September
20, 2004
Contact: Fred Jones
Summitt Management Corp.
901-398-6655
Southern Heritage Classic Hits 15-Year Milestone
With Its Greatest Year Ever
MEMPHIS – For its 15th year, the Southern Heritage
Classic presented by FedEx (www.southernheritageclassic.com
) reached new heights in drama, excitement and community involvement.
“Not only did we have the best game ever,” said
Fred Jones, founder and producer of the Classic, “but
our corporate sponsors stepped up big time and the community
responded as well. It was just a great event all around.”
On Saturday night, Sept. 18, the game itself was in doubt
until the final eight seconds, when Tennessee State University
punched into the end zone for the game-winner. The Tigers
from Nashville drove 84 yards to get the upper hand on their
arch-rivals from Jackson, Miss., the Jackson State University
Tigers. The final score shows it: 21-20.
More than 55,000 fans jammed Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
for the game, while thousands more continued their tailgate
party in the parking lots and a national audience watched
the game live on BET.
In addition to the game, this year’s Classic encompassed:
- The Usher and Kanye West, the hottest concert tour of
the year;
- The opening of FedExForum, the hottest new arena in the
nation;
- The Tom Joyner Sky Show, the top national syndicated radio
show;
- The Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones Golf Classic, lead
by the legendary player for the Dallas Cowboys;
- Two shows at nearby Grand Casino Tunica, with two R&B
classic acts: The O’Jays and Gerald Levert
The Usher concert on Friday, Sept. 17, sold out with more
than 14,000 fans helping to christen FedExForum in its first
concert. The Tom Joyner Sky Show quickly filled up its seats,
even at the early hour of 5 a.m., and the other Classic events,
including the kick-off reception, coaches’ luncheon
and the fashion brunch, were well attended.
The Classic’s corporate partners gave the Classic community-wide
exposure through many promotions and addition advertising.
In addition, the charitable arm of the Classic – the
Southern Heritage Foundation – gave grants amounting
to $20,000 to four local nonprofit community organizations.
The Southern Heritage Classic debuted in 1990, and the football
game has grown into the largest annual single-day event in
Memphis.
The Classic is produced by SMC Entertainment, which can be
reached via e-mail at smc@lunaweb.net.
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