Nation’s Football Classic

After years of football rivalry and 14 years since their last classic matchup, the Howard Bison will face the Morehouse Tigers in the AT&T Nation's Football Classic.  One former Morehouse football player, who happens to be my father, recalls his experience playing in the classic of 1988.   

My father, Randall Jordan vividly remembers the weekend he played for Morehouse in the classic against our Bison.  As a freshman running back for Morehouse, he recalls the classic as one of his fondest memories while at "The House".   

"It was the furthest we had ever traveled to play an away game so getting there was an experience in itself," he said. "It made me feel like I had made it to the big leagues."

My father, who was just a freshman when he played in the classic, came from a world of athletics.  Participating in track and field, and football since a very young age, when the time came to decide where to attend school, he had to decide between Howard and Morehouse.  Coming to DC for the classic back in 1988 was the first time he ever saw the ‘Mecca'.    

"Howard was one of my choices of schools to attend but there was no housing for me, so I was excited to finally see the school," he said.

According to the NFC website, the classic will showcase the Tradition, Service, Unity and Heritage of these prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and offer a cultural experience that can't be matched.  My father agrees that the experience is one of a kind. 

"Just being on the field, hearing the bands play, and hearing the student sections cheering- nothing compares to the excitement," he said. "The jovial atmosphere and the sense of community that exists at an HBCU football game is unparalleled."

The classic will be nationally televised garnering much needed exposure for both teams and for both universities as a whole.   

"I think [the classic] is significant to Howard and to the HBCU community because of the rivalry between two of the best HBCU's" my father said.  "It brought great exposure to the HBCU community."

Exposure may be just what HBCU athletics needs.  While Howard is a Division I school and Morehouse a Division II, both programs seem to lack recognition. My father believes that this problem lies in the way HBCU's are able to market themselves.    

"I think it's due to the level of athletic talent and the lack of national exposure," my father said. 

Since the inaugural game in 1923, in which Howard defeated Morehouse 10-0, Howard has maintained the best record with 21 wins and 10 losses.  But when asked who he thought would win this year's matchup my father had a sure reply.

 "Of course, the House," he responded, even though the last time the Tiger's boasted a win was in 1994.