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Post by The Professor on Mar 18, 2015 10:41:56 GMT -5
Well there goes the playoffs.... Looks like this thing is real now Atlanta will host to the newly created Celebration Bowl, where the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champions will face off against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions, ESPN Events announced March 18 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The MEAC and the SWAC already duel it out in ESPN Events' MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, which is played annually over Labor Day Weekend. "We are excited to work with ESPN to begin a new tradition of celebrating the best in Historically Black College and Universities football while continuing our commitment to the countless students, parents and community members who we serve daily," said John Grant, CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. "Our relationship with ESPN will help us continue our long-standing tradition of uplifting the African American community." The SWAC consists of Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University & A&M College and Texas Southern University. The MEAC consists of Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Hampton, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Savannah State and South Carolina State. "We're honored and excited to be involved in the inaugural Celebration Bowl which will feature the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)," said Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. "The Falcons have long been strong advocates for historically black college football with our close partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner each year." The game will be played at Georgia Dome in Atlanta following the 2015 season on Dec. 19. The Georgia Dome also hosts The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2015/03/18/atlanta-to-host-new-celebration-bowl.html?page=all
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Mar 18, 2015 10:44:33 GMT -5
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will meet in the newly created Celebration Bowl postseason game on Dec. 19, 2015, pitting the conference champion from these two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, on an ESPN network. The Celebration Bowl is committed to providing the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and their alumni, fans and sponsors a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the legacy, values and traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Events surrounding the game will include a kickoff luncheon, VIP event, community outreach and family events. ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, also owns and operates the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, which is played annually over Labor Day weekend. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris plays a significant role in the weekend’s events, and was emcee at the announcement of the Celebration Bowl. For additional information, please visit www.theCelebrationBowl.com or follow on twitter @celebrationbowl. Quotes from Key Stakeholders “It gives me great pleasure to announce that this bowl game is a reality. It’s a testament to the collaborative spirit of both the MEAC and SWAC and their respective commissioners that the Celebration Bowl will take place. This game will give a platform to these student athletes – to showcase their talents, their bands and their traditions. The Georgia Dome is the perfect venue for the Celebration Bowl – and we hope that fans across the country will take advantage of this experience.” – Pete Derzis, Senior Vice President, ESPN Events “As part of the conference’s continued efforts in branding and increasing its exposure on a national platform, I am elated that champions from the MEAC and the SWAC will compete in a bowl game, during the most exciting time of the year for collegiate football. Our continued partnership with ESPN will give our coaches, student-athletes and fans an opportunity to participate in an exciting bowl game, on a national stage, which will showcase their institutions and talented football programs. Adding a national television opportunity for our champion, during this time of year, only furthers our branding and marketability.” – Dennis Thomas, MEAC Commissioner “This is a great opportunity for our schools and student-athletes to compete on a national stage and showcase the talent that exists within HBCUs. And to have it during bowl season, the most exciting time in college football, is a bonus.” – Duer Sharp, SWAC Commissioner “We are excited to work with ESPN to begin a new tradition of celebrating the best in Historically Black College and Universities football while continuing our commitment to the countless students, parents and community members who we serve daily. Our organization has the recipe for creating the right kind of change in the African American community, and ESPN certainly has the recipe for delivering the best college football experience. Our relationship with ESPN will help us continue our longstanding tradition of uplifting the African American community.” – John Grant, Chief Executive Officer, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. “We’re honored and excited to be involved in the inaugural Celebration Bowl which will feature the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Falcons have long been strong advocates for historically black college football with our close partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner each year. We are pleased to partner with ESPN and the Georgia Dome to provide game day services and promotional support in order to help make Atlanta the long term home for this game.” – Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons President and CEO ESPN Events ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; 12 college bowl games; 10 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Mar 18, 2015 10:45:48 GMT -5
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Mar 18, 2015 10:51:58 GMT -5
this crap "stinks". makes me want to throw up...
