Classic fever hits nation's capital
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
The Prince George's (Md.) Black Chamber of Commerce held a press conference Tuesday at Washington, D. C.'s National Press Club to announce the first annual game which will pit Howard University against Grambling State University on Sept. 18 of this year at 86,000-seat Fed Ex Field, home of the NFL's Washington Redskins.
Grambling head coach Doug Williams, the
former Redskins' Super Bowl winning
quarterback, and Howard head man Rayford Petty
were on hand for the announcement and were joined by a group of dignitaries from around the
state and region that are supporting the event.
Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, U. S. Rep. (Md., 4th District) Albert R. Wynn, Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson, and National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford, were among the group present for the announcement along with representatives of the Redskins and the Greater Washington Sports Alliance, partners for the classic.
Howard Athletic Director, Sondra Norrell-Thomas said "We have been involved with this undertaking from the beginning and are happy to have formed a partnership with the PG Black Chamber of Commerce in making this a reality. We are looking forward to a long relationship as we work to make this one of the premier black college events in the country." Howard is expected to be an annual participant in the game. Hubert "Petey" Green, president of the Prince George's Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc., was the moderator of the press conference and talked of a six-month process that brought the game into being. Promoters are billing the game as a three-day celebration of sports, culture and community and are looking for it to have a major impact on economic development in Prince George's County, described in Classic promotional material as the most affluent black majority county in the country.
Plans call for a golf tournament, battle of the bands, fashion show and tailgate party. A recently conducted study says the event should generate over $15 million for the local economy.
"When I was approached to be part of the Classic it was a no-brainer," said Williams. "As soon as I heard it was in the DC area, we had two other opportunities but we put them on hold to make sure we gave preference to this first Classic. For many of the young men on the Grambling football team, it will be a great opportunity that they may never have to come to the nation's capital."
"Grambling is well-known throughout the country and has been for half a century," Petty said. "It's a great opportunity for our football program to play Grambling who has been the black college national champion two of the last three years. The visibility of playing in Fed Ex Field is going to go a long way to help us in recruiting."
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.