The Name Game
Shakespeare penned in “Romeo and Juliet” the phrase ‘that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet’. For those like me who are metaphor challenged, it means a thing is what it is, not what it is called. If that’s true then what’s the deal with the two-year old MEAC-SWAC Challenge? 
“When we (MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas and I) put this thing together the ACC and the SEC and the ACC and Big 10 each had a challenge, we thought why not have a MEAC-SWAC Challenge,” responded SWAC Commissioner Robert Vowels just after the start of the game.
As his fellow commissioner nodded in agreement, Vowels affirmed the need for marketing and branding of the conference schools to raise awareness. Although the ACC-Big 10 Challenge is a match-up of basketball programs, there are enough similarities to connect the concepts.
Anybody who has attended one or two classics knows it’s about more than just the game. Without the auxiliary events attached to the game isn’t it just a game. Let’s be honest, all of the extras makes going the extra mile to get to the classic worthwhile. On tap for this year was a career expo, a kick-off luncheon, a business seminar with celebrity guests, celebrity half-time performances, a step show contest, a battle of the bands, a high school career panel, and of course a pre-game tailgate.
Even from a distance that list of events looks surprisingly similar to what you might find at a typical ‘Classic’. And most likely the likeness is not by accident. Commissioner Vowels admitted the difference between the game’s ‘Challenge’ moniker and the term ‘Classic’ was “probably just semantics”.
Many of the people in attendance felt the same way. “It’s just wording” said Grambling fan under the pseudonym Machiavelli. “They want this to be a classic and hopefully become something annual.”
If the ‘Challenge’ stays around celebrities like actress Kim Fields may make a return trip. Fields was in town to talk to attendees about the unglamorous side of such a glamorous industry as a panelist on the Business Seminar panel. The veteran actress best known for her role as Tootie on ‘The Facts of Life’ and Regine on ‘Living Single’ was quick to let it be known this was not her first ‘Classic’. “God yes” she exclaimed. “I have been to the big classic between Southern and Grambling.”
Blondielocks, as she is known on the spoken word circuit, credited her cousin Senator Cleo Fields of Louisiana for the introduction to the Classics. “I really appreciate the chance to network and meet other people who are part of the African American community who are doing great things in corporate America or as successful entrepreneurs” remarked the multi-faceted artist. “So I think it’s an opportunity for not only the students or the young people but for everyone that attends”.
Hours after the business seminar concluded and still drawing applause from the young men, Fields helped get the step show off on the good foot with a shout out to her sorors of Delta Sigma Theta. Before the fraternities and sorority teams took the stage Hampton’s Sticky Situations drum line squared off with Grambling State’s Chocolate Thunder. Hampton gave a hot performance punctuated by a string of solos from each of the percussion subsections. Sometimes going first is tough because there is no way to gauge how high to set the bar for the competition. It may not have mattered anyway because Chocolate Thunder put it down so hard the Birmingham Jefferson Concert Theater crowd went crazy. From the snares to the cymbals, the black and gold was out of control with riveting displays of synchronized rapid fire drumming. Half way through the performance the decision had been made. And it was “G-S, G-S, G-S-U, U, U, I thought you knew” banging off the theater walls. By the time the Zetas, Deltas and AKAs had finished their routines, the step show had turned into a full blown party.
The party went long into the night but the band members who were in attendance still managed to get to Legion Field in advance of the early 11 am start. Obviously youth has its privileges because none of them showed any after effects during the half-time show. At the half the Tiger Marching Band took first shot at center stage ahead of Hampton’s Marching Force. In ninety-degree plus temperatures Grambling showed why their band was highlighted on a reality television show. Unlike Friday’s drum line competition the Tiger Marching Band set the bar too high for the Marching Force to reach. Hampton’s performance was good, although the sing-a-long with rap artist Young Dro seemed to interrupt its flow.
In the stands, the usual band sound-off took back stage to the broadcast needs. Just as the bands were getting into a song they were quieted down so as not to interrupt the sound of the broadcasts commentators.
With the battle for the stands on hold Hampton was in need of a real win. A win the Pirates football team provided with a one-point win thanks to a blocked point-after-try in overtime. Ideally pitching a shutout would be the best gift, but the win was more than worth it.
Attendance-wise the MEAC-SWAC Challenge has yet to reach the levels of the Bayou and Florida Classics. However organizers have faith the game will gain in popularity. Signature sponsor Ford Motor Corporation signed on for another year. The Nielsen ratings aren’t back yet but the highlights from the game received prime visibility on ESPN and its family of sports news channels.
Whether you call it a Classic or a Challenge the game and the music still must be played. Whatever you do keep it fun and we’ll keep coming back.
So tell us where were you this weekend? Detroit Classic, Gateway Classic, Chicago Football Classic, Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic, or the John Merritt Classic. Other attendees on the panel included Boston Celtics center Theo Ratliff, , Cleveland Cavalier rookie guard Shannon Brown Sporting blonde twists