Bayou Classic

Bayou Classic

Thanksgiving weekend

The State Farm Bayou Classic is a sporting event held annually in New Orleans, La., that combines the intensity of a great college football rivalry with the pageantry and celebratory atmosphere of a cultural festival. The Bayou Classic centers on the annual football game between two historically black universities: Grambling State University of Grambling, Louisiana, and Southern University of Baton Rouge. Held each year since 1974, the Classic attracts more than 70,000 football fans to the Louisiana Superdome on Thanksgiving weekend to see the nationally televised game between the Grambling Tigers and the Southern Jaguars.
In addition to such football traditions as tailgate parties and a coaches' luncheon, the Bayou Classic includes numerous fraternity and sorority parties, a battle of the marching bands, a Greek step show, a quiz bowl competition, a gospel music brunch, an employment fair, college fair, fan festival, golf tournament, and community service activity, including building a children's playground in New Orleans one recent year. Altogether more than 200,000 people participate in the Bayou Classic football game and related educational and social events.

CONTACTS:
State Farm Bayou Classic
www.statefarmbayouclassic.com
Grambling State University
403 Main St.
Grambling, LA 71245
800-569-4714 or 318-247-3811
www.gram.edu

SOURCES:
AAH-2007, p. 159
HolSymbols-2009, p. 77