NCAAbbs

City makes bid for Bayou Classic
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
News staff writer

Birmingham could be the next best thing to the Bayou if city representatives are successful in bringing the 32nd annual Bayou Classic to Legion Field on Nov. 26.

The Bayou Classic, the annual football game between Western Division Southwestern Athletic Conference rivals Southern and Grambling State universities, is held each year at the New Orleans Superdome. The game annually draws about 70,000 but will be played elsewhere this year because of the damage the city and stadium sustained due to Hurricane Katrina.

Robert Vowels Jr., commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, said the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau is working with the city and Jefferson County to put together a proposal to the company that holds the Bayou Classic.

Bickerstaff Sports and Entertainment runs the Classic. Its CEO is Cydni Bickerstaff, the daughter of Bernie Bickerstaff, the general manager and head coach of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.

"She is the point person looking at the proposals and then getting back with Southern and Grambling with those proposals," Vowels said. "I have heard between seven and eight cities have an interest in it but I don't know the ones in particular."

Bids must be submitted by noon Friday.

Vowels said the SWAC has no say in where the game will be played. He said it would be a coup for Birmingham to host the event.

"I believe that game, as far as economic impact, would have a value of about $16 million for the city with the hotels, dining, entertainment and other attractions," he said. "That would be huge for the city."

A call to Bickerstaff Sports and Entertainment netted little information.

"We have no comment about the situation," said BSE intern Tepricka Morgan. "Everything is up in the air and nothing has been really decided."

The Classic is televised nationally by NBC, and Vowels doesn't think that would change.

"It is a national game and I am sure they're going to work with the Bayou Classic any way possible," Vowels said. "I would assume everything else is go as usual, just trying to find the venue and city to play the game in."

E-mail: screnshaw@bhamnews.com

I vote no. Legion Field is UAB's field. Not Miles College's or anyone elses.

BlazerSax Wrote:I vote no. Legion Field is UAB's field. Not Miles College's or anyone elses.

It is no more UAB's field than the civic center was our arena when we played our Basketball games there. I am for anything that will put seats in Legion Field. The more people become accustomed to going to Legion Field, the more likely we will have new fans come to our games. Until we have our own stadium... we will be sharing.

why couldnt they have it in shreveport? it makes no sense to have a bayou classic nowhere close to a bayou.

Because you probably have as many if not more alumni of those two schools in Birmingham as you have in Shreveport.

I agree with BTR.

And I haven't said this in awhile, but Sax, you're an idiot. I do not consider Legion Field to be UAB's home. Until we have an on campus arena, we have no home. We are a tenant of the city of Birmingham.

Memphis Blazer Wrote:I do not consider Legion Field to be UAB's home. Until we have an on campus arena, we have no home. We are a tenant of the city of Birmingham.

Hm, excellent point of view. That is now mine.

BTR Wrote:

BlazerSax Wrote:I vote no. Legion Field is UAB's field. Not Miles College's or anyone elses.

It is no more UAB's field than the civic center was our arena when we played our Basketball games there. I am for anything that will put seats in Legion Field. The more people become accustomed to going to Legion Field, the more likely we will have new fans come to our games. Until we have our own stadium... we will be sharing.

This is my question; why did Sax say it's not Miles College or anyone else? Doesn't Miles play on their campus? Is it because Southern and Grambling are black historic institutions and doesn't want to see them playing at Legion Field? Does Sax has a problem with the Magic City Classic being played at Legion Field?

Go UAB!

nm, I had a reply to HD's moronic post, but I'm not wasting my finger strength on his a$$...

Why not? You been responding to my post even though I have you on ignore. I've taken you off ignore just to see your response to this question.

Why did you single out Miles College when they don't even play at Legion Field? Do you have a problem with the Magic City Classic being played at Legion Field? And why did you initially state that you didn't think the Bayou Classic shouldn't be played at Legion Field?

Go UAB!

HiddenDragon Wrote:Why not? You been responding to my post even though I have you on ignore. I've taken you off ignore just to see your response to this question.

Why did you single out Miles College when they don't even play at Legion Field? Do you have a problem with the Magic City Classic being played at Legion Field? And why did you initially state that you didn't think the Bayou Classic shouldn't be played at Legion Field?

Go UAB!

I'm not obligated to answer questions posed by racists. You disgust me.

:rofl:

What an You are really an immature twat Sax. You say the stupiest crap ever seen on a message board. You say you're misunderstood but you do nothing to change your image. I still don't know why you're still allowed to post on this site......wait a minute, I do know why.

Every time I take a crap and look in the toilet for any inadaquacies, I'm reminded of you. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Along with you bad grades at UAB to go along with your intellectual (NOT) posts, your mind has already turn to mush.

Back to ignore you go.

Go UAB!

HiddenDragon Wrote:You're back on ignore now.

Good. I never gave 2 cents about anything you had to say. You're on ignore as well, now.

Ok no name calling folks. I don't believe ANY of you are racists. Take it to the smack board.

I think the Classic is an excellent idea. I wish we would have gone after the New Orleans Bowl as well. Hell I might even attend the Classic to watch a couple of real bands...........