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How the Magic City Classic Divides – And Unites — Partisan Friends and Families

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Birmingham Times
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Erick Wright graduated ASU in 1980 but married into the Alabama A&M family when he wed A&M alumna (1980) Ethel Brown Wright. (Provided photo)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

The battle lines are usually well established for the Magic City Classic. Either you bleed black and gold, or maroon and white. Either you swarm with the Hornets or you bark with the Bulldogs.

But there are some people who have lived on the other side. And some of them can seamlessly – or somewhat seamlessly – traverse from the west stands of historic Legion Field to the east stands.

And some are intentionally positioned in the middle.

Here are the stories of some who have spent time on each side of his friendly civil war.

Huntsville, Alabama, native Jennifer Anderson likes to say that she was trained to be a Bulldog, but retired from ASU. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., Special To The Times)

‘You know I went to Alabama A&M, right?’

Huntsville, Alabama, native Jennifer Anderson earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban regional planning at Alabama A&M in her hometown and set out to find an employer where she could apply that skill. That employer wound up being rival Alabama State University in Montgomery.

“When I finished my degree in urban planning, I came to Montgomery and I worked as a planner for five years,” she said. “I was asked to come over to Alabama State to serve as a director of development, and then ultimately the executive director of the foundation. I remember when I was asked, I was like, ‘You know I went to Alabama A&M, right?’”

Coincidentally, her office at ASU was in William Hooper Councill Hall, which was named for the former slave who founded Alabama A&M. She came to appreciate ASU in Montgomery.

“I love Alabama State University and I love what it does for our people,” Anderson said. “I think that the stronger A&M is, the stronger ASU is, and the stronger ASU is, the stronger A&M is.”

Anderson was development director at Alabama State for 11 years. In that role, she was responsible for fundraising for ASU, especially surrounding the Magic City Classic.

“That’s a big weekend for us, a big engagement weekend for us,” she recalled. “I went to the Magic City Classic as a Hornet for 11 years, wore black and gold every Classic for 11 years.”

And every year, Alabama State alumni would greet their development director with the request to “let me see.

“I’ll open my jacket or I’ll pull my shawl back and there’ll be an Alabama A&M under my black and gold.”

During her tenure with Alabama State, Anderson would occupy two seats at Legion Field.

“I sat on both sides,” she recalled. “It’s been a joy to be able to love my institution, right, and then be able to serve another institution. I tell people all the time when they give me a hard time, like, ‘You’re a Bulldog.’ I’m like, Alabama A&M trained me to be able to support y’all.”

The former development director said she hit several fundraising goals while I worked for ASU. “We received our first gift of stock while I was there,” she recalled. “I attribute that to the training that I was given at Alabama A&M on working with people and processes.”

Anderson retired from ASU two years ago and began her own company, JSA Consulting. She is also program director for The Alabama Collective, which works with various HBCUs. Since retiring, she’s attended the Classic solely as an Alabama A&M alumna, bearing no outward connection to her former employer.

“Only hugs and smiles and greetings because I still love the alums that I worked with and the administrators I worked with,” she said. “But I will definitely be in maroon and white, top to bottom, because it was always in my spirit.”

But don’t make the mistake of unjustly trashing the Hornets when Anderson’s around.

“If anybody who’s not part of us says something about Alabama State, then I have to have a conversation,” she said. “If they say something negative and they’re not part of the family, that comes out loud.”

Lucy Cohen of Hillsboro, Alabama, had visions of going to the University of Alabama when she graduated high school even though her father had his sights set on Alabama A&M. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., Special To The Times)

I go for A&M every time they’re not playing State’

Lucy Cohen of Hillsboro, Alabama, studied early childhood education at Alabama State started teaching even before graduation. She would follow her Alabama State bachelor’s degree with a master’s from A&M. By then, she and her husband Ronnie had their first child and the Huntsville campus was a much shorter commute.

“Ronnie was (a student) at Alabama A&M. He dropped out of A&M because General Motors came in and they all got jobs,” she said of Ronnie and others in the Lawrence County community. “They didn’t go back to A&M.”

While Ronnie no longer studied at A&M, he remained a fervent fan. Lucy’s allegiance was with Alabama State in Montgomery.

“We would go to one side and then go to the other side,” she said of the Classic. “But all my family members were Alabama A&M fans so they sat on the A&M side. I’d put on my Alabama A&M stuff and go over there and sit down.”

Lucy says she’s loyal to the Bulldogs, most of the time.

“When they’re playing Alabama State, I’m cheering for Alabama State,” she said, laughing at the notion of being in enemy territory. “They get all over me over there but I don’t care. They get all over me on that side.”

‘915 South Jackson Street is always home’

Dawn Sutherlin, far right, is seen with friends at the Magic City Classic. Sutherlin graduated summa cum laude from Alabama State University in the spring of 1997. She decided to attend Alabama A&M for her graduate degree. (Provided)

Dawn Sutherlin graduated summa cum laude from Alabama State University in the spring of 1997 with a BS in business administration, majoring in finance. After taking a break working in the private sector, she decided to pursue a graduate degree.

“I chose Alabama A&M University since I was living in the area and my employer offered tuition assistance,” she said.

Taking all evening classes after working 8-hour days and driving her beat-up Mazda 626 back and forth from Decatur to Huntsville more than 30 miles each way was tiresome but well worth it. Her graduate school was different from what she had known as an undergrad.

“Undergrad was where I met lifelong friends and learned to figure things out without my parents’ input,” she said. “The limited days and interaction with other students outside of classes made the experience different from attending ASU. However, I would not trade my experience at AAMU due to the networking opportunities I had. The Office of Career Development always advertised job fairs, resume writing workshops, and internships.”

A classmate told her about a fellowship program with the U.S. Army. Less than a month after graduating with an MBA in 2003, Sutherlin was offered and accepted a job with the Army, where she has worked the past 21 years.

“Magic City Classic is always a great time,” she said. “As my best girlfriend says, it’s her favorite season of the year. I normally sit near the end zone and cheer for ASU. 915 South Jackson Street (the street address of Alabama State) is always home.”

‘Stinging and biting going on’

Birmingham native Erick Wright graduated from Alabama State in journalism and communication in 1980. He would work in sports information at Alabama A&M from 1982 to 1984. Was he conflicted during the Magic City Classic? Not in the least.

“I was once asked by (Huntsville Times reporter) Reggie Benson, ‘Who you cheering for?’” he recalled. “My quote I said to him was, ‘My heart says one thing and my pocket says another.’”

Wright went on to be the sports information director at Alabama State 1984 to 1986. “It’s always good to go back home and be able to make a contribution to your alma mater,” he said. “In this case, I was part of the athletic staff, sports information director, and I worked there for two and a half years.”

Since then, he has started an ASU alumni chapter from scratch in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as his president for four years and eventually I moved to Atlanta and became the president of the Atlanta Metro Alumni Chapter. Wright went on to becoming vice president of the ASU National Alumni Association and then served back-to-back, two-year terms as the president of the national alumni association.

Wright did choose Alabama A&M in one respect as he married 1980 A&M alumna Ethel Brown Wright.

“My wife always likes to tell me that I married up when I married an A&M Bulldog as an ASU Hornet,” he said, choosing to respect her opinion if not outright agreement. “Our slogan around the house is, ‘There’s nothing but some stinging and some biting going on.’”

