Page 17 - Florida Sentinel 9-2-22

HBCU News
Tony Dungy Praises Father, Tuskegee's Red Tails Classic, HBCU Football
Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach praised his father's service and the Tuskegee Red Tails Classic.
Tony Dungy said his fa- ther, Wilbur would always tell him, "excellence can be hindered, but excellence can't be stopped."
The first Black head coach to win a Super Bowl and Pro Football Hall of Famer knew his father served in World War II, but he didn't realize his fa- ther was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Not until one of his father’s friends said it at his dad’s funeral.
His father was humble and
TONY DUNGY
loved education. Although he did not attend an HBCU after WWII, Dr. Wilbur Dungy received his bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of Michigan, and his doctorate from Michigan State University. He was a pro- ponent of HBCUs.
"My dad loved education.
He would be proud of what this means for HBCUs. He taught me that there was a time that was the only place many African American stu- dents could go to get the edu- cation that he so much valued. And so I think he'd be doubly proud that the red tails are get- ting recognized, and also that this really benefits education at this Historically Black Col- leges and Universities," Dungy mentioned.
The 2nd Annual Boeing Red Tails Classic between Tuskegee Tigers and Fort Val- ley State Wildcats will take place at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala- bama, at 6 PM CT on Sunday, Sept. 4. Tickets for the event are listed on the Tuskegee Uni- versity's website. ESPNU will televise the contest.
FAMU Loses First Game Of 2022 Season
FAMU
FAMU Faces Jackson State In Orange Blossom Classic On Sunday
COACHES SANDERS And SIMMONS
The Labor Day weekend is set with a Week 1 Classic. The Florida A&M Rattlers will take a trip to Miami to play Jackson State University Tigers in the Orange Blossom Classic at Hard Rock Stadium on Sun- day, September 4 at 3 P.M.
FAMU’s is coached by Willie Simmons, who had 21 players declared ineligible last week.
"I think this team has a chance to be really dangerous. In all three phases. You know, we really worked hard as a staff to recruit a football team that's deep at every position. And I think that's what we have. And if we can get some guys back this coming week, I think we can show everyone what type of team we're capable of being, we're explosive, across the board," Simmons remarked recently about his team.
The Jackson State Tigers are coached by Deion ‘Primetime’ Sanders. Coach Sanders has breathed new air into the body of HBCU football. Through his push for excellence, national fame and connections, HBCU football has been put into a new spot- light.
The Rattlers plan to seek revenge against the Tigers after losing 7-6 in the 2021 game.
The game also will feature the battle of the bands and thousands of fans that will travel for a short exciting week- end.
Coach Deion Sanders and his star players, sons, She- deur Sanders, Shilo San- ders; Aubrey Miller, Jr., and Travis Hunter will give FAMU another spirited SWAC battle featured on ESPN2 at 3 PM ET.
Alabama State Wins Over Howard In MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Alabama/Howard
ATLANTA — Alabama State outlasted Howard University on Saturday evening in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge by a final score of 23-13 in a game that had multiple weather delays and was ultimately ended by an official decision instead of a final whistle.
Lightning delayed the start of the game from its original 7:30 kickoff along with the accompa- nying heavy rains. The game would be halted twice during the
contest, including the final nail in the coffin with 2:12 remaining in the game shortly after 12:30 AM EST. By that point, most of the announced crowd of over 21,000 fans had long filed out of Center Parc Stadium. In any event, the win gave the SWAC its first win in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge since 2018 and just its fifth overall in the series, which dates back to 2007. It was Ala- bama State’s first win in three tries.
NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina kicked off the season opener with two first quarter touchdowns. They kept the momentum and walked away with the victory on Saturday night, defeating Florida A&M 56-24.
With all the intrigue and sus- pense relating to the Florida A&M football program’s pre- game debacle, the festivities at its season-opener at UNC Sat- urday evening lived up to the hype.
The game was billed as the HBCU Celebration Game and was nearly called off when as many as 20 FAMU players were declared ineligible late Thursday before Saturday’s game.
But Florida A&M appeared to have a full complement of 70 players when the game kicked off at 8:00 p.m.
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