Cotton candy, cattle, iconic fried foods and fancy cars are all things you can count on from the Texas State Fair. So is the State Fair Classic football game between Prairie View A&M and Grambling State, two historically Black universities with devoted fan followings.
After over four decades of working with the State Fair Classic, Al Wash, president of ALW Entertainment, is making changes to ensure this year’s game at the Cotton Bowl has a record crowd when the teams take the field Saturday.
Over the last two years, the pandemic has had an impact on the game’s attendance.
“In 2020, we canceled the fall game and did a spring game. Then we had a snowstorm and pipes that burst at the Cotton Bowl. We had to move the game to Arlington to the Rangers stadium, which didn’t work out as well for us,” said Wash.
But he noted the event has overcome challenges in the past.
“We have crossed some hurdles that have been devastating for us, but we have always been able to bounce back to become one of the largest Black events in Texas under one roof.”
This year, Wash has made a few changes and he’s pulling out all the stops to have a record attendance.
The game will start two hours later at 6 p.m. This will allow for a pregame kickoff concert at 4 p.m. with Grammy-winning singer Ashanti.
After the game, New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform. The jazz ensemble has been performing since 1961. All the concerts will be on the Chevy Stage, which is right outside the Cotton Bowl.
The State Fair Classic has a rich history among HBCUs extending from the first game in the Cotton Bowl in 1925 between the Wiley College Wildcats and the Langston University Lions.
Since 1985, the Classic showdown has been between Prairie View and Grambling.
Since then, the game between the Panthers and the Tigers has been the major matchup at the State Fair Classic. From the beginning of the rivalry until 2009, Grambling won every game except for one.
Many of the early wins were by legendary coach Eddie G. Robinson, who received his 324th career win against Prairie View at the 1985 State Fair Classic game. Robinson, whose coaching career spanned 50 years, has been recognized as having one of the best records in college football history.
“Over the years, I have seen Prairie View become more competitive against Grambling,” said Wash. “It used to be back in the time when Eddie Robinson was the head football coach that everybody knew that Grambling was going to beat Prairie View 50 to nothing, but they still showed up for the game.”
Fans come to Dallas from over 4,000 miles away to root for their team.
“People come as far away as Alaska and Des Moines, Iowa. We have attendees from places that you would not even think would come to the game — like Hawaii and New Mexico. Of course, we have local people from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana as well,” Wash said.
According to Wash, about 25,000 people come from out of town to attend the game.
“Since Grambling is in Louisiana and Prairie View is in Texas, you would expect Prairie View to have the most fans at the game. But I don’t think that is the case,” said Cathy Conwright, president of the Metro DFW Alumni Chapter of Grambling University.
Though Grambling leads the series with 26 wins to nine losses over 3½ decades, the last four games have been won by Prairie View.
“This year we expect to change Prairie View’s winning streak. We have a new head coach, Hue Jackson. The motto that we have given him is “Hue Dat,” in honor of the famous New Orleans Saints fan chant — ‘Who Dat?’ Our hashtag is #Huedat,” said Conwright.
She is a member of the Wayne family, which counts over 40 Grambling University graduates. In 2010, her family was recognized by Guinness World Records for having the most family members graduate from a single university.
In addition to the game, the halftime show and the battle of the bands help bring out competitive spirits. A win is mostly an opportunity for bragging rights.
“When I was in school attending Prairie View, we only beat Grambling one year. This was out of the whole four years that I was there. Then there was a series of 10 to 12 years that we lost every game. Yet that didn’t bring a damper to the school,” said Lalonni Hagerman, president of the Dallas Prairie View Alumni Association.
“Even if we knew the outcome of the game was that we were going to lose, we still came out to support the school. Our panther pride was still always there,” said Hagerman.
For the first time in two years, the week leading up to the game will be packed with events. Many of the activities will not be advertised. The week started with a news conference Monday at the Cotton Bowl, followed by a comedy show Wednesday at the Arlington Improv, with Shuckey Duckey and some of his comedian friends.
Recording artist Steve Ray Ladson and saxophonist Don Diego will perform at Club Odyssey on Friday evening.
Wash said he hopes all these events will make the State Fair Classic distinctive among other “Classics” played by HBCU rivals.
“I like to see people enjoying themselves. We have always been in the top three in attendance when it comes to Classic games. Due to COVID, the last few years, we have been in the top five consistently,” Wash said.
With a week of stellar activities, Wash is looking forward to everything lining up in his favor.
“I am a winner. I would like this to be the number one in attendance for the Classic games for the year,” said Wash.
This story, originally published in Texas Metro News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and TMN. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.