Hello, everyone. Welcome back to Let’s Be Real, your weekly dose of campus advice, history, and culture. This is your host, Zhanai Dillard, a proud freshman computer science major here at the illustrious Alabama State University.

Today is Thursday, September 18th, and today’s topic is university events. When I say events, I mean like the really big ones — the ones that bring the city of Montgomery alive and pull alumni back home. The ones that get students buzzing with excitement and put Alabama State on the map nationally. I’m talking about Homecoming, the legendary Turkey Day Classic, and the Magic City Classic. These three eventful weekends are not just for fun; they are the heartbeat of ASU culture.

Today, we’re going to break down what they are, why they matter, and what makes them so unforgettable. Let’s get started with Homecoming. Most colleges and even some high schools these days celebrate some form of Homecoming, but Alabama State’s celebration is on a different level.

This year, it falls on the 4th of October, and even now you can feel the buzz of anticipation rising. Homecoming here isn’t just a day — it’s a whole week of programming. We’ve got the annual parade through the streets of Montgomery, the step shows where Divine 9 absolutely shows out, concerts that pack the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, tailgates where the food and music are unmatched, and of course, if all of that wasn’t enough, we have the football game.

But Homecoming is more than just the festivities. It’s a reunion. Alumni who graduated years, sometimes decades ago, return to their alma mater. They walk around campus, talk with old friends, and celebrate how far the school has come. For current students, Homecoming is a chance to step into that legacy, coming together with classmates and creating memories that will last forever. It’s electric, it’s emotional, and it’s a moment to show the world what Hornet Nation is really about.

Now, while Homecoming is a major event in the fall, there’s another tradition that takes that energy to an entirely different level — the Turkey Day Classic. The Turkey Day Classic is historical. It’s dated all the way back to 1924 and is considered the oldest historically Black college university football classic in the country.

Traditionally, it’s been between Alabama State and Tuskegee University. It quickly grew from just a game to a Thanksgiving staple. Every year, thousands of people come out, not just for football, but for the parade in downtown Montgomery. Concerts, tailgates, and the family atmosphere make the event unforgettable.

The parade especially is something to see — floats rolling down Dexter Avenue, high school bands competing for attention, and of course, the mighty Marching Hornets setting the tone with that infamous ASU sound. By the time you make it to the game, you feel like you’ve already been celebrating all day.

However, the classic hasn’t always been continuous. Alabama State stepped out for some time to focus on Division One playoffs in 2014. However, the rivalry was eventually revived, and in 2024, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Turkey Day Classic — 100 years of history, competition, culture, and tradition tied to Thanksgiving.

And then there’s the Magic City Classic, which honestly is in a league of its own. The Magic City Classic is the largest HBCU football event in the entire nation. Let me say that again — the largest in the nation.

The first matchup between Alabama State and Alabama A&M was in 1924, but the classic as we know it has been held annually since 1945 at Legion Field in Birmingham. Around 200,000 people crowd into the stadium year after year. People flood Birmingham for that one weekend.

But the classic is more than just a game. The Battle of the Bands is iconic. Some people come just for halftime. Then you’ve got block parties, concerts, pep rallies, and fashion shows. It’s a whole festival. It’s a family reunion. It’s a celebration of Black excellence and culture on the biggest stage.

The impact is enormous. Economically, the classic brings in millions of dollars to the city of Birmingham, filling hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Socially, it opens the door for alumni and students to connect on a massive scale. Culturally, it’s a showcase of HBCU pride that gets broadcast nationwide, putting our university in front of the world.

For us Hornets, the classic is about rivalry, pride, and showing up big. Every time we take the field against Alabama A&M, it’s not just about bragging rights — it’s history in motion.

When we put these things together — Homecoming, Turkey Day Classic, and Magic City Classic — we see a full picture of the spirit at the core of Alabama State University. They’re not just football games or parties. They’re opportunities to come together and celebrate who we are, to honor our history, and to create experiences that last a lifetime.

So whether you’re a freshman or alumni, these moments connect us all. They remind us that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves — a legacy of pride and unity.

That’s all for now. Thank you so much for tuning in with me today. I hope this gave you a new appreciation for the big events that make ASU so special. Don’t forget to tune in for next week’s episode. Once again, my name is Zhanai Dillard, and I’ll catch y’all next week on Let’s Be Real.