 Front Page |  Newsroom Index |
October 10, 1997
By Hal LamarThe attendance at this year's 100 Black Men Football Classic is a clear indication that it is time to find fresh teams for the annual mixing at the Georgia Dome.
Since this great game started in 1989, there have actually been only 4 teams involved, namely Florida A&M, Tenneessee State , Southern and South Carolina State.
The four teams have done the game well. The FAMU-TSU mixing packed Grant Field during the first two years. The third game and first mixing between South Carolina State and Southern produced the lowest attendance of the 8 year old contest but they rebounded in 1992 which allowed the game to move into the Georgia Dome as the first college game to be played there.
Those first two outings between Tennessee State and South Carolina State produced the game's largest attendance with each drawing well over 50,000 fans.
Since then, however, the game's attendance has plummeted. The 1977 contest drew a shade over 41,000. I am not privy to the goings-on of the 100 Black Men, but I fear that some of this year's checks may have been written with red ink.
` But the bigger question might be, who do you invite to the game now? Who can pull the numbers needed to pack out the Georgia Dome?
I'd like to offer some possible suggestions:
ALABAMA A&M AGAINST ALBANY STATE- Over the last few years, these two teams have historically battled for supremacy in the SIAC. They have a loyal following on the road and Alabama A&M's moving out of the SIAC and into the NCAA Division 1AA only adds to the intrigue. Here you have it. The SIAC vs SWAC . Division II vs. Division 1AA . Alabama vs Georgia!
JACKSON STATE VS. TENNESSEE STATE- This year's meeting between the two schools drew over 61,000 fans to Memphis' Liberty Bowl . Both are black college powerhouses with exceptional, gate generating players and coaches on both sides of the ball.
TENNESSEE STATE VS FAMU- Dare the club return to the game that kicked the whole thing off?. Can FAMU's Prez Fred Humphries be convinced to come back into the fray after bolting in 1991?. Does the club want the team back? Might be worth a try. The TSU-FAMU games did pack Grant Field and turned away 5000.
FAMU vs. MORRIS BROWN- Back in the day, this mixing in Atlanta drew standing room only. It still could. You have a strong team in Morris Brown and FAMU's squad speaks for itself. The connection between FAMU and Atlanta is a good one. This game would draw out the woodwork the old timers from both schools who can recall when the Rattlers came calling to town. And good promotion can remind them of that. ...........
Front Page | Newsroom Index |