State Fair Classic

Last updated
State Fair Classic
Stadium Cotton Bowl in Fair Park
Location Dallas, Texas
Operated1925–2019, 2021-present
Sponsors
Southwest Airlines (1995–2017)
Former names
State Fair Classic (1945 [1] –1989)
Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic (1990–1994)
Southwest Airlines Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic (1995–1999)
Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic (2000–2017)
2023 matchup
Prairie View A&M Panthers 20,
Grambling State Tigers 35
2024 matchup
Grambling State Tigers vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers
State Fair Classic
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Invisible Square.svg
Mapscaleline.svg
150km
100miles
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Cotton Bowl
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Grambling State
Purple pog.svg
Prairie View A&M
Locations of Grambling State and Prairie View A&M
In-game action during the 2019 State Fair Classic 2019 State Fair Classic 06 (Grambling on offense).jpg
In-game action during the 2019 State Fair Classic

The State Fair Classic (formerly known as the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic, for sponsorship purposes) is an annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Prairie View A&M University Panthers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The game is played on a neutral site at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas during the State Fair of Texas. The game often occurs the weekend before the Red River Showdown game; the Heart of Dallas Classic took place on the first weekend of the 2013 fair, and the State Fair Football Showdown took place on the third weekends of the 2018 and 2019 fairs, featuring SWAC competitors Southern and Texas Southern. [2]

Contents

History

Background

The State Fair Classic, held annually at the Cotton Bowl, began in 1925 featuring the Wiley College Wildcats and Langston University Lions. The first game was played on Monday, October 19, 1925 and resulted in a 0–0 tie with neither team scoring before a crowd of 5,000. [3] Both teams met four consecutive years in Dallas before Prairie View replaced Langston in 1929. [4] The contest always took place on "Negro Day" at the State Fair of Texas and would feature the city's black high school football championship in the afternoon followed by the much-anticipated college game at night. An early concept of "Monday Night Football" could also be attributed to the Texas State Fair Classic and Louisiana's own State Fair Classic, as the contests took place on Monday nights from the 1920s into the 1960s.

Wiley was not the only college to play PVAMU in the State Fair Classic during that era, as the Panthers battled Tennessee State in 1956 and then Texas Southern until 1959.

Bishop College relocated to Dallas in 1961, eventually taking Wiley's place in the annual contest, in the 43rd annual classic in 1967. From that point, Prairie View A&M maintained a presence in the Cotton Bowl with match-ups against Bishop and others over the years before moving its annual rivalry game against Grambling to the Cotton Bowl stadium in 1985 (the Panthers' series with Grambling had also previously been hosted by the State Fair of Louisiana before returning to on-campus venues in 1962).

With the disbanding of the Prairie View football program in 1990, the State Fair Classic featured Grambling and Elizabeth City State. Even though Prairie View brought football back in 1991, that year Grambling played North Carolina A&T, so it was not until 1992 that the classic would see the PVAMU–GSU showdown once again. Since then, this has been the annual match-up held at the State Fair Classic. Upon the revival of this pairing, Grambling won every game until this changed with the 2009 edition—and the game subsequent to this has been very competitive, with Prairie View winning 9 out of 14 contests between then and 2022. At one point, it was even considered "likely" that Grambling would have to be replaced by Langston for the classic's 2015 edition. [5]

Other events associated with the classic

The classic is accompanied by a pre-game concert featuring a celebrity artist, press conference/fellowship luncheon, pep rallies, alumni fundraising functions, golf tournament, jazz show, comedy show, tailgating, and two battles of the bands. The first battle features high school bands in the Dallas area and the last is between the "World Famed Tiger Marching Band" of Grambling and the "Marching Storm" of Prairie View. [6]

Economic impact

The classic has an annual estimated economic impact of $8.5 million for the City of Dallas. [7] The official 2017 game attendance was 55,231 which solidified the event as one of the largest HBCU football classics in the nation and the largest NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision game in Texas. [8] Both schools have a significant portion of their alumni base in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

Evolving name

Early contests appear to have been informally referred to as the Negro Day game to differentiate it from the state fair's other game, the Red River Showdown. Otherwise, the game is documented as having been called the "State Fair Classic" since at least 1945 [1] and was known exclusively as such through the 1989 season. In 1990, it was renamed the Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic after the former Dallas city councilman. After attracting a title sponsor for 1995, it was rechristened as the Southwest Airlines Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic. Starting with the 2000 season, Lipscomb's name was no longer associated with the game, because he had been convicted of 65 counts of conspiracy and bribery. [9] Promotions with Southwest Airlines listed as the title sponsor ceased after the 2017 game. [10] [11]

Game results

DateWinning teamLosing teamLocation
October 19, 1925Langston0Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 19, 1926Langston13Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 17, 1927Langston27Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 15, 1928Langston7Wiley7Dallas, TX
October 21, 1929Prairie View0Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 20, 1930Wiley17Prairie View13Dallas, TX
October 19, 1931Prairie View20Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 17, 1932Wiley13Prairie View0Dallas, TX
October 16, 1933Wiley6Prairie View0Dallas, TX
October 15, 1934Prairie View13Wiley12Dallas, TX
October 19, 1935Prairie View0Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 19, 1936Wiley7Prairie View0Dallas, TX
October 18, 1937Prairie View13Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 17, 1938Prairie View6Wiley6Dallas, TX
October 16, 1939Wiley13Prairie View6Dallas, TX
October 14, 1940Prairie View18Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 13, 1941Prairie View32Wiley7Dallas, TX
October 19, 1942Prairie View6Wiley0Dallas, TX [12]
October 16, 1943 [13] Prairie View0Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 14, 1944Wiley28Prairie View0Dallas, TX
October 15, 1945Wiley35Prairie View7Dallas, TX [14]
October 14, 1946Wiley19Prairie View0Dallas, TX
October 13, 1947Prairie View A&M12Wiley6Dallas, TX
October 18, 1948Prairie View A&M19Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 17, 1949Prairie View A&M27Wiley7Dallas, TX
October 16, 1950Prairie View A&M47Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 13, 1951Prairie View A&M38Wiley0Dallas, TX [15]
October 13, 1952Prairie View A&M53Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 19, 1953Prairie View A&M32Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 18, 1954Prairie View A&M19Wiley6Dallas, TX
October 17, 1955Prairie View A&M34Wiley7Dallas, TX
October 15, 1956Tennessee State45Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
October 14, 1957Prairie View A&M7Texas Southern6Dallas, TX
October 13, 1958Prairie View A&M26Texas Southern19Dallas, TX
October 19, 1959Prairie View A&M34Texas Southern15Dallas, TX
October 17, 1960Prairie View A&M36Wiley15Dallas, TX
October 16, 1961Prairie View A&M48Wiley13Dallas, TX
October 15, 1962Prairie View A&M26Wiley17Dallas, TX
October 14, 1963Prairie View A&M27Wiley10Dallas, TX
October 19, 1964Prairie View A&M39Wiley13Dallas, TX
October 18, 1965Prairie View A&M16Wiley7Dallas, TX
October 17, 1966Prairie View A&M21Wiley0Dallas, TX
October 16, 1967Prairie View A&M31Bishop7Dallas, TX
October 19, 1968Bishop13Prairie View A&M10
October 18, 1969Bishop36Prairie View A&M21Dallas, TX
October 24, 1970Prairie View A&M29Bishop26Dallas, TX
October 16, 1971Tennessee State42Prairie View A&M20 [16] Dallas, TX [17]
October 21, 1972Prairie View A&M14Bishop10Dallas, TX [18]
October 20, 1973Prairie View A&M25Bishop3Dallas, TX
October 26, 1974Bishop21Prairie View A&M14Dallas, TX
October 25, 1975Prairie View A&M14Bishop13Dallas, TX
October 23, 1976Prairie View A&M22Bishop14Dallas, TX [19]
October 22, 1977Prairie View A&M39Bishop7Dallas, TX [20]
October 21, 1978Bishop35Prairie View A&M34Dallas, TX
October 6, 1979Bishop33Prairie View A&M16Dallas, TX
October 11, 1980Bishop12Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
October 10, 1981Bishop40Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
October 9, 1982Prairie View A&M24Bishop13Dallas, TX [21]
October 8, 1983Bishop32Prairie View A&M20Prairie View, TX
October 6, 1984Bishop34Prairie View A&M8Dallas, TX
October 5, 1985Grambling State27Prairie View A&M7Dallas, TX
October 4, 1986Prairie View A&M24Grambling State19Dallas, TX
October 3, 1987Grambling State28Prairie View A&M7Dallas, TX
October 1, 1988Grambling State40Prairie View A&M14Dallas, TX
September 30, 1989Grambling State49Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
September 29, 1990Grambling State67Elizabeth City State3Dallas, TX
September 28, 1991North Carolina A&T28Grambling State12Dallas, TX
October 3, 1992Grambling State63Prairie View A&M3Dallas, TX
October 2, 1993Grambling State49Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
October 1, 1994Grambling State66Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
September 30, 1995Grambling State64Prairie View A&M0Dallas, TX
September 28, 1996Grambling State54Prairie View A&M12Dallas, TX
October 4, 1997Grambling State33Prairie View A&M6Dallas, TX
October 3, 1998Grambling State55Prairie View A&M40Dallas, TX
October 2, 1999Grambling State47Prairie View A&M19Dallas, TX
September 30, 2000Grambling State47Prairie View A&M7Dallas, TX
September 29, 2001Grambling State40Prairie View A&M6Dallas, TX
October 5, 2002Grambling State35Prairie View A&M13Dallas, TX
October 4, 2003Grambling State65Prairie View A&M7Dallas, TX
October 2, 2004Grambling State53Prairie View A&M32Dallas, TX
October 1, 2005Grambling State50Prairie View A&M7Dallas, TX
September 30, 2006Grambling State53Prairie View A&M7Dallas, TX
September 29, 2007Grambling State17Prairie View A&M14Dallas, TX
October 4, 2008Grambling State40Prairie View A&M16Dallas, TX
October 3, 2009Prairie View A&M35Grambling State32Dallas, TX
September 25, 2010Grambling State34Prairie View A&M17Dallas, TX
October 1, 2011Prairie View A&M31Grambling State23Dallas, TX
October 6, 2012Prairie View A&M31Grambling State14Dallas, TX
October 5, 2013Prairie View A&M31Grambling State3Dallas, TX
September 27, 2014Grambling State26Prairie View A&M20Dallas, TX
September 26, 2015Grambling State70Prairie View A&M54Dallas, TX
October 1, 2016Grambling State36Prairie View A&M16Dallas, TX
October 7, 2017Grambling State34Prairie View A&M21Dallas, TX
September 29, 2018Prairie View A&M22Grambling State16Dallas, TX
September 28, 2019Prairie View A&M42Grambling State36Dallas, TX
March 13, 2021Prairie View A&M17Grambling State10Arlington, TX
September 25, 2021Prairie View A&M24Grambling State10Dallas, TX
October 1, 2022Prairie View A&M34Grambling State14Dallas, TX
September 30, 2023Grambling State35Prairie View A&M20Dallas, TX

