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Turkey Day Classic
Turkey Day Classic
Stadium Hornet Stadium
Location Montgomery, Alabama
Operated1924–2019, 2021–
2023 matchup
Alabama State 41, Tuskegee 3

The Turkey Day Classic is a college football game, traditionally held annually on Thanksgiving Day. [1] Originally, it was played between Alabama State University and Tuskegee University, two historically black universities. [2] The game was originally played in Montgomery, Alabama's Cramton Bowl, but relocated to Alabama State's new Hornet Stadium in 2012. [3] [4] The game is one of two black college football classics to be associated with Thanksgiving weekend; the other is the younger, but more widely known, Bayou Classic, held two days later.

The game fell into a category of classics that feature two rival teams playing each year. The activities surrounding the game take place over several weeks in the downtown of Montgomery, and include parades, parties, and the like. [5] Many classics feature activities and events like golfing, pageants, and tailgating.

History

The 1924 game was the first in the series and it is considered the first black college football classic. [6] Tuskegee refused tournament slots for the NCAA Division II National Football Championship because the Division II playoffs conflict with the Turkey Day Classic; the Golden Tigers program did this even in successful seasons where it has qualified and earned high playoff seeding. From 1998 to 2009, Tuskegee participated in the Pioneer Bowl, representing its conference nine times in the 11 Pioneer Bowls in that span and winning eight. [7] Similarly, Alabama State and other Southwestern Athletic Conference members opt out of contention for the NCAA Division I Football Championship; this accommodates the Turkey Day Classic, the Bayou Classic in New Orleans, any weather-related reschedulings (such as the 2017 Labor Day Classic) and, during the game's existence, the SWAC Championship Game. SWAC members instead contend for the Celebration Bowl.

Beginning in 2013, Tuskegee withdrew from the contest due to playoff considerations beginning that year. Tuskegee's opting into the playoffs forced the cancellation of the Pioneer Bowl, but the Turkey Day Classic continued, with Stillman College serving as the opponent.

In 2014, Alabama State announced it was officially discontinuing the Turkey Day Classic in order to give itself the option of participating in the Division I championship, should it qualify. For two years, the college held its homecoming on the penultimate Saturday of November; that is, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Stillman College remained the Hornets' opponent for 2014. [8]

In August 2015, it was announced that the Alabama State-Tuskegee rivalry was to resume in 2017, with these games being held in early September and nicknamed the Labor Day Classic (ambiguously, since another black college football rivalry and Canadian college and professional football Labour Day games also use the name). For the 2015 season, Miles College participated in the November Hornet Homecoming. [9]

In March 2016, it was announced that the Turkey Day Classic would return to its traditional date of Thanksgiving Day, with Miles College returning as Alabama State's opponent. [10] For the 2017 Turkey Day Classic, Alabama State was originally scheduled to host Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, a team it had never faced before, but Cheyney backed out of the contest two weeks beforehand and suspended its football program indefinitely [11] due to the school's ongoing financial problems. [12] Edward Waters College, an NAIA squad whom Alabama State had played once before in its history, agreed to take Cheyney's place on short notice.

The 2018 Turkey Day Classic was contested by a conference rival, Mississippi Valley State University; that university, which won the 1971 contest, had been the only team other than Tuskegee or Alabama State to win the Turkey Day Classic in its history. The move was made in an effort to boost falling attendance and attention for the event, which had failed to sell out the games against other D-II and NAIA opponents. [13] (The strategy was unsuccessful, as attendance continued to fall, and the game went untelevised, as ESPN, the game's previous telecaster, declined to carry the game on any of its outlets.)

The 2019 game featured Prairie View A&M, another division rival, as the Hornets' Thanksgiving Day opponent; the Panthers became the second team other than Tuskegee or Alabama State to win with its 20–17 win over the Hornets.