Alabama A&M’s Zakiah Goodlow, Percussion Section Leader: ‘We Are Here to Annihilate’

By
Birmingham Times
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Zakiah Goodlow, a multi-instrumentalist who is a formally trained pianist and self-taught drummer, looks forward to the Magic City Classic experience every year. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

When it comes to this year’s Magic City Classic, Zakiah Goodlow, a junior at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), is all business.

The 20-year-old is the first female band captain and percussion section leader to take the reins under AAMU’s Band Director Carlton Wright since at least 2013. Goodlow is just one of many female band members representing The Marching Maroon and White on a high level.

“Representation plays a huge role because, ever since females have started stepping into leadership roles in the band, we have recruited more females, and they are becoming more passionate and interested in our band culture,” said Goodlow, who plays the tenor drum. “The drumline alone has five females [out of 28 total members], and that’s the most females the section has ever had.”

Ready For Battle

Zakiah Goodlow, junior, band captain and percussion section leader in Lewis Crews Stadium on AAMU’s campus. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Speaking of her section, Goodlow said every member knows what the percussionists mean to the entire 272-member band.

“When it comes to the band as a whole, the drumline is the easily the heartbeat, the lungs, and the pulse all at the same time,” she said. “There is a lot of power in the drumline.”

The 83rd annual McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola will be played between the Bulldogs of AAMU and the Hornets of Alabama State University (ASU) at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field Stadium. The fervor for the historic rivalry is equally about the football game and the halftime show—but nothing gets the crowd’s adrenaline pumping quite like the drumline face-off.

For Goodlow, there is no question about who will win the battle of the bands.

“Everyone feels the need to compare us to each other, and every year we have to show that there is no comparison,” she said. “No matter who is across the field from us, we are here to annihilate.”

Goodlow, a multi-instrumentalist who is a formally trained pianist and self-taught drummer, looks forward to the Magic City Classic experience every year.

“Nothing compares to the energy from the fans,” she said. “Marching into the stadium, battling in the zero and fifth quarters — [before the football game begins and after it ends] — performing at halftime. … I am ready to soak it all in and show [ASU] that we are a force to be reckoned with.”

“I Keep It Very Calm”

Goodlow was named band captain and percussion section leader in April: “I was excited, nervous, and honored all at once,” she said.

“Being able to represent [AAMU] and Black girls in general like this means the world,” she added. “I have been in leadership many times throughout my band career but never on as big a stage as the [Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)],” one of the leading collegiate athletic conferences for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The drummer describes her leadership style as observational and authoritative.

“I observe before I speak or correct anything,” Goodlow said. “I put in a lot of effort to make sure I am communicating effectively so there’s no confusion. I’m authoritative, but I try not to do a lot of yelling because it is not about how loud you say it, it is about what you are saying, so I keep it very calm.”

She also delegates a lot because there are five sub-section leaders: the bass, tenor, and snare drum sections, as well as the quints (a marching drum set of five tenor drums mounted on a single carrier) and the cymbals.

Goodlow explained, “[Each sub-section leader] looks after each specific [instrument] in their section, so I delegate responsibilities to make sure material can be taught and understood faster. I am firm, but I still leave room to have camaraderie with the people in my section.”

“Wanted to Be the First”

Zakiah Goodlow fell in love with AAMU’s band during her freshman year of high school. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Goodlow grew up in Hillsboro, Alabama, (near Decatur, Alabama, and west of Huntsville, Alabama), where she and her older brother, Zachary, were raised by their parents, Kalethia and Ronnie Goodlow.

Zakiah, who joined her first marching band in the sixth grade, discovered her love of music at an early age. At 7 years old, she began taking piano lessons after being inspired by her older brother, who also plays the piano.

“I went to my mom and told her that I wanted to take lessons. A few days later, I went to my first lesson and never looked back,” she said. “I started teaching myself how to play the drums a year later. I wanted to be able to play the drums when my brother was playing the piano. … [Also], because there were no female drummers in my area, I wanted to be the first.”

Goodlow played in “the beginner band” in the fifth grade at East Lawrence Middle School in Trinity, Alabama: “I joined the band because I wanted to know the technical side of playing the drums, and I knew that joining the band would give me an outlet to learn more instruments and help me get better at my God-given talent.”

She fell in love with AAMU’s band during her freshman year of high school. “When I was in high school, I didn’t even know HBCUs existed. Then someone showed me a video of [the AAMU] band playing a stand tune called ‘4, 5, 6,’ [by rap artist Solé], and I instantly fell in love. When I received a full-ride scholarship to AAMU it felt like destiny in a way. … No other bands captivated me like [AAMU’s],” Goodlow said.

She added, “I became the first person in my high school’s band program to be a section leader as a freshman, and I was the only Black person in my high school band for all four years.”

Discipline And Dedication

Balancing her academics and commitments at AAMU requires discipline, said Goodlow, who carries a 3.9 GPA.

“It takes a lot of discipline and strong time management skills,” the percussion section leader said. “I always try to work ahead of the class [syllabus], especially in the fall semester because of the band’s hectic schedule.”

A well-rounded instrumentalist, Goodlow also plays the keyboard, organ, snare, tenor, and bass drum, drum sets (quads and quints), cymbals, marimba (a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets), and the timpani (a set of percussion instruments that are typically played in an orchestra), and she is looking to add more instruments to her repertoire.

“I’m trying to find a way to learn the violin, trombone, and the guitar,” she said.

Zakiah Goodlow, junior, band captain and percussion section leader in Lewis Crews Stadium on AAMU’s campus. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Future Endeavors

Goodlow’s major is business administration with a concentration in information systems, and her minor is in finance. She has built an impressive academic profile in addition to her extracurricular activities. She is involved in the university’s Finance Club, is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and serves as an annual youth member of the NAACP.

She already has things in place for her postgraduate future, too. Goodlow plans to aid African Americans in acquiring resources to work their farmland through government-provided programming and funding.

“After I graduate, I will be working for the United States Department of Agriculture [USDA] in the Farm Service Agency. I will be working with the state office in Mongomery, [Alabama], which is a part of my full-ride scholarship [through the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program],” she said

For now, Goodlow is focused on not just school but her section mates. “I want to leave behind a powerful legacy that shows it is possible to be a great scholar and a great bandsman at the same time. I want my legacy to inspire them to not limit themselves to one skill or instrument—be a sponge and learn all you can learn about our craft. Ultimately, try to be an asset to this band program, not a liability. Allow God to open doors for you and be ready to walk through them,” said the AAMU percussion section leader.

The 83rd annual McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola will be played between the Bulldogs of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and the Hornets of Alabama State University at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2024, at Birmingham’s legendary Legion Field. Details about road closings, accessible parking, shuttle services, and more are available at magiccityclassic.com.

Cameron Kirkland, Alabama State Percussion Section Leader: ‘We’ll Set The Standard’

By
Birmingham Times
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Cameron Kirkland, senior, percussion section leader at Alabama State University inside ASU Stadium on campus. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

As percussion section leader of The Mighty Marching Hornets of Alabama State University (ASU), Cameron Kirkland has a vast number of duties — and one of the most important is harmony.

“My responsibility is to make sure we sound like one,” the 21-year-old senior said. “We have a whole bunch of moving parts with cymbals, snare drums, tenor drums, quads, [a marching drum set of four tenor drums mounted on a single carrier], and bass drums. … My responsibility is to make sure we coexist and intertwine with each other while we play so it doesn’t just sound like a whole bunch of noise.”

