Grammy Award-Winning Artist Smokie Norful and Former NFL Pro Bowler Everson Walls among Honorees at Inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception

Six HBCU Legends to be Recognized

Grammy award-winning gospel artist Smokie Norful (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and former NFL cornerback Everson Walls (Grambling State University) are among those to be honored at the inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception at Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk, Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m. ET. The reception will honor individuals who graduated from a MEAC or SWAC institution. In addition, each honoree will receive an “HBCU Trailblazer Award” for the impact he or she has made in their respective careers and communities. Orlando native Ericka Dunlap, who was crowned Miss America 2004 and Miss Florida 2003, will co-host the festivities alongside motivational speaker Trey Godfrey. 

The Legends Reception will prelude the fifth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge, which will feature a college football matchup between Grambling State University and South Carolina State University. The game will be held Sunday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com from Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

Individual tickets for the Legends Reception are $75 and can be purchased by calling Tracy Wright at 205-790-2908.

Other legends to be honored include: Commissioner Daisy Lynum of the Orlando City Council (Bethune-Cookman University), Congressman James Clyburn of the Sixth District of South Carolina (South Carolina State University) and former NFL players Barney Chavous (South Carolina State University) and Jimmie Giles (Alcorn State University).

“It’s fitting that we acknowledge the legacy of those that paved the way for the future leaders who will graduate from historically black colleges and universities,” said Nikki Godfrey, Executive Director, MEAC/SWAC Challenge. “We are thrilled about the addition of this ceremony, which will make our event even more special.”

About the Legends                                                                                                                     Smokie Norful, a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, currently pastors Victory Cathedral Worship Center in Romeoville, Ill., which he founded on Sept. 20, 2005. The Grammy, Dove and Stellar award winner achieved great success on the Billboard charts with his hit single, “I Need You Now.”

Everson Walls played for legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State, where he was a Kodak I-AA and Black College All-American. During his professional football career, he led the Dallas Cowboys in interceptions a franchise-record five times and is 10th all-time on the career interceptions list, with 57. He also shares the career Pro Bowl interceptions record (four) and the single-game Pro Bowl record for interceptions (two).

Most notably, Walls donated a kidney in 2007 to former Cowboys teammate Ron Springs, who has diabetes. To further educate the minority community, the two have partnered to form a foundation with the goal of providing opportunities for children to attend Camp Reynal – a one-week event designed for children who suffer from kidney failure and kidney disease.

Barney Chavous, a former South Carolina State University defensive end, was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1973. He ranks third on the Broncos' all-time sacks list with 75 and is tied with Tom Jackson for third in career starts for Denver with 177. Chavous was an assistant coach with Denver from 1988-2000, heading up its defensive line. During that time he won two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos, in 1998 and 1999.

Jimmie Giles, a former Alcorn State tight end, was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He went on to become a four-time Pro Bowl selection and had a successful career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. Giles is a member of the NFLPA and the NFL Alumni Association and a supporter of the Children’s Cancer Center. He also has aided the development of youth programs to encourage sports for inner city kids.

Congressman James Clyburn, a graduate of South Carolina State University, is the U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip. He became the first South Carolinian and the second African-American to ascend to the third ranking position of the House in November 2006. Clyburn has also served as an employment counselor and director of two youth and community development programs.

Commissioner Daisy Lynum, a Bethune-Cookman University graduate, was elected to the Orlando City Council on April 14, 1998. Lynum’s primary focus is quality of life through sustainable neighborhoods for residents in District 5 and the City of Orlando. Before her election, Lynum worked for more than 30 years as a fifth-grade teacher; a career as a social worker and administrator for the Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services; and a Special Services Social Worker for Orange County Public Schools.  Lynum is also very active with a host of community and civic organizations, such as the Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, Metro Plan Orlando Transportation Board, Orange County Voter’s League, NAACP and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

About the MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Each year, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge is played at a neutral site within the footprint of one of the conferences. The inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge in 2005 showcased the MEAC’s South Carolina State vs. Alabama State of the SWAC, with South Carolina State prevailing, 27-14.  In 2006, the contest went into overtime with the MEAC’s Hampton University defeating the SWAC’s Grambling State, 27-26. The SWAC earned its first MEAC/SWAC Challenge trophy in 2007 as Southern defeated Florida A&M, 33-27.  Last year, the event moved from Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., to Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, where the MEAC reclaimed the MEAC/SWAC Challenge crown, as Hampton defeated Jackson State 17-13. The MEAC leads the series 3-1. Teams for future games are determined on an annual basis. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television.

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