BCSP Notes . . .
Attendance Matters
The Florida Classic is on a roll.
The annual big season-ending game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida pitting in-state MEAC rivals Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M tops the list of the best attended black college football games for the sixth consecutive year. And for the eighth straight year, the attendance topped the 70,000 mark.
The 2006 edition drew 71,216 rabid fans that watched FAMU take down the B-CC Wildcats for the second year in a row. That number topped attendance figures for the last two years which had been 70,112 last season and 71,153 in 2004.
The Florida turnout allowed the Classic to easily outdraw the 70th Magic City Classic in Birmingham which drew 66,233 fans to historic Legion Field for the Oct. 28th date between rivals Alabama State and Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs of AA&M prevailed 21-13 and went on to win their first football title at the Dec. 16 SWAC Championship Game back at Legion Field on Dec. 16. The SWAC title game, also played at Legion Field, made the list of the 28 games that drew over 20,000 fans this season at No. 14 with 30,213.
The MCC was the only other game to top the 60,000 mark this year.
The Atlanta Classic at the Georgia Dome between FAMU and Tennessee State stayed at No. 3 on the list. This year's game drew 57,885 fans, a little below the 56,297 that showed up in 2005.
The Bayou Classic returned to New Orleans this year after moving to Houston's Reliant Stadium last year because of Hurricane Katrina. Despite a triumphant return to the Super Dome, the Southern vs. Grambling State matchup lost some of its luster as neither team was in the running for the SWAC title. As a result, the BC, which drew 47,136 for this year's game, fell from No. 4 to No. 7 on the list. The game drew 53,214 last year in Houston.
It flip-flopped on the list with the New York Urban League Classic held at the New Jersey Meadowlands that attracted 53,588 fans for the matchup of MEAC rivals Morgan State and Hampton.
Thirty-one (31) games drew over 20,000 fans last season, with an average of 33,451 per game. The 28 games this year that topped the 20,000-mark averaged 35,289 fans per contest.
Benedict picks A&M's Connor
Benedict College President David H. Swinton and Athletics Director Willie Washington officially introduced former Alabama A&M Offensive Coordinator, Stan Conner as its next head football coach at a press conference last week at the school's new football stadium.
Conner just completed his 11th season with AAMU and helped lead them to their first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship with a 22-13 victory over the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in SWAC Championship Game VIII.
"I am excited and eager to get started at Benedict," said Conner. "Dr. Swinton and Mr. Washington have provided me with the opportunity to build on top of the legacy and program in which they have set. They have provided me with the opportunity to win football games. It's my task to win football games."
During his tenure at Alabama A&M, he has coached the secondary, running backs, and served as assistant head coach. He spent three seasons with the Bulldogs before heading to Lanett High School as the head coach. In 1998, he returned to Alabama A&M as the assistant head coach.
Conner played at Jackson State, where he was a four year letterman from 1980-1983. During his stay, the Tigers won three SWAC Championships and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1981 and 1982. After completing his college playing career in 1983, he joined the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL in 1984. After a brief stay in New Orleans, Conner moved on to join the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL. In 1986, Conner began his coaching career at Alabama State as the wide receivers coach. After three seasons, he returned to Theodore High School in 1990 as an assistant and later became head coach position at Mobile's LeFlore High School.
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