South Carolina State "crushed the heavily-favored" Jackson State squad coached by Pro Football HOFer Deion Sanders 31-10 in the Celebration Bowl, to "claim the Black college football national championship in a shocker." Saturday's game in Atlanta had significant "buzz that resulted in a Celebration Bowl-record crowd of 48,653" (USA TODAY, 12/19). The bowl this weekend revealed that it reached a "six-year agreement with ESPN to televise the game," and that the contest will "continue at Mercedes-Benz Stadium" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 12/19).
Addressing his "role in the evolution of the Celebration Bowl," MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas "believes HBCU sports have grown and taken strides this season." He "credits ESPN and their decision to invest in them." Thomas said, "ESPN deserves huge kudos because they’ve invested their resources in the HBCU athletic program" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 12/17).