The role of the 48-member percussion section is crucial because it sets the rhythm of the 270-member band, the music performance major said. “The drumline, we set the foundation,” Kirkland said.

Cameron Kirkland says he’s been involved in music practically since birth. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

“We are the heartbeat of the band,” he added. “Without us, there’s no sense of time. We definitely are the foundation of how the band is supposed to sound, what they’re supposed to play, how fast or slow they’re supposed to play.”

On the snare drum, Kirkland will help set the rhythm for ASU as the Hornets face the Bulldogs of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), on Oct. 26, at the 83rd annual McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola.

“As far as preparation, the drumline has to make sure we’re on top of everything with cadence material, how we sound, how we look,” he said. “Obviously, we know [AAMU is] going to come with their A game. We’ve just got to match that energy, be better, and set that standard that we’re still the better percussion section between the two.”

(Cadences are musical arrangements for percussionists that are usually played to maintain the correct rhythm in a marching band.)

The section leader said ASU is coming prepared and the AAMU band can look for some “curveballs,” things the group from Huntsville, Alabama, won’t expect — for example, “some new cadences they’ve never heard before,” said Kirkland.

“At the end of the day, people in the marching band are musicians,” he explained. “You have to play musically with each other and not just be individuals. We’re supposed to play together, not compete. As a drumline, we’re not supposed to compete with the brass or the woodwind or any other instruments in the band. … We’re supposed to play with the band, not against the band.”

“Dramatic Change”

Kirkland says he’s been involved in music practically since birth. “I was raised in the church all my life,” he said. “I started playing drums when I was 3 years old, and I’ve been playing in church ever since then. As far as marching band, I started when I was in the ninth grade.”

But the marching band experience Kirkland had in high school couldn’t be more different from the one at ASU, he said. He is the product of Gahanna Lincoln High School, a predominantly white high school in Columbus, Ohio.

“My high school marching band experience was a more technical, court style. As far as the playing style, the movements were more precise. It wasn’t as aggressive compared to my [historically Black college and university (HBCU)] band career,” he said. “With HBCU marching bands, [the style is] more hard-core, powerful playing. It’s not as technical as a predominantly white marching band. When it comes to the field show, [the field show is] pretty simple, self-explanatory.”

In his high school marching band, there was very little dancing when it came to formations and field shows. Now he’s part of “an entertaining, crowd-pleasing show, marching with The Mighty Marching Hornets,” he said.

It was a “dramatic change” going from his high school band to the ASU band, the percussion section leader said.

“My section leader at the time, [at ASU], was from Ohio, too,” Kirkland said. “He kind of took me under his wing and made sure I was doing everything I needed to do in order to get better every day. I took it upon myself to make sure I was practicing day and night to [develop] the skill set where I’m at now on my instrument.

“I saw videos [of the ASU band performing] prior to making my decision [to attend],” Kirkland said. “It was just their style of play that really caught my eye. I wasn’t fully aware of what I would be putting myself into going from a predominantly white school to an HBCU marching band.”

Beyond his time at ASU, Cameron Kirkland hopes to become a touring professional drummer and a sound engineer. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Kirkland said he was humbled by being named section leader.

“In order to be a good leader, you have to follow first,” he said. “I knew how to follow directions first, and I humbled myself. … With my humbleness, I’m able to lead my section. … I’ll be the first to admit if I’m wrong, and I’ll own up to it.”

The section leader is selected by the band director and his assistant band directors, and he or she must show skills in leadership and communication, as well as demonstrate proficiency in playing all instruments of that section. In this case, every percussion instrument.

Kirkland found out he was selected this summer when he saw his name posted on the band’s app, where all members are able to communicate.

“I was excited and ready for the responsibility,” he said. “I said, ‘OK, I have the position as section leader It’s time to handle business. It’s time to get to work.’”

Family Ties

The marching band experience Cameron Kirkland had in high school couldn’t be more different from the one at ASU, he said. He is the product of Gahanna Lincoln High School, a predominantly white high school in Columbus, Ohio. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Kirkland played drums at his Ohio church, New Birth Christian Ministries, and continues to play in church today at Montgomery’s Kingdom Seekers Worship Center. Music came naturally, as his father, Cameron Kirkland Sr., played keyboard and organ after first playing drums in church at a young age.

“I have similar stories as far as that,” the oldest of four siblings said. “My mom, [Ahleeya Nelson Kirkland], sings in church, and she grew up in church, as well.”

His sister, Chyara Kirkland, is a freshman at ASU. She’s part of the Hornets’ street dance team, a pep group that does cheers and chants. “They’re like the student performers in the stands, trying to get the crowd involved,” he said.

Beyond his time at ASU, Kirkland hopes to become a touring professional drummer and a sound engineer. As his time winds down with The Mighty Marching Hornets, Kirkland said he will always be grateful for his growth at the university.

“I had people along the way that really helped me, like the staff, my past section leaders, and people in the percussion section itself,” he said. “They helped mold me into the person I am right now, and I’m appreciative that the staff trusted me with the responsibility to have the title as section leader. It’s mind-boggling to think of how far I’ve come to be in the position I’m in now. It is very humbling, and I’m very blessed.”

The 83rd annual McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola will be played between the Bulldogs of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and the Hornets of Alabama State University at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2024, at Birmingham’s legendary Legion Field. Details about road closings, accessible parking, shuttle services, and much more are available at magiccityclassic.com.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Wale at Iron City (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

Welcome to Birmingham and the Magic City Classic Football Weekend!! Hollar!!

(Check out the Magic City Classic Coverage and Special Edition)

TODAY…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**FANTASIA LIVE! at Railroad Park for the MCC TAILGATE FESTIVAL. FREE.

**SWV at Railroad Park for the MCC Tailgate Festival. Bring your lawn chair.

**RAMSAY ALUMNI GATHERING at Platinum, 821 2nd Avenue North, 5 p.m.

**PEP RALLY 6-9 p.m. at Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham. FREE!

HALLOWEEN GET TOGETHERS…

**VULCAN’S SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN PARTY, 6-9 p.m. at the Vulcan Park & Museum.

**ROYAL MIXER, 8 p.m. at Michaels Restaurant & Bar with DJ CHRIS COLEMAN, DJ NEW ERA and DJ JAMAR.

**LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS with GREAT JANE at The Nick Rocks.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY’S KARAOKE – CLASSIC EDITION at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**INSANE CLOWN POSSE – TRAIN OF TERROR TOUR at Iron City.

**TINY DESK: THE BEST OF ALABAMA at Saturn.

**JUDAH & THE LION-The Process Tour w/ABE PARKER + COLE SPAIN at Avondale Brewing Co.

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY… IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…

**FRIDAY NIGHT SOIREE, at Paper Doll with DJ JACK BENNY and DJ NEW ERA.

**DEJ LOAF – WHERE MY FANS TOUR at Iron City.

**INSAME CLOWN POSSE, 7 p.m. at Iron City.

**LASIES SOIRAVE at The Nick Rocks.

**LATE NIGHT WITH DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick.

**SCARE YOUR FACE OFF FEST XIV BY DIY BIRMINGHAM at Saturn.

**WYATT FLORES at Avondale Brewing Co.

**NASHIHA ROHO ADINASI – MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, 8 p.m. with LOGAN THE ENTERTAINER and DJ CHRIS COLEMAN at the Fairfield Center.

