This year's Sunshine State gridiron showdown between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic XXIX, presented by State Farm, will be televised live nationally on ESPN Classic, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced last week.

The annual contest, which has been the single-game attendance leader for NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA) the past five years, will be played at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Because of the game airing on ESPN Classic, the kickoff time of the November 22 game has been moved from 3:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

JCSU LOSES TRACK COACH:

The Johnson C. Smith University Athletics Department is saddened to learn of the passing of Trenton Guy, Sr. He was the assistant men's and women' s track and field coach and received his undergraduate degree from JCSU in May.

"We are extremely shocked and deeply saddened," said JCSU Athletics Director, Steve Joyner, Sr. "It's very hard to put into words the sense of loss that those of us who worked with him feel right now. Trent was someone for whom I had a great deal of respect."

Services for Guy were held July 17, 2008 at First Baptist Church-West in Charlotte, NC.

AN INTERVIEW WITH WC GORDEN:

Former Jackson State head football coach W.C. Gorden was one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I-AA history with a 119-48-5 career record over 15 years. Gorden's Tigers won an unprecedented 28 straight SWAC games from 1985-1989. Gorden will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this Saturday in South Bend, Indiana.

During his 24-year coaching affiliation (he served nine years as an assistant) with the Tiger program, 65 JSU players were drafted into the NFL; 22 were selected as All Americans, including first round draft picks Walter Payton, Robert Brazile, Donald Reese and Jerome Barkhum; and seven of his assistant coaches moved on to head football coaching jobs. Days before his induction into the 2008 class that includes former Mississippi Valley State, Howard and Fort Valley State head coach Doug Porter, JSU's winningest football coach sat down with the JSU Athletic Media Relations office for an informal interview that the BCSP excerpts here. The full interview is on the JSU athletics website.

JSU: What was your initial reaction when it was first brought to your attention about being inducted into the football college hall of fame?
W.C. Gorden: It was humbling to be selected among the greatest coaches in America and to be enshrined into the prestigious College Hall of Fame. In the words of one of the great American musical composers of our time, James Brown "It feels Good."

JSU: How do you feel about representing JSU in the College Football Hall of Fame? What about representing the SWAC?
W.C. Gorden: I coached in what has been referred to as the "Golden Era." JSU players were big stuff, they were cracking skulls and scoring sixes! Spectators liked the big linemen, elusive running backs and world class sprinters playing wide receiver and defensive back. SWAC coaches were the forces of innovation, scoffed at repetition, embraced unpredictability and unconventionality. They believed in developing freedom within a structure.

JSU: On a national scale, what do you think this honor you are receiving says about the program that you helped build?
W.C. Gorden: The national print media, radio, television interviews will be instrumental in exposing sports fans nationwide to the drama of the powerful football team and players that have matriculated through JSU.

JSU: There are some prestigious men (Joe Paterno, Doug Flutie, Ahmad Rashad) being inducted in your class. How do you feel about being in the same class?
W.C. Gorden: I am elated to be inducted into the 2008 class with such illustrious men however, I was given the opportunity to coach super stars like Walter Payton, Harold Jackson, Robert Brazile, Jackie Slater, Kevin Dent and Jimmy Smith.

JSU: How do you feel about the direction that the program is going in now?
W.C. Gorden: Observing the organization and planning that Coach Comegy and his staff has implemented into the JSU football program, I feel they will elevate the program to a new level. In addition, the public relations established with the alumni and business community will hopefully increase revenues to make the program financially prominent and self sustaining.

JSU: Do you think this honor is over due?
W.C. Gorden: No, I do not think that this honor is over due. My maturity now has moved me from an attitude to freedom, from selfishness to selflessness, now I have moved from competition to compassion.

JSU: Do you think other black coaches have been over looked for this type of honor?
W.C. Gorden: In the old days, Black College football games were played in anonymity. Only the Pittsburg Courier and Chicago Defender Weekly focused on limited national coverage of Black College football games. The older coaches such as Florida A&M's Jake Gaither, Langston's Zip Gayles and Wiley College's Fred "Pop" Long, had to practice their coaching brilliance in geographical privacy. Even today, few books are written on Black College football. Much of the rich football history has vanished.

JSU: How do you think black college football measures up to other programs today versus ''back in the day''
W.C. Gorden: Prior to 1969, Black Colleges scratched and scrapped for money and signed themselves all the big, fast, talented black kids they could find who could not get into other big schools. The SWAC schools had awesome talent and teams as a result. The National Football League hunting for a winning edge, signed many powerful and talented athletes from the SWAC. To become competitive again, predominantly Black institutions will need to develop entrepreneurship.

JSU: Do you ever reminisce and say to your self ''Where would I be if I had not coached at JSU'' and if so where would you be?
W.C. Gorden: 1967 was the year that changed my life. Coming to J-State altered the way I thought and coached. The current Jackson State President John A. Peoples, was responsible for creating an intellectual and athletic atmosphere on campus. Athletic Director T.B. Ellis directed the development of the athletic program. Dr. Rod Paige was the head football coach at the time and I believe that these elitist educators empowered my teaching and coaching skills. Without this opportunity, I possible would have remained a high school coach and teacher. If I had not coached here at JSU I do not think that I would have enjoyed such a successful career.

JSU: You came up with the JSU block logo, how does it make you feel when you see it now?
W.C. Gorden: The JSU Block logo was designed to lessen the horizontal look of the original three lettered logo. In addition, the stacking of the S and U was a unique variation in logo design at the time. It gave Jackson State its own identity. I am elated that the public continues to embrace the logo that I designed.

JSU: If there was anything that you could have done better while coaching at JSU what would it have been?
W.C. Gorden: My coaching career would have been the ultimate success had we won a national championship. We were close to winning on several occasions however, we faltered in the fourth quarter. JSU: You have had the chance to work with and watch the JSU football program over the years. Back when you were coaching, could you see JSU being where it is now?
W.C. Gorden: Being part of the foundation, I envision the JSU football program to more prominent and dominating in the new millennium. Under our new leadership, I can see progress being made.

JSU: What are you more proud of in your career as a football coach, producing quality members of society or winning championships?
W.C. Gorden: My greatest contribution as Jackson State's football coach came during the decade of the 1980's. Jackson State graduated football players at a higher rate than any other University in the SWAC and in Mississippi. Also, the football players graduated at a higher rate than the non-athletes. Academics were our primary mission. This achievement is a tribute to our faculty.

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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