NEW ORLEANS — There’s a lot of gold in New Orleans this weekend. Some of it is paired with black to represent Grambling State University, and some of the gold is paired with Columbia blue, to represent Southern University.
This only means one thing, it’s time for the 50th annual Bayou Classic.
“I can remember when they were at the older stadium want to say it was Tulane, that’s how long it’s been for me,” Rawndy Wells, a Grambling State Alum said about the milestone anniversary.
It’s been 50 years of the deep rivalry that comes to a head every November between the Jaguars and the Tigers. First, they meet at the battle of the bands Friday.
“As a band person myself I love both the bands but as a Gramblinite, we have to take it but we give hats off to Southern,” Charles Johnson, a Grambling graduate said.
Then, Saturday the teams meet on the gridiron.
“We don’t like them, they don’t like us there’s not a real reason why we just know the school, Grambling State, is the best school. They think they’re better than us, they’re not and they’ll find that out tomorrow,” Samuel Wells a Grambling alum said.
While the rivalry runs deep, for some – like family members cheering for different teams – the competition is a huge clash.
“We’re definitely a house divided,” Rawndy Wells says of her and her cousin who graduated from Southern.
While the competition is hot, everyone agrees there’s more to Bayou Classic than the big game.
“It brings a national eye on HBCUs, particular Southern University … and also Grambling. It brings awareness and says hey we’re still here we’re still needed,” Jahari Dowdy, a Southern graduate said.
“It’s like a big homecoming you get to see everyone you went to school with, you get to support your alma mater. It also allows everyone who hasn’t been to an HBCU to actually experience what the culture is like,” Samuel Wells said.
As you’re out having fun, law enforcement wants to remind you to be safe. Louisiana State Police say 610 people have died on the state’s highways this year, and 50 percent of them have been because they weren’t correctly restrained by a seat belt.
“One bad decision can turn a weekend of fun-filled activity into a lifetime of consequence,” the LSP reminds.
Plus, if you’re safe you can focus on the extremely close series, 25-24 Southern.
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