Southern gears up for Classic, G-Men

It's a college rivalry almost as old as the sport itself. The State Farm Bayou Classic features two Historically Black Institutions in the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State Tigers.

Both teams have been battling each other for bragging rights since their first meeting in 1936. The latest matchup between the two rivals ended with the Tigers earning its third consecutive win, 38-17.

Saturday has all the makings of being another season-ending Classic finish. The Jaguars (4-6, 4-4) last defeated Alabama State Nov. 12 and again, will go for its first back-to-back wins since the hiring of second-year head coach Stump Mitchell.

Mitchell knows all about the rivalry, whose team doubled its win total from last season, which was the worst record in school history at 2-9, despite having coached in the matchup between the schools last season.

"Alabama A&M and Alabama State had 56,000 to their in-state rivalry," Mitchell said during Monday's weekly teleconference and last this season. "Hopefully Southern and Grambling will be able to top that and make the Bayou Classic back as being the number one HBCU Classic game."

Approximately 59,373 fans reached the Georgia Dome in September when the Jaguars traveled to Atlanta for the Atlanta Football Classic against Florida A&M. A.W. Mumford Stadium saw its largest crowd of 21,734 when the Jaguars hosted Jackson State Sept 17. Not to mention, 25,209 fans attended the Jaguars season-opener against Tennessee State at LP Field in Nashville.

On Saturday (1:30 p.m. on NBC), Mitchell will get his second taste of the rivalry.

"Southern pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the conference," said head coach Doug Williams of Grambling, who team won its last five games, defeating Texas Southern 29-25. "This is the biggest game of the year from rivalry standpoint."

Apart from the anticipation of the rivalry game, the Jaguars know the problems are still there, who are seventh in total defense.

Williams said for his team to win its last five games speaks volume after losing four games since their season-opening win over Alcorn State.

"The good thing about this weeks game has been like the last couple of weeks," Williams said. "We've had to fight and claw and fight our way back in order to win the football game. Being down, which I think speaks to the character of these kids, who all year long has never given up and to come back and win five in a row the way they did speaks volume."

Southern has had its moments, led by freshman quarterback JP Douglas, whose 1,215 passing yards ranks seventh in the league. Running back Sylvester Nzekwe is eighth in the SWAC in rushing yards per game with 52.6. Dawrence Roberts of Grambling leads the conference with 105.5 rushing yards per game, following Frank Warren who led the Tigers in rushing in 2010.

Southern senior linebacker Jamie Payton is second in the conference in tackles per game. Payton led the Jaguars with 10 tackles against the Hornets, had an interception, and a fumble recovery, which he returned for 43 yards.

"It's definitely going to be a very competitive game," Mitchell said. "We're looking to try to string two games in a row."