Southern Heritage Classic

Last updated
Southern Heritage Classic
Southern Heritage Classic logo.png
Tennessee State Tigers wordmark.svg
Tennessee State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions wordmark.svg
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Sport American football
First meetingSeptember 8, 1990
Tennessee State, 23–14
Latest meetingSeptember 9, 2023
Tennessee State, 24–14
Stadiums Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (1990–present)
Statistics
Meetings total30
All-time seriesTennessee State, 18–12
Largest victoryTennessee State, 64–33 (2001)
Tennessee State, 44–14 (2003)
Longest win streakTennessee State, 7 (2003–2009)
Current win streakTennessee State, 1 (2023–)
Southern Heritage Classic
[Interactive fullscreen map + nearby articles]
Locations of UAPB, Tennessee State, and Memphis

The Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx is an annual historically black college football game between the Golden Lions of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) and the Tigers of Tennessee State University. [1] [2] UAPB replaced the Jackson State University Tigers after Jackson State played 29 games in the classic. [3]

Contents

Location

The game is held at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis.

Annual attendance

The record for attendance, 61,171, was set in 1997. Since the Jackson State-Tennessee State rivalry became a fixture in 1994, the average attendance for a Southern Heritage Classic game is about 50,000. Both schools are roughly equidistant from Memphis, being located approximately 200 miles away. The 2001 game was moved from its originally scheduled date of September 15 to November 22 due to the events of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and attendance suffered as a result, drawing only 28,690.

History

Although the two teams played each other, the games were played at each team's home field on an alternating basis. That made it difficult for fans of the road team to travel en masse. TSU head coach Bill Thomas and JSU head coach W. C. Gorden discussed the possibility of playing annually at a neutral site in Memphis, which was roughly equidistant from both campuses. Doing so benefited both schools by enhancing the rivalry and bringing in more dollars. Both schools have a large alumni base in the Memphis metro area.

The Southern Heritage Classic was founded and has been produced by Fred Jones Jr. [4] A Memphis entrepreneur and entertainment producer, Jones was tasked with organizing the game as officials from both schools weren't familiar enough with the Memphis area.

The Classic part of the series between the two schools began in 1990, with Tennessee State winning 23–14. There were only two games staged in the period between 1990 and 2022 in which Jackson State did not participate — 1991 and 1993. Mississippi Valley State played Tennessee State in 1991, and Grambling State was TSU's foe in 1993. Tennessee State has played in every Southern Heritage Classic since the game's inception in 1990, and TSU owns a 19–11 record in the contest.

The games have largely been close, hard-fought battles with three overtime games and 14 contests decided by a touchdown or less. The record for the highest-scoring game was set in 2001, the game delayed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when Tennessee State beat Jackson State, 64–33, for a combined 97 points. TSU quarterback Shannon Harris passed for 360 yards and a Southern Heritage Classic record seven touchdowns in that game. Between 1995 and 2007 (13 games), nine were decided by seven points or less.

Halftime at the 2013 Southern Heritage Classic Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.jpg
Halftime at the 2013 Southern Heritage Classic

Nearly 50 players who participated in the Southern Heritage Classic have gone on to play in the NFL, including four first-round draft picks: Lester Holmes (JSU offensive lineman, drafted 19th by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1993), Sylvester Morris (JSU wide receiver, drafted 21st by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2000), Rashard Anderson (JSU defensive back, drafted 23rd by the Carolina Panthers in 2000) and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (TSU defensive back, drafted 18th by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008).

The classic and several festivities affiliated with it annually generated approximately $21 million for the Memphis economy and $325,000 for each university. [5] [6] The game also featured two of the most highly acclaimed show bands in the country, with JSU's Sonic Boom of the South and TSU's Aristocrat of Bands. They both gave high-energy halftime performances that were nearly as popular as the game itself. Also, the Southern Heritage Classic tailgating experience was a large draw and begins days before the game. Concerts and other events fill up the weekend calendar, drawing fans from all over the country. Past concerts have included headline stars such as Luther Vandross, The O'Jays, Gap Band, Gladys Knight and Usher.

The 2020 game, scheduled for September 12, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7]

On February 2, 2022, Jackson State announced that the school would immediately leave the series due to conference conflicts. Tennessee State’s president issued a scathing response stating the decision to terminate the series was “an insensitive and irresponsible act" with consequences that go beyond football. [8] On February 11, 2022, Jackson State announced they will play in the 2022 Southern Heritage Classic for the last time. [9]

On December 7, 2022, it was announced that Arkansas–Pine Bluff will replace Jackson State in the classic for 2023 and 2024. [1] [2]

Game results

Jackson State victoriesTennessee State victoriesJackson State did not play

[10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwestern Athletic Conference</span> Collegiate athletic conference made up of historically black colleges and universities

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for most sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly referred to as Division I-AA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff</span> Public historically black university in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S..

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is a public historically black university in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Founded in 1873, it is the second oldest public college or university in the state of Arkansas. UAPB is part of the University of Arkansas System and Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium</span> Football stadium in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.

Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium has been the home stadium of the Jackson State Tigers football team since 1970. Originally known as War Veterans Memorial Stadium, it was later known as Hinds County War Memorial Stadium. It was redesigned and enlarged in 1960 and Ole Miss vs. Arkansas dedicated Mississippi Memorial Stadium in 1961 before a capacity crowd of 46,000. With political support from Ole Miss and Mississippi State and leadership from Ole Miss Athletics Director Warner Alford, Mississippi Memorial Stadium was enlarged to 62,500 in 1981 and on September 26, 1981 Ole Miss and Arkansas again dedicated the facility before 63,522.

George Ivory is the head men's basketball coach for Mississippi Valley State University. He was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff from 2008 to 2021. Previously, Ivory was an assistant at Mississippi Valley State, his alma mater, from 1998–2002, 2007–2008, and 2021–2022.

<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 the Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson State–Southern football rivalry</span> American college band rivalry

The Jackson State–Southern football rivalry, often informally called the BoomBox Classic, is a college football rivalry between the Tigers of Jackson State University (JSU) and the Jaguars of Southern University (SU). An annual conference game between two historically black universities in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), its location usually rotates between JSU's Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi and SU's A. W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but it has also been held at larger venues to accommodate the large crowds that the game draws. As of 2022, the Jaguars lead the series 35–32, not including two wins that Southern was ordered to vacate by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

<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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football</span> College American football program

The Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football program represents the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in college football as the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Lions play their home games at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team</span> American college football season

The 2012 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team represented the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Golden Lions were led by fifth year head coach Monte Coleman and played their home games at Golden Lion Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). They finished with an overall record of ten wins and two losses and as SWAC champions after they defeated Jackson State in the SWAC Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terron Armstead</span> American football player (born 1991)

Terron Armstead is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arkansas–Pine Bluff. Armstead was named HBCU Top 30 Under 30 by HBCU Buzz, in July 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee State Tigers and Lady Tigers</span>

The Tennessee State Tigers and Lady Tigers are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Tennessee State University (TSU), located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The Tigers athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes in the NCAA Division I, including the Football Championship Subdivision. The women's track team is also known as the Tigerbelles. As a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Tennessee State is one of three HBCUs competing in Division I that is not a member of an athletic conference made up entirely of historically black institutions, the other two being Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University of the Colonial Athletic Association. The TSU mascot is Aristocat the Tiger, and the school colors are blue and white. TSU's main rival was historically Kentucky State University, an HBCU located in the capital of Tennessee's northern neighbor, but that rivalry has faded since KSU is now in NCAA Division II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team represented the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Golden Lions were led by 10th-year head coach Monte Coleman and played their home games at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff, Arkansas as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Golden Lions finished the season 2–9, 1–6 in SWAC play to finish in last place in the West Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Jackson State Tigers football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 Jackson State Tigers football team represents Jackson State University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers are led by first-year head coach John Hendrick and play their home games at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi as members of the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

The 2019 Southern Jaguars football team represents Southern University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Jaguars are led by seventh-year head coach Dawson Odums and play their home games at Ace W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Charles "Doc" Gamble is an American football coach. He is currently the special teams coordinator at Florida A&M University and was previously the head football coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a position he held from 2020 through October 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team represented University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led through the first seven games of the season by head coach Doc Gamble, who was in his third season with the program, until he was fired on October 20, with offensive coordinator Don Treadwell assuming interim head coaching duties for the remainder of the season. The Lions played their home games at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team represented Alabama A&M University as a member of the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Connell Maynor, the Bulldogs played their home games at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.

The 2022 Celebration Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 17, 2022, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The seventh annual Celebration Bowl, the game featured the Jackson State Tigers, champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the North Carolina Central Eagles, champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The SWAC and MEAC are the two prominent NCAA Division I conferences of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The 1998 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team represented the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Lee Hardman, the Golden Lions compiled an overall record of 8–3, with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, and finished third in the SWAC.

References

  1. 1 2 Cook, Kelli (December 7, 2022). "University of Arkansas Pine Bluff to replace Jackson State in Southern Heritage Classic". WLBT . Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Kelley, Kevin (December 7, 2022). "UAPB to replace Jackson State in Southern Heritage Classic in 2023, 2024". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Background – Southern Heritage Classic".
  4. ↑ "The 2005 Ford HBCU Football Classics Guide – The Southern Heritage Classic", Ebony (September 2005), p. 136
  5. ↑ Donahue, Michael (September 2, 2016). "Southern Heritage Classic week is about more than football". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ LunaWeb, Inc. (September 12, 2015). "Background". Southern Heritage Classic. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ Schlabach, Mark (June 17, 2020). "Southern Heritage Classic, matching up HBCU teams, canceled over coronavirus". ESPN.com . ESPN . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Khari. "Jackson State pulling out of Southern Heritage Classic in 'clear breach' of contract, says Fred Jones". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ Kelley, Kevin (February 11, 2022). "Jackson State to play in 2022 Southern Heritage Classic". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Scores & Attendance – Southern Heritage Classic". Southern Heritage Classic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.