(ATLANTA, GA)-- Nearly one decade after its inception, the only NCAA sanctioned Division I-AApost season bowl game for historically black colleges and universities has all of its ducks in a row,ready to pack the Georgia Dome on Game Day.
At the head of the row is the date that has every black college football fan eager with anticipation. This year's McDonald's Heritage Bowl will be played on Saturday, December 18, 1999 at 12:30 p.m. (EST). Event organizers are thrilled about the prospects offered by the most attractive date ever for this post season grid iron matchup and know that football fans and the Atlanta community will embrace the one-of-a-kind event which pits the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) against the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in what has been called The Black College Super Bowl
Last year more than 32,900 fans, alumni and NFL talent scouts witnessed the long awaited matchup between the defending champs, the Southern University Jaguars and the MEAC's cinderellateam, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Attendance in 1998 marked the second highest attendancein the history of the event.
In what proved to be a defensive battle, Southern University emergedvictorious, beating the Wildcats, 28 - 2, before a national NBC television audience. All of the gamehighlights were not lop sided, Bethune-Cookman's marching band was a bright spot in anotherwise gloomy afternoon for Wildcat fans, dazzling Georgia Dome fans with a brilliant half-timeshow. With NBC continuing its coverage of the 1999 contest, Heritage Bowl officials anticipateeven greater acceptance and fan turn out.
Both the SWAC and MEAC conferences enjoy the notoriety that comes from being the two majorBlack college football powerhouses. The SWAC, spearheaded by second year commissionerRudy Washington is a 79-year old conference that has produced some of the most notable alumnitouted by any institution in the United States Football. Heroes the likes of Walter Payton (JacksonState), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), Mel Blount (Southern University), Doug Williams(Grambling State) and more are but an example of the myriad of football legends that havecontributed to the SWAC dynasty.
The MEAC over its 29-year history has built a highly successful football program that packsstadiums all over the east coast. Fourth year commissioner Charles S. Harris has instilled acommitment to excellence on and off the field which is unsurpassed in the ranks of black collegefootball. Like the SWAC, the MEAC boasts a rich history of football notables including, Gene Atkinsand Nate Newton (Florida A&M University), Art Shell (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), LarryLittle (Bethune-Cookman College). and Donnie Shell, Deacon Jones and Robert Porcher (SouthCarolina State University).
The commissioners of both conferences anticipate even greater success as the game marks theend of the 20th century.
"The McDonald's Heritage Bowl has continued to grow in statue andsignificance", said MEAC commissioner Charles S. Harris, "The MEAC and its teamsappreciate the hospitality the city of Atlanta puts forth, in addition to the continuedcompetition with the Southwestern Athletic Conference."
Our fans have been in a state of frenzy all year long with all of the things going on in out the conference this year," said SWAC commissioner Rudy Washington. "Our now divisionalbreakdown, the new SWAC Communications Network and our inaugural SWAC FootballChampionship Game have combined to create an air of excitement that isn't evident inmost conferences today. That enthusiasm will surely carry over into the McDonald'sHeritage Bowl."
"The McDonald's Heritage Bowl, now going into its ninth year is poised to go to the nextlevel ,"said executive director Craig Cason. "We are excited about this year's event date as wellas our continued relationship with NBC, McDonald's and our corporate sponsors."
"As title sponsor of this highly anticipated gridiron showdown, McDonald's Is proud to onceagain demonstrate its support of Black college athletics," said R.J. Milano, vice president,McDonald's U.S. Calendar Team. 'America's Black colleges and universities are a nationaltreasure, and the McDonald's Heritage Bowl is but one of the many arenas in which their richlegacy of academic, arts and athletic excellence is showcased."
For more information call 1-888-437-7306 or visit the McDonald's Heritage Bowl web site atwww.heritagebowl-hbcc.com
