The 37th Southern Heritage Classic will take place on September 12, continuing a decades-long tradition despite changes in participating schools. Founder Fred Jones is committed to preserving the event's core values and its role as a community gathering for HBCU supporters.
For decades, the Southern Heritage Classic has provided a platform for a major HBCU football rivalry. While Jackson State and Tennessee State are no longer participating, founder Fred Jones emphasizes the event’s enduring appeal. “People look forward to (the SHC) as a way to get together with their family,” Jones told The Commercial Appeal. He added that the Southern Heritage Classic is “a nationwide brand” that can adapt to changing circumstances.
This year’s classic will feature Alcorn State University and Arkansas-Pine Bluff playing each other at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium at 6 p.m. CT. This marks Alcorn State’s second appearance and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s fourth consecutive appearance. Jones noted the event has become “a reunion place for HBCU schools,” extending beyond the two competing teams. He said people from other HBCU programs have expressed interest in watching the games.
The recently renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will improve the experience for attendees, particularly for the bands. Previously, renovations forced both UAPB’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South and Alcorn State’s Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite band to perform from the same side of the stadium. The updated stadium will allow them to perform from opposite sides of the field.
Last year’s game drew 21,442 attendees, the lowest in the event’s history. Organizers anticipate between 20,000 and 25,000 fans this season, which would be the second-lowest attendance. Jones acknowledged that comparisons to earlier years are inevitable, but stated, “We still are able to present the experience of what the classic means, what the HBCU means and what the city of Memphis means.”
The Southern Heritage Classic is contractually scheduled to be held on the second Saturday of September for the foreseeable future, according to Jones.
Read the original coverage
💬 Comments
📜 Comment Policy