Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 5-16-17

Feature
FAMU And Tennessee State Officials Meet To Announce Football Game In Tampa; The Next Time Will Be On The Field
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Rattler and Tiger pride was on full display Thursday as representatives from Florida A & M and Tennessee State universities met at Ray- mond James Stadium to for- mally announce the upcoming football game be- tween the two schools.
The Tampa Football Clas- sic – the first Classic game in the city in 20 years – will take place Saturday, Sept. 16.
The football game is the main event in a series of en- gagements that will occur over the weekend, including a kickoff luncheon and the always-popular ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement as coaches, athletic directors, community leaders, and alums filled an area of the stadium.
The Classic is first and foremost a chance to for both universities to attract atten- tion to their standings as ac- ademic powerhouses, said Milton Overton, FAMU’s athletic director.
“It’s a recruiting opportu- nity for us,” he said. “We want the best and the bright- est.”
Nonetheless, the game “will be something special,” Overton said.
“We have to fill this sta- dium up,” he said. “We know it will be a good show.”
Tennessee State athletic director Teresa Phillips echoed Overton’s senti- ments, adding that the clas- sic “will bring together” two of the best Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“We need to play FAMU every year if we could,” she said. “It’s such a great ri- valry.”
Tennessee State alum Deborah Barnes said she’s “super excited” for the chance to cheer for her school in her city after years of attending FAMU games, her daughter’s alma mater.
“FAMU has my money, but TSU has my heart,” she said.
Tennessee State Univer- sity President Glenda
Officials in town last Thursday to announce the Tampa Football Classic were from left to right: Tommy Mitchell, president of Florida A&M University Boosters; Milton Overton, Director of Athletics at Florida A&M University; Alex Wood, Head Football Coach at FAMU; Dr. Larry Robinson, Interim President, Florida A&M University; Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa; Dr. Walter Smith, Former President, Florida A&M University; County Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., Hillsborough County; Teresa Phillips, Director of Athletics at Tennessee State University; and Rod Reed, Head Football Coach at Tennessee State University. (Photo credit: Tampa Bay Sports Commission)
Glover was unable to attend the press conference but pro- vided comment in a state- ment sent via email to the Sentinel.
"Tennessee State has a long standing history of ex- cellence on the gridiron and will look to continue the win- ning tradition in the Tampa Football Classic against FAMU this fall,” she said. “While the main attraction will be the game and halftime band performances, it's im- portant to note that the event will help to provide scholar- ships for our students."
The new Classic is a re- union of sorts for FAMU and Tennessee State, who com- peted off and on for 15 years in the Atlanta Classic. That
game was replaced in 2014 by the HBCU championship game between the SWAC and MEAC — Celebration Bowl.
The Tampa game will be the second of three Classic games FAMU will play for the 2017-2018 season. The first, the Jake Gaither Clas- sic, takes place Aug. 26 in Tallahassee against Southern University.
FAMU also will play Bethune-Cookman Univer- sity Nov. 18 in the Florida Classic. Tampa hosted that matchup from 1978 until 1997.
When asked in a separate interview about the closeness of the Florida Classic and the Tampa Classic, FAMU in- terim President Larry
Robinson said the orange and green turns out in droves to football games and the Tampa Classic will be no ex- ception.
“We travel and we have extremely high attendance at home games,” he said. “We have so many people vested in FAMU. It’s going to be great.”
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said Tampa is a different city than it was 20 years ago, and is ready to host a Classic game again.
“This is going to showcase two opportunities: one for the city, and another for these two great institutions,” he said. “The Classic is back.”
Hillsborough County
Commissioner Les
Miller said he’s a “happy camper” after working for years to bring a Classic game back to Tampa.
The goal now is to make it an annual event, he said.
“I will do whatever I can to make this happen,” Miller said. “Bring this game to Tampa each and every year and we’ll show you the hospitality you de- serve.”
The onus is on Tampa Bay area alums and fans to ensure the game remains in the city, said FAMU alum Pete Edwards.
“It’s our responsibility as a community to make sure we support it and not give them a reason to not come back,” he said.
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