The Southern University football team (1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference, 2-0 overall) are in Las Vegas for the First Las Vegas Football Classic this weekend to face the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University (2-0 overall).
Southern leads the series 3-2, but the last time the two teams faced each other was the 1994 Circle City Classic and the Aggies won 22-21.
The Classic is slated to be the hot ticket in Black College football this weekend and the Jaguar Nation is ready to represent.
“I went to the game in Indianapolis back then and when I heard that Southern was playing them again, I made arrangements six months in advance,” said SU alumna Vanessa Harris-Adams of Wisner. “What better place to go and see your favorite team redeem itself.”
Jags head football coach Pete Richardson said that if the team could control the Aggies’ running game, a win could be in the cards.
“It’s going to take a full 60 minutes to determine who is going to win this game,” Richardson said. “(Aggies head coach) George Small has always built their team around the running game.
We have to be able to tackle and make them drive without any big plays.”
Saturday’s game could set the tone for the rest of the season.
“We still have concerns about our football team’s competition level.”
Richardson said that although the team has a higher level of confidence, the team has never really been tested by any true competition.
NCA&T are undefeated and the Jags blew both Mississippi Valley and Prairie View away.
SWAC Player of the Week (Specialist) Ezra Landry said that he is ready for Vegas and that fans should put their money on the Jags.
“This is our year. We deserve this,” Landry said.
“The fans deserve it and most of all, Coach deserves redemption from his loss in 1994.”