**LEALAN CARTER BAND/KYNDLE MINTER at Wlysian Gardens,7-10 p.m.

**APPRECIATION WEEKEND – FRIDAY NIGHT CARD PARTY at Legion Field Lot K 457, 6-10 p.m. with food, fun and drinks. Play Spades, Bid, Poker with the best Trash Talk night.

**KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE, 8 p.m. at 500 23rd Street South.

SATURDAY…

**TAILGATE PARTY, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Historic Legion Field.

**HOOVER Y HALLOWEEN TRUCNK OR TREAT, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Hoover YMCA.

**FRANKS N’STEINS, 12 NOON at Cahaba Brewing CO.

**83rd MAGIC CITY CLASSIC GAME, 2:30 p.m. at Historic Legion Field.

**ART IN THE LOFT, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church on Oxmoor Road.

**FALL FESTIVAL, 2 p.m. at the Argo Police Dpeartment.

**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.

**SATURDAY TAILGATE at Legion Field Lot K 457, 6-10 p.m. with food, fun and drinks.

**ROCK QUINTET GOOSE performs at Avondale Brewing Co. GOOSE is: Rick Mitarontonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspacj (vocals, keys, guitar), Trevor Weekz (bass), Jeff Arevalo (vocals, percussion, drums) and Cotter Ellis (drums).

**HAM BAGCY THROW DOWN at The Nick Rocks.

**LATE NIGHT with R.1.Y.T. at The Nick Rocks.

**TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick Rocks.

**EGGY with COLOR GREEN at Saturn.

**X – SMOKE & FICTION TOUR, 8 p.m. at Iron City.

**THE FENNEC FRIGHT NIGHT HALLOWEEN PARTY, 9:30 p.m. at 1630 2nd Avenue So.

SUNDAY…

**STOP THE VIOLENCE WALK, 1 p.m. with 205 Connect and 100 Black Men. Starts and Ends at 1709 Third Avenue West with a Water Station at Shell on 3rd Avenue West with free food, drinks and fun.

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**FIREHOUSE BLOCK PARTY, 4 p.m. at 430 41st St. S.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**ERIN MITCHELL BAND, 3-6 p.m. at Elysian Gardens

**KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick Rocks.

**TAMA ROOTS RADIO presents CHEYLOE at The Nick Rocks.

**EVERY 4TH SUNDAY TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick Rocks.

**MAGIC CITY CLASSIC COMEDY SHOW with SPECIAL K & RITA BRENT from the Rickey Smiley Morning Show at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**BORIS “AMPLIFIER WORSHIP SERVICE with STARCRAWLER at Saturn.

**QUINN XCII – ALL YOU CAN EAT TOUR, 7 p.m. at Avondale Brewing Co.

MONDAY…

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

**THE MOTH BIRMINGHAM STORYSLAM: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS at Saturn.

TUESDAY…

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE TUESDAYS, 10 p.m. at The Nick Rocks.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**SUBSTRATE BINGO with JACKIE LO at Saturn.

**MICROWAVE at Iron City.

WEDNESDAY…

**COMEDIAN DENO POSEY PRESENTS MUSIC AND MAYHEM featuring PAT JAMAT & COMPANY and RENARD HIRSCH

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**FIGHT CLUB OPEN DECK with Host LEMON BELOVED! Every Wednesday at The Nick Rocks.

**WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH DJ SUNDROP at The Nick Rocks.

**FIEND WITHOUT A FACE, COMA HOLE & MICHAEL RUDOLPH CUMMINGS at the Nick Rocks.

**ZENCONIX at The Nick

**MISCHIEF EVE GOTH NIGHT at Saturn.

**THAT MEXICAN OT at Iron City.

**THAT MEXICAN OT MEET & GREET at Iron City.

NEXT THURSDAY…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**DEAD MAN’S HALLOWEEN PARTY, 5- 10 p.m. at Sidewalk Film.

**DAY OF THE DEAD FOR LOVE RAT, 6 p.m. at Avondale Brewing Co.

**MILK AND HONEY: HALLOWEEN, 8 p.m., at Saturn.

HALLOWEEN BURLESQUE NIGHT at The Nick with BELLA DONNA at the Nick Rocks.

**LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS with GREAT JANE at The Nick Rocks.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**MILK & HONEY: HALLOWEEN at Saturn.

NEXT FRIDAY…

**NATE JACKSON: SUPER FUNNY at the LYRIC THEATRE.

**LATINOS CON ONDA X MELO EVENTS by DIA DE LOS  MUERTOS, 4 – 11 p.m.

**LATE NIGHT WITH DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick.

**POKEY LAFARGE with THE TAILSPINS at Saturn.

FOR LOVERS OF HALLOWEEN HARVEST TIMES AND FALL FESTIVALS…

**TODAY – SUNDAY – FALL 2024 OAK MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR, 5:30 p.m. until close Today and Friday and 1 p.m. until close on Saturday and Sunday

**SUNDAY – HARVEST ON HOYT with the Mountain Brook Chamber and Junior Board’s Inaugural community Supper that kicks off Sunday, 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a beer and wine Happy Hour before sitting down to a delicious four-course meal by Dyron’s with a wine pairing from Finch Fine Wines.

FOR ART LOVERS…

**SOLIDARITY a juried exhibition of works created by members of the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance opens TODAY through November 15 in the Anne Arrasmith Gallery at Space One Eleven on 2nd Avenue North.  There is a reception on November 8, 6-9 p.m. FREE to the public.  Artwork in this exhibition address racial justice, LGBTQIA + rights, gender equality, immigrant and refugee rights and income inequality as well as diverse artistic approaches to highlight pressing global issues.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS…

**NOVEMBER 1 – ALABAMA COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCESS PROGRAM is hosting its 14th Annual Alabama College Scholarship and Career Expo, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham and at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. Students from everywhere will be prepared to meet with college recruiters and career technical education professionals to explore options after graduating. Each will have copies of their high school transcript, ACT scores, resumes and references letters. Go to: www.myaccap.org for more.

THINGS TO DO or know…in town, around the state…

**NOVEMBER 2 – 19th MOSS ROCK FESTIVAL, 10 a.m. at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex.

**NOVEMBER 2 – CORALINE, 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. at Sidewalk Film.

**NOVEMBER 2 – CENTENNIAL LUNCHEON EXTRAVANGANZA, 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Downtown.

**NOVEMBER 2 – DIA DE LOS MUERTOAS NUMERO 22, 3- 11 p.m. at Sloss Furnaces.

**NOVEMBER 7 – WALE – EVERY BLUE MOON TOUR at Iron City.

**NOVEMBER 8 – GUITARIST JONTAVIOUS WILLIS at Woodlawn Theater.

**NOVEMBER 9 – WAYWARD WHIMSY at WILDFLOWERS CHILDRENS BOUTIQUE in Trussville, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

**NOVEMBER 10 – ONE NIGHT IN HARLEM: A FUNDRAISING EVENT, 6 p.m. at Michael’s Restaurant.

NOVEMBER 10 – FRIENDS GIVING BRUNCH 2024, 1-3 p.m. at the Trussville Civic Center with COMEDY BY AUNTIE PAM.  To register and for more, acaevents.net.

**NOVEMBER 12 – FRESH BLACK FILMS (PAU WHAT YOU CAN), 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Sidewalk Film and the Luminal Theater.

**NOVEMBER 16 – FRENCH MATTING with Patty B. Driscoll, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Space One Eleven.

