Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic fans gear up for events

The barricades are ready at downtown intersections and some grills were fired up early Friday as football fans gear up for a parade, tailgating and the 80th anniversary of the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic today in Columbus.

"I think it's going to be a big day," said Daniel Cobb of Columbus.

He set up two big grills before 10 a.m. on the east side of the Civic Center to get an early start on game-day food.

Thousands are expected in downtown Columbus for the 9 a.m. parade and at South Commons for the 2 p.m. game at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium.

The parade route begins at the intersection of Broad and Dillingham Street in Phenix City. It moves north on Broad Street, crosses the 13th Street bridge into Columbus and makes its way south on Broadway. After a distance of 1.8 miles, the parade ends at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center on Front Avenue.

In the parking lot at the Civic Center, the tailgating area was sparsely scattered with motor homes, pickups and groups setting up spaces for tailgating.

Cobb, 57, is a member of a Columbus group called the End Zone Social Club.

He was grilling 18 slabs of spare ribs, 25 pounds of chicken leg quarters and some pig feet. Friday night, he said the fryer would be hot with 10 pounds of fish and chicken wing drummettes.

For the last 20 years, Cobb said, they have come together to take part in all the festivities.

"Back in the earlier days, it was good camaraderie," he said. "Everybody would come and enjoy themselves."

Although Cobb is retired, he works at the Hostess plant on Victory Drive.

Many of his fellow employees will stop by for some treats off the grill, he said.

Cobb said he may serve about 500 people and it doesn't matter which team you support.

"We feed elderly people and we have city councilmen come here," he said. "We do this every year."

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 10:51 PM with the headline "Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic fans gear up for events ."