Classics Message: We can stop the violence

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by Wendell A. LaGrand

Strike up the band! One of the largest and most exciting African American events of the year is

coming to town. Co-founded by Everett Rand, Timothy Rand, Larry Huggins and Bill Garth, the

13th Annual Chicago Football Classic promises to be another great year for football as students,

alumni, families, friends and fans come out to enjoy the fun.

To get everyones spirit up, a pep rally will be held at the Daley Plaza, downtown Chicago, at 3p.m, on Friday September 17. The games theme is We Can Stop the Violence. It Is Up to Us. The Chicago Football Classic supports education to end the violence in our community. Additionally, public service messages will be aimed at addressing the level of violence in Chicago. The Battle of the Bands will be a part of the Chicago Football Classic weekend festivities. The Morgan Park High School Marching Band recently showed their skills at the events kick-off, which was held at the Chatham neighborhoods Nike Factory Store on

8510 South Cottage Grove Avenue.

Everett Rand, a co-founder of the Chicago Football Classic (CFC) had one question for attendees

at a press conference last week, Are You Ready for Some Football?

Widely known as one of the largest reunions of Historically Black College alumni, the game will

be played on Saturday, September 18, at 4 p.m. on Soldier Field.

Larry Huggins, another co-founder of the classic added, the theme is also about honoring Michael Scott, the late Chicago School Board President, who was a devoted and long time advocate of the CFC. Homage will also be paid to fallen Chicago Police officers.

The gridiron match up will pit the Alcorn State University Braves, alma mater of the late All

Pro quarterback Steve McNair, against the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils, the alma mater of 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Rice.

We are partners. We all have a part to play in stopping the violence, said Cook County States Attorney, Anita Alverez. Education is the great equalizer.Its the key that opens so many doors. Weve seen the effect of violence. The message is so strong, there is an alternative way to go, there is a goal. That is getting our kids off the street, she said.

This year, given all of the deadly shootings and crime that has devastated families around the

city, we feel passionate about the theme, Rand said.

The CFCs mission is to also bring awareness to Historically Black Colleges, expose Chicago

students to the various aspects of the college experience and to focus on an uplifting theme to unite the community, according to Rand.

The highly anticipated weekend of events is being touted by organizers as an extravaganza that

will include a free, open to the public, HBCU College Fair, from 10 a.m. to noon, the morning before the game. The Battle of the Bands, featuring local high schools, will take place from 12 to 1:30 p.m., followed by a local talent show, sponsored by the Illinois Lottery from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.

Tickets are $15, $25, $30 and $40 and can be purchased at selected Dominicks locations,

Ticketmaster, or by calling 1-800-Safeway.

Both teams are members of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC), whose history dates back to 1920, when eight men representing six colleges from Texas discussed college athletics and the many challenges that faced their schools.

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