Gary Langfield 
This year’s Chicago Football Classic (CFC) kicks off on Saturday, September 21st, marking the 26th year of providing scholarships to student athletes. I got the opportunity to attend this year’s press conference where sponsors and heavy hitting politicians gathered to highlight the progress and purpose of the Classic.
One of the main points being pushed during the press conference was that the Football Classic is more than just a football game. It’s an exhibit of Black excellence on multiple levels. The football classic is centered around education, helping young people go to school with scholarships sponsored by a variety of sources.
The CFC was created in 1997 by African American businessmen Larry Higgins, Everet Rand, and Tim Rand. The non-for-profit organization is dedicated to encouraging African American youth to achieve their personal best in school and beyond, empowering them to complete high school and attend an HBCU.
The sponsors who spoke at the recent Classic’s press conference consisted of Morehouse College, the Chicago Bears, Cubs, and BMO bank. Each sponsor explained their reasoning for investing, and most go above and beyond when it comes to aiding the young people. Morehouse College is putting on a college fair, partnering with BMO’s financial summit, that will be open to grades seven and beyond the morning of game day.
The Chicago Bears are contributing by hosting this year’s Classic at the Bears’ home stadium Soldier Field. The Classic gets to host not only the big game between the Morehouse Tigers and the Kentucky State Thoroughbreds, but the big college fair mentioned earlier as well.
At the press conference Huggins mentioned a future conversation he’s going to have with Bears CEO, Kevin Warren, about deepening the connection even more. Huggins mentioned Warren’s interest in making the Bears the lead sponsor of the Classic, making history as the first NFL team to endorse a Classic.
The massive support from the Bears and other amazing sponsors will only provide more scholarships to more deserving students across Chicago. If you want to support the CFC, go to www.chicagofootballclassic.org and buy tickets to the upcoming game. Morehouse Tigers will kick off against the Kentucky State Thoroughbreds at 3:30 this Saturday.
By Gary Langfield Jr.
@ima_menace19
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