The Alphas placed 3rd in the Greek Show against Southern University. Carlton Hamlin/Office of Communications
The Southern versus Grambling football game is not the only rivalry that goes down in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome each year at the Bayou Classic.
On Friday Nov. 23 fans gathered for the sold-out annual Battle of the Bands and Greek Show, presented by the United State Marine Corps.
The Army Reserve Brass Band started the event off by playing “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé. The World Famed Tiger Marching Band then had the privilege of entering the Mercedes-Benz Superdome first.
The band was led by the Orchesis Dance Company and the ladies definitely made a grand entrance while strutting in red boxing robes. They looked more than ready to “knock-out” the competition.
Grambling played a couple of selections before getting seated for battle. Southern University entered and had the opportunity to play a couple of selections before getting seated as well.
There were a total of three rounds to Battle of Bands and The Tiger Marching Band played a little bit of it all from “Outside Today” by NBA Youngboy to “Breaking My Heart” by Mint Condition. Southern University played Ella Mai’s popular song “Trip” and “Wake Up In The Sky” by Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars and Kodak Black. The highlight of the evening was when Grambling State University’s band decided to take the Superdome to church and play “Brighter Day” by Kirk Franklin. Fans stood out of their seats. Another surprise came from actor Lance Gross, best known for his role in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, who made a special celebrity appearance on behalf of Southern University.
The difference between the Battle of the Bands rivalry and others is that there is no real winner at the end. Even though neither band was given a trophy, a legacy was still left in the Dome. At the conclusion of the event, the two bands lined up on the field to make history with Black Entertainment Television (BET) to form the longest soul-train line, which was filmed for the Soul Train Awards that aired on BET Sunday, Nov. 26.
Earlier in the evening the Greek Show was held as the Superdome filled up. Fans were entertained with a contemporary dance from the Southern University Golden Blues, a dance organization on Southern University’s campus. After that, judges were presented and two well-known Grambling faculty members had the honor of sitting at the judge’s table.
Dr. Cyril Burch, who serves as the Administrative Assistant for Vice President of Student Affairs and who is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), Inc. was one of the six at the judge’s table. Dr. Gernerique Stewart, who serves as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was also a judge.
The Greek Show began with the ladies from the Psi Beta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. who dazzled the stage in shimmery bomber jackets and blue light-up gloves. They were followed by the ladies of Southern University’s Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Grambling State University’s very own Delta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity kept it simple and classy as they took the stage and were then followed by the men of Kappa Alpha Psi from Southern University. The ladies from the Beta Psi Chapter of AKA took the stage in pink and black karate gear while The Gamma Psi Chapter Nupes from GSU kept it smooth with button-ups and suspenders. The Beta Sigma Alphas from Southern University closed the show with an Egyptian inspired routine. The Zetas and the Alphas from Grambling took third place, while Southern’s AKAs and Kappas took the second place titles. Southern University Deltas and Alphas took home the first place title and $3,000 each.