**NOVEMBER 19-24 – CHICAGO at the Broad in Birmingham at BJCC.

**NOVEMBER 21 – JELLY ROLL: BEAUTIFUL BROKEN TOUR, 7 p.m. at The BJCC.

FOR FILM LOVERS…

At Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema …

**TODAY – IT CHAPTER TWO starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader and directed by Andy Muschietti.

**FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY and NEXT THURSDAY – THE SHINING starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

**FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY and NEXT THURSDAY – CARRIE starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, John Travolta and directed by Brian DePalma.

**HALLOWEEN is NEXT THURSDAY – DEAD MAN’S PARTY – HALLOWEEN NIGHT ONLY (FREE) – All ages can experience a haunted Overlook Hotel atmosphere in the basement of the Pizitz while enjoying Spooky games, a Costume Contest, Specialty Cocktails + Mocktails with a Themed Lobby Programming starting at 5 P.M. – Complimentary Drink Tastings with Easy Hemp Co., Truck Tea and Sunboy, 7 P.M. – Halloween Charades and an In-Person Costume Contest with prizes, 8 P.M. – Jackbox Games on the lobby scenes and 9 P.M. Scary-oke (Halloween Karaoke) hosted by J Matt.  RSVP!!!

AT THE BIRMINGHAM ZOO…

**COMING SOON…GLOW WILD, November 22 – January 20.  The Birmingham Zoo is named one of Birmingham’s Top Holiday activities where your favorite Animal Lantern Festival is during the holiday season and will feature a variety of new lanterns plus entertainment.  There will be larger-than-life lanterns lighting your way through the Zoo.  Walk through the breathtaking displays while creating good memories, so take photos with the family and friends for happy times that the crew and you are sharing.  The restaurants will be open and you should try the adult versions of hot chocolate.  There will be special guests and appearances throughout the season, so check the website for updates at www.birminghamzoo.com.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com and thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.

Halloween Costume Safety for Toddlers and Children

By
Birmingham Times
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Halloween has become a day as well as an event that has grown in popularity. Even with its newfound recognition, it remains a day primarily focused and enjoyed mainly by youngsters. This spooky quaky day is typically enjoyed in the evenings into the early nighttime. Halloween’s time of day and tradition of wearing costumes yields some safety risk factors that you want to avoid. Therefore, let’s review some of these safety measures you want to abide by before and on Halloween.

Make sure all costumes, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant. (Adobe Stock)

Costume Safety:

  • Make sure all costumes, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant, and the costume does not have any tripping hazards.
  • Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers, and if possible, choose light colors.
  • Rethink the mask. Masks can obscure the child’s vision, making it difficult for them to see traffic or tripping hazards. On average, children are more than twice likely to be hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
  • Instead of a mask, opt for a mask-free costume. The options are endless or use fact paint.
  • Many children have sensitive skin so choose nontoxic cosmetics products and test makeup on a small area first to see if it irritates the skin. At the end of the night, follow the product’s instructions to fully remove all makeup.
  • Have children to carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Trick-or-Treating Safety: 

  • Halloween sights and sounds can be intense so it may be helpful to have a discussion in advance about fantasy (make believe) and reality. Reassure them that it’s alright to feel nervous, but they are safe with you. Guage if they are ready for a haunted house experience and if not, try another year. Many adults are still not ready.
  • Children under the age of 12 should not be out alone at night without adult supervision. Very young children definitely should be with an adult. If the older child is mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stay together, and stick to familiar areas/homes that are well lit. They should trick-or-treat in groups.
  • Check all candies before allowing your child(ren) to eat any of them. This includes fruits as well.
  • Tell them not to be looking down on electronic devices rather keep their heads up and walk, do not run and cross the street without looking both ways before crossing.
  • Remind them to only cross at street corners and walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, instruct them to walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
  • Teach them to make eye contact with the drivers before crossing. They should also watch out for cars backing up or pulling out.

You want to Keep an Eye on Safety so everyone can enjoy their Halloween activities.

“These two deserving HBCUs will receive the highest guaranteed payout in the history of HBCU athletics. This guarantee is higher than some FBS bowl game payouts.”

By
Birmingham Times
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PERREN KING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC ON THE MATCHUP BETWEEN ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY AND ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON ESPNU; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, OCT. 21.

Birmingham’s SOLE Recovery Provides a Lifeline for Domestic Violence Survivors

By
Birmingham Times
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Tina Thornton is the founder and director of SOLE Recovery LLC (Survivors Overcoming Life Experiences). (Provided)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

As the nation marks National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Tina Thornton, founder and director of SOLE Recovery LLC (Survivors Overcoming Life Experiences), wants a focus on Black women who face disproportionate rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), according to national data.

The mother of three knows what it’s like to be in a violent relationship. She tried numerous times to leave a 22-year marriage. “I couldn’t even use the phone in my home, my ex-husband had removed all of them… and my family was not a place where I felt like I could share what I was experiencing; they had no clue of anything I had encountered,” she said.

That led Thornton to establish her group in 2003 which began as a small unofficial ministry, allowing a group of women to come together and share their stories in in a local hospital event room. SOLE’s faith-based, holistic approach to healing allows individuals to resolve their problems or find refuge, she has said. “There’s a lot of self-reflection to encourage them to step beyond what they’ve been told or what they believe.”

According to national data, 45.1 percent of Black women will experience physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. Between the ages of 18 and 35, they are at their most vulnerable and are 2.5 times more likely to be killed by men than White women, with 92 percent of those Black women knowing their killer.

Building a Support System for Survivors

SOLE’s work has caught the attention of community leaders, including Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, who has supported the group since its inception. “The work that I have done with SOLE Recovery has been on a community level … I have been doing volunteer services with Tina Thornton [since 2004], recruiting different places for them to have meetings,” Tyson said.

Since being elected to the commission in 2018, Tyson said she has received numerous calls from residents in her district about domestic violence.

Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson

“We’ve had several incidents where a female and her children needed help, like one case where the victim needed to be in a hidden shelter where the husband couldn’t find them and SOLE Recovery found somewhere for her to live,” Tyson said. “[Whenever] we get calls for referrals where women are needing help we call [SOLE Recovery].”

Tyson said she saw friends mask the pain of violence in the home as children and now that she is in a position to provide resources to help, she will.

“I saw it every day growing up. Not from my parents… but my peers who I grew up with,” Tyson said. “We grew up around it, but it was a secret you kept in your home. I knew it was wrong, but there was nothing I could do about it. And now that I’m an adult and I can address some of the issues and get them some support and help, I’m willing to do that.”

Ministry

In addition to being a support system, SOLE serves as a ministry. Thornton’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in human services and psychology from Upper Iowa University, and she is currently pursuing a master’s in counseling.

For women in need of housing, SOLE partners with One Roof, an initiative focused on ending homelessness in central Alabama and works closely with the YWCA and The Salvation Army to provide emergency shelter, clothing, and essential items. “We also use the Grace Klein Food Bank and have developed relationships with the Birmingham Police Department to expedite emergency housing resources when necessary,” Thornton said. In addition, SOLE Recovery helps survivors obtain bus passes to assist with transportation.

One of Thornton’s biggest challenges, she said, is helping women overcome the mental and emotional barriers that keep them tied to abusive relationships, often rooted in generational trauma from witnessing or experiencing domestic violence. These patterns can be hard to break without support.

