GSU

Bayou Classic: 'It's a good competition'

Bonnie Bolden
The News Star

It's a 46-year tradition.

Grambling State University will play Southern A&M University in the Bayou Classic on Saturday in New Orleans.

It's the cap on days of events where alumni, students, families and fans mingle in the Big Easy.

"It's a good competition. It's not one of those competitions where it's a knock-down, we hate each other. We don't like losing to Southern; they don't like losing to us. But yet still we can come together for things we need to come together and do," said Thomas Jones, president of the Grambling University National Alumni Association.

Grambling State University lost 38-28 to Southern University in the Superdome for the 45th annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans, La. on Nov. 24.

Even in his home city, Grambling State and Southern alum chapters engage in small, friendly competitions.

The spirited but civil rivalry actually predates the Classic. Matchups started in 1933 before the game was presented as the Bayou Classic.

Now, the Classic draws the faithful to New Orleans every year and generates millions of dollars for the city and untold support for the universities.

Friday:Musiq Soulchild to headline Grambling State’s Bayou Classic fundraiser

History of the Classic

The Bayou Classic was the concept of Grambling State's first sports information director Collie J. Nicholson. He presented the idea to GSU President R.W.E. Jones and coach Eddie Robinson in 1972.

Southern University President G. Leon Neterville reportedly suggested a game to gauge fan support in Shreveport before trying to fill the 76,000-seat stadium at Tulane.

The 1973 Shreveport game sold out.

A year later, 76,753 fans crammed into Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.

The game has been played at the Superdome since 1975, barring 2005 when damage from Hurricane Katrina moved the game to Houston.

Grambling State vs. Southern:Bayou Classic By The Numbers

By 1977, then-Gov. Edwin Edwards said, "The Bayou Classic has proven to be one of the state's and the nation's most attractive sports spectaculars in the past, and, in my judgement, it will continue to be so."

Attendance has ranged between 30,000 and 80,000. That's just in the stadium.

Approximately 200,000 people total are expected to travel to New Orleans for the Classic this weekend.

In the early '90s, the games started being televised on NBC, taking a local rivalry to the national stage. Now, they're televised on NBC Sports Network.

In 2015, a Waterford Crystal trophy used for more than 25 years was donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. It was part of the initial exhibits to further the purposed of showcasing the history and development of the African-American experience.

More:Bayou Classic: Miss Grambling State and Miss Southern A&M Share Childhood Friendship

The museum has it among Game Changers: an exhibit highlighting people and events that forced the sports world and society to change its practices, beliefs or racial politics. Robinson's game ball is also part of the exhibit.

Grambling State University lost 38-28 to Southern University in the Superdome for the 45th annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans, La. on Nov. 24.

The new trophy is cast pewter and black wood. It was unveiled at the 2015 Classic.

The Bayou Classic isn't just a Louisiana tradition. It highlights the best of what Historically Black Colleges and Universities have to offer to a broader audience while highlighting a sense of community, camaraderie and accomplishment.

Attending the Classic

"Everybody basically loves to go because it's like a reunion for everybody, to see who you haven't seen in years to have fun and get together," said Darlene Shelmire, a Southern alum.

She's also is a manager at Experts Charter in Baton Rouge. This is her second year arranging trips for Southern alums, but she said her brother has been doing it for years.

She regularly attends the Classic because it's such a good time. She said everyone has fun tailgating and riding the hype around the game.

Thomas Jones said it's a good reason for people who don't have another reason to visit New Orleans to come see historic sites and tourist attractions with their families. He pointed to the coaches' lunch on Friday and balls the alumni groups host through the weekend as fun events tied to the game.

"It's something to look forward to, especially when you have two teams that are playing because they have something to look forward to," Thomas Jones said. He thinks it gives people the chance to see two best HBCUs perform on the field and come together in one city.

The North vs. South Louisiana rivalry is a good way to showcase well-respected bands and teams, and whoever wins gets to walk away feeling like a champion for the next year.

Sometimes, that leads to a house divided.

Thomas Jones said his dollars and support go to Grambling still because that's where he learned values that he might not have learned at a bigger school because of the university's family-like environment.

His kids and and most of his grandchildren went to Grambling.

But one grandson went to Southern to play football next year. Thomas Jones said he'll have to understand that when Grambling and Southern plays "I'm Grambling all the way and Grambling at heart."

Historic results

  1. Nov. 23, 1974: Grambling State, 21–0
  2. Nov. 29, 1975: Grambling State, 33–17
  3. Nov. 27, 1976: Grambling State, 10–2
  4. Nov. 26, 1977: Grambling State, 55–20
  5. Nov. 25, 1978: Grambling State, 28–15
  6. December 1, 1979: Southern, 14–7
  7. Nov. 29, 1980: Grambling State, 43–16
  8. Nov. 21, 1981: Southern, 50–20
  9. Nov. 27, 1982: Southern, 22–17
  10. Nov. 26, 1983: Grambling State, 24–10
  11. Nov. 24, 1984: Grambling State, 31–29
  12. Nov. 23, 1985: Grambling State, 29–12
  13. Nov. 29, 1986: Grambling State, 30–3
  14. Nov. 28, 1987: Southern, 27–21
  15. Nov. 26, 1988: Southern, 10–3
  16. Nov. 18, 1989: Grambling State, 44–30
  17. Nov. 24, 1990: Grambling State, 25–13
  18. Nov. 30, 1991: Southern, 31–30
  19. Nov. 28, 1992: Grambling State, 30–27
  20. Nov. 27, 1993: Southern, 31–13
  21. Nov. 26, 1994: Southern, 34–7
  22. Nov. 25, 1995: Southern, 30–14
  23. Nov. 30, 1996: Southern, 17–12
  24. Nov. 29, 1997: Southern, 30–7
  25. Nov. 28, 1998: Southern, 26–14
  26. Nov. 27, 1999: Southern, 37–31
  27. Nov. 25, 2000: Southern, 33–29
  28. Nov. 24, 2001: Grambling State, 30–20
  29. Nov. 30, 2002: Southern, 48–24
  30. Nov. 29, 2003: Southern, 44–41
  31. Nov. 27, 2004: Grambling State, 24–13
  32. Nov. 26, 2005: Grambling State, 50–35
  33. Nov. 25, 2006: Southern, 21–17
  34. Nov. 24, 2007: Southern, 22–13
  35. Nov. 29, 2008: Grambling State, 29–14
  36. Nov. 28, 2009: Grambling State, 31–13
  37. Nov. 27, 2010: Grambling State, 38–17
  38. Nov. 26, 2011: Grambling State, 36–12
  39. Nov. 24, 2012: Southern, 38–33
  40. Nov. 30, 2013: Southern, 40–17*
  41. Nov. 29, 2014: Southern, 52–45*
  42. Nov. 28, 2015: Grambling State, 34–23
  43. Nov. 26, 2016: Grambling State, 52–30
  44. Nov. 25, 2017: Grambling State, 30–21
  45. Nov. 24, 2018: Southern, 38–28

* indicates vacated game