Yep, another bowl game is on the horizon. Don’t worry, though, this one won’t get us any closer to a 5-7 MAC team playing a 5-7 Mountain West foe in Missoula, Mont., or anything like that.
No, this one actually has a good reason for existing beyond dollar signs. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) jointly announced with ESPN the creation of the Celebration Bowl on Wednesday, pitting the two historically black leagues’ champions on an annual basis.
“This is a great opportunity for our schools and student-athletes to compete on a national stage and showcase the talent that exists within HBCUs. And to have it during bowl season, the most exciting time in college football, is a bonus,” said SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp in a statement.
In conjunction with ESPN Events, the inaugural Celebration Bowl will be held Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome and shown on an ESPN network.
“It’s a testament to the collaborative spirit of both the MEAC and SWAC and their respective commissioners that the Celebration Bowl will take place,” said ESPN Events senior vice president Pete Derzis. “This game will give a platform to these student athletes – to showcase their talents, their bands and their traditions. The Georgia Dome is the perfect venue for the Celebration Bowl – and we hope that fans across the country will take advantage of this experience.”
The SWAC does not participate in the FCS playoffs, and today’s announcement figures to be a signal that the MEAC will follow suit.
Morgan State - which endured some bad news this week - won the MEAC in 2014 before bowing to Richmond 46-24 in the first round of the FCS playoffs, closing the year with a 7-6 mark. Alcorn State won the 2014 SWAC title by virtue of a 38-24 conference championship game victory over Southern.
