Turkey Day Classic Explained

The Turkey Day Classic is a college football game, traditionally held annually on Thanksgiving Day. Originally, it was played between Alabama State University and Tuskegee University, two historically black universities. The game was originally played in Montgomery, Alabama's Cramton Bowl, but relocated to Alabama State's new Hornet Stadium in 2012. The game is one of two black college football classics to be associated with Thanksgiving weekend; the other is the younger, but more widely known, Bayou Classic, held two days later.

The game fell into a category of classics that feature two rival teams playing each year. The activities surrounding the game take place over several weeks in the downtown of Montgomery, and include parades, parties, and the like. Many classics feature activities and events like golfing, pageants, and tailgating.

History

The 1924 game was the first in the series and it is considered the first black college football classic. Tuskegee refused tournament slots for the NCAA Division II National Football Championship because the Division II playoffs conflict with the Turkey Day Classic; the Golden Tigers program did this even in successful seasons where it has qualified and earned high playoff seeding. From 1998 to 2009, Tuskegee participated in the Pioneer Bowl, representing its conference nine times in the 11 Pioneer Bowls in that span and winning eight. Similarly, Alabama State and other Southwestern Athletic Conference members opt out of contention for the NCAA Division I Football Championship; this accommodates the Turkey Day Classic, the Bayou Classic in New Orleans, any weather-related reschedulings (such as the 2017 Labor Day Classic) and, during the game's existence, the SWAC Championship Game. SWAC members instead contend for the Celebration Bowl.

Beginning in 2013, Tuskegee withdrew from the contest due to playoff considerations beginning that year. Tuskegee's opting into the playoffs forced the cancellation of the Pioneer Bowl, but the Turkey Day Classic continued, with Stillman College serving as the opponent.

In 2014, Alabama State announced it was officially discontinuing the Turkey Day Classic in order to give itself the option of participating in the Division I championship, should it qualify. For two years, the college held its homecoming on the penultimate Saturday of November; that is, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Stillman College remained the Hornets' opponent for 2014.[1]

In August 2015, it was announced that the Alabama State-Tuskegee rivalry was to resume in 2017, with these games being held in early September and nicknamed the Labor Day Classic (ambiguously, since another black college football rivalry and Canadian college and professional football Labour Day games also use the name). For the 2015 season, Miles College participated in the November Hornet Homecoming.[2]

In March 2016, it was announced that the Turkey Day Classic would return to its traditional date of Thanksgiving Day, with Miles College returning as Alabama State's opponent.[3] For the 2017 Turkey Day Classic, Alabama State was originally scheduled to host Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, a team it had never faced before, but Cheyney backed out of the contest two weeks beforehand and suspended its football program indefinitely[4] due to the school's ongoing financial problems.[5] Edward Waters College, an NAIA squad whom Alabama State had played once before in its history, agreed to take Cheyney's place on short notice.

The 2018 Turkey Day Classic was contested by a conference rival, Mississippi Valley State University; that university, which won the 1971 contest, had been the only team other than Tuskegee or Alabama State to win the Turkey Day Classic in its history. The move was made in an effort to boost falling attendance and attention for the event, which had failed to sell out the games against other D-II and NAIA opponents.[6] (The strategy was unsuccessful, as attendance continued to fall, and the game went untelevised, as ESPN, the game's previous telecaster, declined to carry the game on any of its outlets.)

The 2019 game featured Prairie View A&M, another division rival, as the Hornets' Thanksgiving Day opponent; the Panthers became the second team other than Tuskegee or Alabama State to win with its 20–17 win over the Hornets.

The 2020 game was effectively canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, as both teams' member conferences cancelled all fall 2020 athletics.[7] For 2021, Tuskegee returned to its traditional spot on the Thanksgiving Day schedule, with the game being carried over the top on ESPN+. University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff served as the Hornets' opponent in 2022, upsetting the home team by staving off a comeback to win, 19–14. [8]

Game results

NOTE: no game in 2020.