The 2020 game was effectively canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, as both teams' member conferences cancelled all fall 2020 athletics. [14] For 2021, Tuskegee returned to its traditional spot on the Thanksgiving Day schedule, with the game being carried over the top on ESPN+. University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff served as the Hornets' opponent in 2022, upsetting the home team by staving off a comeback to win, 19–14. [15]

Game results

NOTE: no game in 2020.

Date Winning team Losing team Location
November 15, 1924 Tuskegee 28 Alabama State 7 Montgomery, AL
1925 Tuskegee 14 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 6, 1926 Tuskegee 14 Alabama State 7 Montgomery, AL
December 3, 1927 Alabama State 0 Tuskegee 0 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1928 Alabama State 6 Tuskegee 6 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1929 Tuskegee 20 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1930 Tuskegee 32 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 21, 1931 Tuskegee 32 Alabama State 7 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1932 Tuskegee 7 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 30, 1933 Tuskegee 14 Alabama State 7 Montgomery, AL
November 29, 1934 Alabama State 6 Tuskegee 2 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1935 Alabama State 3 Tuskegee 0 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1936 Tuskegee 6 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1937 Tuskegee 14 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1938 Alabama State 26 Tuskegee 0 Montgomery, AL
November 30, 1939 Tuskegee 6 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1940 Alabama State 31 Tuskegee 12 Montgomery, AL
November 20, 1941 Tuskegee 33 Alabama State 6 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1942 Tuskegee 25 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1943 Tuskegee 19 Alabama State 13 Montgomery, AL
1944 Tuskegee 32 Alabama State 12 Montgomery, AL
1945 Tuskegee 26 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1946 Tuskegee 26 Alabama State 14 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1947 Alabama State 26 Tuskegee 26 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1948 Tuskegee 15 Alabama State 0 Tuskegee, AL
November 24, 1949 Tuskegee 20 Alabama State 19 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1950 Tuskegee 15 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1951 Tuskegee 26 Alabama State 13 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1952 Alabama State 28 Tuskegee 13 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1953 Alabama State 6 Tuskegee 2 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1954 Alabama State 23 Tuskegee 2 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1955 Alabama State 19 Tuskegee 13 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1956 Tuskegee 19 Alabama State 13 Montgomery, AL
1957 Alabama State 13 Tuskegee 7 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1958 Tuskegee 24 Alabama State 20 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1959 Alabama State 22 Tuskegee 20 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1960 Tuskegee 12 Alabama State 8 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1961 Tuskegee 19 Alabama State 8 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1962 Tuskegee 42 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1963 Tuskegee 3 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1964 Alabama State 19 Tuskegee 11 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1965 Alabama State 20 Tuskegee 12 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1966 Alabama State 35 Tuskegee 14 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1967 Tuskegee 21 Alabama State 8 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1968 Tuskegee 23 Alabama State 21 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1969 Tuskegee 28 Alabama State 14 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1970 Tuskegee 34 Alabama State 20 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1971 Mississippi Valley State 10 Alabama State 7 Montgomery, AL
December 2, 1972 Tuskegee 10 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
December 1, 1973 Tuskegee 22 Alabama State 15 Montgomery, AL
December 7, 1974 Tuskegee 28 Alabama State 7 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1975 Alabama State 37 Tuskegee 21 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1976 Alabama State 29 Tuskegee 14 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1977 Alabama State 13 Tuskegee 7 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1978 Alabama State 15 Tuskegee 0 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1979 Alabama State 20 Tuskegee 6 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1980 Alabama State 14 Tuskegee 7 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1981 Tuskegee 14 Alabama State 3 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1982 Tuskegee 14 Alabama State 13 Tuskegee, AL
November 24, 1983 Alabama State 13 Tuskegee 3 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1984 Alabama State 31 Tuskegee 8 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1985 Alabama State 21 Tuskegee 0 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1986 Alabama State 21 Clark Atlanta 6 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1987 Alabama State 21 Johnson C. Smith 3 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1988 Alabama State 17 Tuskegee 0 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1989 Alabama State 26 Tuskegee 20 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1990 Alabama State 49 Tuskegee 7 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1991 Alabama State 62 Johnson C. Smith 6 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1992 Alabama State 17 Fayetteville State 14 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1993 Alabama State 31 Tuskegee 30 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1994 Alabama State 37 Tuskegee 35 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1995 Alabama State 58 Tuskegee 20 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1996 Tuskegee 21 Alabama State 14 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1997 Tuskegee 21 Alabama State 16 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1998 Alabama State 27 Tuskegee 7 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1999 Tuskegee 37 Alabama State 34 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2000 Tuskegee 28 Alabama State 27 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2001 Tuskegee 31 Alabama State 27 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 2002 Tuskegee 25 Alabama State 20 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 2003 Alabama State 48 Tuskegee 28 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 2004 Tuskegee 27 Alabama State 17 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2005 Tuskegee 28 Alabama State 27 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2006 Tuskegee 17 Alabama State 10 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2007 Tuskegee 64 Alabama State 58 Montgomery, AL
November 27, 2008 Alabama State 17 Tuskegee 13 Montgomery, AL
November 26, 2009 Tuskegee 21 Alabama State 0 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 2010 Tuskegee 17 Alabama State 10 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2011 Alabama State 30 Tuskegee 21 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2012 Tuskegee 27 Alabama State 25 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 2013 Alabama State 41 Stillman 28 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2014 Alabama State 30 Stillman 27 Montgomery, AL
November 21, 2015 Alabama State 26 Miles College 7 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2016 Alabama State 53 Miles College 20 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2017 Alabama State 37 Edward Waters College 3 Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2018 Alabama State 31* Mississippi Valley State 24 Montgomery, AL
November 28, 2019 Prairie View A&M 20 Alabama State 17 Montgomery, AL
November 25, 2021 Alabama State 43 Tuskegee 9 Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2022 Arkansas–Pine Bluff 19 Alabama State 14 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2023 Alabama State 41 Tuskegee 3 Montgomery, AL