“Women can be in denial about their circumstances and believe that their focus should be on saving the man and giving him the tools to change,” Thornton said. “They’re thinking that they can build a man like Build-a-Bear. Women don’t understand the underlying dynamics of DV and how it’s tied into something [they’ve experienced] and how it fosters the narrative, subconsciously, for them to be a part of the same. I encourage them to understand their true identity is not found in a man but in God,” Thornton said.

Thornton highlights the importance of recognizing the signs of domestic violence. “From an observational standpoint, be aware of people who are withdrawn, isolated from close friends and family, and only seen when in the presence of their partner…,” she said. “If someone is constantly being monitored, if their appearance or how they speak drastically changes, or if they seem fearful, those are quick indicators of abuse.”

Thornton also advised the community to be alert for behaviors that may signal a potential perpetrator.

“If someone is always criticizing what you wear, or objecting to non-offensive language that they find offensive, that’s a red flag,” she said. “Someone who’s overly jealous, constantly telling you who not to trust, trying to control your money, or even take possession of it. And if they dominate you sexually against your will, those are clear signs of a perpetrator. Also, if he’s a quick romancer and rushing you into a relationship, that’s a red flag too.”

Survivors Overcoming Life Experiences (SOLE) Recovery is currently on Facebook, and people can reach out to the Facebook page to inquire about their services. Tina Thornton can be reached at sole.tinathornton@gmail.com.

Resources & support for anyone in the U.S. affected by intimate partner violence 24/7/365. 1-800-799-7233. Chat at thehotline.org | Text “START” to 88788.

HBCU’s 10 Greatest Football Dynasties Celebrated During Magic City Classic Week in Birmingham

By
Birmingham Times
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You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant team in Black college football from 1923-30 than Tuskegee University which won six national championships (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929). (HBCU Gameday)

By Donald Hunt | For The Birmingham Times

College football fans have seen a lot of great teams over the years. However, it’s one thing to have an outstanding team, but to sustain a level of greatness over an extended period of time is another.

There are several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with dominant football programs that went on to become dynasties. These teams were able to showcase their talents in different eras. No matter what decade you followed HBCU football there was at least one team that stood out.

With the 83rd Magic City Classic between Alabama A&M and Alabama State University on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Birmingham’s Legion Field it’s time to present our list of the most dominant HBCU football teams alphabetically.

CENTRAL STATE

Dynasty: 1987-93. Combined record of 72-11-3 during this period, which produced two NAIA national titles in 1990 and 1992.

Central State had one of the best small college football programs in the nation. The Marauders had two major stretches under head coach Billy Joe. Central State was really dominant as an NCAA Division II independent program from 1982-86. The Marauders were 46-11-1 during those seasons. Then, Central State became a NAIA Division I independent. They were a powerhouse from 1987-93. They had an tremendous 72-11-3 during this period, which produced two NAIA national titles in 1990 and 1992. Joe coached Hugh Douglas, Erik Williams and Vice Buck who all played in the NFL.

FLORIDA A&M

Dynasty: 1950-62. Eight Black college national championships.

Florida A&M has one of the most prolific Black college football programs in the country. The Rattlers are well known for their football prowess.

William “Bill” Bell was a tremendous coach at FAMU where he had his moments with a 49-9-6 record from 1936-42. They had quite a run from 1937-42 where they grabbed two national Black college championships in 1938 and 1942.  The ’38 and ‘42 team were both undefeated with 8-0 and 9-0 records respectively. They were 35-5-5 during this stretch. The Rattlers dominated the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during those years.

Alonzo “Jake” Gaither was an assistant coach on Bell’s staff. Gaither was the head coach of the Rattlers from 1945-1969. He had an incredible 204-36-9 record. He had an unbelievable stretch from 1950-62 where he won eight Black college national championships. His 1959 and ’61 teams finished with undefeated 10-0 records and were winners of the Orange Blossom Classic, which usually had two of the nation’s top HBCU teams. Gaither had three sensational players – running backs Clarence Childs and Robert Paremore, Jr. and center Curtis Miranda who catapulted them to the top of HBCU football.

Gaither went on to coach some magnificent players such as Hall of Famers Ken Riley and Bob Hayes, Willie Galimore and Hewritt Dixon. He sent 42 players to the NFL. They’re all part of the FAMU football tradition.

GRAMBLING STATE

Dynasty: 1972-77. A record of 60-13 which included four Black college national crowns (’72, ‘74-75 and ‘77 and shared two SWAC titles in ’74, ’75 and captured one outright in ’77.

Grambling State has a strong history producing some of the best teams in HBCU football under legendary head coach Eddie Robinson who was the Tigers’ mentor from 1941-1997. Robinson captured nine Black college national championships and 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference crowns. In his 56 years, he had an overall 408-165-15 record.

His strongest run at Grambling State was 1972-77 where they were really dominant. The program put together a 60-13 record during those seasons. This includes four Black college national crowns (’72, ‘74-75 and ‘77 and shared two SWAC titles in ’74, ’75 and captured one outright in ’77.

In1974, Grambling State had a sensational year losing just one game to Alcorn State. The Tigers were led by quarterback Doug Williams who was just a freshman at the time. Of course, Williams had a 37-5 record as a signal caller with the Tigers. He would go onto become a 1978 first round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1988, he became the first Black quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory as the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders) to a 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos.

There were three other NFL players on that ’74 team – wide receivers Carlos Pennywell and Dwight Scales and defensive tackle Gary “Big Hands” Johnson.

Robinson also coached Hall of Famers Willie Brown, Charlie Joiner, Buck Buchannan and Willie Davis.

MORGAN STATE

Dynasty: 1932-37. Six straight undefeated seasons. Honorable mention: 1943 season: Undefeated and unscored upon.

The successful stints of the Morgan State football program can be directly attributed to two Hall of Fame coaches Eddie P. Hurt and Earl Banks. Hurt coached the Bears from 1929-1959 where he compiled a 173-59-19 record. He had six straight undefeated seasons from 1932-37. Overall, he had 11 undefeated seasons in his career.

His best team may have been the 1943 team that was undefeated and unscored upon. Clarence “big House” Gaines was an All-American on that team. Gaines later became a Hall of Fame basketball coach at Winston-Salem State who coached NBA legend Earl Monroe. Hurt also coached NFL standouts Len Ford and Roosevelt Brown.

Banks was Morgan State’s head coach from 1960-73 posting a 94-30-2 record. He had three straight undefeated teams from 1965-67. Banks coached Hall of Fame middle linebacker Willie Lanier, running back Kenneth Duke and lineman Carlton Dabney. He coached Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly too.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T

Dynasty: 2014-17. A combined 40-4 record with two Celebration Bowls in 2015 and ’17 giving it two National Black College Championships.

North Carolina A&T certainly had its moments of taking over the HBCU landscape. The Aggies clearly demonstrated their ability to win consistently from 2014-17 under the tutelage of head coach Rod Broadway.

NCA&T had a 40-4 record during that era. The Aggies also won two Celebration Bowls in 2015 and ’17 giving them two National Black College Championships.

NCA&T had a real special player in running back Tarik Cohen who became the MEAC’s all—time leading rusher with 5,619 yards. Cohen is one of four Aggies that went on to play in the NFL. He currently plays for the Carolina Panthers. The other standouts were Brandon Parker, Darryl Johnson and Franklin “Mac” McCain. They all played in the NFL. The 2017 season NCA&T went undefeated with a 12-0 record. They won three MEAC crowns too.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

Dynasty: 1953-64. A combined 51-2-1 record that included five SWAC titles and five Black college national championships (’53, ’54, ’58, ’63, ’64).

