Heritage Bowl
Encyclopedia
The Heritage Bowl is a defunct NCAA
Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) bowl game
pitting a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference
(SWAC). It was hoped that it would become a true national championship game for historically black universities, but sometimes the conference champions declined the automatic bowl bid in order to participate in the NCAA's then-Division I-AA playoffs instead. This was an especially common issue for the MEAC, often leaving its runner-up to represent the conference in the bowl. Perhaps not coincidentally, the SWAC won most of the Heritage Bowls that were held. The game was played in Miami, Florida
, in 1991; Tallahassee, Florida
, in 1993; and Atlanta, Georgia
, from 1994–1999. The Heritage Bowl replaced the Pelican Bowl
, which pitted MEAC versus SWAC teams during the 1970s.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
pitting a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC) against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(SWAC). It was hoped that it would become a true national championship game for historically black universities, but sometimes the conference champions declined the automatic bowl bid in order to participate in the NCAA's then-Division I-AA playoffs instead. This was an especially common issue for the MEAC, often leaving its runner-up to represent the conference in the bowl. Perhaps not coincidentally, the SWAC won most of the Heritage Bowls that were held. The game was played in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in 1991; Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, in 1993; and Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, from 1994–1999. The Heritage Bowl replaced the Pelican Bowl
Pelican Bowl
The Pelican Bowl is a defunct NCAA Division II bowl game that pitted the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference to determine the black college football national championship in the United States between 1972–75. The game was won by...
, which pitted MEAC versus SWAC teams during the 1970s.
Overall results
| Date | SWAC Representative | MEAC Representative | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State | 36 | North Carolina A&T North Carolina A&T Aggies The North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Aggies are the athletic teams that represent North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. The Aggies compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and have... |
13 | Joe Robbie Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL Miami Gardens, Florida Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S... ) |
7,724 | |
| Grambling State Grambling State Tigers The Grambling Tigers represent Grambling State University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Grambling's sports teams participate in Division I as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference... |
45 | Florida A&M Florida A&M Rattlers The Florida A&M Rattlers represent Florida A&M University in college athletics. Florida A&M is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and participates in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . FAMU offers men's sports in baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming , tennis... |
15 | Bragg Memorial Stadium Bragg Memorial Stadium Bragg Memorial Stadium is a 25,500-seat football stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. It opened in 1957 and was renovated in 1982. It is home to the Florida A&M Rattlers football team.Built in 1957, Bragg Memorial Stadium is home to Florida A&M Football... (Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by... ) |
11,273 | |
| Southern Southern Jaguars The Southern Jaguars represent Southern University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics.-Conference affiliation:Southern University's athletic teams participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference which is a part of the NCAA Division I. Football participates in the Football Championship... |
11 | South Carolina State South Carolina State Bulldogs football The South Carolina State Bulldogs are the college football team representing the South Carolina State University. The Bulldogs play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1976*1977... |
0 | Georgia Dome Georgia Dome The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the... (Atlanta, GA) |
36,128 | |
| Grambling State | 27 | South Carolina State | 31 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | 22,179 | |
| Southern | 30 | Florida A&M | 25 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | 25,164 | |
| Southern | 24 | Howard Howard Bison football The Howard Bison are the college football team representing the Howard University. The Bison play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.-Alumni in the NFL:... |
27 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | 18,126 | |
| Southern | 34 | South Carolina State | 28 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | 32,629 | |
| Southern | 28 | Bethune–Cookman | 2 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | 32,955 | |
| Southern | 3 | Hampton | 24 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | 29,561 |