[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 123 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN CELEBRATION OF THE TUSKEGEE-MOREHOUSE FOOTBALL CLASSIC

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a classic 
gridiron rivalry--the ``Matchless Classic of All Historically Black 
College Football Classics''--the 77th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse 
Football Classic. This year, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers will 
come face-to-face with the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers on the green 
grass of A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia on 
Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
  A rivalry that began in 1902 with the teams playing each other 
seventy-six times in over 100 years, the Tuskegee-Morehouse Football 
Classic has the distinction of being one of the longest running NCAA 
Division II classics in the nation. It first began as an entertainment 
event for the African-American civilian community and African-American 
U.S. Army soldiers in the Columbus-Fort Benning, GA and Phenix City, AL 
area. Today, its primary purpose is to help raise funds for 
scholarships to help young men and women attend college.
  In 1955, Mr. Gordon H. Kitchen, Mr. A.J. McClung, and Mr. Carl 
Haygood formed the Classic Committee. The Committee continues to 
operate the Classic and has preserved the mission of its legendary 
founders and past leadership. This year, the Committee will welcome Dr. 
Robert Michael Franklin, Jr., the Tenth President of Morehouse College; 
Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, the Sixth President of Tuskegee University; and 
Dr. Beverly Tatum, the Ninth President of Spelman College to the 
Classic.
  This year will also mark the eighth year the Tuskegee-Morehouse 
Football Classic will be played in the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, 
which was named for the late Honorable A.J. McClung, a 1933 graduate of 
Tuskegee University, Chairman Emeritus of the Tuskegee-Morehouse 
Football Classic and 29-year member of the Columbus Council who served 
as acting Mayor of Columbus in 1973.
  A longstanding tradition, the weeks leading up to the Classic are 
filled with excitement and anticipation. The Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic 
Parade is a widely attended fanfare. There is a week-long schedule of 
events including church services, recruitment activities, a media press 
conference, a golf tournament, President/Queens Brunch, VIP Reception 
and spirited tailgating.
  Throughout the years, the two teams have taken the field to play with 
the highest quality and standards of college football. The players and 
coaches train and work tirelessly to ensure a memorable classic, and 
the marching bands, the Piperettes, Mahogany in Motion, cheerleaders, 
flag teams and other auxiliary units put on spectacular shows while the 
fans and observers cheer loudly and proudly for their teams.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting the Golden 
Tigers of Tuskegee University as they come face-to-face with the Maroon 
Tigers of Morehouse College. Naturally, I will be cheering for my 
beloved Alma Mater, Morehouse College. Despite the outcome, however, 
the 77th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic is sure to be a 
memorable affair overflowing with spirit, pride, and tradition.

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