Prairie View A&M may not be a household name to some people who follow Black college football. But the Panthers had one of the best HBCU football programs under Hall of Fame coach William J. “Billy” Hicks from 1953-64.

During that stretch, PVAM had a 51-2-1 record that included five SWAC titles and five Black college national championships (’53, ’54, ’58, ’63, ’64). Charlie “Choo Choo” Brackens was the starting quarterback on the ’53 and ’54 teams. The ’53 team was 12-0. Brackens was one of the early African American signal callers in the NFL. He played for the Green Bay Packers.

Jim Kearney was the star quarterback on the 1964 championship team. Kearney went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs 1970 Super Bowl championship team.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

Dynasty: 1973-78.  A combined record of 50-13-2.

South Carolina State had some football teams that regularly stood in the winner’s circle of HBCU football. The Bulldogs major success took place from 1973-78. South Carolina State had a 50-13-2 record during that time. Under head coach Willie Jeffries, South Carolina State had some brilliant players like Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell along with NFL standouts Robert Porcher, Orlando Brown and others.

Jeffries led the Bulldogs to five MEAC titles. He guided South Carolina State to two Black college national championships.

Jeffries, a College Football Hall of Famer, had two stints at South Carolina State. In 1979, he became the first Black head coach at a NCAA Division I school at a white university when Wichita State hired him. He was the Shockers’ head coach for five years (1979-83). After that, he left to coach Howard University’s football team. He coached the Bison for five years (1984-88) before returning to South Carolina State.

His best team was the 1976 club that would was led by defensive tackle Robert Sims, Sr. who was named Defensive Player of the Year.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Dynasty: 1948-50. A combined 32-0-2 mark that included three national Black college championships; 1993-99. A 66-5 record during winning four Black college national championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998) and four SWAC crowns (’93, ’97-’99)

Southern had a huge three-year reign in Black college football. The Jaguars under Arnett “Ace” Mumford had an amazing 32-0-2 mark from 1948-50 that included three national Black college championships. He won three SWAC titles too. Running back Warren Braden and offensive tackle Normell Keller were key players on those teams.

Southern had a good length of supreme dominance under head coach Pete Richardson from 1993-99. The Jaguars had a fantastic 66-5 record during those years winning four Black college national championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998) and four SWAC crowns (’93, ’97-’99). Richardson had a 128-62 record during his 16 years tenure at Southern.

The Jaguars have developed some marvelous players such as Hall of Famers Harold Carmichael, Mel Blount and Aeneas Williams and NFL standouts Isiah Robertson and Frank Pitts over the years.

TENNESSEE STATE

Dynasty: 1970-83 with a combined record of 130-22-4 mark that included two undefeated seasons. The 1970 (11-0) and ’71 teams (9-1) featured star quarterback Joe Gilliam who later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tennessee State has a long- standing history of generating some great teams. This goes back to when the school was known as Tennessee A&I (1912-68). The Tigers had a number of years with easily some of the best teams in HBCU football history.

The school had sustained greatness under two head coaches Henry Kean and John Merritt. Kean coached from 1944-54 with a 93-14-3 record. During those years, he never lost more than three games. He had two undefeated seasons along with six Black college national championships (’46, ’47, ’54). His best team may have been the 1947 club that finished with a 10-0 record defeating Kentucky State, 20-13, for the national Black college crown.

Merritt coached the Tigers from 1963-83 compiling a 172-33-7 record where the program had two undefeated seasons. In 1965 and ’66, the school had back-to-back undefeated seasons. Eldridge Dickey was an All-American quarterback for the TSU. He led the Tigers to 1966 national Black college championship. Dickey was the first Black field general selected in the 1968 AFL or NFL draft. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders.

TSU had a great run from 1970-83 where the team posted a 130-22-4 mark that included two undefeated seasons. The 1970 (11-0) and ’71 teams (9-1) featured star quarterback Joe Gilliam who later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1970, he led TSU to a 26-25 win over Southwestern Louisiana in the now defunct Grantland Rice Bowl. They were also selected as the Black college national champions.

In addition to Dickey and Gilliam, the Tigers have sent a lot of players to the NFL such as Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Marsalis along with Hall of Famers Claude Humphrey and Richard Dent.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

Dynasty: 1923-30. Six national championships (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929).

Tuskegee’s dominance spanned several eras: You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant team in Black college football from 1923-30 than Tuskegee University. Under the brilliance of head coach Cleve Abbott, Tuskegee won six national championships (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929). Abbott spent 31 years (1923-54) on the sidelines finishing his career with a 206-99-27. During the Golden Tigers’ big run, he had a fabulous all-around player with Ben Stevenson who was an All-American running back and defensive back.

In the modern era, Tuskegee had some marvelous years in the SIAC under Rick Comegy. The Golden Tigers were dominant from 1998-02 with a 64-3 record that included five SIAC titles and one national Black college championship in 2000. His top players were Drayton Florence and Frank Walker who both had NFL career.

Tuskegee had another strong run from 2006-09 under then head coach Willie Slater. The Golden Tigers were 42-3 winning four SIAC championship and three Black college national titles (2007-09). Jacary Atkinson was a great quarterback who starred on the 2009 Black college national championship team.

Ramsay High School to Retire Jersey of Jaylyn Sherrod, Grad and Now WNBA Champion

By
Birmingham Times
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Jaylyn Sherrod, a former player with Ramsay High School, became a WNBA champion this weekend. (BCS)

By Magdala Louissaint | WVTM13

Less than 24 hours after becoming a WNBA champion, Ramsay High School grad Jaylyn Sherrod spoke with WVTM 13 Monday while on an Uber ride from Manhattan back to Brooklyn, New York.

“To be on a team that won a championship, I think more than anything, it’s a blessing. Just trying to take it all in,” Sherrod said.

Jaylyn Sherrod plays with the NY Liberty, on August 22, at Barclays Center in New York City, New York. (John McClellan, Wikipedia)

It’s the point guard’s first year playing professional basketball with New York Liberty, yet she acknowledges that Birmingham is the reason why.

“So many people who were a part of my process came from home. I almost think about it like their hard work paid off as well,” Sherrod said.

Her former basketball coach, Ronnie Jackson, is one of those people Sherrod says was a part of her process and journey. Jackson was so happy he texted Sherrod congratulations on the win.

“I was crying on one part, and I was happy on the other because I’m just so excited for our kids to reach a level, a goal that they’ve been trying to get to for so long and to finally get there,” Jackson, former Ramsay girls basketball coach from 2014 to 2019, said.

Jaylyn Sherrod played four years for Ramsey High School.

Sherrod played basketball at Ramsay High School for four years. The school will retire her high school jersey next Tuesday night at 6 p.m. The event, called “Jay Day,” will be held inside the school’s gymnasium.

“It’s crazy to think they think that highly of me. It’s just amazing. I appreciate the support more than anything,” Sherrod said.

Jackson says, off the court, Sherrod dealt with a lot of issues. So, after practice, she made sure to stay behind to perfect her craft so that she’d be the champion she is today.

Jackson said, “She had an injury her senior year, which the doctor said that she might not be able to play basketball again, and she survived that. She ended up playing and got a scholarship to Colorado. Played very well there. Undrafted again? But she never wavered.”

