Birmingham Police Sgt. DeMarcus Brown spent some of his formative years in Smithfield and has fond memories of the Magic City Classic.
“We came out here for the funnel cakes and the turkey legs,” the 38-year-old said. “To this day, I still enjoy it. It just so happens I have to work it. It’s still a blessing being able to see it.”
As a child, Brown looked up to the upper reaches of Legion Field. Saturday, he gained a new perspective as he was assigned to the press box level, which proved to be eye opening.
“I just didn’t realize Legion Field stadium is this high,” he said. “My knees still buckle when I come up this high but it’s still a blessing to be up here in the press box.”
The law officer acknowledged that he had a different perspective of the game as a uniformed officer.
“But when you love it and you see people enjoying themselves tailgating and sipping on whatever they’ve got to sip on as long as they’re safe with boundaries and enjoying each other with no issues, I love it,” he said. “I love to see people enjoying themselves. There are a lot of events and a lot of sponsors around here. All different ethnicities. It’s well respected here.”
The 83rd edition of the McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola went the way of the Hornets as Alabama State beat Alabama A&M 27-19 before an announced crowd of 69,125.
ASU’s Daquon Kincey led the Hornet offense with 156 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Kareem Keye completed 14 of 20 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns as Alabama State (4-3, 3-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference) won its third straight Magic City Classic.
Alabama A&M, which won four Classics in a row before the current streak, fell to 3-4, 1-2.
Phillip Jackson was blocks south of the stadium at his home on Fourth Avenue West. The 70-year-old contractor said he’s lived there for 40 years, dating back to when the Graymont Neighborhood was 80% white.
“There ain’t nothing wrong with this,” he said. “I love to see people enjoy themselves. But … the parking is nonsense. All these vacant houses. I’d build a parking deck and get 200, 300 cars or more. There are ways of doing it.”
Cashing In on the Fever
Elder Dedrick Cain was a few blocks away in the parking lot of Titusville AOH Church of God. The church relocated from its original home in Titusville to the area near Legion Field and became part of the Classic.
Cain called the annual game that blocks streets in the adjoining neighborhoods a blessing for people “who aren’t irritated and bothered by it.
“It gives them a blessing or revenue where they can park cars on their property or their lot,” he said. “That provides them with an atmosphere of being part of the Classic and they provide a service to the people.
“It’s a blessing to the church as well, and the money’s going toward a positive upgrade,” Cain continued. “Some people may think it’s an irritating bother. It’s been an ongoing, standing tradition here. And it’s only once a year. It’s a seven-day long extravaganza but it’s only once a year.”
Perren King, executive director of the Magic City Classic, said all of Birmingham benefits from the economic impact of the event.
“It’s growing,” he said. “We have been hovering around $22 million, but now our friends with CVB (Convention and Visitor’s Bureau), we expect to be over $23 million from all the things we’ve seen from indicators like hotel rooms and all those things. We’re very confident we’re going to see over $23 million before this is said and done by a certain time on Sunday when all this is calculated out.”
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