Buildup for Down East Viking Football Classic begins

June 18, 2003

By DAVID HUBBARD
DailyAdvance.com

ROCKY MOUNT — It takes a lot to get a news conference called in June for an October football game.

In short, it takes a classic — The Down East Viking Football Classic to be exact.

Representatives from Rocky Mount's government, along with Elizabeth City State University officials, were on hand Tuesday afternoon at City Hall to announce the upcoming festivities for the fifth annual classic, which will be played on Oct. 4.

"It's hard to believe that over six years ago, somebody planted the seed," Rocky Mount mayor Fred Turnage said. "What about a football game off campus in a town that doesn't have college football? From that seed grew the Down East Football Classic...

"This really represents effective partnership between Elizabeth City and the city of Rocky Mount," ECSU chancellor Mickey Burnim said.

"It's something that we look forward to continuing. It is called a classic, and it's really deserving of that name. It will be successful again this year."

Claudie Mackey, ECSU athletic director Edward McLean and Rocky Mount assistant city manager Charles Penny were the ones who planted the seed six years ago, and the event has just taken off since.

"It was still stable the very first year because we knew it was going to be," said Julia Congleton-Bryant, the co-chair of the Classic. "We were going to make it happen. We hope to make this the best classic yet, and it's only going to get better...

"We are so proud once again to be a part of all the excitement that this wonderful area has to offer."

"It is wonderful," Burnim added. "We had a lot of uncertainty at the beginning. The sponsorship, would people show up. But seeing how everyone has stepped up — all of those pieces were critical in the development to this point."

It's a win-win situation for all parties involved. ECSU gets a wonderful alumni gathering and much-desired exposure for potential students.

Rocky Mount, in turn, gets a nice shot-in-the-arm economically, as some 10,000 spectators come with their wallets open and ready.

"It is so productive for both sides," Burnim said. "Hopefully, we can continue the long-term development of this wonderful relationship."

On Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., ECSU will take on N.C. Central at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. The Vikings alternate months and opponents every other year, generally playing Fayetteville State in September and N.C. Central in October.

The Vikings have yet to win their own classic in four tries.

"We are already scouting and preparing for this game — scouting them as we speak," McLean said. "We expect to win, we will win and we must win. So we better win. We're ready...

"We plan to have a great time, though. It really is a pleasure to be a part of this event, and it's a great opportunity for all of us to experience Rocky Mount."

Football, however, is only the nucleus of all the activities. On Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., there will be an ECSU recruitment reception at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. At 5:30 p.m., an NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition — a free youth football clinic — will be held at Englewood Park.

On Oct. 3 at 11 a.m., the Down East Classic Golf Challenge will begin. The site will be announced. Also on Oct. 3-4, there will be evening alumni mixers, in addition to a number of invitation-only events.

On Oct. 4, an all-day tailgating party kicks off at 7 a.m. at the RM Complex, and a charity Shopping Spree will begin at SteinMart at 8 a.m.

"There were a number of goals and visions (when the classic began)," Turnage said. "The football game was the heart of it of course, but we didn't want it to be just football."