For nearly two decades, the Jackson State and Alcorn State annual regular season rivalry game took place in the capital city of Mississippi.
That won’t be the case this year.
According to Alcorn State president Christopher Brown, the school will be exercising its home game status for the Nov. 17 matchup versus Jackson State.
Instead of the game (otherwise known as the Capital City Classic) being played in Jackson as it has for the last 18 years, it appears the contest will be moved to Alcorn State’s campus located in Lorman.
“It is time for this game to come home,” said newly hired Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson. “Ole Miss and Mississippi State used to play the Egg Bowl in Jackson, but realized that it was more beneficial to player morale, fan support, and finances to rotate the game between the two campuses.”
“As an Alcorn alum and now administrator, I know firsthand the importance of hosting prospective students and high school athletes on campus to allow them to see the quality of the facilities,” said Alcorn athletic director Dwayne White about the game that would move from 60,000-seat Memorial Stadium to the cozy confines of 22,000-seat Casem-Spinks Stadium.
Jackson State has won 12 of the last 18 games in the series since it was moved to Jackson.
Here is a statement from JSU.
“We respect Alcorn State’s decision to make the Nov. 17 football game to it’s home stadium in Lorman. We look forward to the JSU Tiger Nation traveling in force to Casem-Spinks Stadium.”
Brown maintained that moving the game to Lorman was in the school’s best interest.
“The facts are self-evident that the Lorman campus is an equal and adequate venue for any football game, including Jackson State,” Brown said. “The time has come to declare our independence from hosting the Capital City Classic on our rival school’s home field.”
