Friday night fever at the Classic

NEW ORLEANS – Saturday, November 30 proved to be a day of momentous celebration for all members of the Jaguar Nation. With the Jaguars surprising the masses with a victorious ending to the famous Bayou Classic, the Superdome was filled with blue, black and gold.
However Friday, the night before, was one that had both Jaguars and Tigers geared up. The Greek Show and Battle of the Bands proved itself once again as being one of the most anticipated events leading up to the battle of the gridiron.
Students, alumni and supporters from both schools packed the area anxious to see what and who were coming to the stage. Emcees for the event were Orlando Jones and Nick Cannon, stars of the upcoming movie Drumline. “I always feel the Classics,” said Jones, referring to the countless Black College classics held across the nation. each year. “The Bayou Classic has old school love with new school flavor.”
Flavor was definitely the word for the night as the first event of the evening, the Greek Show began. This year, participants included only Greek organizations from Southern University and Grambling State University, respectively. Louisiana State University’s undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. opened the sorority step competition as special guests.
Next up were the divas of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from Grambling. They wowed the audience by opened their act stomping hard in their “Air Force Ones.” “We put a lot of hard work and dedication into this show,” said Teeya White, a member of the sorority and junior computer science major. Next up were the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha from Southern University. The ladies previously won the Homecoming Greek Show here at Southern and their “Charlie’s Angels” themed show proved to be a hit with the Bayou Classic crowd as well. After their exit,their sisters from Grambling State hit the stage in full rain gear and caused a storm to brew among the audience with their umbrella breaking performance.
Next up was the fraternity competition. It was cold in the Superdome as the brothers with the ice, Alpha Phi Alpha represented fully. The organization was represented by both schools, respectively. The Alphas from Southern performed second with their winning Homecoming performance laced with old school flavor. Last but not least, the brothers of Blood and Thunder, Omega Psi Phi, represented Grambling. Their horror movie theme proved to be a hit among audience members.
The United States Marine Corps was the title sponsor for the event, awarding the organizations with first, second and third place monetary awards. First place winners received $3,000; second place, $2,000; third place, $1,000. In the sorority division, 1st place went to the AKAs from GSU, 2nd place, the AKAs from Southern and third, the Deltas from Grambling. In the fraternity division, 1st place was awarded to the Alphas from Southern, 2nd place, the Alphas from Grambling and third, the Omegas from Grambling. All organizations were judged on creativity, precision and crowd participation.
The show kept rolling right along as the “Battle of the Bands” took the spotlight. Southern’s Human Jukebox and the Marching Tigers of Grambling both made their presence known in a major way. Grambling surprised the audience with a floor display of fireworks. A band member from the Human Jukebox reminded Dr. Isaac Greggs, director of the band that they also had fireworks ready to go off. Greggs, from the stage microphone, said confidently, “We don’t need fireworks…We’re about to start some fireworks in here!”
Both bands played selections from both the old and new schools. Grambling had rapper Lil Flip as special guest. Southern, not needing any other talent than their own, brought the crowd to its feet as sophomore member Cortney Robinson belted out “Turn off the
Lights,” the slow jam made famous by Teddy Pendergrass. Another member, Amber Dennard, also a sophomore led the band in a stirring, uplifting gospel tune. “I feel we did a fine job representing the University in the show,” said Darrell Augustine, assistant band
director. “We really did nothing extra. We just put in the same hard work as usual and brought the best of the best,” he said of Southern’s performance.
Although both bands were clearly in competition with each other, the rivalry only existed only in the “battle.” Both Dr. Greggs and Grambling’s band director took the stage together and awarded St. Augustine High School’s band director with a plaque. The directors recognized the renowned New Orleans high school director for 50 years of hard work and dedication in grooming some of the best musicians across the country, including some in both Southern and Grambling’s bands. The Friday Night Extravaganza was clearly a success as usual.