By Alvin Hollins, Jr.
One of the most enduring Black College Football rivalries of all time, Florida A&M-Southern will enjoy its’ 60threnewal September 24th, when the two schools meet in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic in the Georgia Dome.
Considered a literal “Clash of the Titans,” the FAMU-Southern series features programs that have won a combined 20 Black College National Championships (FAMU 11, Southern 9), while producing three College Football Hall of Fame coaches (Arnett “Ace” Mumford, Southern; Jake Gaither, Billy Joe, FAMU), two College Hall of Fame players (Tyrone McGriff, 1996, Willie Galimore, 1999, FAMU) and two NFL Hall of Famers (Mel Blount, Southern; Bob Hayes, FAMU).
At one point, the two schools played 56 straight games between 1946 and 2001, but have played just twice since (2007, 2008) splitting the two games.
FAMU won the last meeting in 2008, a 52-49 thriller in Baton Rouge, for their fifth win in the last seven games. Southern edged the Rattlers, 33-27 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Birmingham, Alabama in 2007.
Read full article by Alvin at HBCUSportsOnline
