Bayou Classic again has title implications for Grambling and Southern

It is on!

The 46th Annual Bayou Classic is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome between No. 5/No. 6 Southern (No. 5 in the BOXTOROW HBCU coaches poll and at No. 6 in the media poll) and No. 7 Grambling and the game will once again be nationally televised on NBC Sports.

The kickoff press conference took place on the floor of the Superdome this morning with Mayor Latoya Cantrell welcoming everyone, along Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Kurt Weigel of the Downtown Development District and other top area officials on hand.

“The classic really has become a multi-faceted celebration, not just to the teams and of the game but of these two great universities and we’re just so happy that this happens right here in downtown New Orleans,” Weigel said.

Once again, the game takes on added meaning.

As if the rivalry, itself, was not enough, this one really counts as the winner will capture the Southwest Conference West Division championship and will play Alcorn State in the SWAC title game on Dec. 7.

Southern’s Dawson Odums and Grambling State’s Broderick Fobbs meet head-to-head for the eighth time in the annual Thanksgiving weekend extravaganza, set for a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Southern (7-4, 5-1) leads the West Division. After a slow start, the Jaguars have won six of their last seven games under Dawsom Odums, in his eighth season.

“Each team had an opportunity to get better,” Odums said. “Usually, the sign of a good football team is the month of October and November. I think both teams got hot at the right time and won the right games. This is the fifth year we’ve been in this predicament. It will be fun. I think it’s good for football, good for the SWAC when these teams are playing really well.

Grambling (6-4, 4-2) started even slower, losing its first four games but the Tigers have ripped off six consecutive victories under Broderick Fobbs, in his seventh season.

Fobbs said a decision on the status of defensive end Anfernee Mullins has not been made yet. Mullins was arrested last week on misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and domestic battery abuse of his girlfriend. Mullins had two previous arrests as well, complicating the situation. Mullin is a key player with seven sacks.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Fobbs said. “It sounds kind of strange right now but at this time but there’s some times that you need to go through some adversity in order to know what you have because for our program, it’s been good for us because you know who’s with you, you know who’s not with you but then also, you learn a lot about your kids and coaches.”

The Bayou Classic annually brings upwards of 200,000 people to the city to celebrate the events surrounding the game and the game itself while it brings an estimated $50 million impact to the city, according to those involved.

Here is a list of the events of the week associated with the Bayou Classic:

**Greek Sow and Battle of the Bands, Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

**Bayou Classic Parade, Saturday, Nov. 30 at 930 a.m. beginning at Elysian Fields Ave. and North Peters St.

**Fan Festival, Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11:30 a.m. in Champions Square

**46th Annual Bayou Classic, Saturday, November 30 at 4 p.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome