HBCU Legacy Bowl

Last updated
HBCU Legacy Bowl
Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl
HBCU Legacy Bowl logo.png
Stadium Yulman Stadium
Location New Orleans, Louisiana
Operated2022–present
Website hbculegacybowl.com
Sponsors
Allstate (2024–present)
2024 matchup
Gaither vs. Robinson (Gaither 10–6)
2025 matchup
Gaither vs. Robinson (February 22, 2025)

The HBCU Legacy Bowl is an annual post-season American college football all-star game for NFL draft-eligible players from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), and is the overall concluding game of the college football post-season.

Contents

History

Action during the February 2022 game HBCULegacyBowl21922-6.jpg
Action during the February 2022 game

The event was announced by the Black College Football Hall of Fame on March 18, 2021. The game was founded by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, National Football League (NFL), Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Tulane University. [1] [2] The inaugural bowl was contested on February 19, 2022, at Yulman Stadium on the campus of Tulane University in New Orleans; it was broadcast on NFL Network. [3]

Starting in February 2023, the bowl also hosts the NFL's HBCU Combine, which was first held at the 2022 Senior Bowl. [4]

In June 2023, organizers announced a multi-year partnership with Allstate, making the company the exclusive title sponsor of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. [5]

Game results

The bowl's teams are named after Jake Gaither, coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers from 1945 to 1973, and Eddie Robinson, coach of the Grambling State Tigers from 1941 to 1997.

DateWinning TeamLosing TeamAttendanceNotes
February 19, 2022Team Gaither22Team Robinson65,000 notes
February 25, 2023Team Robinson10Team Gaither325,900 notes
February 24, 2024Team Gaither10Team Robinson625,900

MVPs

YearOffensiveDefensiveRef.
NamePos.College teamNamePos.College team
2022Geremy HickbottomQB Tennessee State Antwan CollierDB Florida A&M [6]
2023Xavier SmithWR Florida A&M Jason DumasDL Southern [7]
2024 Davius Richard QB North Carolina Central Zareon HayesDE Alabama A&M [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Robinson (safety)</span> American football player (born 1938)

Johnny Nolan Robinson is an American former professional football player. He was primarily a safety, but also played on offense as a halfback and flanker early in his career. He played college football for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Bowl</span> Annual American college football postseason game

The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in New Orleans, Louisiana. Played annually since January 1, 1935, it is tied with the Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl as the second-oldest bowl games in the country, surpassed only by the Rose Bowl Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senior Bowl</span> College football all-star bowl game

The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game played annually in late January or early February in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. Produced by the non-profit Mobile Arts & Sports Association, the game is also a charitable fund-raiser, benefiting various local and regional organizations with over US$7.8 million in donations over its history. The game is sponsored by Reese's, a brand of The Hershey Company, and is televised by the NFL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East–West Shrine Bowl</span> US postseason college football all-star game

The East–West Shrine Bowl is a postseason college football all-star game that has been played annually since 1925; through January 2019, it was known as the East–West Shrine Game. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Shriners International, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The game's slogan is "Strong Legs Run That Weak Legs May Walk."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Stallworth</span> American football player (born 1952)

Johnny Lee Stallworth is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, and was the Steelers' fourth-round draft pick in 1974. Stallworth played in six AFC championships, and went to four Super Bowls, winning all four. His career statistics included 537 receptions for 8,723 yards and 63 touchdowns. Stallworth's reception total was a franchise record until being surpassed by Hines Ward in 2005. Stallworth played in three Pro Bowls and was the Steelers' two-time MVP. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Robinson (American football coach)</span> American football coach (1919–2007)

Eddie Gay Robinson Sr. was an American football coach. For 56 years, from 1941 to 1942 and again from 1945 to 1997, he was the head coach at Grambling State University, a historically black university (HBCU) in Grambling, Louisiana. During a period in college football history when black players were not allowed to play for southern college programs, Robinson built Grambling State into a "small" college football powerhouse. He retired in 1997 with a record of 408–165–15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buck Buchanan</span> American football player (1940–1992)

Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American professional football defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Buchanan was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He was selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team. Buchanan was massive for his era, standing at 6'7", and weighing 270 lbs. His height gave him a big advantage against lineman in the trenches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Roaf</span> American football player (born 1970)

William Layton Roaf, nicknamed "Nasty", is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, where he earned consensus All-American honors. He was a first-round pick in the 1993 NFL draft, and played professionally for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. An 11-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Rodney Alan Holman is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals (1982–1992), and the Detroit Lions (1993–1995) of the National Football League (NFL).

