Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic marches into Columbus

FRIDAY
Ninth Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Scholarship Golf Classic, 12:30 p.m., Bull Creek Golf Course. Lunch 11:30 a.m. Two-man scramble. $70 per person. 706-653-4277.
Battle of the Bands and Greek Stepshow, 7 p.m., Columbus Civic Center. Doors open 6 p.m. Tickets: $10, available at Civic Center box office and TicketMaster. 706-536-9030.
SATURDAY
Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic Parade, 9 a.m. Starts at 13th Street and Broad in Phenix City, ends at Broadway and Ninth in Columbus. Line-up 7:30 a.m. 706-289-3101.
Tailgate Party starting at 7 a.m., Lot D, Columbus Civic Center parking lot. 706-289-3101.
73rd Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic, 2 p.m., A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium. Tickets: $15-$20 in advance at Columbus Civic Center box office and TicketMaster. $18-$25 day of game, $10 kids under 12 day of game. 706-494-8330.

It's OK if you don't care about football.

Because when it comes to the Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic, the game is just one element of a weekend-long schedule that includes food, sights and sounds.

Athletes won't be the only ones representing Tuskegee, Ala.-based Tuskegee University and Atlanta-based Morehouse College.

Coordinated teams will perform Friday at the Columbus Civic Center for the Battle of the Bands and Greek Stepshow.

You'll see marching bands with fierce, competitive moves. "Stepping" performances will feature choreography commonly associated with cheerleading, drill teams and military routines.

The action starts long before the Tuskegee Golden Tigers and the Morehouse Maroon Tigers battle it out Saturday. Families will want to wake up early for the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic Parade.

Then, of course, there's the food.

Tailgaters will arrive at the Civic Center early and cook up large servings of favorite dishes like hot dogs, hamburgers and ribs throughout the day.

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