Heritage/Alamo Bowl

The Heritage Bowl was the brainchild of MEAC Commissioner Ken Free, and with the help of SWAC Commissioner James Frank, the matchups pitted teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Even though it was touted as the Black College National championship game, there were a conference misalignment which resulted in conference champions declining the automatic bowl bid in order to participate in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The MEAC often deferred and sent its runner-up to the bowl. As a result, the SWAC won most of the Heritage Bowls. The game was held in several locations like Miami, Florida (1991); Tallahassee, Florida (1993); and Atlanta, Georgia, (1994–99). The Heritage Bowl replaced the Pelican Bowl, which hosted the MEAC- SWAC teams in the 1970’s.  [ezcol_1third] The MEAC often deferred and sent its runner-up to the bowl. As a result, the SWAC won most of the  Heritage Bowls. The game was held in several locations like Miami, Florida (1991); Tallahassee, Florida (1993); and Atlanta, Georgia, (1994–99). The Heritage Bowl replaced the Pelican Bowl, which hosted the MEAC- SWAC teams in the 1970’s. 

 The Pelican Bowl     1972–75
The predecessor of the Heritage Bowl, which pitted the MEAC and SWAC Champions.  From it’s inception, there were logistical problems despite having Grambling State, the reigning Black College National Champions two years in a row. In the three-year existence of the classic, they drew less than 60,000 -the 1974 game alone accounting for more than 30,000 fans. That end of the season classic victory was no. 236 for Grambling legendary head coach Eddie Robinson. In the 1974 game, Southern (second in the SWAC) defeated SC State in the final showcase because the SWAC Champions Grambling opted to participate in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.