TheMEAC/SWAC Challengeis an annualhistorically black college(HBCU)footballgame showcasing a team from each of the twoNCAA Division Iconferences made up entirely of HBCUs—theMid-Eastern Athletic Conference(MEAC) andSouthwestern Athletic Conference(SWAC).[a][6]The series began in 2005[7]and initially paired the defending conference champions,[8]although the selection process was broadened in 2007 to include non-champions as well. The series record currently stands at 11 wins for the MEAC to the SWAC's seven (along with a "no contest" game in 2016,[9]and a cancellation in 2020). The Challenge is televised nationally onESPNand is owned byESPN Events.It was historically associated with theLabor Dayweekend, but starting in 2021 has instead taken place a week earlier during college football'sWeek 0.[4][7]
| MEAC/SWAC Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge | |
 | |
| Stadium | Center Parc Stadium |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Previous stadiums |
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| Previous locations |
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| Operated | 2005–present |
| Conference tie-ins | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference(MEAC) Southwestern Athletic Conference(SWAC) |
| Sponsors | |
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| Former names | |
History
editSouth Carolina StatebeatAlabama Statein the first Challenge in 2005, and for its first three years the event was held inBirmingham, Alabama(home of the SWAC's offices[10]), atLegion Field.In 2007, the event attracted its largest crowd—over 30,000—asSouthernbeatFlorida A&Mand earned the SWAC's first victory in the series. In 2008, the Challenge moved toOrlando, Floridaafter a new sponsorship was announced;[4]Walt Disney World Resortwould sponsor the event for eight years until 2015.[5]From 2008 to 2013, as well as in 2015, it was held in Orlando at the Florida Citrus Bowl, now calledCamping World Stadium.In 2014, the game was played at Spectrum Stadium, now known asFBC Mortgage Stadium,as Camping World Stadium underwent renovations.
In April 2016, it was announced that the game would move to campus sites for 2016 and 2017 (on September 4, 2016,Bethune–Cookmanattempted to hostAlcorn StateinDaytona Beach, Florida,but the game was halted before halftime due to lightning associated with feeder bands fromHurricane Hermine;[2]on September 3, 2017,SouthernhostedSouth Carolina StateinBaton Rouge, Louisiana). The event moved to a non-HBCU campus venue in 2018—this time atCenter Parc Stadiumon the campus ofGeorgia State UniversityinAtlanta.[b][11]
Nine futureNFL Draftpicks have played in the Challenge. They arePhillip Adams(South Carolina State),Michael Coe(Alabama State), Johnny Culbreath (South Carolina State),Justin Durant(Hampton),Javon Hargrave(South Carolina State),Temarrick Hemingway(South Carolina State), Curtis Holcomb (Florida A&M),Tarvaris Jackson(Alabama State), andKendall Langford(Hampton).[12]
The 2020 game, as well as theCelebration Bowl,were both canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic(in particular, due to a decision by the MEAC to cancel all fall sports for the 2020 season).[13]
Game results
edit^#:Score is unofficial. With 7:14 remaining in the 2nd Quarter (22:46 point of game), the game was delayed due to lightning for nearly three hours. After several unsuccessful attempts to restart the game, the game was called no contest because the game had not yet reached official status.[2]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^All full members of both conferences are HBCUs, but the MEAC has non-HBCU affiliate members in select non-football sports.
- ^The legal definition of an HBCU is an institution founded before the enactment of theCivil Rights Act of 1964primarily to educate African Americans. Georgia State was founded in 1913, but did not admit its first African-American students until 1962. GSU is now classified by the U.S. federal government as a "Predominantly Black Institution",defined as an institution that does not meet the legal definition of an HBCU, but with a majority of undergraduates receiving need-based financial aid and at least 40% African-American undergraduate enrollment.
References
edit- ^"MEAC/SWAC Challenge set".Baton Rouge Advocate (sec. D, p. 3).October 1, 2004.
- ^abcdButler, Andreas (September 8, 2016)."Not one for the record books: The unfinished MEAC/SWAC Challenge will have no negative financial implications for the universities, conferences or ESPN".Daytona Times.Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2019.
- ^ab"ESPN Announces 2006 MEAC / SWAC Challenge Game".onnidan.com.February 27, 2006.RetrievedApril 24,2017.
- ^abcd"Tickets for the 2008 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney Go on Sale June 1".meacsports.com.2008.RetrievedApril 24,2017.
- ^abc"Matchups Announced for 2015 MEAC/SWAC Challenge".swac.org.March 16, 2015.RetrievedApril 24,2017.
- ^MEAC/SWAC Challenge – ESPN Events.Archived2016-06-25 at theWayback MachineESPN.
- ^ab"MEAC/SWAC Challenge: About".meacswacchallenge.com.2016.RetrievedApril 24,2017.
- ^"State Capsules: Hampton vs. Grambling".Baton Rouge Advocate (sec. C, p. 16).September 2, 2006.
- ^A'Leaka Brown (September 5, 2016)."MEAC/SWAC Challenge Ruled a 'No Contest'".thecampuschronicleasu.com.RetrievedApril 24,2017.
- ^Stu McCann (June 3, 2016)."City of Houston wants to be new home of SWAC headquarters".abc3340.com.RetrievedApril 24,2017.
- ^/humans.txt (22 April 2016)."2016 & 2017 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Matchups Announced - MEAC / SWAC | ESPN Events".espnevents.com.RetrievedMay 5,2016.
- ^/humans.txt."2 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Alumni Selected in 2016 NFL Draft - MEAC / SWAC | ESPN Events".espnevents.com.RetrievedMay 10,2016.
- ^"MEAC-SWAC 2020 football matchups in Atlanta canceled".Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Retrieved2020-07-18.
- ^Grant, Thomas Jr. (September 4, 2005)."S.C. State Posts impressive win over Alabama St".The Times and Democrat.Orangeburg, South Carolina.p. 1B.RetrievedSeptember 4,2021– viaNewspapers.com
.
- ^Grant, Thomas Jr. (September 4, 2005)."SCSU (continued)".The Times and Democrat.Orangeburg, South Carolina.p. 2B.RetrievedSeptember 4,2021– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"MEAC/SWAC Challenge: History"..meacswacchallenge.com.2016.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
- ^"HBCU Attendance Numbers: MEAC/SWAC Paces Week One ~ HBCU GAMEDAY".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-12-30.Retrieved2013-12-29.
- ^"North Carolina A&T rolls to win over Alabama A&M in Orlando's MEAC/SWAC Challenge - Orlando Sentinel".September 2014.
- ^"South Carolina State vs. Southern - Game Summary - September 3, 2017 - ESPN".
- ^Kevin Kelley (December 17, 2018)."Jackson State, Bethune-Cookman to play in 2019 MEAC/SWAC Challenge".fbschedules.com.RetrievedJanuary 18,2019.
- ^"2020 MEAC/SWAC and Celebration Bowl canceled".16 July 2020.
- ^"2020 MEAC/SWAC Challenge matchup is set".30 July 2019.
- ^"MEAC/SWAC Matchups through 2024 announced".20 August 2021.
- ^"Jackson State 37-7 South Carolina State (Aug 26, 2023) Box Score".