‘Granddaddy of all Classics’ football game moving out of Columbus
The Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic, a longtime staple in Columbus, Georgia sports, is likely leaving the Fountain City.
Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic chair Lisa Goodwin announced in a press release that the discussions are taking place to move the game to a “new home.” Goodwin told the Ledger-Enquirer Friday that Birmingham, Alabama is the city being considered.
“In conversations with Tuskegee University, the local Tuskegee-Morehouse Board of Directors have been made aware of discussions to move the Tuskegee-Morehouse football game to a new home,” Goodwin said. “The Board of Directors have not received official notification regarding this potential move, but feel certain that it will happen based on our conversations with the University.”
LONGSTANDING HISTORY
Columbus has hosted the game, dubbed the “grandaddy of all classics,” for 84 consecutive years.
Between 1920 and 1958, Columbus was the venue for every game except one between Georgia and Auburn, until the rivalry grew too large for the site. The Bulldogs also faced Alabama a few times at Memorial Stadium. But those contests were not open to black Soldiers from Fort Benning or minority residents.
So the Classic’s founders, along with the athletic directors of Tuskegee and Morehouse, decided to create a new cultural and community event. Thus, the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic was born. The first Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic was played in Columbus in 1936.
The game’s popularity has skyrocketed since its beginnings. The game routinely draws thousands of spectators. And with festivities lined up all week across the tricommunity, the schools’ annual football classic goes way beyond the gridiron.
The primary purpose of the Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic is to help raise funds for scholarships.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 6:10 PM.
