The Tennessee State football John Merritt Classic is expanding. The 2024 edition will include a high school game featuring reigning Class 4A state champion Pearl-Cohn, which is located about a mile from TSU's campus, and reigning Division II-AA state champion Christ Presbyterian Academy.
The TSSAA football game will be played at Pearl-Cohn on Aug. 30. TSU's game against fellow HBCU Mississippi Valley State will be played on Aug. 31 at Nissan Stadium.
Merritt, TSU's coach from 1963-83, led the Tigers to seven Black college football national championships. His career TSU record was 172-33-7. The John Merritt Classic was first played in 1999.
"We just wanted to do something to celebrate the Merritt Classic and get the whole community involved," Pearl-Cohn coach Tony Brunetti said. "It's something we think will get everybody excited."
The Pearl-Cohn vs. CPA matchup will be among the best in the area that week. Pearl-Cohn beat CPA 15-11 in a thriller last season. The two teams used to play regularly when they were in the same region.
The plan after this year is for another local high school game to be added to the mix and played on the Thursday before the John Merritt Classic. All games will be moved to TSU's Hale Stadium after it is renovated, which could be in time for the 2025 season.
Pearl-Cohn's opponent for the Merritt Classic game in the future could change.
TSU's Aristocrat of Bands will perform at the game at Pearl-Cohn and the Tigers' cheerleaders and mascot will also be there. The TSU and Mississippi Valley State royal courts will also attend.
"Anytime you can be associated with something that has so much tradition as the John Merritt Classic obviously our school is honored to be a part of it," CPA coach Ingle Martin said. "We have a great deal of respect for Pearl-Cohn and their community and coach Brunetti is a friend of mine and we're excited to be part of those festivities. We're really looking forward to a great night of football for Middle Tennessee."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Pearl-Cohn vs CPA football game part of Tennessee State John Merritt Classic expansion
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