CANTON, Ohio — The Grambling State University Tigers and the Tennessee State University Tigers went head to head in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.
It was more than just a battle between two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). For many, like Justine Chenault, this event is a reunion.
Chenault was Miss Grambling State University in the 80s.
“As Miss Grambling State University, you are an ambassador for the university,” Chenault said. “The coolest thing is you get to travel with the football team.”
Hundreds of Chenault’s former GSU classmates were in Canton for the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic weekend.
Chenault said she enjoyed getting the chance to see some old familiar faces in her hometown of Canton, Ohio.
The game was held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, the same field where Chenault used to march in her high school band.
“Here, the world-famed Grambling Tiger marching band are going to be marching on the same field that I once marched on,” she said. “That is so exciting to have my university alma mater come to my high school alma mater.”
For Chenault, bringing these two pieces of her past together was a surreal moment, especially when she saw the letters GSU on the scoreboard.
“My Ohio family is about to witness my Louisiana family. My Ohio alma mater is about to witness my Louisiana alma mater. I’m excited. It feels so good to see that up there. It feels so good.”
She hopes that Ohio high school students will be inspired by seeing the southern HBCU’s in action.
“The style of marching band you are about to see, the black high schools, that’s what they do there, so it’s a natural part of life there (in the south)” she explained. “I would love to be able to see some of that come to this particular area because I believe it will draw more of our African American youths back into music.”
