SWAC Championship Game
Encyclopedia
The SWAC Championship Game is an American
college football
game held on the first Saturday in December by the Southwestern Athletic Conference
(SWAC) each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Eastern Division against the champion of the Western Division in a game that follows the conclusion of the regular season. The game's current corporate sponsor is Farmers Insurance and the game has been held annually at Legion Field
in Birmingham
, Alabama
since the first contest in 1999.
in New Orleans, the Astrodome
in Houston, the Georgia Dome
in Atlanta, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
in Jackson
, Ladd Peebles Stadium
in Mobile
and Legion Field
in Birmingham
were each mentioned as potential locations for the event. Additionally, expansion of the league to twelve teams was also under consideration with Tennessee State
, Florida A&M
, Tuskegee
and Morris Brown
mentioned as possible additions. In February 1999, a championship game was officially approved by the SWAC Council of Presidents. Officials also stated the winner of the championship game would advance to play in the Heritage Bowl
against an opponent from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC).
The following May, SWAC officials announced the league offices would move from New Orleans to Birmingham and that the championship game would be played at Legion Field. Birmingham was selected over New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge
and Memphis
as the city guaranteed both free office space to house the league headquarters and free access to Legion Field to host the game. The inaugural game was played on December 11, with Southern defeating Jackson State 31–30 before 47,621 fans at Legion Field. The following week, Southern lost to Hampton
in the Heritage Bowl; however, the meeting would be the only one for the SWAC champion following the championship game. In January 2000 the NCAA ruled schools cannot compete in two postseason games, effectively ending participation in the Heritage Bowl by the SWAC champion. With the SWAC left unable to compete, the Heritage Bowl folded in February 2000.
In July 2010, commissioner Duer Sharp announced the SWAC was interested in participating in the Legacy Bowl against the MEAC to determine the annual black college football national championship
. Although a decision regarding the contest has been postponed to 2011, SWAC participation in the event would potentially end the annual championship game in Birmingham.
Western Division
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game held on the first Saturday in December by the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(SWAC) each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Eastern Division against the champion of the Western Division in a game that follows the conclusion of the regular season. The game's current corporate sponsor is Farmers Insurance and the game has been held annually at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
since the first contest in 1999.
History
Following the 1998 season, the SWAC announced that the league would be split into two divisions with the divisional winners meeting in a championship game. At the time of the announcement, a site for the game had not been selected but the Louisiana SuperdomeLouisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, the Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
in Houston, the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
in Atlanta, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Veterans Memorial Stadium is the home field of the Jackson State University Tigers. In July 2011, Jackson State University will own and operate the stadium...
in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Ladd Peebles Stadium
Ladd Peebles Stadium
Ladd Peebles Stadium is a stadium in Mobile, Alabama. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field for the Senior Bowl, the GoDaddy.com Bowl, the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, and the University of South Alabama Jaguars...
in Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
were each mentioned as potential locations for the event. Additionally, expansion of the league to twelve teams was also under consideration with Tennessee State
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
, Florida A&M
Florida A&M Rattlers
The Florida A&M Rattlers represent Florida A&M University in college athletics. Florida A&M is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and participates in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . FAMU offers men's sports in baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming , tennis...
, Tuskegee
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
and Morris Brown
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
mentioned as possible additions. In February 1999, a championship game was officially approved by the SWAC Council of Presidents. Officials also stated the winner of the championship game would advance to play in the Heritage Bowl
Heritage Bowl
The Heritage Bowl is a defunct NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision bowl game pitting a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference...
against an opponent from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC).
The following May, SWAC officials announced the league offices would move from New Orleans to Birmingham and that the championship game would be played at Legion Field. Birmingham was selected over New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
and Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
as the city guaranteed both free office space to house the league headquarters and free access to Legion Field to host the game. The inaugural game was played on December 11, with Southern defeating Jackson State 31–30 before 47,621 fans at Legion Field. The following week, Southern lost to Hampton
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
in the Heritage Bowl; however, the meeting would be the only one for the SWAC champion following the championship game. In January 2000 the NCAA ruled schools cannot compete in two postseason games, effectively ending participation in the Heritage Bowl by the SWAC champion. With the SWAC left unable to compete, the Heritage Bowl folded in February 2000.
