Southern University and Grambling State University, traditional Bayou Classic rivals, will play in the national spotlight Saturday as they face off in the annual NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T.
With the game, the NBA and AT&T will donate $100,000 to each institution for academic, athletic and wellness resources for students, offering the funds as part of an ongoing effort to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The game will be simulcast by TNT, NBA TV and ESPN2 on Saturday, with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
The Grambling State Tigers and Southern University Jaguars, both members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, have squared off in football annually since 1932 in the historic Bayou Classic game in New Orleans.
They’re also familiar competitors in music, as their bands, the “World Famed” Tiger Marching Band and Southern’s Human Jukebox, battle in front of crowds each year.
Grambling coach Donte Jackson, the NCAA Division I District 23 Coach of the Year, and Southern coach Sean Woods, a member of Kentucky’s 1992 Final Four team, spoke to the history built up over the years at an NBA forum earlier this month.
Woods said there was deep feeling behind the rivalry. He said it carries history and culture with it, a southern “flavor that’s going to be unlike anything they’ve ever experienced” in Utah.
“You can’t get a bigger rivalry. You can’t pick two better teams, two better institutions, at an event like this, nationwide, because it’s bigger than basketball – it’s a culture,” Woods said. “It’s going to be like no other.”
“This heritage is way beyond me and Coach Woods, and way beyond our players,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for us to showcase our team on a national stage. But the tough part about it is, you’re playing your biggest rival in the league.”
As part of the forum, Woods and Jackson spoke to the importance of greater investment infrastructure at the HBCU level – with more services, more opportunities, more can be done for students.
The 2nd Annual #NBAHBCUClassic presented by @ATT is COMING. Southern University & Grambling State University will face off on Saturday Feb. 18th. Before then, swipe to learn more about each school & their iconic rivalry before tuning in to watch who takes home bragging rights.
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 16, 2023
Jackson said that further investment will help HBCUs evolve and grow in the modern day, making them more attractive to young people as a path forward for their future.
“From my standpoint, there’s a story to be told, and we’re using this platform, as far as the NBA is concerned, to tell our story, to create a buzz, so everybody wants to join in and help Grambling and Southern, because they got to meet us,” Woods said. “You only get one time to make a first impression.”
As part of a separate internship program for HBCU students interested in working in events, 13 young people will be on the ground in Salt Lake City, helping host the showcase of the league’s preeminent talent.
In addition, the NBA is accepting applications from HBCU students through Feb. 20 for paid fellowships with the league office and teams for the NBA HBCU Fellowship.
The annual NBA HBCU Fellowship is designed to provide career development around the business and operations of the game, as well as offer touchstones that reflect the culturally relevant experience of attending an HBCU.
The league is also streaming regular HBCU broadcasts for NBA games this season, with the next stream planned for Feb. 24, as the Hawks face the Cavaliers.
High school seniors interested in attending an HBCU can also apply for a $10,000 scholarship from the NBA G League.
The G League HBCU Scholarship Challenge is available to students interested in working in the sports industry. Applications can be submitted until March 10.
“As the League of Opportunity, NBA G League is committed to advancing equity and access off the court and in the front office,” officials said on the scholarship website. “We’re on a mission to elevate, empower, and inspire the next generation of diverse sports professionals.”
Grambling State University, founded in 1901, counts Erykah Badu, Charles Blow and Doug Williams amongst its alumni.
Notable alumni of Southern University, founded in 1880, include Bobby Phils, Avery Johnson and Branford Marsalis.
NBA legends Bob Love, a Southern alum, and Willis Reed, a graduate of Grambling State, were previously named honorary captains of the 2023 NBA HBCU Classic.
“My pathway from Southern to the NBA has opened countless doors for me,” Love said. “I am proud to support the NBA in using the game of basketball to celebrate the rich history of HBCUs and drive opportunity for the next generation of leaders both on and off the court.”
“I credit my career in part to my time at Grambling State,” Reed said. “The HBCU Classic will provide what is to most a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the NBA stage and serve as a platform for those interested in the business side of the game to gain industry insight and make lasting connections.”
***
