BIRMINGHAM — When Alabama A&M meets Alabama State in the annual Magic City Classic on Saturday, the spectacle outside Legion Field will rival the excitement inside the “Gray Lady.”
“It’s the biggest game of the season,” said Bulldogs Head Coach Connell Maynor. “We always say the next game is the biggest game, but this is the biggest game, because it is the Magic City Classic. It doesn’t get any bigger than this in HBCU and FCS football.
“It’s probably going to be 70,000 in the stadium and another 70,000 outside of it. It’s just a huge game for both schools, the community, HBCUs and we’re just glad to be a part of it.”
Classic Weekend steps off at 8 a.m. when A&M’s Marching Maroon & White Band, Royal Court and dignitaries take to the streets of downtown Birmingham for the Magic City Classic Parade.
Then, at 10 a.m. it’s the Coors Light Pregame Tailgate Party on the West Side Parking Lot of historic Legion Field.
And that’s the appetizer for the 2:30 p.m. main course – the 83rd clash between the Bulldogs and the Hornets, two in-state SWAC rivals who come together every year to put on the No. 1 HBCU Classic in the country.
Alabama A&M (3-3 overall, 1-1 SWAC) is coming off its open week and halted a two-game losing streak on Oct. 12 with a 56-12 rout of Bethune-Cookman. The Bulldogs exploded for 21 second-quarter points in cruising to the Homecoming win. Alabama A&M rolled up 701 total yards, which marked the fourth time this season the Bulldogs had more than 450 total yards in a game.
Alabama State (3-3, 2-1) also enters Saturday’s game off a bye week after rolling past Mississippi Valley State, 54-17, on Oct. 12. The Hornets overcame an early 14-point deficit and scored the Delta Devils, 54-3, over the final three quarters. The 54 points were the most points scored under head coach Eddie Robinson Jr., and the most since scoring 53 against Miles in the Turkey Day Classic in 2016.
The game will be carried on ESPNU and fans can tune into WJAB 90.9 FM with Ted Dixie on the play-by-play and Reggie Benson providing the analysis.
“We expect this will be another great game,” Maynor said. “Two years ago, they won on the last play. Last year it was close up until halftime, where they got a Hail Mary right before halftime and got a blocked field goal in the third quarter.
“Three years ago, the game went into overtime so we expect another great game. They got a great defense and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
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