(*) Game was decided in overtime

See also

References

  1. ^ Timmermann, Tom (2009-09-26), "Tuskegee Opens Long Road Trip at Gateway Classic", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, archived from the original on 2009-09-28, retrieved 2009-10-22
  2. ^ Cunningham, Jonathon (2006-11-16), "Big Classic: Orlando's About to Go off the Chain", Orlando Weekly, retrieved 2009-10-22
  3. ^ "There's Plenty in the Area to See and Do", Montgomery Advertiser, 2009-10-22, retrieved 2009-10-22
  4. ^ Willingham, Leo (2008-11-18), "Tuskegee Still No. 1, Big Classic Weekend", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, retrieved 2009-10-22
  5. ^ Nettles, Adrienne (2009-11-23), "Turkey Day Classic Festivities March into Downtown", Montgomery Advertiser, retrieved 2009-11-24
  6. ^ Barnidge, Noell (2006-10-11), "Classics an Integral Part of Black College Football", Savannah Morning News, archived from the original on 2007-12-08, retrieved 2009-10-22
  7. ^ Perrin, Mike (2008-11-01), "Pioneer Bowl Suspended for 2008; Nowhere for Tuskegee to Go", The Birmingham News, retrieved 2009-10-22
  8. ^ Birdsong, Nick (March 4, 2014). Turkey Day Classic won't be held on Thanksgiving. AL.com. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  9. ^ Alabama State, Tuskegee to renew football rivalry in 2017
  10. ^ ASU's Turkey Day Classic 2016 returns to Thanksgiving Day
  11. ^ "Cheyney University drops NCAA Division II status in restructuring of its athletic department". 21 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Cheyney pulls out of Turkey Day Classic due to finances".
  13. ^ "ASU faces Mississippi Valley State in Turkey Day Classic".
  14. ^ Heupel, Shannon. "There will not be a 2020 Turkey Day Classic Parade. COVID-19 derailed the annual tradition". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  15. ^ Shames, Jacob (November 24, 2022). "Turkey Day Classic: Alabama State football loses to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on last-minute TD". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2022-11-27.

External links