NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Marines attend the 46th annual Bayou Classic
For nearly two decades the U.S. Marine Corps has partnered with the Bayou Classic, participating in the various community events in an effort to increase awareness and brand exposure of the Marine Corps among athletes, influencers and spectators.
Founded in 1936, the Bayou Classic is one of the most renowned sporting and music events in the African American community, and is #1 ranked Historically Black Colleges and Universities Classic in the nation. The longstanding sports competition brings together two of Louisiana’s largest HBCUs, Southern University and Grambling State University, in a football game that is typically played Thanksgiving weekend.
“The Bayou Classic brings together not only Southern University and Grambling State University’s football teams, but their families, influencers and communities as well,” said Colonel Anthony Henderson, the Strategic Advisor and Marine Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. Henderson is a graduate of Southern University in 1989 and Southern University Law Center in 1993. “The Marine Corps’ partnership with the Bayou Classic gives us an opportunity to connect with this community of people and help them to understand who we really are and what we stand for.”
The event commenced Friday, November 29th with the Bayou Classic Greek Show and Battle of the Bands, which was sponsored by the Marine Corps. Saturday kicked off with the Bayou Classic Parade, which featured the Marine Forces Reserve Band. The day concluded with the football game played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome where the Southern University Jaguars edged out the Grambling State University Tigers with a 30 - 20 win.
Through a partnership with Bayou Classic, the Marines are looking to engage students and their influencers to influence them toward service as United States Marine. The Marine Corps Recruiting Command partnered with Bayou Classic to recognize and celebrate young people who display the qualities of leaders through their commitment to hard work in school as well as in their extracurricular activities.
“Returning to the Bayou Classic is an opportunity to continue to serve,” says Henderson. “I have the ability as a United States Marine to share both Marine Corps values and demonstrate the opportunities I was provided from HBCUs not only in education, but in growth and development in my own values.”