THEE Experience

Jamie Walker • December 8, 2021

Thee Experience

SWAC Championship Game
December 8, 2021
Jamie Walker | Black College Sports Network

I, Jamie Walker, hails from Lisbon, North Carolina, Bladen County, a rural area in the Southeastern part of the state. The area sits right along the mythical “Tobacco Road” but fortunately I had been around Historically Black Colleges and Universities all my life with various teachers being a part of the state HBCUs and infusing that wisdom amongst the student body.  That knowledge was invaluable in considering colleges when it was time to determine that path, even to my financial detriment in certain ways because I was a football player who drew some interest from a few schools, including the Merchant Marine Academy and Lenoir-Rhyne University. But the influence of field trips, talks from teachers and family members who ended up attending these great institutions, I wanted nothing more than to attend an HBCU.

I grew up in the CIAA/MEAC footprint, so my experiences were always from that point of reference. I still tried to play football but did not get much traction in recruitment. I had visits with Joe Taylor of then Hampton University, took unofficial visits to Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central, but when I set foot on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University, I was hooked. Anyone that has graduated from an HBCU knows the experiences last a lifetime and profoundly shapes who you become. “Aggie Pride” is deep within who I am and has given me more than I could ever give it. The athletic experiences were outstanding, especially football. Being at Aggie Stadium was tremendous and of course the “Greatest Homecoming On Earth” or GHOE is still second to none. Slide in great games such as the Aggie-Eagle Classic with Central and battles with Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, and WSSU. Those environments were always outstanding, and I loved all the elements that went with the contests.

I have been in sports media for the past 20 years, covering high school, collegiate, semi-professional, and professional sports and for the last 7 years I have primarily covered HBCU athletics. It was always a natural fit, especially living in Atlanta where so many HBCU Alumni reside, and of course me having the experiences myself I have a passion for it. My vantage point was always from the MEAC/CIAA point of view so being in Georgia I got the opportunity to speak to more people who attended SIAC and SWAC schools. Of course, the banter always goes back and forth as to the better experience but again, I was limited. This past week I was highly encouraged to attend the SWAC Championship Game between Jackson State and Prairie View A&M. I have always heard about the experiences and the affinity that players and fans have for that ball game but being that the MEAC did not have a championship game, it was an afterthought. Dr. Kenyatta Cavil of the “Inside the HBCU Sports Lab”, who I consider one of the foremost experts on HBCU sport business and culture, who is a graduate of Prairie View and a professor at Texas Southern University told me I need to go, so I did, and it was nothing short of amazing.

The drive into Veteran's Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS

When I pulled off the Interstate you could immediately see people parking their cars along the median walking to the stadium and that quite possibly the three hours I allotted for getting in may have not been enough. The route I took was right in front of the hospital and workers stepped out to see the crowds going forward almost as if people were marching. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the grills were going hard for my slow drive in traffic. Once I finally parked, I realized that only for GHOE and the Atlanta Falcons playing the New Orleans Saints had I witnessed this amount of people…. OUTSIDE the stadium!! Crowds are always nice, but not always a litmus test to what the experience will be but from the walk inside Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium where I met the gracious hospitality of fans from both teams, pointing me in the right direction. When I got to the elevator, I encountered some good-hearted back and forth teasing among fan bases. I went upstairs to the press area and along the way I spoke to so many that worked for the stadium and Jackson State, willing to assist in whatever way possible. I saw so many in the industry that have been HBCU lifers and just “chopping” it up with them is always great as I appreciate the different perspectives and hard work, they bring. Then I looked out of the window and saw the crowd filing in. Jackson State clearly having the advantage being at home, but Prairie View rose for the occasion and travelled well. Then the “Marching Storm” of the Panthers made their presence felt, making their way into the stadium to a thunderous applause by the PV faithful. I must say throughout the contest I was impressed by the way their band held their own, and I am not a “band-head” at all. Then here came the renowned “Sonic Boom of the South” who lived up to its notoriety as they and their crowd fit like a hand into a perfectly fitting glove.
Jackson State bus outside Veteran's Memorial Stadium

Overall, the game was the game, with Jackson State and their talented defense simply overpowering Prairie View and winning by the score of 27-10, becoming SWAC Champions in Coach Deion Sanders’ first fall campaign as head coach. The bigger story for me was the way that the culture was on display. As much as the questions about the direction of where HBCU sports especially football should go, I would never forsake the cultural experiences of events like the SWAC Championship Game or any culturally relevant classic that brings together the HBCU masses. This was a movie, and I am so glad I got to experience it!!