‘When I Got the Ring … I Got on One Knee Right There in That Jewelry Store’

By
Birmingham Times
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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

TIFFANY & VICTOR HUNTER

Live: McCalla

Married: April 25, 1998

Met: April 1996, in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Westin Hotel and Resorts in downtown Indianapolis. Victor was working at the front desk when Tiffany and her family traveled in from Illinois to see her younger sister play volleyball. Tiffany, who was 23 years old at the time said she spotted Victor, who was 25, at the time, through the big lobby windows, and told her aunt “I’ve got to have him.”

“As he was checking us in, I was checking him out,” said Tiffany, “and while he was trying to pull up our booking I looked at his name tag and said, ‘So Victor, where is there to go out around here?’ and he [gave really short answers] … and I’m like what’s wrong with his guy, I’m trying to pick you up here,” she laughed. “And when we got to our room my mom said, ‘why are you trying to pick this guy up, he’s trying to do his job.’ And I said, ‘you’ve been married 25 years, I’m trying to find my husband.’”

Moments later, Victor called her hotel room with instructions on the coffee maker “I’m cocky, I knew he wasn’t calling about the coffee maker,” Tiffany said. After she and her family got settled, Tiffany left the room to head down to the lobby and happened to run into Victor on the elevator.

“…lo and behold, there she was on the elevator as I was getting on it and we struck up a conversation. And as we headed down to the lobby, I asked her if she was doing anything later and if she wanted to grab something to eat,” Victor recalled. “My heart was beating fast, but I [pushed through it], and she said ‘yes,’ and I said, ‘I get off at 4:00, meet me in the lobby at 4:30.’”

There was a mall attached to the hotel, and they chose to go there to grab a bite. This made Tiffany feel more comfortable because she didn’t have to travel in the car with a stranger and the mall had a massive crowd of people. “I thought if he tries to take me, I’ll just scream,” she laughed.

First date: The same day, at Circle City Mall in Indianapolis, Indiana. They ate at a restaurant that they can’t recall and had a steak dinner.

“I’m almost 6 foot, I’m 5’11 and 3 quarters, so I like the fact that he was tall, he’s 6’5. I had already started the interview process when we were in the elevator, I asked if he had any kids and if he’d ever been married, and I was relieved that the answers to those questions were ‘no’ because it can be hard to find people without attachments at age 25,” she said. “I was also very intrigued that he did not use profanity, he still doesn’t till this day, and that was something that was very different for me and I appreciate it.”

Victor said he was a little nervous “because she was beautiful [and] I had not met a lot of women who were tall, and I liked all of her features. Tiffany was very talkative and she carried herself very well. She was very articulate, and I was feeling pretty good,” he said. “I didn’t expect my day to go like that, meeting someone from out of town and going to dinner …”

The pair exchanged numbers and Tiffany returned to Illinois the next day. They began conversing on the phone and arranged to meet up again the following month in May. Tiffany drove to Indiana from Illinois between 4-5 hours, after which, Victor decided to use some vacation time and went to Illinois the next month in June to spend time with her.

The turn: August 1997. “I was told I was going to be laid off and I decided I was going to move to Indiana,” Tiffany said. “Victor was living with his brother at the time and he asked if we could move in together, and I said ‘absolutely not,’” said Tiffany, “I told him, ‘I don’t know you like that.’ But we lived in the same complex and basically shared walls. I had my own place and Victor had his own place.”

A year later, Victor’s lease came to an end a couple of months before Tiffany’s and he proposed living together again. This time, Tiffany said yes, but said, “I expect a ring within six months, or I’m going back to Illinois.”

Victor didn’t mind the ultimatum. “I was at a point in my life where I was done dating, I was looking for Mrs. Hunter, and I was ready to settle down,” he said. “I was tired of dating women that weren’t serious, and after Tiffany moved here and we were living in the same apartment complex, I knew she was the one.”

The pair started ring shopping, learned more about each other and worked on a six-month ring timeline, and Victor became determined to propose as soon as he purchased the ring, which happened just two months later.  “I wanted to make sure I had things lined up for her,” he said.

Tiffany and Victor Hunter met in 1996 at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis and married in 1998. (Provided Photos)

The proposal: October 1997, at Jewelry 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“When I got the ring in my hands, I looked at her and said, ‘it’s time to do it.’ I got on one knee right there in that jewelry store and asked her if she would marry me … She said ‘yes’, and I got up and we hugged and kissed, and [the staff] took a picture of us to add to their book of people who had gotten engaged in the store. We went to dinner to celebrate at Outback Steakhouse.”

“I was excited and I was surprised that he did it right there in the store, but I was happy. The ring was a marquise with baguette diamonds on the side. I still have the ring, but we upgraded after 10 years. [After dinner] I called and told my mom,” Tiffany recalled.

The wedding: In Indianapolis at a church, they can’t recall, officiated by their good friend, Reverend J.R. Reid. Their colors were purple and white. Tiffany said they had “an accelerated wedding” because in April of 1998, they found out they were expecting while in the midst of planning a big wedding and decided to expedite the process and married 24 days later.

“I already had my dress and everything, so it was fine,” Tiffany said.

Most memorable for the bride was the reception her parents threw a few months later. “My mom and dad had a huge reception for us in August of 1998 in Illinois, and I was very pregnant but we had a great time, the reception was beautiful. We didn’t have a huge reception after the wedding, we just had dinner (Victor’s aunt cooked), we had cake and people said some words, but the biggest moment for me was in August 1998 because I was the first one [of the family] to get married, and it was nice that my dad was able to walk me down the aisle and we got to share that moment. Friends and family from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania came in…”

Most memorable for the groom was a mishap at the altar.  “We were in the middle of the ceremony and we were lighting the unity candle and right when we lit it the unity candle tilted and fell over and I had to grab it,” Victor said. “It was headed towards Tiffany’s dress and some of the wax fell on her dress… It was memorable because everyone was laughing and scared at the same time, but we got it straightened out and got the ceremony back on track.”

They honeymooned a year later on a 7-day cruise to “Montego Bay, the Grand Cayman Islands, and Cozumel, Mexico,” said Victor.

Words of wisdom: “Learn to compromise because everyone has a stake in the marriage. Communicate, and continue to date,” said Victor.

“We have been through a lot of rough times in our marriage, and you have to find mentors who are not family members to help you through those times because you need counsel. Even in the tough times we’ve had in our marriage, we’ve managed to stay together and not call it quits because Victor has been my calm. In my head, I’m like ‘ok, I’m done’, but Victor is like ‘I’m not going anywhere’. I’m very hotheaded, so having someone who balances you that way is very important,” said Tiffany.

Happily ever after: The Hunters attend Rock City Church on Valleydale Rd. and have six children: Kyra, 25, Victoria, 23, Gabrielle, 18, twins Chenelle and Cheyenne, 14, and Annalise, 11. They relocated from Aurora, Illinois to Birmingham in June 2000 for a career opportunity with a local non-profit.

Tiffany, 52, is a Woodridge, Illinois native, who attended Western Illinois University on a full athletic scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, arts, and sciences. She is an entrepreneur/loc technician with her own business, Loc Your World, in McCalla.

Victor, 54, is a Glasgow, Kentucky native, and attended Western Kentucky University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and studied cyber security at Auburn University where he obtained a certificate of completion. Victor works for CVS Pharmacy as a shift manager in Hoover.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

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