There are certain college football rivalries that resonate around the country.

There is Michigan vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Auburn and Notre Dame vs USC just to name a few.

However, there is another football rivalry based in Louisiana that over the years has become more than just a battle for bragging rights between two institutions. It has become the cornerstone event for both a city, and a culture.

In this all new edition of the Historically Speaking Sports podcast, the Sports History podcast that gives you the sports for back in the day, we will talk with author Tom Aiello and his book the History of the Bayou Classic.

The annual game between the Grambling State Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars evokes memories of great coaching matchups which featured the great Eddie Robinson and incomparable players on both sides with a good number of them reaching the pro football hall of fame.

Even though the game known as the Bayou Classic has been around since 1974, the rivalry between Southern and Grambling goes back nearly a century with a very interesting history and back story.

Along with the game there is a number of other events connected with the bayou classic that includes the Greek Show, job fair and the famous Battle of the bands.

Yet of course, what makes the game are the players. And some of the greatest players in NFL history have played in this game. In our shout out segment, we will highlight some of the players that have stared in this annual game that has become the biggest and most important football rivalry in the state of Louisiana.

All that and more in this all new edition of the historically Speaking Sports here on the sports history network.

To contact the show, please e-mail us at [email protected]

Here is the link to Tom Aiello's books: https://www.thomasaiellobooks.com/