Magic City Classic notebook
10/26/03
Second-largest crowd for Classic:
When Gene Hallman saw traffic snarled near Legion Field two hours before kickoff, he figured police were having a problem routing traffic.
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The problem, he would learn later, was the number of cars - and thus patrons - they were trying to direct to the Magic City Classic.
The 62nd edition of this football rivalry drew an announced crowd of 63,117. That ranks as the second-largest crowd to attend the game, topped only by the 70,200 in 1991.
"We closed the parking lot an hour and a half before the game," said Hallman, who is president of the Alabama Sports Foundation, which helps coordinate events related to the Classic. "That's the earliest that we've closed the lot."
Mistake costs State a timeout:
Alabama State had to make its last-ditch drive for a possible game-tying field goal without any timeouts. The Hornets already had used all of their timeouts, including one called by mistake.
ASU was about to punt the ball and defensive coordinator Tony Pierce called time out because he thought the wrong players were on the field. He was wrong.
"We tried to get our safe punt return team on there, which consists of our regular defense," he said. "When I looked out on the wing, I was thinking punt return and I didn't see one of our players out there who I normally see. But he wasn't supposed to be out there and I thought he was."
Coe on minds of Hornets:
Head coach Charles Coe wasn't with the Hornets team but the players were on his mind, according to acting coach Tony Pierce.
"He told me to tell the guys to win for them and not for me," Pierce said, quoting Coe. "He said thanks for the prayers and he'll be up and around shortly. It'll be good to have him back."
Pierce said he thinks Coe, who reportedly underwent heart surgery last week, watched the game on television. He declined to say whether Coe is still in the hospital.
Chrysler sponsors SWAC game:
If State or A&M gets back to Birmingham for the SWAC Championship Game, its players can expect to see more than a few Chrysler cars around town. The automaker is the new title sponsor of the conference's title contest.
"We just got that word the other day," SWAC Commissioner Robert C. Vowels Jr. said. "They're coming on for a three-year deal. That solidifies us and gives us stability to help grow this game."
10/26/03
Second-largest crowd for Classic:
When Gene Hallman saw traffic snarled near Legion Field two hours before kickoff, he figured police were having a problem routing traffic.
From Our Advertiser
The problem, he would learn later, was the number of cars - and thus patrons - they were trying to direct to the Magic City Classic.
The 62nd edition of this football rivalry drew an announced crowd of 63,117. That ranks as the second-largest crowd to attend the game, topped only by the 70,200 in 1991.
"We closed the parking lot an hour and a half before the game," said Hallman, who is president of the Alabama Sports Foundation, which helps coordinate events related to the Classic. "That's the earliest that we've closed the lot."
Mistake costs State a timeout:
Alabama State had to make its last-ditch drive for a possible game-tying field goal without any timeouts. The Hornets already had used all of their timeouts, including one called by mistake.
ASU was about to punt the ball and defensive coordinator Tony Pierce called time out because he thought the wrong players were on the field. He was wrong.
"We tried to get our safe punt return team on there, which consists of our regular defense," he said. "When I looked out on the wing, I was thinking punt return and I didn't see one of our players out there who I normally see. But he wasn't supposed to be out there and I thought he was."
Coe on minds of Hornets:
Head coach Charles Coe wasn't with the Hornets team but the players were on his mind, according to acting coach Tony Pierce.
"He told me to tell the guys to win for them and not for me," Pierce said, quoting Coe. "He said thanks for the prayers and he'll be up and around shortly. It'll be good to have him back."
Pierce said he thinks Coe, who reportedly underwent heart surgery last week, watched the game on television. He declined to say whether Coe is still in the hospital.
Chrysler sponsors SWAC game:
If State or A&M gets back to Birmingham for the SWAC Championship Game, its players can expect to see more than a few Chrysler cars around town. The automaker is the new title sponsor of the conference's title contest.
"We just got that word the other day," SWAC Commissioner Robert C. Vowels Jr. said. "They're coming on for a three-year deal. That solidifies us and gives us stability to help grow this game."
