Grambling State University Football Heads to Circle City Classic

COURTESY SWAC.org.

GRAMBLING, La. -- Tiger football fans, friends and supporters will head to the Hoosier state for a clash between the G-Men and the Alcorn State University Braves on October 12th in the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“We are thrilled to return to this awesome venue for such a historic occasion,” said Dr. Percy Caldwell, Athletic Director at Grambling State University. “Grambling is excited about being the book-end football team, playing in the first and the 30th Circle City Classic® games.” The fall appearance will make Grambling State University the only HBCU to play in this special classic in four decades, 1984, 1990, 2000 and 2013. “That’s really special.” added Caldwell.

The Tigers participated in the very first Circle City Classic in 1984, when then Head Coach Eddie G. Robinson took his Grambling Tigers into battle against conference foe Mississippi Valley State University. The Tigers lost that game by the score of 48-36 to the Delta Devils.

Tigers head football coach Doug Williams, was the first, and only, black quarterback to take an NFL team to a Super Bowl victory when he led the Washington Redskins to victory 25 years ago this year. “As a longtime HBCU football fan and certainly as a Grambling State University football player and alum, I know what it means to participate in a game such as the Circle City Classic,” said Coach Williams. “Since we haven’t been to Indy in more than a decade, some of our fans may not realize how big a deal this is. It is huge.”

“We are happy that our university will be returning to the place where Grambling State University was an important part of such an influential and important football game,” said Dr. Frank G. Pogue, president of Grambling State University. “We know how far and wide our university’s reputation stretches, and we’re looking forward to paying respect to our strong football heritage as we tell everyone how we’re enhancing academics on campus.”

Pogue said the institution sees several great opportunities to tell the Grambling State University story at some of the Classic’s traditional week of events, including a Miss Circle City Classic coronation; a midweek prayer and praise worship service; a fan fest with celebrities, food and music and the 34th Annual Indianapolis Black Alumni Council HBCU College Fair.

Tickets will officially go on sale on April 1st however, pre-sale tickets are available immediately for the 30th Anniversary of Circle City Classic® by calling the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) Box Office at 317-925-2702 or by completing the pre-sale ticket order form and faxing it to the IBE Box Office at 317-925-4734. The Grambling State University ticket office will also have tickets for sale for this game. An official press conference to include University representatives will take place in Indianapolis at a later date. For more information, go to www.circlecityclassic.com.

COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION