A Family Affair Out There for All of Us: Exploring the History of the Oldest HBCU Classic

By Micahya Costen

The Granddaddy of All HBCUs Classic has wrapped up after a successful return to Columbus, Ga., highlighting its historical significance to the community and the event's committee members.

Judge Michael Bellamy, a Columbus native, splits his time between Phoenix City, Ala., and Columbus, but remains actively involved in community events like the Classic.

Reflecting on his high school days, Bellamy vividly recalls the impact the Classic had on the community.

“I remember the kids, the parades and all the festivities,” Bellamy said. “It was a night game when I was in high school and it was amazing...it's been something that's been going on, and the time it started was a big thing. 

The Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic began as a response to segregation when Georgia and Auburn played in Columbus, Ga. at a time when Black soldiers from Fort Benning were excluded from attending. A group created the Classic to give Black soldiers the chance to attend a college football game, and it has continued for years.

“I had no idea that it was going to (move) to Birmingham,” Bellamy said. “The reason they did, supposedly, Morehouse was a home team. I think they made that decision. They were offered substantial funds, however, the way it was done was not done appropriately. They should have at least talked to the committee who had been doing this for years…They did invite us to the game. It was kind of like sour grapes at that point. But we all love Tuskegee. We all love Morehouse, and I'm glad that it's back. (I’m) very pleased to know it's back, and the city of Columbus has stepped up by taking they're trying to do additional things to help ensure that we can get some additional revenues to go to the universities. That's what it's all about, trying to raise money for the universities.”

Beloved by the committee and the city, retired Army man, longest serving committee member and Tuskegee alumn Colonel Jackson also expressed his gratitude for the classic being brought back and the hard work the team has put in to ensure the event becomes a success. Bellamy explained how as soon as the news was passed that the classic was returning, Jackson had a list of things that he kept in mind as former chairman to pass along to the new team.

“I had on that list that this has gotta be a top-notch experience for all of us surrounding the area and make sure that all the T's are crossing, all the I's are dotted, Jackson said. “...One of the top things was that we are upgrading our facilities here we are in the process of that now and working with the city on that… So before we get those things checked out, (we) want to make sure that those who came this year had a great experience in the hotel, the parade and also the football game. It’s a whole bunch of things that were on that list (it was) about three pages.”

Jackson explained how the involvement factor was instilled in him since 1978, and hasn’t left him since.

“It's been in my blood ever since and I've been a member of the team, and then the leader of the team to be the chairman emeritus after all those years,” Jackson said. “So until I retired, and then I got the new generation that's carrying it on now. And I'm so pleased that they are running the show and carrying it.”

Jackson recalled how people used to dress in fur coats for the Classic, reflecting the event's importance.

The Classic fostered camaraderie between teams and fans, while also achieving its goal of providing scholarships for future students to attend these schools.

“It had a triple impact on the city, impact on the students,” Jackson said. “I want everybody to understand that this is what we call the granddaddy of all the classics and that one of the purposes of course, is to (provide) a family affair out there for all of us, for the soldiers, for the community. It's an economic impact, and I want people to come out and support it…“This is very dear to my heart, the classic, and I love it. And I have loved it for 40 years and I just want to see it continue.