51st annual Bayou Classic brings football, fun to New Orleans
25th November 2024 · 0 Comments
By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer
The Bayou Classic will once again return to New Orleans over the Thanksgiving holiday, this year celebrating its 51st anniversary with activities planned from November 28-30.
While the centerpiece remains the legendary gridiron rivalry between HBCUs Southern University and Grambling State University, the event has grown into a weekend full of exciting events for people of all ages.
The festivities will kick off at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day with the annual Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Parade starting at Caesars Superdome. The route will take it down Poydras Street to South Peters Street to Canal Street to St. Charles Avenue then back to Poydras.
On Friday, November 29, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans will host Business at Bayou Classic from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be a showcase of nonprofits, corporate and local companies offering attendees the opportunity for technical assistance, networking and commerce with small Black-owned businesses.
“It’s an opportunity for local Black small business owners to show off what they have going on,” said Candice Brock, spokesperson for the Bayou Classic.
At 5 p.m. on Friday, Caesars Superdome will host the Greek Show & Battle of the Bands. Wild Wayne will emcee the event. The show will not be limited to Southern and Grambling’s bands, however. The evening also features the Bayou Classic Invitational High School Battle of the Bands with bands from George Washington Carver High School, Craigmount High School, Westbury High School and Abramson Sci Academy. Roots of Music will provide the pre-show entertainment.
The Bayou Classic Fan Festival will take place on Saturday morning (Nov. 30) at Champions Square. A variety of performers will provide live music with Rick Ross as the headliner. Other performers include Webbie, Subtweet Shawn and Snug.
The gridiron main event kicks off at one1 p.m. on Saturday at Caesars Superdome and will be kicked off with a performance by Koryn Hawthorne singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Blair Dottin-Haley will make a return appearance singing “Lift Every Voice And Sing.”
While the Bayou Classic began in 1974, when it was held at Tulane Stadium, the series between Grambling and Southern dates back to 1932. Grambling’s Mickey Joseph and Southern’s Terrence Graves are in their first years heading their respective programs, although Graves served as Southern’s interim coach at the end of last season. Last year’s affair ended with a 27-22 Southern victory. Southern took a 27-7 lead in the 3rd quarter and weathered a furious Grambling comeback attempt to hold on for the win. The MVPs were Southern’s Kendric Rhymes and Grambling’s Floyd Chalk Jr.
As of press time, Southern sits in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 7-4 overall record this year and Grambling is in 5th place in the conference with a 5-6 overall record.
The halftime show at this year’s game will feature the bands of both universities plus some surprise guests. “You want to watch that halftime show,” Brock said. “That is not the time to go to the bathroom or go get food.”
The experience of Bayou Classic weekend is one that is not easily forgotten by those who attend.
Martin Lemelle Jr., president of Grambling State University, called the Bayou Classic experience “transformative” for both students who participate on the field and those who participate in the weekend’s other events promoting growth and opportunity.
“For more than 50 years, the Bayou Classic has been a cornerstone of culture, connecting alumni, fans and investors who are committed to advancing Grambling State,” Lemelle said. “It’s more than a game – it’s a platform to celebrate our shared history, forge our future and generate significant economic impact for the region.”
Robyn Merrick, vice president for external affairs and university relations for the Southern University System, echoed Lemelle’s sentiments. She said the Bayou Classic has always stayed true to its mission of showcasing HBCU achievement and talent.
“Few athletic events in America have more history and tradition than the Bayou Classic,” Merrick said. “For more than 50 years, this historic classic has come to embody the spirit of college football, bringing fans, alumni and friends of Southern University and Grambling State University to New Orleans for a celebration of football, family and the legacies of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
Brock said she has been attending the event since she was a high school student. Then, she was mainly interested in the Battle of the Bands and meeting up with her friends. While those events are still important for attendees, she said the weekend’s growth and her own perspective as an adult has shown her that the event is more than just a football game and a band contest.
“It’s one of those events that’s good for all ages. You see alums in their 70s and you see their grandchildren,” Brock said. “It’s just nice to see how it has grown and evolved and is still growing and evolving.”
Merrick echoed Brock’s sentiment, speaking on the cultural impact of the Bayou Classic and how integral the event is and has been locally and across the state.
“The Bayou Classic represents more than just a football game; it represents the evolution of a Louisiana tradition that demonstrates cooperation, dedication, scholarship and sportsmanship,” Merrick said.
Anyone looking to stay up-to-date on all of the weekend’s festivities can download the My Bayou Classic app on their smartphones. Additional information about the game and a full schedule of the weekend’s activities can be found online at www.mybayouclassic.com.
This article originally published in the November 25, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
