355:, which carried the game that year, cut three minutes off the game clock by shortening the first quarter to 12 minutes long. The Classic's committee, angered by the change (and an accusation that the clock had been slowed to allow a game-winning rally), asserted control over the game clock for future games so that such an incident could not happen again. The game also used a "rally rule": after either team scored (by way of safety, touchdown, field goal, or returning blocked PAT attempts), if one of the two teams was losing by ten or more points, they would receive the kickoff, in order to keep the game close and prevent the loss of viewership which often occurs in lopsided games. From 1979 onward (and occasionally before that), the game was played on
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36:
370:), under pressure by civil rights leaders who threatened a boycott, decided to discontinue its sponsorship, and the Lions Club was unable to find a new sponsor in time. However, it was unlikely in any event the game would have been played that year due to the poor condition of the Cramton Bowl: the stadium, built in 1923, had not been well maintained over the years, and by this time it was literally crumbling.
271:, the "Grays", who wore white jerseys, against players who attended school in the northern half of the country, the "Blues", who wore blue jerseys, and also sometimes including players from western teams. Both teams wore gray pants. Only seniors played in this game, because it was their first venture into professional football, as they were paid for their participation.
337:. A large sit-in for peace was staged before the 1969 game that effectively blocked the gates at the stadium which resulted in protesters being forcibly removed, brutally beaten and arrested by the police. The start of the game was delayed for over an hour, and only part of the game was televised. For the next three years, troops of the
148:
381:), 50 miles south of Montgomery. It was generally thought that the Lions Club and others would have liked to return the game to Montgomery, but opted not to do so because it was unable to find a suitable replacement venue in the Montgomery area.
279:
with their regular teams. Also, many potential players preferred to spend
Christmas at home. In the game's later years, most of the players came from teams with losing records and from smaller schools which do not play
274:
The game was almost always the first major college all-star game of the year. For this reason, it was difficult to get some of the collegiate stars, because many of them were preparing at the same time for
306:, which had televised the game for much of its run, dropped it from the schedule when the Lions Club refused to integrate it. The game desegregated in 1965, which in turn convinced
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However, civil rights leaders complained that forcing
African-American players from southern colleges and universities to represent the former
72:
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79:
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64 Blue–Gray
Football Classics were played: Gray winning 33 games, Blue winning 29 games, and two games being tied. All were played in
359:, which may have tended to limit the live attendance, but ensured it was on television at a time when potential viewership was great.
86:
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236:, the contest began in 1939 and was held annually through 2001, with the exception of 1943 due to World War II.
400:
was held on
Christmas Day, returning college football to the venue on Christmas for the first time in 19 years.
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was both insensitive and offensive. Also in the late 1960s, as a result of growing public dissension over the
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and others who may not have had the opportunity to observe them previously. Most such players now attend the
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The
Classic also made many concessions to make it more television-friendly. In 1975,
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259:. Lacking a major television sponsor, the game was discontinued thereafter.
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The format pitted players who attended college in the states of the former
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251:. The game was not contested in 2002, then was revived briefly in 2003 at
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football. The
Classic gave these players an opportunity to be noticed by
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384:
The
Cramton Bowl was ultimately renovated in 2011, today hosting the
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35:
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239:
All of the games, except for the final contest, were played at the
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played in the 1984 game and was named the Most
Valuable Player.
225:
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to carry a telecast. From then on, the
Classic showcased many
341:
were deployed to the stadium to keep order, on the orders of
333:, peace activists decried the contest as glorifying war and
314:
stars from smaller, lesser-known schools (including many
307:
1731:. Anniston, Alabama. Associated Press. December 19, 1975
1646:. Anniston, Alabama. Associated Press. December 28, 1964
1586:. Lincoln, Nebraska. Associated Press. November 18, 1944
373:
The Lions Club was instrumental in reviving the game at
362:
The game was not played in 2002 after longtime sponsor
1703:. Helena, Montana. Associated Press. December 26, 1965
1667:"Blue-Gray, North–South Set For Annual All-Star Games"
232:. The brainchild of Alabama college football legend
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1782:. College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from
1802:
1695:"Negro Gridder Says No Racial Slurs Cast at Him"
316:historically black colleges and universities
396:was also constructed at the same time. The
1816:Sports competitions in Montgomery, Alabama
1749:
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
228:, usually in late December and often on
247:, under the auspices of the Montgomery
14:
1803:
1772:
1675:. Anniston, Alabama. Associated Press
1664:
27:Annual college football all-star game
1750:Barefield, Ron (December 24, 1975).
1723:"Blue rally kills Gray hopes, 14-13"
419:
58:adding citations to reliable sources
29:
24:
1780:"Blue–Gray All-Star Classic Games"
412:, except the 2003 game, played in
25:
1852:
1836:2003 disestablishments in Alabama
1831:College football bowls in Alabama
1638:"Blue-Gray In Danger Of Oblivion"
1665:Green, Bob (December 24, 1965).
1562:
1547:. September 19, 1963. p. 26
368:Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
146:
34:
1826:College football all-star games
403:
394:new Montgomery football stadium
388:(and, for one season only, the
45:needs additional citations for
1841:1939 establishments in Alabama
1811:Defunct college football bowls
1743:
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1658:
1630:
1606:"Blue-Gray Telecast Is Killed"
1598:
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377:'s Movie Gallery Stadium (now
205:Kelly Springfield Tire Company
13:
1:
1752:"B-G to Control Future Clock"
1526:
1541:"William Champ Pickens Dies"
69:"Blue–Gray Football Classic"
7:
1768:– via newspapers.com.
1739:– via newspapers.com.
1711:– via newspapers.com.
1683:– via newspapers.com.
1654:– via newspapers.com.
1626:– via newspapers.com.
1594:– via newspapers.com.
1514:
138:Blue–Gray Football Classic
10:
1857:
1521:List of college bowl games
262:
215:Blue–Gray Football Classic
132:College football bowl game
379:Veterans Memorial Stadium
353:Mizlou Television Network
202:
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1545:Eureka Humboldt Standard
1583:Lincoln Evening Journal
217:was an annual American
152:Ticket to the 1941 game
364:Kelly Springfield Tire
339:Alabama National Guard
1821:Troy Trojans football
1760:. Montgomery, Alabama
1757:Montgomery Advertiser
1614:. Anniston, Alabama.
1578:"Plan Blue-Gray game"
366:(a subsidiary of the
298:The game was slow to
253:Movie Gallery Stadium
162:Movie Gallery Stadium
54:improve this article
410:Montgomery, Alabama
245:Montgomery, Alabama
183:Montgomery, Alabama
1700:Independent Record
1618:. November 9, 1963
398:2020 Camellia Bowl
1728:The Anniston Star
1672:The Anniston Star
1643:The Anniston Star
1611:The Anniston Star
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1492:December 25, 2003
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302:. In 1963,
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293:NFL Combine
269:Confederacy
185:(1939–2001)
169:(1939–2001)
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1790:2009-01-07
1527:References
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320:Jerry Rice
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