Undoubtedly oneof the most colorful events in black college football, the annual State FarmBayou Classic celebrated its 31st year, reigning as one of the mostanticipated, and successful events in Louisiana. Each year the Classic attracts more than 72,000 people tothe city of New Orleans, bringing with it record breaking revenues. However, the game itself is not theonly significant event. The highlyanticipated Battle of the Bands/Greek Show also attracts large crowds, sellingout almost every year.
“I think theClassic is a great event and a financial boost for both institutions and itgives fans the chance to show their loyalty,” said Valisia Mansfield, aGrambling State University alumnae. ”Win, lose or draw, it’s always a great attraction with people comingfrom near and far.”
This year’s BayouClassic was another success story as the two legendary rivals SouthernUniversity and GSU met at the Louisiana Superdome to compete once again in afierce competition for the glory and bragging rights as the winners of theBayou Classic.
The game kickedoff with Grambling scoring the first three points of the game with a fieldgoal. It ended with GramblingState walking away as the champions of this year’s classic with a score of24-13.
“Even thoughSouthern lost, it was still a great game, and I really enjoyed the Classic,”said Zakiya Ali, a freshman mass communications major from Crowley.
The Battle ofthe Bands, although a significant part of the Bayou Classic, is an old southerntradition in itself. The showbegins with Greek organizations from various Louisiana HBCUs, performing theircolorful step and dance routines, and ends with Southern and Grambling bands,respectively, engaging in a fierce all out musical war.
This year’sfraternity winners were: third place, Iota Phi Theta of Grambling State, secondplace, Kappa Alpha Psi ofGrambling State, and claiming first place victory were Alpha Phi Alpha ofSouthern University. The sororitywinners were, third place Delta Sigma Theta of Southern University, secondplace Delta Sigma Theta of Grambling,and the first place victory went to the Alpha Kappa Alpha of SouthernUniversity.
Each yearSouthern and Grambling bands showcase their musical talents, performing today’stop songs, with a taste of old school flavor. The bands engage in an authentic battle, which tests eachband’s greatness, and ability to draw the attention of the crowd. Always a crowd pleaser, the Battle ofthe Bands reigns as a must-see event for Bayou Classic fans.
Taking a tripto the past with Southern University’s “Human Jukebox,” fans joined in and sangto the tunes of The Temptations’ “My Girl” as one of the band members serenadedthe crowd. Shortly after, the crowd traveled with the Grambling State band tothe top of the charts with the musical tunes of Usher and Alicia Keys’ “MyBoo.”
“I don’t thinkthat the Bayou Classic would be the same without the Battle of the Bands,because it plays such a major role,” said Venicia Gray, a freshman politicalscience major from Baton Rouge.
