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HEART OF THE MAGIC CITY. <ASU MARCHING HORNETS BATTLE BATTLE 5064 IF THE TEAM DOESN’T WIN, WE STILL WINNING HEART OF THE MAGIC CITY. IF THE TEAM DOESN’T WIN, WE STILL WIN. NO, THERE IS NO OTHER EXPERIENCE AS THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC WITH GAME DAY RITUALS PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. IT’S THE CAMARADERIE. IT’S THE FELLOWSHIP. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THEIR FAMILY REUNIONS THAT ARE BUILT HERE, THERE WERE MARRIAGES THAT WERE PROPOSALS THAT HAPPENED HERE FROM THE FANS IN THE STANDS TO THE LEGACY OF LEGION FIELD. WHEN I WENT TO MY FIRST MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, I WENT TO THAT TO THE GAME IN THAT STADIUM. �������� 13 PRESENTS TOUCHDOWNS AND TRADITIONS. THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC. YOU KNOW, THE COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF FOR THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC IS ON LIVE AT LEGION FIELD. IM GUY RAWLINGS AND IM SHERI FALK. SUCH AN EXCITING TIME. EVERYBODY’S GETTING PUMPED UP AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE BIGGEST HBCU CLASSIC IN THE COUNTRY, WITH THE LITTLE TONI BRAXTON IN THE BACKGROUND. THERE YOU GO. THEY’VE BEEN PLAYING GREAT MUSIC ALL AFTERNOON LONG. WE CAN’T HELP BUT JAM OUT A LITTLE BIT. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BREAK HERE? WE’RE STILL ABOUT 20 HOURS AWAY FROM THIS YEAR’S LONG AWAITED MATCHUP. THE CLASSIC OF COURSE EVENTS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY HERE AT THE FIELD, AND YOU’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT SOME OF THE FANFARE AHEAD OF THIS BIG GAME. AND AS SHERRI MENTIONED, THIS IS THE LARGEST HBCU CLASSIC IN THE COUNTRY. IT BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 200,000 PEOPLE HERE IN THE MAGIC CITY EVERY YEAR. IT’S A FUN, FUN WEEK OF EVENTS. AND SINCE 1940, ALABAMA A&M AND ALABAMA STATE HAVE GONE HEAD TO HEAD HERE AT LEGION FIELD. THE BULLDOGS AND THE HORNETS, THE TWO LARGEST HBCUS IN THE STATE. THERE ARE 14 HBCUS IN THE STATE. THESE ARE THE TWO LARGEST. THE WINNER COULD EARN A SPOT IN THE SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THE ANNUAL TRADITION HAS ONLY BEEN INTERRUPTED ONCE SINCE BEING PUT ON PAUSE FOR WORLD WAR TWO. AND THAT WAS IN 2020, AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT THE FIRST GAME BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS WAS ACTUALLY IN 1924. TODAY, THE CLASSIC IS A BELOVED TRADITION SURROUNDED BY COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE THE PARADE, THE TAILGATE PARTIES AND OF COURSE, THE FAMED HALFTIME SHOW. BY THE MIGHTY MARCHING HORNETS AND THE MARCHING MAROON AND WHITE. BUT BEFORE THE BANDS TAKE TO THE FIELD FANS OVER IN LEGION FIELD ARE, OF COURSE, PARTYING AT TAILGATES. OH YEAH, SOME JOKINGLY SAY ACTUALLY, SERIOUSLY, SAY THAT THE TAILGATING IS JUST AS BIG AS THE GAME. IN FACT, YOU MIGHT SAY IT’S EVEN BIGGER. �������� 13 ERIN LLEWELLYN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS LONG TRADITION. WE ARE ABOUT TO GET IT IN WHEN IT COMES TO LAST SATURDAY IN THIS MOUNTAIN HERE WE ÎLE WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WHOLE WEEK. WE JUST READY FOR CLASSIC BAM. IT’S A GREAT TIME OF THE YEAR. ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS. MAGIC CITY CLASSIC TAILGATE IS A TRADITION SPANNING GENERATIONS. IT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS. BEING A PART OF THINGS THAT WE’VE SEEN OUR OUR UNCLES OR AUNTS AND NOW WE’RE GETTING READY. WE’RE DOING IT. OUR KIDS ARE OUT HERE. PERCY JONES GRADUATED FROM ALABAMA A&M, BUT HE’S BEEN TAILGATING FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER. GROWING UP IN BUSH HILLS, I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS SLINGING TOWELS, TELLING FOLKS WHERE TO PARK TO THE POINT WHERE WE’RE NOW GRADUATING FROM THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND OUT HERE TAKING OUR PLACE, TAILGATING AND ENJOYING LIFE FOR ALABAMA STATE, THE HOT SAUCE FOR IRONDALE. IT WOULD MAKE ME EITHER. AND HE JUST MADE THAT UP FOR HIM AND HIS FRIEND JACKIE ROBINSON. THEIR TAILGATING TRADITION WAS BORN OUT OF FRIENDSHIP. I TRAINED THIS GUY RIGHT AT THE COMPANY THAT I WORK FOR, AND ONE YEAR HE WAS LIKE, HEY, I’M THINKING ABOUT DOING A CLASSIC TAILGATE. YOU WANT TO DO IT? AND I HAD BEEN TAILGATING WITH SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT STOPPED TAILGATING, AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH, SURE, LET’S DO IT. AND EVEN THOUGH ROBINSON GRADUATED FROM UAB, YES, I DID NOT GO TO A HBCU. SHE FEELS DEEPLY ROOTED TO ALABAMA A&M. SHE SAYS HER BROTHER IN LAW STARTED THEIR FAMILY LEGACY AS THE HEAD DRUM MAJOR BACK IN THE DAY. NOW, HER NIECE IS A MEMBER OF THE MARCHING MAROON AND WHITE BAND. I AM A BULLDOG, OKAY? I’M A BAD, BAD BULLDOG. CLASSIC FANS SAY NO MATTER WHICH TEAM YOU’RE CHEERING ON, FOOD, FUN AND FOOTBALL ARE CENTRAL TO THE EXPERIENCE. I WAS JUST COOKING A FEW RIBS TODAY. SMOKING THEM SO I COULD MAKE THEM TALK TO ME. WE GOT THE BABY SPOUSE HERE WITH MY SPECIAL SAUCE AND SEASON YOU AIN’T GONNA NEED NO SAUCE FOR THESE HERE AZJA VILLE GOING ON. AND WE GOT MY MAN WHITLOCK SPECIAL CHILI. WE GONNA PUT THAT THERE AND LET IT SIMMER A LITTLE BIT. OF COURSE YOU WANT YOUR TEAM TO WIN, BUT WHOEVER COME OUT AND DON’T WIN, YOU KNOW, YOU BE LIKE, GOOD GAME. WE COME BACK NEXT YEAR, WE WALK BY AND OF COURSE YOU TALK JUNK. YOU KNOW, WE GONNA DO THIS. WE GONNA DO THIS. BUT IT’S OUR LOVE. MANY PEOPLE SAY AFTER THE TOUCHDOWNS WERE SCORED AND THE TAILGATE IS OVER, IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING A FAMILY. MY BROTHER GRADUATED FROM ALABAMA STATE AS A. SO DID A LOT OF FOLKS IN MY FAMILY. SO I CAN’T SAY THE HOUSE IS DIVIDED. MAYBE WE JUST GOT BRICKS FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT IT’S ALL ONE HOUSE, ONE UNITY. MONICA BRADLEY’S HOUSE CHANGED IN 2017 WHEN SHE LOST HER DAUGHTER, JASMINE MARSHALL. SHE WAS A BIG I MEAN, WHEN I SAY YOU SAY LSU, SHE BE LIKE THE ASU. MARSHALL GRADUATED FROM ALABAMA STATE A YEAR PRIOR AND NOW BRADLEY IS ENJOYING LIFE FOR HER AND CARRYING ON THE TRADITION IN HER HONOR. IT IS A BIG THING, AND TO KEEP HER MEMORY GOING ALSO TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE ALWAYS LIKE SHE’S GOING TO MAKE SURE SHE BE AT CLASS. AND THIS IS YOUR DAY RIGHT HERE, RIGHT? OKAY. AND THEN WHICH ONE IS YOUR. IT’S MY GRANDDADDY. BUT BRADLEY SAYS CELEBRATING MAGIC CITY CLASSIC WAS A TRADITION FOR HER FAMILY LONG BEFORE THEN, WITH HER PARENTS AT THE HELM. WE JUST LSU FANS. MY PARENTS ALWAYS BEEN AN ASU FAN, SO WE JUST CONTINUE THE TRADITION AND I TELL MY KIDS WHEN I’M GONE, Y’ALL GOT TO CONTINUE TO. IN BIRMINGHAM, AARON LLEWELLYN, �������� 13. SO THERE’S A LOT OF TAILGATING GOING ON. I HOPE THOSE FOLKS ARE STAYING HYDRATED. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. YEAH, I’M A LITTLE PARCHED MYSELF RIGHT NOW. NOT GOING TO LIE. YOU KNOW, AARON MENTIONED IN THE STORY A LOT ABOUT FAMILY AND TRADITION. AND WE MENTIONED THAT TOO. THAT’S THE ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT THE CLASSIC IS THAT EVERYBODY’S FAMILY HERE, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT BLOOD, YOU BECOME FAMILY. EVERYBODY WELCOMES YOU INTO THEIR TENT WITH COME HERE AND TRY THESE RIBS. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE GIVE ME RIBS EVERY YEAR. YEAH, GREAT FOOD, GREAT DRINKS. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, CAMARADERIE. YOU CAN’T. IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THAT. OH, YEAH? WELL, HEY, EVEN BEYOND THE TAILGATING, THE CLASSIC DRAWS FANS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, MAKING FOR A STAR STUDDED EVENT AT TIMES. HERE’S A LOOK AT JUST A FEW OF THE OFFICIAL CELEBRITY AMBASSADORS OVER THE YEARS. DON CHEADLE, LUDACRIS LEUTA, ICE CUBE, WENDY WILLIAMS, MAGIC JOHNSON PLUS BIRMINGHAM’S VERY OWN RUBEN STUDDARD, WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED IN THIS GAME, AND THE LATE, GREAT WILLIE MAYS. MAYS SERVED AS THE AMBASSADOR IN THE YEAR 2000. YEAH, AND YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR’S AMBASSADOR FROM THE TV SERIES POWER. OMARI HARDWICK WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER ON THE MCDONALD’S FLOAT DURING TOMORROW’S PARADE. AND OF COURSE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ALUMNUS OF EITHER INSTITUTION TO CREATE SOME LONG LASTING MEMORIES. BUT OF COURSE, IT DOESN’T HURT. YEAH. YOU KNOW, LARRY THORNTON IS A DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY. HE HELPED CREATE NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, HIS STORIED CAREER IS ONE FOR THE BOOKS. YOU HEAR SOME GUYS WHO SAY, MAN CAVE. WELL, THIS IS MY SANCTUARY. THIS IS WHERE LARRY THORNTON COMES TO CREATE DRAWING BOARD RIGHT THERE. GET A CHANCE TO LOOK OUT AND PEER OVER THE WATERS. I LOVE OILS, I LOVE ACRYLICS, BUT THE PENCIL IS MY THING. PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT I DO FROM A SERIOUS PERSPECTIVE IS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS PENCIL. HIS STUDIO IS SET UP ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF HIS LAY LAKE HOME. MOST PEOPLE RACE TO THE LAKE TO GET ON THEIR BOATS. OKAY, I RACED TO THE LAKE TO GET TO MY DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I’M ABOUT TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL AND ADD VALUE. ADDING VALUE IS ALL LARRY’S EVER DONE. HE WORKED HIS WAY UP FROM A $5 AN HOUR JOB TO BECOME AN EXECUTIVE FOR COCA-COLA. SO I’M NOW ADVERTISING MANAGER. WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO, I GET A COMPANY CAR WITH A CAR PHONE. OUR LISTENERS WILL PROBABLY NOT KNOW WHAT A CAR PHONE IS, BUT IT WAS A BIG DEAL IN THAT DAY. HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO OPEN A MCDONALD’S FRANCHISE IN BIRMINGHAM. I HAD BEEN WORKING FOR COCA-COLA AT THAT TIME FOR 15 YEARS, AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SWITCH OVER NOW AND GO TO WORK FOR RONALD MCDONALD WAS APPEALING. HE’S SINCE OWNED SEVERAL, AND WHEN HE TRIED TO QUIT COCA-COLA TO FOCUS ON THE HAMBURGER JOINTS, I GO IN TO THE PRESIDENT AND I’M TURNING IN MY RESIGNATION, HE SAYS, NO, WE’RE NOT TAKING YOUR RESIGNATION. WE WANT YOU TO STAY WITH US. AND SO THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT GUY IS THAT I HAVE BEEN LEAVING COCA-COLA FOR 45 YEARS, AND TODAY I AM STILL WITH COCA-COLA, COCA-COLA AND MCDONALD’S. TWO GLOBAL BRANDS ALREADY IN PARTNERSHIP AND SOME 20 YEARS AGO, THE ALABAMA STATE ALUM LEVERAGED HIS AFFILIATIONS TO ADD VALUE TO ANOTHER BELOVED CONNECTION, BRINGING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THIS LONGTIME STATE FOOTBALL RIVALRY. THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC AND I GRADUATED FROM ONE OF THESE FINE INSTITUTIONS, AND I HAVE A SPECIAL HEART FOR THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT BOTH OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND ANY HBCU, THORNTON SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ALABAMA SPORTS COUNCIL, WHICH PRODUCES THE CLASSIC ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOLS, BIRMINGHAM BASED EVENTING SPORTS MANAGES THE EVENT WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PERRIN KING. LARRY IS SINGLE HANDEDLY THE REASON THAT I FEEL AS CONFIDENT AS I DO, AND BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT BOTH BRANDS THE WAY THAT WE DO FROM DRIVING NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKING SURE THAT ALL WERE ENGAGED. I CAN’T THINK OF AN AREA THAT HE DOES NOT TOUCH. MCDONALD’S MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA GUY. IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. KIPCHOGE I MENTIONED LARRY’S STORIED CAREER. HE ACTUALLY WROTE A BOOK ABOUT IT. IT’S CALLED WHY NOT WIN? AND HE SHARES STORIES OF HIS SUCCESS IN HOPES TO SHARE THOSE IDEAS WITH OTHERS TO PROSPER, TOO. I’M SURE HE’S GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS. OH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT TOMORROW’S MATCHUP IS ANYONE’S GAME. WITH THE TWO TEAMS ALWAYS IN CLOSE COMPETITION. SO HERE’S A LOOK AT THE ALL TIME RECORD. ALABAMA A&M LEADS THE SERIES WITH 43 WINS TO ALABAMA STATE’S 36 WITH THREE TIES. BUT OF COURSE THAT RECORD WILL LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT COME TOMORROW NIGHT. STILL AHEAD ON THE FIELD WITH THE MIGHTY MARCHING HORNETS AND THE MARCHING MAROON AND WHITE. WHEN IT BECOMES CLASS TIME, EVERYBODY IN THE BAND KNOWS THIS. IT’S TIME TO LOCK IN AND FOCUS. IT ALWAYS GETS REAL RIGOROUS AROUND THESE TIMES. WE’LL TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BOTH BANDS AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THE FAMOUS HALFTIME SHOW. YOU’RE WATCHING �������� 13 NEWS. AT. DAVISON DESIRAE PHOENIX WASHINGTON BIBB CITY. AND WELCOME BACK IN TO OUR LIVE SPECIAL FROM LEGION FIELD. WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE 83RD MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, AND THE PARTY IS ALREADY UNDERWAY OUT HERE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF LEGION FIELD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GREATEST PARTS ABOUT THIS GAME IS THE MARCHING BANDS. SOME WOULD SAY IT’S THE BEST PART OF THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC FROM THE PARADE TO THE STADIUM, THE MARCHING HORNETS AND THE MARCHING MAROON AND WHITE BANDS, THEY ARE READY FOR BATTLE. ��������13’S JARVIS ROBERTSON DROVE ALL THE WAY UP TO HUNTSVILLE AND DOWN TO MONTGOMERY TO FIND OUT HOW THE BANDS PREPARE FOR BATTLE. THESE TWO BANDS. ONE GOAL TO DOMINATE THE LARGEST HBCU FANFARE OF THE YEAR. WHEN IT BECOMES CLASSIC TIME, EVERYBODY IN THE BAND KNOWS THIS. IT’S TIME TO LOCK IN AND FOCUS. IT ALWAYS GETS REAL RIGOROUS AROUND THESE TIMES. I’M EXCITED TO PUT A WHOOPING ON A&M. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PERFORMANCES BECAUSE IT’S A VERY BIG RECRUITMENT FOR US. STUDENTS FROM ALABAMA A&M AND ALABAMA STATE UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MOMENT OF PREPARATION IS ALL ABOUT. THIS ISN’T KAMREN JOHNSON’S FIRST MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, BUT HIS FACE WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST. YOU SEE MARCHING INTO LEGION FIELD AS A DRUM MAJOR. IT’S LIKE YOU GOT TO BE POINT ON WITH IT. YOU’RE THE ONE LEADING THEM INTO BATTLE. AND IF YOU DON’T LOOK RIGHT, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EXPECT YOUR FELLOW BANDSMEN TO BE RIGHT? THAT’S WHY EVERYONE IS EXPECTED TO BRING THEIR A-GAME DURING PRACTICE. IT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT LITERAL BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS. OUR MOTTO IS THE PRICE OF GLORY IS HIGH. WHAT IS THE STRESS LIKE PREPARING FOR THIS? WHO WILL YOU ASK? BIG QUESTION THERE MAN. THE STRESS IS HIGH. THIS WILL BE DOCTOR JAMES OLIVER’S 25TH YEAR DIRECTING THE MIGHTY MARCHING HORNETS, BUT HIS STORY WITH ALABAMA STATE DATES BACK TO THE 1970S, WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT PERCUSSIONIST. THIS MONTGOMERY NATIVE UNDERSTANDS THE FANS ARE EXPECTING TOP NOTCH ENTERTAINMENT. FOR THAT REASON, HIS PREPARATION STARTED MONTHS AGO. I WROTE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC SHOW OUT IN JULY. THAT WAS DONE IN JULY. NORMALLY THEY PRACTICE ABOUT FOUR HOURS A DAY, 6 P.M. UNTIL 10 P.M. BUT THIS WEEK DEMANDED MORE. WE PUT IN EXTRA TIME. WE’RE ONLY GOING TO DO EIGHT MINUTES, BUT IT TAKES EVERY DAY FROM THAT MONDAY TO THAT FRIDAY. WHILE THE RIVALRY IS INTENSE, AT THE CENTER OF IT, A SPECIAL BOND JUST GO WAY BACK. IT’S THE HISTORY THROUGH THE YEARS. DOCTOR OLIVER AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD FRIENDS. LET’S DO THE LAST SHOW. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT ON THE TOP. THIS IS OUR BIGGEST RIVAL FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA. AS FAR AS HBCUS ARE CONCERNED. CARLTON WRIGHT HAS BEEN THE BAND DIRECTOR AT ALABAMA A&M FOR 11 YEARS, AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE MARCHING MAROON AND WHITE BACK IN THE 1980S. HIS BAND STARTED TO ZONE IN ON CLASSIC ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, ESPECIALLY COMING OFF OF A BYE WEEK TO PUT ON A SHOW IN THAT ARENA AT LEGION FIELD, THE HISTORIC LEGION FIELD. IT REALLY FEELS MAGICAL. IT FEELS GREAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BAND IS PREPARED AND THE STUDENTS KNOW THEIR ASSIGNMENT AND THEY EXECUTE THE ASSIGNMENT VERY WELL. COME SATURDAY, WHEN THE ANTICIPATION MEETS THE MOMENT, IT’LL MOST DEFINITELY BE A SHOWDOWN. NEITHER DIRECTOR WOULD TELL US EXACTLY WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO FOR HALFTIME, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT OUR MARCHING THEME SONG IS BACKSTABBER. SO WHEN WE MARCH INTO LEGION FIELD, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING FOR AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD. ECHOING THROUGH THE TUNNEL OR THROUGH THE STADIUM, AND PEOPLE ARE LINED UP ON THE SIDEWALKS JUST, JUST WATCHING AND WAITING AND CHEERING US ON. IT’S 360 STEPS PER MINUTE. OUR FAST MARCH, OUR MARCHING STYLE, HOW WE MARCHED, I MEAN, WE’RE THE HORNETS, SO WE DO MARCH, YOU KNOW, WITH A WING. BOTH BANDS KNOW THEIR HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF. IT’S ALSO WHAT MAKES BOTH BANDS STAND TALL IN THIS TRADITION. ALL GOOD THINGS TAKE PATIENCE. YOU KNOW. SO LEARNING ALL THE DRILLS, THE MUSIC, ALL THAT STUFF TAKES PATIENCE. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE PATIENCE, ALL OF IT COMES TOGETHER. SO FROM THE PARADE TO THE STADIUM ENTRANCE TO THE FIELD SHOW, BOTH SIDES AGREE THAT THIS IS A HIGH STAKES MAGIC CITY CLASSIC. THEY PLAN TO LEAVE EVERYTHING ON THE FIELD FOR YOU TO DECIDE WHO WAS THE BEST. JARVIS ROBERTSON, �������� 13. I KNOW THAT WAS JARVIS PLAYING. I CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK AND WATCH THAT. I LOVE TO WATCH HIM IN ACTION. ALL RIGHT. WE WANT TO SEND IT BACK INTO THE STUDIO AND GET A CHECK ON YOUR FORECAST WITH JORDAN WEST. YEAH. HOW ARE WE LOOKING FOR GAME DAY WEATHER JORDAN. WELL, IT SHOULD BE REALLY NICE. LOTS OF SUNSHINE. TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO CLIMB TO THE MID 80S. WE HAVE A PARADE STARTING OUT 8 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID 60S. THAT’S REALLY GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE. BUT AS I JUST SAID, BY KICKOFF TIME 230. TEMPERATURES CLIMBING TO THE MID 80S. LOTS OF SUNSHINE. YOU WON’T NEED THE RAIN JACKET. YOU WON’T NEED THE UMBRELLA. JUST GO OUT THERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. AFTER THE GAME. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP ONCE THE SUN SETS. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO DROP, BUT AS WE MOVE INTO SUNDAY, THINGS CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. GOT A COLD FRONT COMING IN FROM THE NORTH, MOVING SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE DAY. ISOLATED SHOWERS, TEMPERATURES CLIMBING SLOWLY TO THE UPPER SECONDS. A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOUD COVER IN THE PICTURE AND WARMER TO THE SOUTH WHERE TEMPERATURES CLIMB TO THE MID 80S. SO ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE OVERALL. SUNDAY NOT A WASHOUT. THE REST OF THIS WEEK. LOOKING GREAT. UPPER 70S MONDAY AND TUESDAY. LOTS OF SUNSHINE. BY HALLOWEEN WE’RE BACK IN THE LOWER 80S. OVERALL, A QUIET HALLOWEEN NIGHT. GUY CHARI. ALL RIGHT, JORDAN, THANKS. BACK HERE AT LEGION FIELD, THE FANS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE ACTUAL STADIUM IS TO THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC. YEAH, BUT BEYOND THE CLASSIC, THE OLD GRAY LADY IS ACTUALLY A GREAT STAPLE FOR LOCAL SPORTING EVENTS. AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE’LL GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THE LASTING LEGACY OF LEGION FIELD. HEATH ROE VS. WADE WILL WELCOME BACK LIVE TO LEGION FIELD. YOU KNOW THIS STADIUM HAS PLAYED HOST TO COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF TRIUMPHS OF HEARTACHES AND MOMENTS OF UNITY FOR NEARLY OVER A CENTURY. YEAH. CERTAINLY HAS. AND HISTORICALLY CALLED OLD GRAY LADY, AS WE ALL KNOW IT HAS SERVED AS HOLLOW GROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF SPORTS FANS AND FOR THE PLAYERS. SINCE OPENING ITS GATES IN 1927, THIS STADIUM, NAMED AFTER THE AMERICAN LEGION, HAS SEEN IT ALL FROM THE RISE OF THE CRIMSON TIDE. 315 WINS TO THE ANNUAL IRON BOWL RIVALRY. THEY GOT IT BLOCKED KICK EVEN REACHING THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT DURING THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPICS. THE LEGION