College Football on NBC Sports is the de facto title used for broadcasts of NCAA college football games produced by NBC Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jose State Spartans football</span> Football team of San Jose State University

The San Jose State Spartans football team represents San José State University in NCAA Division I FBS college football as a member of the Mountain West Conference. Since its first regular season in 1898, the team has produced over 90 All-America team members, won 18 conference championships, and sent 139 players to the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Bill Walsh and Dick Vermeil. The Spartans head coach is Ken Niumatalolo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grambling State Tigers football</span> American varsity football team

The Grambling State Tigers are the college football team representing Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They were known as Grambling Tigers until 1973, when the university changed its name from Grambling College to the current one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson State Tigers football</span> College football team of Jackson State University

The Jackson State Tigers football team represents Jackson State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

William Goldwyn Nunn Jr. was an American sportswriter, newspaper editor and football scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL) and is a 2021 member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Due to the fame of his son, actor William G. Nunn III, he was also known as Bill Nunn Sr.

The Deacon Jones Trophy is an annual player of the year award given to the most outstanding all-around collegiate American football player of the year among teams from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The trophy was named in honor of National Football League (NFL) player Deacon Jones, who played for South Carolina State and Mississippi Valley State University. Jones, who was selected in the 14th round of the 1961 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, would go on to become a standout defensive end accumulating 173½ sacks over his career, earning unanimous All-NFL honors for 6 consecutive years from 1965 through 1970 and 8 Pro Bowl selections. Jones also holds the distinctions of being an inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010) and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black College Football Hall of Fame</span> American sports hall of fame

The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) is an American hall of fame for college football players, coaches and contributors from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It was founded in 2009 in Atlanta, centrally located to many of the country's black universities. Its museum is located within the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Players are eligible for induction if they played at least two seasons at an HBCU and finished their college career at an HBCU. They can be nominated five years after their last college season. Any current or former head coach of an HBCU is eligible. Anyone can be nominated as a contributor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl</span> American college football all-star game

The 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl was a post-season college football all-star game played on February 19, 2022, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the inaugural edition of the HBCU Legacy Bowl, whose founding was announced by the Black College Football Hall of Fame on March 18, 2021. The game was the last of the all-star games that concluded the 2021–22 bowl games. Television coverage was provided by NFL Network.

College Football on NFL Network is the branding used for college football broadcasts of NCAA college football games that are broadcast by NFL Network.

The 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl was a post-season college football all-star game played on February 25, 2023, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the second edition of the HBCU Legacy Bowl and was the last of the all-star games that concluded the 2022–23 bowl games.

Davius Richard is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Central Eagles.

References

  1. "HBCU Legacy Bowl debuts in Louisiana next year". WBRZ.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  2. "Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces Establishment of the HBCU Legacy Bowl" (Press release). Black College Football Hall of Fame. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  3. "Black College Football Hall of Fame establishes HBCU Legacy Bowl". NFL.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  4. Mosley, Kyle T. (August 31, 2022). "HBCU Legacy Bowl Will Host the NFL's HBCU Combine". SI.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  5. "HBCU Legacy Bowl Announces Allstate as Title Partner". hbculegacybowl.com (Press release). June 9, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  6. Gaither, Steven J. (February 19, 2022). "Team Gaither wins HBCU Legacy Bowl". hbcugameday.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. @HBCULegacyBowl (February 25, 2023). "Team Robinson wins the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl over Team Gaither 10-3!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 25, 2023 via Twitter.
  8. Bachar, Zach (February 24, 2024). "Davius Richard Shines as Team Gaither Beats Team Robinson in 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl". Bleacher Report . Retrieved February 24, 2024.