Calkins: Memphis and Fred Jones get the ‘Prime Time’ event they deserve

By , Daily Memphian Updated: September 10, 2021 7:11 PM CT | Published: September 10, 2021 5:46 PM CT
<strong>Fred Jones started the Southern Heritage Classic in 1990, the year after Deion Sanders was picked No. 5 in the NFL draft. Eddie George was still in high school. Jones wanted to do something to celebrate historically Black colleges and the city he called home.</strong> (Daily Memphian file)

Fred Jones started the Southern Heritage Classic in 1990, the year after Deion Sanders was picked No. 5 in the NFL draft. Eddie George was still in high school. Jones wanted to do something to celebrate historically Black colleges and the city he called home. (Daily Memphian file)

Geoff Calkins
Daily Memphian

Geoff Calkins

Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.

It’s Eddie George vs. Deion Sanders at the Liberty Bowl. Which is exactly the matchup that Fred Jones and the Southern Heritage Classic deserve.

Topics

Deion Sanders Coach Prime Eddie George Southern Heritage Classic Jackson State University Tennessee State University 2021 college football HBCU

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