Nicholson vision grows into grandaddy of classics

The Bayou Classic — known for its intense football, battle of the bands and throngs of black collegians — is widely considered one of the most recognized HBCU events in the country.
But before the “Battle of the Cats ” drew big crowds it was just another game until Collie J. Nicholson started thinking big.
Nicholson, a former sports information director for Grambling State University for 30 years, was one of the main influences behind the birth of the Bayou Classic and helped groom the game into becoming the crown jewel of black college football.
But Nicholson said before the game could attract sell-out crowds, the schools had to build a market for the game. Nicholson said when he started at Grambling one of the only majors available was education. “Grambling was a teacher’s college and we were limited. That’s why President Jones wanted to increase popularity,” Nicholson recalled.
So Nicholson, using the formula that Notre Dame used to brand itself as the premiere Catholic institution, set out to make Grambling a household name to give athletes the same chance as students from larger schools.
Nicholson said the plan was to gain a following in Louisiana, then the South and finally on the national level. According to Nicholson, it is important for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to have national black support because this is the way of maintaining Black heritage. “That’s our legacy, that’s the reason for our existence,” Nicholson said.
So Nicholson toured the country selling Grambling State as one of the most exciting college football experiences. And through his efforts that he helped the Los Angeles Rams discover Paul (Tank) Younger, the first player from a black college to make it in the NFL.
Nicholson also launched the Heisman and All-American campaigns for Doug Williams. Williams went on to place fourth in the Heisman voting and was named to the Associated Press first team – a first for any athlete from a black school.
Although retired, Nicholson is still busy promoting the sports information profession and Grambling State University and encourages students to “make the most of your educational opportunities.”