Southern Heritage Classic – 20 and aiming to please
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By Bill Little
Published on 09/10/2009
For Southern Heritage Classic founder Fred Jones, the event that has become a September staple is a year-round project. Suffice it to say it was a challenge to get Jones in one place long enough to conduct an interview with the Sept. 12 clash between Jackson State University and Tennessee State University looming at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
For Southern Heritage Classic founder Fred Jones, the event that has become a September staple is a year-round project. Suffice it to say it was a challenge to get Jones in one place long enough to conduct an interview with the Sept. 12 clash between Jackson State University and Tennessee State University looming at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Southern Heritage Classic – 20 and aiming to please
by Bill Little
Special to the Tri-State Defender
For Southern Heritage Classic founder Fred Jones, the event that has become a September staple is a year-round project.
With that backdrop, suffice it to say that it was a challenge to get Jones in one place long enough to conduct an interview with the Sept. 12 clash between Jackson State University and Tennessee State University looming at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Always aiming to please, Jones did his best to accommodate me recently as he popped on and off the telephone in his Whitehaven office.
“Promotion is set around logistics,” said Jones as he finished a conversation with someone at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Yes, the TSU Aristocrat of Bands would again perform for the kids.
Jones parts readily with his praise for his staff. They get things done on the fly. And it’s easy to rely on people that share your enthusiasm and work ethic.
This year’s 20th Southern Heritage Classic finds the Big Blue of TSU riding a six-game Classic winning streak after overcoming a 10-0 deficit to post a 41-18 victory before a crowd of 50,794 last year.
As the Classic celebrates two decades of providing entertainment centered around a football game between rivals each located about 200 miles away, Jones remembers how tough it was to sell the idea to the participating schools.
Success, Jones reasoned then, was tied to convincing JSU of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and TSU of the Ohio Valley Conference to play in Memphis annually. After he got the go-sign from former TSU athletic director and head coach Bill Thomas, the bricks of history started to fall into place.
Aided by his experience as an entertainment promoter, Jones launched the first Classic in 1990. TSU defeated JSU 23-14 before 39,579 fans.
Jones moved to the next phase – adding events to the Classic to create a Super Bowl-like atmosphere.
“We look at putting in events that you can keep over an extended period and events that complement each other,” he said.
Still, Jones never loses sight of the fundamental reason alumni and friends travel across the country to Memphis each year – the football game.
The Classic has produced some thrilling games. And at halftime, two outstanding bands get undivided attention for their show-stopping performances.
During last year’s gridiron tilt, TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner, a former Melrose standout, garnered MVP honors for his offensive performance. On defense, the award went to Eugene Clifford, a junior defensive back in his third year after transferring from Ohio State. Clifford intercepted a pass in the first half and took it to the house for touchdown and a 14-10 lead.
Both teams opened their seasons last week. And each came away on the losing end.
Special to the Tri-State Defender
For Southern Heritage Classic founder Fred Jones, the event that has become a September staple is a year-round project.
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Always aiming to please, Jones did his best to accommodate me recently as he popped on and off the telephone in his Whitehaven office.
“Promotion is set around logistics,” said Jones as he finished a conversation with someone at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Yes, the TSU Aristocrat of Bands would again perform for the kids.
Jones parts readily with his praise for his staff. They get things done on the fly. And it’s easy to rely on people that share your enthusiasm and work ethic.
This year’s 20th Southern Heritage Classic finds the Big Blue of TSU riding a six-game Classic winning streak after overcoming a 10-0 deficit to post a 41-18 victory before a crowd of 50,794 last year.
As the Classic celebrates two decades of providing entertainment centered around a football game between rivals each located about 200 miles away, Jones remembers how tough it was to sell the idea to the participating schools.
Success, Jones reasoned then, was tied to convincing JSU of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and TSU of the Ohio Valley Conference to play in Memphis annually. After he got the go-sign from former TSU athletic director and head coach Bill Thomas, the bricks of history started to fall into place.
Aided by his experience as an entertainment promoter, Jones launched the first Classic in 1990. TSU defeated JSU 23-14 before 39,579 fans.
Jones moved to the next phase – adding events to the Classic to create a Super Bowl-like atmosphere.
“We look at putting in events that you can keep over an extended period and events that complement each other,” he said.
Still, Jones never loses sight of the fundamental reason alumni and friends travel across the country to Memphis each year – the football game.
The Classic has produced some thrilling games. And at halftime, two outstanding bands get undivided attention for their show-stopping performances.
During last year’s gridiron tilt, TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner, a former Melrose standout, garnered MVP honors for his offensive performance. On defense, the award went to Eugene Clifford, a junior defensive back in his third year after transferring from Ohio State. Clifford intercepted a pass in the first half and took it to the house for touchdown and a 14-10 lead.
Both teams opened their seasons last week. And each came away on the losing end.