DateWinning teamLosing teamLocation
November 15, 1924Tuskegee28 Alabama State7Montgomery, AL
1925Tuskegee14 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 6, 1926Tuskegee14 Alabama State7Montgomery, AL
December 3, 1927Alabama State0 Tuskegee0Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1928Alabama State6 Tuskegee6Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1929Tuskegee20 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1930Tuskegee32 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 21, 1931Tuskegee32 Alabama State7Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1932Tuskegee7 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 30, 1933Tuskegee14 Alabama State7Montgomery, AL
November 29, 1934Alabama State6 Tuskegee2Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1935Alabama State3 Tuskegee0Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1936Tuskegee6 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1937Tuskegee14 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1938Alabama State26 Tuskegee0Montgomery, AL
November 30, 1939Tuskegee6 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1940Alabama State31 Tuskegee12Montgomery, AL
November 20, 1941Tuskegee33 Alabama State6Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1942Tuskegee25 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1943Tuskegee19 Alabama State13Montgomery, AL
1944Tuskegee32 Alabama State12Montgomery, AL
1945Tuskegee26 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1946Tuskegee26 Alabama State14Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1947Alabama State26 Tuskegee26Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1948Tuskegee15 Alabama State0Tuskegee, AL
November 24, 1949Tuskegee20 Alabama State19Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1950Tuskegee15 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1951Tuskegee26 Alabama State13Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1952Alabama State28 Tuskegee13Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1953Alabama State6 Tuskegee2Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1954Alabama State23 Tuskegee2Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1955Alabama State19 Tuskegee13Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1956Tuskegee19 Alabama State13Montgomery, AL
1957Alabama State13 Tuskegee7Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1958Tuskegee24 Alabama State20Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1959Alabama State22 Tuskegee20Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1960Tuskegee12 Alabama State8Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1961Tuskegee19 Alabama State8Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1962Tuskegee42 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1963Tuskegee3 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1964Alabama State19 Tuskegee11Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1965Alabama State20 Tuskegee12Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1966Alabama State35 Tuskegee14Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1967Tuskegee21 Alabama State8Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1968Tuskegee23 Alabama State21Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1969Tuskegee28 Alabama State14Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1970Tuskegee34 Alabama State20Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1971Mississippi Valley State10 Alabama State7Montgomery, AL
December 2, 1972Tuskegee10 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
December 1, 1973Tuskegee22 Alabama State15Montgomery, AL
December 7, 1974Tuskegee28 Alabama State7Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1975Alabama State37 Tuskegee21Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1976Alabama State29 Tuskegee14Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1977Alabama State13 Tuskegee7Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1978Alabama State15 Tuskegee0Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1979Alabama State20 Tuskegee6Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1980Alabama State14 Tuskegee7Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1981Tuskegee14 Alabama State3Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1982Tuskegee14 Alabama State13Tuskegee, AL
November 24, 1983Alabama State13 Tuskegee3Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1984Alabama State31 Tuskegee8Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1985Alabama State21 Tuskegee0Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1986Alabama State21 Clark Atlanta6Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1987Alabama State21 Johnson C. Smith3Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1988Alabama State17 Tuskegee0Montgomery, AL
November 23, 1989Alabama State26 Tuskegee20Montgomery, AL
November 22, 1990Alabama State49 Tuskegee7Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1991Alabama State62 Johnson C. Smith6Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1992Alabama State17 Fayetteville State14Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1993Alabama State31 Tuskegee30Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1994Alabama State37 Tuskegee35Montgomery, AL
November 24, 1995Alabama State58 Tuskegee20Montgomery, AL
November 28, 1996Tuskegee21 Alabama State14Montgomery, AL
November 27, 1997Tuskegee21 Alabama State16Montgomery, AL
November 26, 1998Alabama State27 Tuskegee7Montgomery, AL
November 25, 1999Tuskegee37 Alabama State34Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2000Tuskegee28 Alabama State27Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2001Tuskegee31 Alabama State27Montgomery, AL
November 28, 2002Tuskegee25 Alabama State20Montgomery, AL
November 27, 2003Alabama State48 Tuskegee28Montgomery, AL
November 25, 2004Tuskegee27 Alabama State17Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2005Tuskegee28 Alabama State27Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2006Tuskegee17 Alabama State10Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2007Tuskegee64 Alabama State58Montgomery, AL
November 27, 2008Alabama State17 Tuskegee13Montgomery, AL
November 26, 2009Tuskegee21 Alabama State0Montgomery, AL
November 25, 2010Tuskegee17 Alabama State10Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2011Alabama State30 Tuskegee21Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2012Tuskegee27 Alabama State25Montgomery, AL
November 28, 2013Alabama State41 Stillman28Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2014Alabama State30Stillman27Montgomery, AL
November 21, 2015Alabama State26Miles College7Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2016Alabama State53Miles College20Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2017Alabama State37Edward Waters College3Montgomery, AL
November 22, 2018Alabama State31*Mississippi Valley State24Montgomery, AL
November 28, 2019Prairie View A&M20Alabama State17Montgomery, AL
November 25, 2021Alabama State 43 Tuskegee9Montgomery, AL
November 24, 2022Arkansas–Pine Bluff19Alabama State 14 Montgomery, AL
November 23, 2023Alabama State41Tuskegee3 Montgomery, AL

(*) Game was decided in overtime

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Birdsong, Nick (March 4, 2014). Turkey Day Classic won't be held on Thanksgiving. AL.com. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  2. http://al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/08/alabama_state_tuskegee_to_rene.html Alabama State, Tuskegee to renew football rivalry in 2017
  3. http://www.wbtv.com/story/31610793/asus-turkey-day-classic-2016-returns-to-thanksgiving-day ASU's Turkey Day Classic 2016 returns to Thanksgiving Day
  4. Web site: Cheyney University drops NCAA Division II status in restructuring of its athletic department. 21 March 2018.
  5. Web site: Cheyney pulls out of Turkey Day Classic due to finances.
  6. Web site: ASU faces Mississippi Valley State in Turkey Day Classic.
  7. Web site: Heupel. Shannon. There will not be a 2020 Turkey Day Classic Parade. COVID-19 derailed the annual tradition. 2020-11-10. The Montgomery Advertiser. en-US.
  8. Web site: Shames . Jacob . November 24, 2022 . Turkey Day Classic: Alabama State football loses to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on last-minute TD . 2022-11-27 . Montgomery Advertiser . en-US.

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