Prince George’s Classic to be Held at Bowie State

By Mary Wells
WI Staff Writer
Thursday, August 16, 2007

The Fourth Annual Prince George’s Classic will be held at Bowie State University, a historically Black university, again next month.

“The focus of the game is to provide an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the Black college experience, as well as to highlight the outstanding attributes,

amenities and institutions of Prince George’s County,” said Hubert “Petey” Green, president of the Prince George’s Black Chamber of Commerce, and co-founder of the Prince George’s Classic.
  
“Whenever I see visitors, I see potential students and their parents. I appreciate the exposure the game will bring to the college,” said Bowie State President Dr. Mickey L. Burnim during a press conference last week.  
  
The gridiron teams challenging each other this year are the Bowie State University “Bulldogs” and the “Fighting Tigers” from Saint Paul’s College. Teams from historically Black colleges and universities are chosen each year to highlight the rich history of HBCUs to middle and high school students.
  
“Classic” games have occurred for more than 30 years across historically Black college and university campuses. Many of the “Classics” resulted from team rivalries between minority institutions, while others have developed through business ventures of private investors.
   
Mike Little, president of the Prince George’s Classic, Inc., said State Farm Insurance is serving as the title sponsor, of the Classics, which will also include family activities in the days leading up to the football game.
  
“We are looking to grow in making this the premier Black college football classic in the eastern region,” Little said.
  
Other sponsors include B & W Solutions, The Columbia Bank, Department of Business Economic Development, Department of General Services, Department of Housing & Community Development, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Maryland Transit Administration, Pepco, PhRMA, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Southwest Airlines, Verizon, and Tec-Masters, Inc.
  
Media sponsors include the Washington Informer, the AFRO American newspapers; Smooth Jazz 105.9 FM, WHUR 96.3 FM, WPGC 95.5 FM and Black Sports The Magazine.
    
Some of the fun experiences for family and students include a fashion show luncheon at the Greenbelt Marriot at 11 a.m. the day of the game and a Battle of the Bands at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland, College Park the night before the game. High school marching bands from Prince George’s County, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. will perform. For the grown folks, the Harlem Renaissance Golf Classic starts at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27.
  
The game starts at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Bowie State’s stadium and the step show starts at 8 p.m. at Prince George’s Community College in Largo. Everything culminates on Sunday morning at Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington.
  
Organizers are currently in negotiations to bring the Prince George’s Classic to Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium at the University of Maryland next year for their 5th year anniversary.
  
Go to www.Princegeorgesclassic.com for dates, ticket prices and lodging or call 301-567-5747.