Celebration Bowl Brings Spotlight To HBCU Powerhouse Programs While Reaching 5-year Milestone
Photo by Brandon Waters
By: Baigen Seawell
It’s back-to-back-to-back for North Carolina A&T Football.
The Aggies acquired their fourth Celebration Bowl title in five years, beating Alcorn State 64-44 on December 21, 2019. This game marked the fifth year of it’s existence; what some people like to call, the “Super Bowl of HBCU’s”, the Celebration Bowl serves as a National Championship between the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Prior to the Celebration Bowl, there were numerous predecessors which would make it what we know today.
The History
Before the Celebration Bowl, there were other bowls that came and went. The Pelican Bowl, which took place in the mid to late 1970’s, a time that was arguably height of HBCU Football, drew crowds of nearly 30,000 to New Orleans, La. The Heritage Bowl would be the successor, taking place during the 1990’s, with the Champions of the MEAC and SWAC facing off. In the eight years of meeting, the MEAC and SWAC would win six titles equally between them. By 1999, this would be the last meeting, and the Heritage Bowl would be the basis of what would be discussed, and voted on to become the Celebration Bowl in 2015.
Record Setting Fashion
In the five years of the Celebration Bowl’s existence, nothing would top the level of performance displayed in this matchup. A plethora of records were broken before reaching the end of third quarter.
The Aggies and Braves would combine for 49 total points in the third quarter, the most scored
The record for most combined points in a Celebration Bowl game now stands at 108
64 Total Points scored by the Aggies would be the most points scored in postseason and in Celebration Bowl history
Quarterback Kylil Carter would acquire the most touchdowns in Celebration Bowl history, and would tie with fellow Aggie, Alan Hooker with a total of 6
364 Passing Yards would be the most in a single Celebration Bowl game
And the list goes on, and on…
Despite the score, the passion for the game and level of competition stayed at an all-time high from start to finish, leaving a positive outlook on the future of the Celebration Bowl.
Why HBCU Athletics are Crucial in the NCAA
The athleticism shown between these two teams proves why HBCU Football, and HBCU Athletics is still something that should continue to be highlighted. Coach Fred McNair, the original “Air McNair”, and Brother of Steve McNair, has created a powerhouse football program of predominantly black athletes at his Alma Mater. Coach Sam Washington, an alum of Mississippi Valley State has brought North Carolina A&T to national prominence bringing home a fourth title home to the HBCU with the largest student enrollment in the nation.
While Alcorn and A&T garnered national attention in the Celebration Bowl, we must remember HBCU Trailblazers such as West Virginia State, home to the first African American to be drafted to the NBA, or Tennessee State University, with 24 national titles in Women’s Track (Indoor and Outdoor).
As the evolution of HBCU Football from the early bowl games to present has been a sight to behold, we must spotlight other athletic programs and give them the same level of attention; encouraging black youth to attend these institutions could give us the next Walter Payton, Terron Armstead, Elijah Bell, or Felix Harper. As Football Season comes to a close, national signing day inches closer and closer, and we must look to preserve and strengthen the legacy of HBCU Athletics at all levels.
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