Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 5-12-17

Feature
Black College Football Is Back : FAMU VS Tennessee State On September 16th At RayJ
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
It’s been 20 years since Tampa’s played host to a match-up between the foot- ball teams of two power- house HBCUs.
But the drought will end on Sept. 16 when Florida A&M University faces Tennessee State University in the tenta- tively-titled Tampa Classic at Raymond James Stadium.
FAMU interim president Larry Robinson and Ten- nessee State president, Dr. Glenda Glover formally announced the game and re- lated events at a press con- ference on Thursday (today).
Hillsborough County
Commissioner Les Miller said he’s been work- ing in earnest since 2010 to bring a Classic back to Cigar City and, now that the game is set and he is ecstatic that it will feature two longtime ri- vals.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a good turnout,” he said.
Comm. Miller said he would like to see the one- time event become a staple event in the Tampa Bay area.
“We’ll roll out the red car-
COMMISSIONER LES MILLER
pet out for them and show we deserve to have this game in Tampa,” he said.
Alums say they’re hopeful too that it’s a sign of a Classic game returning permanently to the Tampa Bay area.
For 19 years, Tampa hosted the Florida Classic between FAMU and Bethune-Cook- man University. But that ended in 1997 when the game moved to Orlando, where it attracts tens of thousands of fans and pumps an estimated $30 million into the local economy.
Tampa’s game is months away, but the announcement
has excited both Rattlers and Tigers and prompted organ- izing of related events, in- cluding parties and a dinner cruise.
A double graduate of the University of South Florida, Miller said he holds both schools in high regard, but he’ll likely cheer on FAMU since it gave him an honorary doctorate and because much of his family – including his wife, Gwen – are FAMU alums.
“I wish I could stay neutral because I worked hard to bring this game here,” he said.
While Miller may be con- flicted, alums on both sides say they’ll be rooting hard for their alma maters to win.
“Anytime we get to jump on some Rattlers, I’m all for it,” said Robert Buggs, president of the Tampa chap- ter of the Tennessee State Alumni Association. “I love when we play FAMU.”
Former Tennessee State quarterback James Wade, who played in three Classics when Atlanta hosted the game, said he, too, is looking forward to seeing his Tigers crush the Rattlers.
“We come to party, but we come to get the (win) first,”
he said.
FAMU alum Sonya Jor-
dan said Tennessee State fans will be disappointed when their team is sent home with empty paws.
“I’m going out and sup- port,” she said. “It’ll be inter- esting to see how many Tennessee State fans can get down here.”
Jordan, who grew up going to Classic games in Tampa, said she’s hopeful that the game will return each year.
“I’m hoping that the city is open and inviting to have the game here and having it stay here,” she said.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017