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Post by scaggie09 on Mar 18, 2015 11:03:39 GMT -5
SMDH
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Post by aggierattler on Mar 18, 2015 11:10:02 GMT -5
I noticed that they didn't mention:
1) The payout to the participating schools, other schools in the conferences and the conferences offices;
2) That the MEAC would have to give up its automatic bid into the FCS Playoffs;
3) The length (years) of the agreement;
4) Why John Grant is involved in this venture;
We've been sold down-the-river for chump change, folks!
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Mar 18, 2015 11:35:33 GMT -5
MEAC, SWAC champs to meet in Celebration Bowl
Published March 18, 2015· Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Mid-Eastern Athletic and Southwestern Athletic conferences, the two Division I conferences for historically black colleges and universities, are going back to the future.
The MEAC and SWAC announced Wednesday through ESPN that their conference football champions will face each other in the newly created Celebration Bowl on Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast on an ESPN network. The two conferences have a long history of playing each other while trying to decide a national champion in black college football, and the Celebration Bowl is expected to become an annual event. In sending its champion to the bowl, the 11-member MEAC will relinquish its automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs, although the other member schools will be eligible for at-large bids. Morgan State lost in the first round last year, continuing a playoff drought for the conference, including some at-large qualifiers, since 1999. The 10-member SWAC hasn't sent a team to the national playoffs since 1997 and has hosted a conference championship game between its two division winners since '99. Alcorn State beat defending champion Southern in last year's title game. But FCS playoff games are not necessarily big money-makers for competing programs, so the new bowl game figures to deliver financial rewards to the MEAC and SWAC. A potential $1 million payout is possible for each one and comes when many HBCU athletic programs are struggling financially. "This is a great opportunity for our schools and student-athletes to compete on a national stage and showcase the talent that exists within HBCUs," SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said. "And to have it during bowl season, the most exciting time in college football, is a bonus." Added MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas, "As part of the conference's continued efforts in branding and increasing its exposure on a national platform, I am elated that champions from the MEAC and the SWAC will compete in a bowl game, during the most exciting time of the year for collegiate football. " The MEAC and SWAC had its champions play each other in the Pelican Bowl in 1972, '74 and '75, but the game folded because of poor attendance. The bowl was followed by the Heritage Bowl from 1991-99, and it drew stronger attendance but ended after the MEAC preferred to be represented by its runner-up and instead send its champion to the NCAA playoffs. A meeting between the two conference champions was discussed five years ago - and dubbed the Heritage Bowl - but MEAC school presidents voted against participating in it. Both conferences send a team to the ESPN-sponsored MEAC-SWAC Challenge on Labor Day Weekend. This year's 11th installment on Sept. 6 in Orlando, Florida, will pit MEAC power South Carolina State against Arkansas-Pine Bluff from the SWAC. The Ivy League also doesn't compete in the FCS playoffs. Moving forward, the 24-team field is expected to be comprised of 10 automatic bids and 14 at-large bids among the 10 participating conferences.
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B&GMM 80
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Post by B&GMM 80 on Mar 18, 2015 11:58:23 GMT -5
So Does "SWAC" still have their SWAC Championship Game to determine the Winner to play in this "Celebration Bowl?
The SWAC comes out better in the long run, i.e. if the Participants are Grambling/Southern, they get, (1) The Bayou Classic (2) SWAC Championship (3) The Celebration Bowl.
WHAT A CROCK OF "S $ I T!
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Post by scaggie09 on Mar 18, 2015 11:59:52 GMT -5
So this payout isn't guaranteed it's POTENTIAL?
Folk better read the fine print
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Mar 18, 2015 12:02:54 GMT -5
A press release isn't going to give us the details. If our college presidents signed off on the deal without knowing the particulars, we have alot more problems to worry about other than a football game.
