Q: What is the MEAC/SWAC Challenge?
A: The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is an annual Historically Black College football game showcasing a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The game is played annually at a neutral site. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is an ESPN Regional TV (ERT) owned and operated event.

Q: How long has the MEAC/SWAC Challenge been in existence?
A: This is Year 4 of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Birmingham, Alabama’s Legion Field hosted the event the first three years.

Q: Which teams will be playing in 2008?
A: Hampton University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Jackson State University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will battle for conference supremacy on Aug. 31st, 2 pm ET, on ESPN2.

Q: Where and when will the game be played?
A: The Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Sunday, Aug. 31st, 2 pm ET, on ESPN2.

Q: Why the Florida Citrus Bowl?
A: Orlando is a wonderful travel destination and the Citrus Bowl is a great sports venue--with many activities our fans can enjoy.

Q: Which teams played in the first three years of this event?
A: In 2005--the first year of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge--the MEAC’s South Carolina State beat Alabama State (SWAC) 27-14.

In 2006, the MEAC’s Hampton University defeating the SWAC’s Grambling State 27-26 in OT.

In 2007, the SWAC earned its first MEAC/SWAC Challenge trophy as Southern defeated Florida A&M 33-27.

Q: Which teams will play in 2009?
A: Matchups for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge are determined annually at the end of each football season. Check www.meacswacchallenge.com for announcements throughout the year.

Q: What is ESPN Regional Television?
A: ESPN Regional Television (ERT) is the nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming. ERT produces more than 900 sporting events annually, including football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events, which accounts for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rightsholder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences.
ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events. Examples include the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl, Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, The Home Depot College Football Awards, Old Spice Classic, and more.

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For more information on ERT’s owned and operated events, visit www.espnplus.com.
For more information on the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, contact the following individuals:
ESPN contact: Tilea Coleman; 860-766-3438; tilea.coleman@espn.com
MEAC contact: Patricia Porter; 757-416-7116; porterp@themeac.com
SWAC contact: William Bright; 205-251-7573 X111; w.bright@swac.org