In July 2010, commissioner Duer Sharp announced the SWAC was interested in participating in the Legacy Bowl against the MEAC to determine the annual black college football national championship
Black college football national championship
The black college football national championship is a mythical national championship won by the best black college football team in the United States of America. There has been some criticism of this title on the grounds that the schools in the various polls compete in different levels of...
. Although a decision regarding the contest has been postponed to 2011, SWAC participation in the event would potentially end the annual championship game in Birmingham.
Team selection
When the game was initially proposed, the teams playing in the championship game was to include those with the best record against seven conference opponents from each division. However in August 1999 league officials changed the rule. For the inaugural contest, participation in the championship game was based on the record against the four divisional opponents only, not all conference teams. This format was dropped by the SWAC following the 1999 championship game in favor of the original proposal based on all league games, not only the divisional opponents.Divisions
Eastern Division- Alabama A&M BulldogsAlabama A&M Bulldogs footballThe Alabama A&M Bulldogs are the college football team representing the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. The Bulldogs play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Alumni in the NFL:...
- Alabama State HornetsAlabama State Hornets footballThe Alabama State Hornets are the college football team representing the Alabama State University. The Hornets play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Alumni in the NFL:...
- Alcorn State BravesAlcorn State Braves footballThe Alcorn State Braves are the college football team representing the Alcorn State University. The Braves play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1968*1969*1974*1984...
- Jackson State TigersJackson State Tigers footballThe Jackson State Tigers are the college football team representing the Jackson State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-College Football Hall of Fame members:*Kevin Dent...
- Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsMississippi Valley State Delta Devils footballThe Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils are the college football team representing the Mississippi Valley State University. The Delta Devils play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Alumni in the NFL:...
Western Division
- Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions
- Grambling State TigersGrambling State Tigers footballThe Grambling State Tigers are the college football team representing the Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Black College Football National Championships:...
- Prairie View A&M PanthersPrairie View A&M Panthers footballThe Prairie View A&M Panthers are the college football team representing the Prairie View A&M University. The Jaguars play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1953*1954*1958...
- Southern JaguarsSouthern Jaguars footballThe Southern Jaguars are the college football team representing the Southern University. The Jaguars play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1948*1949*1950*1952*1954*1957...
- Texas Southern TigersTexas Southern Tigers footballThe Texas Southern Tigers are the college football team representing the Texas Southern University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Alumni in the NFL:...
Results
| Year | |Eastern Division | |Western Division | Attendance | MVP | Reference |
|---|
| > Southern | 31 > 47,621 | align=left|WR Michael Hayes, Southern | align=center| |
| > Grambling State | 13 > 34,687 | align=left|DB Calvin Spears, Grambling State | align=center| |
| > Grambling State | 38 > 38,487 | align=left|RB Kendrick Shanklin, Grambling State | align=center| |
| > Grambling State | 31 > 23,727 | align=left|QB Bruce Eugene, Grambling State | align=center| |
| > Southern | 20 > 31,617 | align=left| | align=center| |
| 40 > Southern |
> 22,327 |
| > Grambling State | 45 > 20,612 | align=left|QB Bruce Eugene Bruce Eugene Bruce Eugene is an American football quarterback who is currently a college football coach. He played college football at Grambling State University.... , Grambling State | align=center| |
| 22 > Arkansas – Pine Bluff University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund... |
> 30,213 |
| 42 > Grambling State |
> 43,206 |
| > Grambling State | 41 > 25,873 | align=left|QB Greg Dillion, Grambling State | align=center| |
| > Prairie View A&M | 30 > 20,218 | align=left|QB K. J. Black, Prairie View A&M | align=center| |
| > Texas Southern | 11 > 22,350 | align=left|LB Dejuan Fulghum, Texas Southern | align=center| |
| > Grambling State | > |
Results by team
| Appearances | School | Wins | Losses | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Grambling State | 5 | 1 | .833 |
| 5 | Alabama A&M | 1 | 4 | .200 |
| 4 | Alabama State | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| 3 | Jackson State | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| 3 | Southern | 2 | 1 | .666 |
| 1 | Prairie View A&M | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1 | Texas Southern | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1 | Arkansas – Pine Bluff | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 0 | Alcorn State | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 0 | Mississippi Valley State | 0 | 0 | N/A |