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By PLAVEB
Alcorn State declares "Independence" from Capital City Classic
Tue Jul 3, 2012 - 11:49pm    Print

Alcorn State University has decided to host this year's football contest against Jackson State Univeristy on November 17, 2012 at 1:00pm in the Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium on the Lorman campus.  ASU President M. Christopher Brown and interim Athletics director Dwayne White announced the decision during a call-in regarding the status of the Capital City Classic.Alcorn State University
 
Heralded by some alumni as “the return of the Soul Bowl”, campus officials detailed the decision of AD White, Alcorn's 18th President Brown, and 18th Head Football Coach Jay Hopson to end the 18-year history of the annual matchup between the Braves and Tigers in the city of Jackson.  AD White stated, “As an Alcorn alum and now administrator, I know firsthand the importance of hosting prospective students and high school athletes on campus to allow them to see the quality of the facilities.  Alcorn has a beautiful campus with lots of new construction that never get showcased by playing annually in Jackson.”
 
Coach Hopson agreed, “It is time for this game to come home.  Ole Miss and State used to play the Egg Bowl in Jackson, but realized that it was more beneficial to player morale, fan support, and finances to rotate the game between the two campuses.”  Hopson offered details about the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University game at Veterans Stadium and the traditions that continue with the Golden Egg Trophy that now rotates between campuses based on who wins each year.
 
President Brown detailed the almost two-year process that led to the decision to discontinue the popular Capital City Classic.  He reminded callers of the 2011 Study Group Report that recommended a forensic audit of all “Classic and ancillary events”, making certain that any decision caused no harm to Jackson State, requiring the reestablishment of a bicameral oversight committee, and determining the cost-benefit of the Jackson location for Alcorn State University.  President Brown acknowledged the rich cultural history of the Jackson location, but stressed that the Ayers mandated transfer of Memorial Stadium from general state-ownership to Jackson State complicated the perceived neutral game field gridiron.  He added that the inability to identify a title sponsor delimits the cost-benefit of the location.


 
President Brown said, “Shreveport offers significant dollars from the tax-base to support the Port City Classic, but much of the support in Jackson is in-kind.  Absent a corporate sponsor, the diminution of revenues to cover stadium rent, game security, parking attendants, and travel logistics not to mention a growing list of extraneous events is not a conservative fiscal approach at a time when state universities must prudently spend every penny.”
 
CFO and Senior Vice President for Administration Betty Roberts agreed and stated, “When you look at best financial case scenarios, the money difference in Lorman edges out Jackson.  DFA records show a clear decline in both ticket sales and turnstile attendance.  The 2011 audit forecasted 25,000 tickets and only 22,733 people came through the turnstile.  Spinks-Casem Stadium seats 22,500 not to mention our end-zones.  Last year, Alcorn improved our parking operations and campus ingress and egress was timely, without incident.  Facilities is prepared and we can host this game with minimal challenges.”
 
Marcus Ward, Vice President for Institutional Affairs advised callers that he has begun conversations with the ASU Foundation and campus facilities vendors to enhance the stadium appearance for the 2012 football season.  “We had a number of film crews on campus since the President named the new AD and football coach.  ESPN is scheduled to do filming throughout the season.  It is imperative that we prepare our facilities for national exposure.  If we are also hosting the Jackson State game, we will have to be on-point with the details, parking, signage, and concessions.  Beautifying the stadium is central to advancing our image and brand.”
Last Updated ( Tue Jul 3, 2012 - 11:53pm )
 

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