MOBILE, Ala. -Even though it’s July, it’s never too soon to start getting excited about college football. Before the first-ever Port City Classic, fans from Grambling State and Alabama State University filled the hallway at Ladd Peebles Stadium.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m actually excited and I can actually show you how excited I am with my ASU shirt and my ASU hat,” said Paula Hall.
The coaches are also having a good time.
“Coach Jackson didn’t want to come because he heard how Coach Robinson is with outsiders in our conference, so he said he’s going to send a SWAC guy,” said Grambling State Defensive Coordinator Cedric Thornton.
Grambling will be playing in Mobile for the first time in 20 years at the classic. Cedric Thornton, who was a player at Ladd, says he has good memories of his time there and is excited to coach against it.
“For it to be the inaugural game and me to be on the opposite sideline of my alma mater it’s going to be some good moments,” said Thornton. “That black and old gold runs deep with me.”
Eddie Robinson Jr., the head coach of Alabama State, is excited to go back to Mobile for the first time since he played there.
Eddie Robinson Jr., the head coach of ASU, said, ““Coming here four years as a player I understand the importance of playing a game in Mobile and the support we get from our Alumni,”
City leaders like councilman William Carroll have been working for a couple of years to bring a second classic to Mobile. Now that it’s finally here, he says it will give the port city a huge economic boost.
Councilman William Carroll said, “Each game tends to have an economic impact in the city somewhere between $7-$10 million so the economic impact to the city is tremendous for one game and one day,”
Some of these alumni are happy that the sports teams and marching bands will give the city another chance to learn about HBCU culture.
“We’re actually so excited for all the kids,” added Hall. “We want kids we want teenagers, everybody to come to experience the bands.”Organizers say that the day before the game, there will also be a black business fair. The game will start at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 4.