FIELD HAS HAS HELD DOWN MANY EVENTS, NOT ONLY FOOTBALL. WE HOST CONCERTS, WE’VE HOST FESTIVALS. ALTHOUGH THE NEARLY CENTURY OLD VENUE ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE. BIRMINGHAM PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR SHANI EVANS BENNETT SAYS IT REMAINS A SYMBOL OF PRIDE AND TRADITION FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS WILL BE THE 83RD MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, SO THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES WITHIN ITSELF. TO COME BACK 83 TIMES, I DO THINK THAT LEGION FIELD BRINGS SOME MAGIC TO MAGIC CITY, AND IT’S SUCH A GREAT PLACE. CITY COUNCILOR CRYSTAL SMITHERMAN GREW UP ON BIRMINGHAM’S WEST SIDE, AND HAS FOND MEMORIES OF ATTENDING EVENTS HERE. SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OLD GRAY LADY CONTINUE TO PLAY A ROLE IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS PRESERVED, BUT TO BE LIKE A MULTI-SPORT STADIUM WHERE WE CAN INCORPORATE A FLAG FOOTBALL, SOCCER, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF WHERE KIDS CAN COME HERE AND REALLY BE ABLE TO TRAIN AND FALL IN LOVE WITH LEGION FIELD THE WAY I HAVE. RECENT RENOVATIONS HAVE IMPROVED THE STADIUM’S LIGHTS, SKYBOXES, AND CONCESSION STANDS, AND BENNETT SAYS AS THEY PREPARE FOR ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY, THERE ARE PLANS FOR EVEN MORE UPGRADES. OUR MAYOR’S OFFICE AND OUR BOARD IS IS CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH US ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS STADIUM, AND WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEM FOR PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE STADIUM. WE LOVE LEGION FIELD. WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. I DO BELIEVE THE TEN OF US WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR LEGION FIELD. SO FOR BOTH OF THESE LADIES, THE MISSION TO PRESERVE THIS STADIUM IS REALLY PERSONAL. IT WAS INTERESTING TO LEARN THEIR STORIES AND HOW THEY BOTH GREW UP REALLY BEING A PART OF WHAT GOES ON HERE. MCNAY HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE ACTUALLY USED TO CHEER INSIDE THE STADIUM WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY NEAT. AS GENERATIONS OF PASSION TIED TO THIS GAME. ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER A QUICK BREAK. EMELLE NEEDHAM. DID YOU CARE ABOUT THIS GAME BEYOND THE FOOD, FOLKS AND FUN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAKE SURE THIS TRADITION ACTUALLY HELPS FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY. YEAH, WE’VE BEEN COVERING JUST A FEW OF THOSE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT GIVE BACK TO THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM FROM INVESTING IN WOMEN WORKING IN REAL ESTATE TO PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO HBCU STUDENTS. MANY OF THE GATHERINGS DURING THE CLASSIC WEEK CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, AND THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC. ALL THE DETAILS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE. �������� 13.COM OR ON THE FREE �������� 13 APP. THERE YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON EVENTS, PARKING TICKETS, TAILGATING AND MORE. IT’S BEEN SO MUCH FUN HANGING OUT HERE WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON. I KNOW ALWAYS A PLEASURE. I’M SO GLAD WE GET THIS FUN JOB FINALLY! THAT’S OUR TIME FOR THE MAGIC CITY CLASS