North Carolina A&T, Southern University Game About 'Opportunity, Community and Unity'

The Southern University Jaguars and the North Carolina A&T State University Aggies plan to bring some 'down home' style to Las Vegas, September13, 2003 when the two square off in Sam Boyd Stadium for the First Annual Las Vegas Football Classic. With a rich, tradition-laden history in the Eastern United States, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) experience is rolling into the City of Lights and the atmosphere will be electric!

The 2003 Las Vegas Football Classic has guaranteed $375,000 to each school, including expenses, making it one of the highest classic pay-outs in black college sports. Clark County high school seniors will also receive $10,000 in minority scholarships from the classic and the estimated economic impact for the Las Vegas area is $20 million.

Urban Sports & Entertainment Group (USEG), which for 10 years has been one of the largest HBCU sports marketing firms in the country, has teamed with two African-American owned marketing firms' New Creation Productions (NCP) of Las Vegas and CMC Enterprises of Atlanta, to host the event. USEG clients include the Bayou Classic, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association CIAA Basketball Tournament, the Ford Black College Football Road Trip and the Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB). USEG has raised more than $13 million on behalf of HBCUs and their programs.

NCP's CEO Jonathan Simon will serve as executive director of the classic, while USEG partner Craig Cason of CMC, will serve in an executive equity capacity. Cason is a long time partner and vendor of USEG and has played a major role in such events as the Heritage Bowl, the Bayou Classic, the Honda Battle of the Bands and the movie Drumline.

"Not only will the Las Vegas Football Classic expose young people to a black culture mostly foreign to them, but there will also be tremendous opportunity for black businesses and entrepreneurs," said Simon, who shares the home state of Louisiana with Southern University. "An HBCU classic is about more than the final score, its about opportunity, community and unity. This game brings all of those elements to the City of Las Vegas."

As for all HBCU classic weekends, the Las Vegas Football Classic has something scheduled for everyone. At the official after party, The Neville Brothers will be featured in concert at the Stardust Hotel. There will be a Vendor Marketplace at Sam Boyd Stadium featuring jewelry, African art and clothes, while the Greek stepshow will feature fraternities and sororities competing for $5,000 in prizes. The stepshow will be the prelude to the battle of the bands Friday, September 12, 2003 at the Thomas & Mack Center between Southern's Human Jukebox and A&T's Marching Machine.

"This game is designed to be a unique and diverse cultural experience for the student-athletes participating, the schools, the fans and especially the African-American community of Las Vegas," said Charlie Davis, athletic director at North Carolina A&T. "We are proud to be a part of this game and look forward to bringing Aggie Pride to the Las Vegas Football Classic."

The game on the field will be the centerpiece of a celebration honoring the institutions that provide opportunity to African-Amen cans," said Southern Athletic Director Floyd Kerr. "More than anything, however, is that this game is a great reason for African-Americans from all over the country to visit Vegas, America's most glamorous city. We are delighted to be associated with this event and hope to make the Jaguar Nation proud."

In addition to Simon, the local board of advisors consists of City of Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly as honorary chairman, Speaker Pro-Tem Wendell Williams of the Nevada State Legislature, a Southern University undergraduate and graduate school alum; Tony Gladney, VP of Diversity for MGM Mirage, Arthur Keith, VP Rio Hotel and Kathi Overstreet of the Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Sentinel Newspaper. The commissioners of the MEAC, SWAC and CIAA will also serve on the board of advisors.

North Carolina A&T and Southern University have four times on the gridiron and the record stands at two wins apiece. A&T won the first meeting in 1942, Southern won the 1970 and 1971 match ups, while A&T won the last meeting in the 1994 Heritage bowl 22-21.

For fans traveling to the classic, the Stardust Hotel will be the official team hotel of the North Carolina A&T team, Rio/Harrah's will be the team hotel of the Southern team and Southern alumni.

To learn more about the Las Vegas Football Classic, visit vegasfootballclassic.com or call 702-804-5529.