August 9, 2002
The Albany State University Golden Rams and the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers will strike gold this fall.
The teams will meet in gridiron action in the Sixth Annual Gold Coast Classic, set for Nov. 9 in San Diego, Cal. at 3 p.m. (PST) at Qualcomm Stadium, home of the National Football League's San Diego Chargers.
The classic features two top teams from historically black colleges and universities each year.
The Albany State/Morehouse game was originally scheduled to be played in Atlanta at 1:30 p.m.
"We are excited about the opportunity to play in San Diego," said Albany State Athletics Director Dr. John I. Davis. He added "Not only will this > classic bring national exposure for both teams, both schools and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), but black college athletics in general."
Andre Patillo, director of Athletics at Morehouse College, said the classic ... "will be something good for the conference as well as both schools in terms of exposure."
The Gold Coast Classic was created by the San Diego African-American Sports Association in 1997, and will feature a week of activities, including a parade, golf tournament, stepshow, college recruitment fair and battle of the bands.
Albany State and Morehouse are the first Division II teams to be invited to play in the classic.
Howard University and Morgan State University played in the first Gold Coast Classic in 1997.
Grambling State University and Winston-Salem State University played in both 1998 and 1999 classics. Norfolk State played Texas Southern University in the 2000 contest and Delaware State University in the 2001 game.
Albany State, which will begin fall practice on Saturday afternoon, opens its 2002 season on Aug. 31 at home against Valdosta State University at 7 p.m., while Morehouse will face Fort Valley State University in Macon, Ga., at 5 p.m.
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