Alabama A&M: The Magic City Classic Is The Ultimate Gameday Experience

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -Long before Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones was considered for the job, he heard about the Magic City Classic.

The game, which features Alabama A&M and Alabama State, Alabama's two largest historically black colleges, has become one of the biggest events in the state.

It began in 1940 and has been played continuously since 1945. The game moved to Birmingham's Legion Field in 1946 and has been played there on the last Saturday in October ever since. Over the years it has grown into the ultimate experience for black college football fans, not only in Alabama, but around the country. Alumni from both schools flock to town from all parts of the country for the big game. As a result, it has become the largest black college classic in the country.

Annually, upwards of 60,000 people make there way to the game at Legion Field. Upwards of 40,000 more remain on the grounds, singing, dancing, cooking and tailgating long into the night. It has gotten so big that fans start arriving on Wednesday and don't leave until Sunday. Hotels are sold out a year in advance. Comedy shows and concerts are big draws, and there are plenty of parties.

On game day, there is a huge parade downtown and plenty of other events leading up to the big event. While the teams and the bands battle one another, there is a battle going on in the stands and around the concourse as men and women prance around to show off their latest fashions.

"Hearing about it and actually being there are two different things," said Jones, who is 7-2 against Alabama State. "You hear about it and it's kind of like listening to people talk about folklore stories. You get a little excited about it by their tone, but you're not there so you can't experience the full deal.

"You can see the atmosphere when you're driving in there. You see the fans. Everybody has on A&M colors or (Alabama) State colors. There are lots of RVs there and people are grilling. Music is playing and people are dancing. It's great to me because you can see A&M fans and ASU fans and they're all having a great time. That's the beauty of it."

A&M defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns remembers when the Magic City Classic wasn't such a big deal.

He played for the Bulldogs from 1965-69 and played in four Magic City Classics. A&M went 1-3 in those games, but Towns doesn't remember much of a fuss being made of them.

"It was just another game when I played," he said. "The biggest crowd we had was about 15-to-20,000.



It has grown tremendously the last 20 years. It's a big game because of the venue and the things that surround the game. The fans, media coverage and the Internet have also played a big role in how big the game has gotten. Those things have made the game what it is today."

Ike Rooks certainly knows about the Magic City Classic.

Rooks, who spent 44 years as the voice of the Bulldogs before retiring after the 2006 season, has seen the game grow by leaps and bounds.

"It's grown because of the media coverage," said Rooks, whose first game as the voice of the Bulldogs was the 1960 Magic City Classic. "The interest was already there, but the media exposure stimulated it even more and added to the game itself. It's more of an event now. The game is part of the total package. Some people spend more time at the parties and tailgating than they do inside watching the game.

"The game is the drawing point, but it's more like a family reunion. It's a gathering for alumni, friends and friends of friends. What surrounds the game is what makes it so attractive to people."

A&M and ASU will get together for the 70th time on Oct. 29 at Legion Field. Another chapter will be written to this historic rivalry.

"The thing that makes the Magic City Classic is it's at a neutral site halfway between the two schools," Jones said. "It's at the same time every year. People make reservations well in advance. You get one shot and you're done and everybody knows the outcome.

"Being a part of it, coaching in it, watching your kids play in it, having won or lost, you understand the importance. You understand the passion. You understand how long the results stay with you. People tend to have a lot of opinions about you based on that game."

A&M had won five in a row in the series before last year's 31-10 loss. The Bulldogs lead the Magic City Classic rivalry 37-33-3.

"If you take out last year's game, there hadn't been a blowout in the eight previous years," Jones said. "I imagine this year, if both teams are healthy, I expect it will be another great battle and someone will separate in the fourth quarter."