feated Saracens. Such performances | Forum

ATLANTA -- The kickoff to the monthlong bowl season is more than just another game. Custom Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys .For that matter, its goes far beyond the two teams taking the field at noon Saturday.This is a chance to honor the legacy of all those historically black colleges and universities that played such a vital role in the growth of college football, giving African-Americans a place to play when they didnt have anywhere else to turn.Call this a well-deserved celebration, which is why there is no more aptly named postseason game than the Celebration Bowl.We wouldnt be able to do what were doing today, said John Grant, executive director of the game that will be played at the Georgia Dome, if not for what they did yesterday.Indeed, in the days of Jim Crow, HBCUs were a lifeline for African-Americans in the South.Unless they had the means and opportunity to continue their athletic careers far from home, outside the reach of segregation, blacks were limited to schools such as Grambling State and North Carolina Central, which will meet in this years Celebration Bowl.Grambling, in particular, built a powerhouse program under longtime coach Eddie Robinson, sending countless players to the NFL after they were denied the opportunity to attend whites-only universities such as Alabama and Clemson, which are part of this years College Football Playoff.Of course, those schools now rely heavily on Africa-American athletes. Much like the Negro Leagues in baseball, HBCU athletic programs were hit hard by the collapse of the color line.The best high school prospects are understandably drawn to the schools that offer the biggest stadiums, the best resources and training facilities, the opportunity to play on national television almost every Saturday, the clearest path to the NFL.Yet, its worth noting that the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the league that North Carolina Central won to claim its spot in the Celebration Bowl opposite Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Grambling State, had three players go in the NFL draft this past spring.Grant wants to ensure the legacy of the HBCUs is preserved, while also highlighting all the important things theyre still doing today -- on and off the field.A game that will be nationally televised by ABC, as well as broadcast around the world on the Armed Forces Network, is a huge step in that direction.There are good players attending and participating at these universities, Grant said. The relevance of these programs is still very strong and viable. Its our intention to showcase that to the nation.As if to show how much this game means to the MEAC and the SWAC, those conferences passed up a chance to send their champions to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Instead, theyll play for whats billed as the HBCU national championship, and its hard to argue with the logic.A year ago, the inaugural Celebration Bowl attracted more than 35,000 fans to the Georgia Dome, as well as a television audience of some 14.6 million viewers, according to Grant.An athlete chooses a school to go to because he wants to be seen, he said. Now, we have two conferences that have exactly the same platform on national television as every other bowl team. Now, coaches can go out and recruit with the same type of tool that the other schools have, the tool of visibility.But this isnt about putting Grambling on a level playing field with Alabama. Thats never going to happen. The Celebration Bowl is focused on an even bigger goal -- ensuring the viability of HBCUs in a time of ever-shrinking government funding and declining enrollments.Grant said the teams that played in last years game, North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State, both received a boost in applications and admissions for the current school year.Having a viable athletic program that brings visibility to a school is one of the best student recruiting tools you can have, he said.Heres hoping the Celebration Bowl succeeds where two others have failed. The Pelican Bowl matched the MEAC and SWAC champions in the 1970s, but low attendance doomed that game. The Heritage Bowl came along in the 1990s, but it failed to survive largely because teams could choose to take part instead in the I-AA playoffs, which would leave a leagues second- or even third-best team for the bowl game.The players seem to realize whats at stake.This game is really important for the history of HBCUs, said Darius Spruill, a senior defensive tackle at North Carolina Central. Most people in the world arent really focused on HBCUs as much as they should be. I feel like this game brings much-needed exposure to the HBCU football history.Grant is focused just as much on the future.He wants this to be a game that stretches beyond the African-American community. He refers to HBCUs as some of the most diverse campuses in the country, with growing numbers of white and Hispanic students. For instance, North Carolina Centrals enrollment of 8,155 students is 12 percent white and nearly 2 percent Hispanic.Historically black colleges and universities contribute to the fabric of our nation, Grant said. These institutions are critical in ensuring this country is producing quality individuals and access to higher education for everyone, access that is not just at the highest levels.Now thats something worth celebrating.---Paul Newberry is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP Sports Writer Charles Odum contributed to this report.---For more AP college football coverage: www.collegefootball.ap.org Damian Lillard Blazers Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Zach Collins Jersey . LOUIS -- St. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Cj-Mccollum-Blazers-Jersey/ . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. After another eventful round of Aviva Premiership, Guinness PRO12 and Top 14 action, based on last weekends form, heres our composite British & Irish Lions team of the week.BACKS15. Mike BrownThe Harlequins full-back just about edged a brilliant battle against opposite number Alex Goode, with Brown commanding under the high ball. He helped his side to victory over Saracens, despite bruising his hip.14. Olly WoodburnWoodburn scored a couple of tries for Exeter as they comfortably defeated Bristol, and at 24 still has time on his side to push for international recognition.13. Elliot DalyDaly had another good game to continue his strong recent form, as Wasps made it four wins from four in the Aviva Premiership so far this season with victory at Northampton.12. Jamie RobertsRoberts was outstanding for Harlequins as they defeated current Aviva Premiership champions Saracens, the Welsh centre making 11 tackles to lead the defensive effort.11. George NorthNorth might have been part of the Northampton side that narrowly lost to Wasps, but he had a strong game regardless. The Welsh winger raced clear after 70 seconds to score his first try at Franklins Gardens for two seasons, and went on to make 122 metres across the game.10. Jonathan SextonThe Irish fly-half had a cracking game on his return for Leinster, scoring 15 points including a try, four conversions and a penalty in a win over Ospreys. He had the better of a battle with a fellow international No.10 vying for Lions contention, Dan Biggar.9. Conor MurrayThe Irish No.9 bagged a brace of tries ass Munster defeated Edinburgh and also had a strong all-round game, most evident from his typically excellent box kicking. Bill Walton Blazers Jersey. FORWARDS1. Alec HepburnHepburn had a strong game for Exeter as they comfortably defeated Bristol on Friday night. Hepburn has played for the England Saxons and U-20s teams and is pushing for further recognition.2. Tom YoungsThe Leicester hooker is back to his best and will be hopeful of forcing his way back into the England reckoning.3. Tadhg FurlongIreland international Furlong put in a good shift as Leinster defeated Ospreys, and could yet be a dark horse for the Lions squad.4. George MerrickMerrick was superb as Harlequins defeated Saracens. Such performances can only help him catch the eye of Eddie Jones.5. Damian Welch Welch had an excellent game as Exeter picked off Aviva Premiership newcomers Bristol with relative ease.?6. Mike WilliamsThe Leicester back-row was Man of the Match against Bath and should be in the Elite Player Squad when Eddie Jones confirms it on Friday.7. Josh Van der FlierIrish international Van der Flier had a cracking game for Leinster as they beat Ospreys, scoring a try in each half.8. CJ StanderStander has made a big impression on Irish rugby in a short space of time, and performances like the one delivered against Edinburgh at the weekend will only cause his stock to rise even further. Stander made an astonishing 90 metres across 28 carries in the match. ' ' '