by Hal Lamar
Onnidan Online Columnist
That city's Mayor Richard Arrington (himself a graduate of Miles College and a former dean at the SIAC school) made the SWAC a godfather offer (one that they couldn't refuse).
Move to the 'Ham said Hizzoner and you'll get free office space in the former Booker T. Washington Business College across the street from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the free use of Legion Field for the proposed SWAC football championship. The offer is subject to approval by the SWAC's council of Presidents who'd be foolish not to jump on this.
If Birmingham is willing to give up lucrative Legion Field rent for the conference, why wouldn't Rudy Washington and his staff push Arrington's button slightly and suggest that in lieu, the free rent offer be applied to holding...are you ready for this?.....the HERITAGE BOWL FOOTBALL GAME.
Justification? Simple. The Heritage has peaked in Atlanta. Since they moved the piece here in 1993, they haven't been able to get past the 35,000 fans plateau. They got close last year (32,000) but that only came after they bought thousands of dollars in ads, posted billboards on every street corner between here and Houston Texas and brought in enough sponsors to back up three bowl games.
Atlanta is a great place, but for a Heritage Bowl, Birmingham is just a better fit. Alabama is SWAC territory (or at least sharing some of it with the SIAC). Two of the conference's 10 schools are located there (Alabama State and Alabama A&M). The game wouldn't suffer strategically. It would still be within driving range of most of the MEAC and SWAC schools.
Birmingham is no longer a back water town. It's hotel space, attractions and eateries are comparable to Atlanta. And for those visitors who just have to have a slice of the mecca, it's only two hours drive up Interstate 20 east.
As home of the SIAC, which is the most logical conference for an Atlanta Bowl game since 3 of the conference's 12 teams are in Atlanta and 6 of the 10 are in Georgia, Atlanta would still have the Pioneer Bowl.
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