during Labor Day weekend (2003), they drew 32,312 at Legion Field in a game televised on the MBC Network (now the Black Family Channel).
Officials at Miles and Tuskegee were anticipating over 25,000 attendees before the Challenge announced its new date.
FAMU was #5 and Southern #6 in the ranking of Football Championship Series (formerly Div I-AA) schools.
Last year’s Challenge between Grambling State and Hampton drew 19,175 to Legion Field.
If the weather cooperates, there could be as many as 50,000 fans in town to see both games.
However contrary to popular opinion outside the Black College sports community, all Black College football fans are not alike.
The Challenge and Classic will be drawing from distinctly different communities and while the stadium can hold the fans, the question remains about tailgating, locker rooms, traffic and parking considerations.
Tailgating spots don’t come free and word is that the four locker rooms at the stadium aren’t comparable.
It could get real interesting and fans for the second game will probably suffer most.
Our sources indicate that ESPN forced the date change from Saturday as part of a promotional package they have planned for the weekend.
ESPN owns the Challenge, so its success has priority.
The little guys will have to wait until next year when the Challenge moves to a MEAC city.
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