As high as the rivalry, anxiety andexcitement may be during the 31st annual State Farm Bayou Classic weekend, lotsof the fans are linked to both universities, not just one.
There is a great linkage betweenSouthern University and Grambling State University faculty, staff andstudents. The affiliation betweenboth Louisiana institutions of higher learning is great, although it often goesunrecognized.
There are several current SouthernUniversity students that live near or in Grambling or have family who attendthe university.
Dedria Drake, a junior accountingand finance major, grew up around Grambling in her hometown of Bernice. The primary reason she chose to attendSouthern University was she thought she would be more focused away than if shewere closer to home.
Drake has attended summer school aswell as a summer program at Grambling since beginning college.
“Grambling is a great school. Theteachers work you hard and they really try to help you,” said Drake. “I support both schools.”
Drake’s mother attended andcurrently works at Grambling. Shealso has an older sister and several family members that graduated from theuniversity as well.
“I am a Grambling fan, but I enjoythe best of both schools,” said Bobbie Hopkins, Drakes’ mother.
Ormond Beard is a sophomore nursingmajor from Grambling. His mother and several other family members attendedGrambling. Before graduating fromhigh school however, he decided not to attend Grambling because he wanted toleave home.
“The family is against me, because Ialways go for Southern to win the game,” Beard said. “There is playful tensionamong us all the time.”
Many individuals have completedtheir studies and have graduated or attended both universities.
Vanessa Harris-Adams is an alum ofboth Southern and Grambling with degrees in Microbiology and ElementaryEducation. She currently serves asAssistant Principle at Crowville Elementary School in Franklin Parish.
Harris-Adams has been to every BayouClassic since the first one in 1974 and has traveled with the team since herjunior year in undergrad. Sheadmits that during the regular football game season she supportsGrambling. At Bayou Classichowever, she supports Southern.
While at Grambling, Harris-Adamsfound several Southern graduates in attendance just like herself.
“I really enjoyed being in schooland the different experiences,” Harris-Adams said. “I am very proud and have worked hard for my degree. It is hard to just put Grambling up.”
Harris-Adams’ mother and husband arealso graduates of Southern. Inaddition, her oldest daughter is currently a student.
“Southern is my heart. I am a Jaguar with blue and gold dots,but I also have black and gold stripes,” Harris-Adams said. “They [the Universities] are bothfamily to me.”
The football game between GramblingState and Southern University first started in New Orleans in 1974 at TulaneStadium. Since its humblebeginnings, the number of visitors to the New Orleans area has grown to nearly200,000 to 250,000 individuals. The game itself usually draws close to 70,000 fans each year. The game starts at 1p.m. on Saturday,Nov. 27 in the Louisiana Superdome.