See also

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The 1963 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Prairie View A&M University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. In their 15th season under head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled a 10–1 record, won the SWAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 364 to 144.

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The 1960 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team represented Prairie View A&M College of Texas as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1960 college football season. Led by 12th-year head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 10–1, with a conference record of 6–1, and finished as SWAC co-champion.

The 1954 Wiley Wildcats football team represented Wiley College as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1954 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Alva Tabor, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5–5, with a conference record of 2–4, and finished fifth in the SWAC.

The 1952 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team represented Prairie View A&M College of Texas as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1952 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 7–2, with a conference record of 6–0, and finished as SWAC champion.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wiley Eleven to Meet Prairie View in Dallas". Marshall (Tx). News Messenger (p. 8). October 10, 1945 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Luke Johnson (October 8, 2016). "'This is a major deal': Southern to play Texas Southern in 2018–19 Texas State Fair Football Showdown". theadvocate.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  3. ↑ The Chicago Defender "Wiley and Langston Battle Hard, But Neither Scores" 31 October 1925 page 9
  4. ↑ The Chicago Defender "Wiley and Prairie View Ready" 19 October 1929 page 9
  5. ↑ Kenn Rashad (July 3, 2014). "Langston likely to replace Grambling in 2015 State Fair Classic". hbcusports.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ "EVENTS « the Face off Sept 27". swastatefairclassic.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Grambling heads into Saturday's State Fair Classic with two important weapons | Dallas Morning News". www.dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Grambling State University Athletics - Football vs Prairie View A&M on 10/07/2017". GSUTigers.com. Retrieved 2017-10-07.
  9. ↑ "Lipscomb's name dropped from game". amarillo.com. September 21, 2000. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  10. ↑ "Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic". do214.com. 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic". Dallas Sports Commission. 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Wiley to Resume Football Rivalry With Prairie View". Marshall (Tex.) News Messenger (sec. I, p. 8). October 11, 1942 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Wiley Wildcats Meet Prairie View Normal". Waco (Tex.) News–Tribune (p. 9). October 14, 1943.
  14. ↑ "Prairie View, Wiley In Cotton Bowl Tomorrow". Marshall (Tex.) News Messenger (sec. B, p. 6). October 14, 1945 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Wiley To Play In Cotton Bowl Monday Night". Marshall (Tex.) News Messenger (p. 7). October 12, 1951 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "TSU Rambles, 42–20". Nashville Tennessean (sec. C, p. 1). October 17, 1971 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Cotton Bowl Battle: Prairie View Tests TSU". Nashville Tennessean (p. 21). October 16, 1971 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Prairie View Rally Beats Bishop 14–10". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (sec. B, p. 11). October 22, 1972 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Prairie View tips Bishop". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (sec. G, p. 6). October 24, 1976 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "PV wins, 39–7". San Antonio Express-News (sec. S, p. 4). October 23, 1977 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Bishop tumbled by Prairie View". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (sec. B, p. 10). October 10, 1982 – via Newspapers.com.
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