In recent years, therefore, most of the players had been players from teams with losing records and from smaller schools which do not play NCAA Division I football. The Classic gave these players an opportunity to be noticed by NFL scouts and others who may not have had the opportunity to observe them previously.
Most such players now attend the NFL Combine for evaluation. Given its setting, it wasn't surprising that this game was slow to desegregate , and in fact was once removed from the schedule of NBC for this reason. Since then, the game had not only been desegregated, but in the process showcased many African American stars from smaller, lesser-known schools including many historically black colleges and universities.
The Classic also made many concessions to make it more television -friendly, such as shortening the first quarter to 12 minutes on at least one occasion to make it fit more easily into a doubleheader package, and changing the rules so that after any score a team down by a double-digit margin would receive the kickoff, even if they in fact were the one which had just scored, presumably to keep the game close and prevent the loss of viewership which often occurs in grossly-uneven contests.
In later years, the game had always been played on Christmas Day , which may have tended to limit the live attendance, but which ensured that it was on television at a time when more viewers were available for it.
Even in its new setting at Troy University 's Movie Gallery Stadium , about 50 miles 80 km south of Montgomery, the Montgomery Lions Club had remained active in the staging of the game, and in fact was instrumental in finding this new venue to replace the aging Cramton Bowl. The stadium had not been well maintained over the years, and by the turn of the 20th century it was literally crumbling. In fact, the game's hiatus was caused by two primary factors: the failure to obtain a new corporate sponsor to purchase the football game's naming rights after the Kelley—Springfield Tire Co.
The Cass Tech MI product checks in at 6'0" and pounds, but what stands out about his game is his ability to go up and get the ball.
His highlight reel is littered with plays when he elevates over defensive backs and makes contested catches in traffic. There are also a few examples of him burning the defense with his speed. He'll look to do a little bit of both for the East team in this game. That has to excite head coach Sean Lewis. The Golden Flash offense was 30th in the nation in scoring this season and their efficient passing game was one of the reasons why.
Gardner is the highest-rated receiver the Golden Flash's recruiting class has and their third-highest rated recruit overall by Sports. Now he's set to stay in the city to play his college ball as well. Pickens and Gunter then decided to move the game earlier on the calendar so it would not compete with the radio broadcasts of the bowl games held on New Year's Day.
The second contest was held December 30, , and the South team won, Thereafter, the game was one of the first post-season contests to be held during the month of December, several days ahead of the traditional New Year's Day bowl games.
Keeler championed the contest to ensure its survival. By , attendance had reached 25,, roughly the capacity for the Cramton Bowl, and radio broadcasts made it a national event. Initially, Pickens arranged for 24 trustees drawn from Montgomery's business community to manage the game. In , the Montgomery Lions Club began sponsoring the game, which used the proceeds for local conservation projects and youth programs. The organization of the contest was handled by the Blue-Gray Association which Pickens served as general manager following the contest.
Eventually, the Lions Club took over running the event as well. Participation in the Blue-Gray game was limited to college seniors because the players were paid for their participation. The players were recruited for the contest by representatives from the Blue-Gray Association. That game became a springboard to Hall-of-Fame careers for both running backs. All now are in the Hall of Fame.
All became starting running backs on Super Bowl teams. But the best Blue-Gray success story remains Howie Long. He played his college ball in relative obscurity at Villanova competing against the likes of Delaware, Holy Cross, Penn and Richmond. But there was an injury earlier in the week, and the Blue needed a body to fill a uniform. And understandably so. We Villanova never played on television. We bussed to most of our games. Suddenly, Long blossomed from NFL draft suspect to prospect.
I worked out 32 times. I ran in snow, in rain, indoors and outdoors. I ran for any and all comers. That was my lot in life at that point.
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