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Post by aggierattler on Mar 18, 2015 12:49:26 GMT -5
MEAC, SWAC champs to meet in Celebration Bowl Published March 18, 2015· Sports Network Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Mid-Eastern Athletic and Southwestern Athletic conferences, the two Division I conferences for historically black colleges and universities, are going back to the future. The MEAC and SWAC announced Wednesday through ESPN that their conference football champions will face each other in the newly created Celebration Bowl on Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast on an ESPN network. The two conferences have a long history of playing each other while trying to decide a national champion in black college football, and the Celebration Bowl is expected to become an annual event. In sending its champion to the bowl, the 11-member MEAC will relinquish its automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs, although the other member schools will be eligible for at-large bids. Morgan State lost in the first round last year, continuing a playoff drought for the conference, including some at-large qualifiers, since 1999. The 10-member SWAC hasn't sent a team to the national playoffs since 1997 and has hosted a conference championship game between its two division winners since '99. Alcorn State beat defending champion Southern in last year's title game. But FCS playoff games are not necessarily big money-makers for competing programs, so the new bowl game figures to deliver financial rewards to the MEAC and SWAC. A potential $1 million payout is possible for each one and comes when many HBCU athletic programs are struggling financially. "This is a great opportunity for our schools and student-athletes to compete on a national stage and showcase the talent that exists within HBCUs," SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said. "And to have it during bowl season, the most exciting time in college football, is a bonus." Added MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas, "As part of the conference's continued efforts in branding and increasing its exposure on a national platform, I am elated that champions from the MEAC and the SWAC will compete in a bowl game, during the most exciting time of the year for collegiate football. " The MEAC and SWAC had its champions play each other in the Pelican Bowl in 1972, '74 and '75, but the game folded because of poor attendance. The bowl was followed by the Heritage Bowl from 1991-99, and it drew stronger attendance but ended after the MEAC preferred to be represented by its runner-up and instead send its champion to the NCAA playoffs. A meeting between the two conference champions was discussed five years ago - and dubbed the Heritage Bowl - but MEAC school presidents voted against participating in it. Both conferences send a team to the ESPN-sponsored MEAC-SWAC Challenge on Labor Day Weekend. This year's 11th installment on Sept. 6 in Orlando, Florida, will pit MEAC power South Carolina State against Arkansas-Pine Bluff from the SWAC. The Ivy League also doesn't compete in the FCS playoffs. Moving forward, the 24-team field is expected to be comprised of 10 automatic bids and 14 at-large bids among the 10 participating conferences. The article that I first saw ( in today's Atlanta Business Chronicle) did not mention anything about us giving up our AQ for the FCS Playoffs: www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2015/03/18/atlanta-to-host-new-celebration-bowl.html?page=all
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Post by Aggie Monster on Mar 18, 2015 12:56:02 GMT -5
Black folk!! sigh. We put a link in a article and the website isn't even up yet. No splash page, no coming soon, no nothing. SMH!
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Mar 18, 2015 13:33:45 GMT -5
I believe the John Grant and 100 Black Men may have signed on to be apart of this. If they are apart of this, I don't see them doing the game in September/October.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Mar 18, 2015 13:53:45 GMT -5
Okay, we knew this day was coming so there are no surprises here. It's done! So let's try to make the best out of it. We can stay mad about it and hope the thing fails or we can try to figure out how the two HBCU conferences and A&T in particular can make some money off of it. I'm hoping that this is A&T's year to win the MEAC outright and go to Atlanta on December 19th.
No matter how smart or dumb this idea was to hold this game, it can be worst...especially if those fans that wanted to stay in the FCS don't show up. My suggestion...let's fully support this first game just to see if it's possible for this game to make money for the conferences and the schools. And if it doesn't then you all can say "I told you so!"
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aggieepower1990
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Post by aggieepower1990 on Mar 18, 2015 14:01:09 GMT -5
As oleschool stated, 'it stinks'. This will have to grow on me.
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