Southern to play Alabama A&M in the inaugural Gulf Coast Challenge

MOBILE, Alabama -- Southern will compete in the inaugural Gulf Coast Challenge football game against Alabama A&M at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, Sept. 22.

The venture was officially announced in a news conference at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Friday, complete with the introduction of an official mascot — a Mardi Gras jester named Marty.

The game is produced by the Mobile Sports Authority, and organizers said Friday the hope is to keep the game going on a yearly basis.

That does not necessarily mean Southern will always compete in the game itself.

“We can’t commit to a classic,” said Southern athletic director Roman Banks, who was present at the news conference. “It’s an Alabama A&M home game; they just moved it there. They advertised it as the Gulf Coast Challenge, but they moved a home game.”

That did not stop Southern coach Dawson Odums from making a pitch.

By playing against Alabama A&M in Mobile rather than the northern outpost of Huntsville, Alabama, Southern is cutting several hours off its travel time — both for its team and its fans.



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