By Cheryl Smith
THE STATE FAIR CLASSIC
If the press conference was an indicator, Saturday evening’s contest between Grambling State (GSU) and Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) Universities is going to be “Lit!”
In a setting that is usually pretty calm and somewhat reserved, the fans supporting each school turned the event into a pep rally that at one point was led by the coaches of the competing schools.
This year’s State Fair Classic pits new head coaches of the two Southwestern Athletic Conference powerhouses. Hue Jackson joined GSU in December 2021 and Leonard “Bubba” McDowell, who has been an assistant coach at PVAMU for the past decade, assumed head coaching duties there.
A special feature of the press conference was the appearance of the band directors of the World Famed GSU Marching Band and the PVAMU Marching Storm, and everyone knows that the Battle of the Bands is just as important as the game!
Tickets are still available for the game, that takes place during the State Fair of Texas and features a performance by Grammy Award-winner, Ashanti. The game ticket also provides access to the State Fair. Ashanti performs at 4p.m. and the game kickoff is at a later start time, 6p.m.
