It is time for St. Louis to get its annual black college football fix this weekend when the America Family Insurance Gateway Classic rolls into town.
NCAA Division II national power Tuskegee University will take on a much improved Kentucky State squad on Saturday afternoon at the Edward Jones Dome in a 3 p.m. kickoff. The game will culminate a spectacular weekend of activity which will include the annual coaches luncheon and the parade, which takes place the morning of the game.
I will have the honor of being the master of ceremonies for Friday’s St. Louis Rams Luncheon, which will honor former Rams’ greats Mike Jones, D’Marco Farr and Aaneas Williams. It is a great kick-off event for Saturday’s game.
Neither Kentucky State or Tuskegee is a stranger to St. Louis and the Gateway Classic. Kentucky State will be making its fifth appearance in the game while Tuskegee will be playing in the Classic for the third time.
Tuskegee will bring much prestige and a big reputation to St. Louis this time around. The Golden Tigers are a Division II Top 20 team and the three-time champions of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They had a 26-game winning streak, which was snapped at the end of the 2008 season on a controversial call at the end of the game against Alabama State that took away a game-winning touchdown. Head coach Willie Slater has compiled a 35-4 record in his fourth season at the helm, including the HBCU national championship in 2007.
Kentucky State appears to be well on their way to rebounding from last season’s 3-8 record in a rebuilding year. The Thorobreds are already 2-2 and can match last year’s victory total with a win against the highly-touted Golden Tigers on Saturday.
The Gateway Classic Football weekend is always a hit in the community because there is something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. And the big winners in the whole deal are our young black people, many whom have received full scholarships to college thanks to the efforts of Mr. Earl Wilson and the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation over the years. That is what this whole event is all about; and that my friends is a good thing.
See you at the Dome on Saturday.
Boys of Sumner
A good time was had by all at the historic opening of the new football facility at Sumner High last Saturday. Sumnerites from as far back as the 1940’s were among the many people who gathered in Tandy Park to witness the grand opening of Tuskegee Airmen Field, where the Bulldogs took on Northwest Academy. It was a wonderful setting to see people dressed in their maroon and white gathered to see this game-changing event in the city.
Earl on sale
My new book, “You Might Need a Jacket: Hilarious Stories of Wacky Sports Parents,” is now on sale at the St. Louis American (4242 Lindell Blvd.) and all six Johnny Mac’s Sporting Goods locations (Florissant, Sunset Hills, Ballwin, St. Charles, St. Peters, Swansea, Ill.). You can also order your copy on line at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, www.earlaustinjr.com and Prioritybooks.com. On Saturday, Oct. 3, I will have a book signing/release party at AfroWorld (7276 Natural Bridge) from 3-5 p.m. You are all invited.
The commitments
Saint Louis University basketball coach Rick Majerus received a verbal commitment from 6’6” small forward Dwayne Evans from Neuqua Valley, Ill. The versatile 205-pound Evans is considered one of the top players in the Chicago area…University of Missouri coach Mike Anderson got a big commitment from 5’10” point guard Phil Pressey from Dallas. Pressey is the son of former Tulsa great and NBA player Paul Pressey. He is ranked among the top 50 players in the country in the class of 2010.
(Earl Austin Jr. can be heard on 1490-The New WESL on Thursday from 4-6 p.m. with Maurice Scott).
