PVU-Texas Southern Annual Labor Day Classic Not at Reliant Stadium

HOUSTON, TX

When Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern get together for their annual football battle, the game is usually held at Reliant Stadium. Not this year.

One of the premier college football rivalries in Texas was instead moved to Delmar Stadium.

Why?

According to one Prairie View A&M alum, it was too close to the Texans' game on Sunday, Sept. 11.

"I think the Labor Day classic has the same zeal. [There is] just a change of venue that's all. Fans are electrified. The bands are excited about it," said Korey Jordan, who's a Prairie View A&M graduate and former member of its band.

"When TSU and Prairie View get together, it's not just about the football team against the football team. It's band versus band," Darryl Singleton, TSU associate director of bands, said.

"We're the Motion of the Ocean," said Janea Lewis, a TSU student, during the Labor Day classic. "We've got the soul. We're the best."

"It is the most exciting band on the planet," said Singleton with a smile.

"TSU is full of soul. TSU is the bomb school," said Roniesha Payne about her Tigers.

"See the difference between [the] Prairie View [A&M] Marching Storm and Texas Southern Ocean of Soul ... the Ocean of Soul plays everything in one dynamic: Loud," said Christopher Johnson, a Prairie View A&M graduate and marching band alum, with a smile.

"The rivalry is on the field at halftime. We take the gloves off and we go at it," said Dr. William McQueen, who is Prairie View A&M's director of marching bands.

Prairie View A&M's Chris Barrick delivered a 36-yard go-ahead field goal with four seconds remaining, which lifted the Panthers to their 37-34 victory over TSU.

"I think it's probably one of the biggest rivalries in Texas compared to Texas and Texas A&M," said Barrick.

"TSU just has to come better next year," said Prairie View A&M quarterback, Jerry Lovelocke of Baltimore.

Next year, let's just hope the huge rivalry won't be held at a high school stadium again.