In 2016 the MEAC/SWAC (Mideastern Athletic Conference/Southwestern Athletic Conference) Challenge will pit the Alcorn State University Braves against the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats. This year’s Challenge will be played in Daytona Beach, Florida at Municipal Stadium on September 4, 2016 which is the opening weekend of the college football season. The game will be televised on an ESPN network.
The Braves, coming off of a spectacular 2015 season, finished 9-4 overall and 7-2 in SWAC play winning the Eastern Division title for the second consecutive season. After winning the SWAC title the Braves played the North Carolina A&T Aggies in the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia upon which they lost 41-34. At the helm for the Braves this season will be Fred McNair, who was named the new Head Football Coach after former Head Football Coach Jay Hopson left to take the head coaching position at the University of Mississippi (USM).
Not to be outdone, Bethune-Cookman had an equally spectacular 2015 season. The Wildcats finished with a 9-2 overall record and had an 8-1 conference record where they shared the MEAC title for the fourth consecutive season. The Wildcats will be led by second year Head Coach Terry Sims who was voted the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2015.
ESPN’s Senior Vice President Pete Derzis stated, “We are thrilled to continue the MEAC/SWAC Challenge legacy in Florida for the 2016 game featuring two of the strongest returning teams, Alcorn State and Bethune-Cookman from their respective conferences.”
Duer Sharp, the Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference stated, “We are excited to have Alcorn State represent the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the 12th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge has been an enormous event for our Conference in continuing to expand our League on a national stage.”
For more information on the MEAC/SWAC Challenge visit the website at www.meacswacchallenge.com.