The Bayou Classic 2023: A Review of Football, Fanfare and Fantasia

One of the most culturally rich experiences for a young American, especially a black collegiate, is to experience the Bayou Classic.

I’ve gone to several Bayou Classics over the years, but decided to chronicle my experience for the latest one so that others can benefit from what I share.

What is the Bayou Classic?

The Bayou Classic is the annual football game between the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling Tigers. Both schools are well-known members of the nation’s small fraternity of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The game was first played in 1974, and for a while was the only black college football game televised on national TV (NBC).

The game is only part of the festivities of the Bayou Classic. There is also the history-making Battle of the Bands and the fanfare of the large fan bases that support each institution.

Where Is the Bayou Classic?

The Bayou Classic is always played in New Orleans at the Superdome. Each year for Thanksgiving weekend, the SWAC makes sure to book the Saturday after Thanksgiving so that fans of Southern and Grambling can travel to the game and enjoy the city.

The Bayou Classic 2023: My Experience

I went to the 2023 Bayou Classic, it had been several years since I last attended. This year, even though neither Southern nor Grambling were having a good season, it seemed like the perfect time to buy a ticket to the game and check it out.

As always city streets in and around Poydras Street, where the Superdome is located, were packed with cars. Interestingly, just a few blocks away in all directions, there seemed to be no problem with parking.

In fact, the parking for the game was way easier than I had ever remembered it to be. I eventually settled on a parking spot and walked to the game, which took me about 15 minutes.

How much did I pay for parking? Zero.

When I arrived at the game, I needed to buy a ticket, so I went on StubHub and bought the cheapest one I could find. It was about $50, but with taxes and fees, the total rose to about $83.

I was able to show my electronic ticket and enter the game in a manner of minutes, and just like that, I was inside the Superdome for the Bayou Classic.

Bayou Classic 2023: Football, Fantasia and Much Fanfare

Instantly, I heard a stream of trumpets from the Grambling Band (that’s the side I was sitting on) and I instantly picked up on the tune as the crowd got lively.

Check out Fantasia’s performance at the Bayou Classic:

The kickoff was just seconds away, but I couldn’t sit yet because I needed to find something to eat. Being in New Orleans, you can expect the Superdome to have all types of seafood, but the few places that I check out, didn’t really catch my eye or stomach.

I told myself that I’d just have to grab something after the game at one of New Orleans’ great restaurants, preferably on Bourbon or Canal Street.

In the first quarter, both teams struggled early, until Southern started to pull away with big play after big play in the second quarter. The crowd was going wild. Southern fans garbed in powder blue and yellow were screaming and Grambling fans in Marron and gold were booing.

At halftime, none other than Grammy Award-winning singer Fantasia Barrino performed her hit song When I See U. To say she was rocking would be an understatement.

Fresh from wrapping up filming for The Color Purple, Barrino came dressed in all black and did her thing.

In the second half, I wanted to see if Grambling was going to mount a ferocious comeback, but it didn’t happen: Southern whipped them 27-22.

With about 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, I decided to bounce, so I slipped out of the Bayou Classic. What I didn’t realize when I walked out of those gates was that I had parked on the opposite of the Superdome, so I had to walk aaaaallll the way around the facility to find my car.

By the time I made it to my car, I saw that thousands of people were pouring out of the ‘Dome and the game was just about over.

Final Word

Travel to and from New Orleans was efficient and had all the hallmarks of a safe city that caters to visitors.

The Bayou Classic is more than just a football game; it’s a moment in time for millions of students and alumni who have went to Southern or Grambling. It means something when those two schools, which respect each other very much, hook up for an event.

And yes, I will be returning to the ‘Classic next year.