Band, Ball, and Brilliance: HBCU Classics
by Nyla K. Wright
You have experienced it all, from the season opener to homecoming. And now, I must take you to the ultimate finale— the Florida Classic.
Attending an HBCU classic game, you will see a battle between the school’s band, a heartfelt celebration within the community, and you will contribute to the funding of scholarships to give back to the students of each of the universities. The rich history of HBCU classic games is monumental. Let’s take a winning run through a few, starting in NOLA.
The Bayou Classic places Grambling State University and Southern University up for war. Their first matchup dates back to 1932, when Southern defeated Grambling with a phenomenal score of 20–0. Southern wasn’t done, either! The Jaguars came back to do it again in 1974, with a score of 21-0 as the very first official Bayou Classic game took place at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. In 1991, the game was televised around the nation for the first time to allow thousands to see yet another upset as Southern beat Grambling by just one point, 31-30.
At the State Fair Classic, you can see Prairie View A&M University and Grambling State University compete for the win. The State Fair Classic kicks off in the Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. What started as a small game in 1925 has evolved and greatly increased in popularity over the years. North Carolina A&T, East Texas State University, and Wiley College are just a few teams featured during this classic game before Prairie View Panthers and Grambling Tigers became the staple matchup in 1992. On September 28th of 2024, Most recently, after going through five different overtimes, PVAMU finally seized the win against Grambling State a few months ago with an extremely close score of 36-34.
The Boombox Classic is where Jackson State University and Southern University take their rivalry to the turf. The title “Boombox Classic” was created by Gerard Howard, an alumnus of Jackson State University. He featured the title on blackcollegebands.com, his pre-YouTube website platform for HBCU bands. Howard’s combination of JSU’s Sonic Boom of the South and SU’s Human Jukebox led to the term being used globally. The game is held in Jackson, Mississippi at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Image by HBCU Sports
One of the biggest classic games soon approaching is the Florida Classic. It will take place in Orlando with Florida’s biggest HBCU rivals: Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. The two will face each other head to head on November 23rd at 3:30 PM ET and be televised on ESPNU.
The annual battle kicked off in 1978 and is America’s largest football game between two HBCUs, gathering over 2 million in attendance to watch these long-time rivals. The Florida A&M Rattlers have a 25-19 record lead over the Wildcats. Only time will tell if the Rattlers can uphold their position in this everlasting competition or if they will allow Bethune to seize the winning lead.
This match sparks anticipation amongst everyone, fans, alumni, and athletes alike. Christian Wingfield, a senior offensive lineman from Florida A&M shares how he is aware of the importance of this upcoming game and expects to see a host of supporters come out and rally behind him and the Rattlers to the fullest extent.
“For someone new to the school, the classic is something that can make or break the season from what I have heard from coaches, players, and staff,” Wingfield states.
Image via Visit Baton Rouge
The green fields are a sight to see, but football isn’t the only way to take home bragging rights during the Florida Classic. The bands are fighting for their trophy as well. Many viewers come solely to hear the sweet sound of the drums! The only difference between the band and the football players is that the fans decide who takes the throne during this competition. The Florida Blue Battle of the Bands takes place the night before the game and features a battle between the best high school bands in America, giving them a chance to perform and showcase their astonishing skills. And of course, the Marching 100 of FAMU and the Marching Wildcats of BCU will be putting on a long-awaited performance before the night is over.
Below are a few other HBCU classic matchups you don’t want to run past:
Capital City Classic - Jackson State at Alcorn State on November 23
Turkey Day Classic - Tuskegee at Alabama State on November 28
Bayou Classic - Grambling State vs. Southern on November 30
The importance of these games to Black communities continues to flourish each year. From the football, to the joy that fills the stadium, to the passion stemming from the players, coaches, and athletic department, each HBCU classic will always uphold its tradition of being something special.
