BCSP Notes . . .
- Everyone else just playin'
While the Major Broadcasting Cable (MBC) Network has chosen to make live black college sports a staple of its offerings, others appear to be taking a step back.The aggressive posture of MBC has literally taken BET, once the only network to televise black college games, out of the game. BET aired six games last year and was said to be considering expanding that schedule in 2003.
BET officials have not returned calls trying to find out their 2003 schedule. According to school schedules however, the network plans to air the Southern Heritage Classic (Jackson State vs. Tennessee State) on Sept. 13 from Memphis (7 p.m., tape delay) and the Circle City Classic (Florida A&M vs. Jackson State) from Indianapolis on Oct. 4 (time not available).
ESPN2 televised Grambling State vs. San Jose State this past Saturday in the first annual Martin Luther King Literacy Classic from San Jose, Ca.
The only other games scheduled for national TV involve Florida A&M which signed a deal to air eight games on Urban Broadcasting Company (UBC) this year as part of a five-year package.
- Game Notes
Grambling State's 29-0 loss to San Jose State before a national television audience Saturday was not the most auspicious start to 2003 black college football, but it was the only game last week.A slate of 24 games, beginning Thursday, will kick off the first full weekend of black college football.
While most of the games involve non-league opponents, like Thursday's matchup of Hampton and I-AA 12th-ranked Villanova, several are key to upcoming conference races.
The Fort Valley State/Morehouse game Saturday in Atlanta will give clues to what's in store for the SIAC this year, as will Sunday's battle in Birmingham between three-time defending champion Tuskegee and Miles (MBC TV, 8 p.m.).
The SWAC inter-divisional battle between Southern and Mississippi Valley State Saturday (MBC TV, 8 p.m.) counts in both teams' division records and is therefore vital to both teams' title hopes. MVSU missed a field goal in the final minute a year ago that allowed Southern to escape with a 19-16 victory.
Year-long bragging rights are on the line Saturday in MEAC/CIAA battles involving N. C. A&T vs. N. C. Central and Norfolk State vs. Virginia State.
© 2003 Azeez Communications, Inc.
