New stadium, new coach highlight TSU-Prairie View game

COURTESY PVAMU ATHLETICS

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- It's always an event when Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M meet on the football field for the annual Labor Day Classic. Other than playing for a SWAC championship, this would be the most significant game for both teams.

This year's version has added importance when the rivals kick off at 5 p.m. Sunday in Prairie View. The Panthers will be showcasing their new $61 million, 15,000-seat football stadium, and the Tigers will begin anew under coach Michael Haywood.

"Our guys are going to be excited also because this is a new era for us," said Haywood, a former player at Notre Dame who last was a head coach in 2010 at Miami (Ohio). "It's an opportunity for us to show how much we've changed in a short period of time.

"We are thankful to open up versus Prairie View because they are one of the best teams in our conference. It will set a landmark on where we are as we start the 2016 season. It will be a physical contest for 60 minutes. The physicality of the game will be something that you've never seen before between TSU and Prairie View.

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