While many schools view playing “lower-level” opponents simply an easier win, these games mean more than that. Particularly the two Labor Day Classics.
They represent a shared history of regional rivalries that often cross family lines. The games also provide big paydays needed by the schools involved. In many cases, they are more important than conference matchups.
A Different State of Mind
Norfolk State was once a part of VSU and the two schools battled each other in the CIAA for decades. The rivalry continued uninterrupted as NSU went DI before a brief hiatus from 2013 through 2016. It is generally NSU’s most attended game besides homecoming and a matchup against nearby rival Hampton University.
The 2019 matchup brought in 15,538 fans, a number that was only eclipsed by homecoming against Morgan State. The VSU attendance number was more than 4,000 fans higher than the matchup against NC A&T. It was nearly twice as much as the matchup against Florida State.
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