PHOTO/JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY

The 1916 Biddle Institute football team posed in front of the Carnegie Building on campus. Biddle, now Johnson C. Smith University, played Livingstone College in the first game between historically black colleges on Dec. 27, 1892.

Black college football’s 125th birthday bash is Saturday.

Johnson C. Smith and Livingtone, which played the first game on Dec. 27, 1892, will renew the oldest rivalry between HBCUs at the Commemorative Classic in Salisbury. When Biddle Institute (now JCSU) and Livingstone kicked off that day, they launched a colorful chapter in the game’s history.

“As a coach and being in the midst of this thing, I certainly think about it,” JCSU coach Kermit Blount told the Sports Charlotte podcast in August. “It’s a historic moment I never really thought about until I got here. As a student athlete, I played against Smith and didn’t realize the history behind the program but now that I’m here as the head coach, it plays on my mind a bunch that this program actually kicked it off.”

The first game, played on Livingstone’s front lawn in a snowstorm, was bare bones. Women students in Livingstone’s industrial arts program stitched uniforms for the teams, who pooled their money to buy a regulation ball. Biddle won 5-0 on fullback William Metz's touchdown, kicking off a legacy as familiar as cheerleaders and high-stepping marching bands.

JCSU, which formed a team in 1890, issued a challenge to Livingstone for a game and hundreds of curious spectators traveled on foot, by horse and mule to see the spectacle, played in 45-minute halves. Like any significant game, there was a bit of controversy. Livingstone’s William Trent scooped up a fumble and ran in for a game-tying touchdown, but Biddle argued he was out of bounds. The official examined the snow-covered markings, and agreed with Biddle.  
Biddle banned football shortly thereafter because of its violent nature, but returned to the gridiron in 1911 and the schools resumed their rivalry in the annual Turkey Day Classic.  JCSU leads the series 49-31-3.

“When I got here, I didn’t know that much about the school, actually, but once I learned it in my seminar class, I was like ‘Wow,’” Golden Bulls safety Carlo Thomas said. “Coming up on our 125th anniversary, I’m a part of history, a great history not just black college football but black coaches as well. I’m just happy to be here and part of history.”

Football has come a long way since Livingstone’s lawn, where a plaque serves as silent tribute.  The rivalry remains, even for a couple of programs with a win between them in 2017.  The Golden Bulls (1-8, 1-5 CIAA) want to close the season on a positive note against the 0-9, 0-6 Blue Bears.

“We’re sitting at a historic place at a historic moment at a historic time,” Blount said, “so it means a bunch to us to try to make sure we’re preparing these young guys to go to battle and try to get it done.

“Players probably think about it a little less than coaches. They’re in the moment and I’m sure in the back of their minds they’ll think about it but as the head football coach, I think about it a little more.”

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