Benedict looks to reverse fortune in Palmetto Capital City Classic

Since its beginning 15 years ago, the Palmetto Capital City Classic has been the way Benedict fans and alumni have kicked off each football season.

Tigers fans, students and alumni take part in social mixers, luncheons, the crowning of Miss Palmetto City Capital Classic, and an R&B show. Before Saturday’s 5 p.m. kickoff, there’s an old-school music festival and tailgate party outside Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

For most of the Classic’s history, the football part of the event has been a lopsided affair. The Tigers have lost the past six Classics after a 2009 victory.

Mike White, in his second year as coach of the Tigers, wants to put that streak to a stop. The veteran coach, who kept his alma mater Albany State a consistently winning program for 15 years, knows it’s going to take time to make Benedict a winner. But it can start with a better performance in the first home game of the season.

“I don’t think they know,” White said on whether his players know much about Benedict’s struggles in the Classic. “The more history we know about this game, the heavier this load they have to carry.”

It isn’t that White wants to protect his players from the ugliness of defeats to the tune of 59-6 and 69-0 (versus South Carolina State in 2013 and 2014, respectively). Most of his players remember Livingstone State’s 49-6 win in the Classic last year. The defeat kicked off a winless 2015 season.

White said the Tigers have a long way to go in terms of improving.

“We want to play a lot better than we played last year,” he said. “I hope our guys feel like we owe them a little something and that we’ll play them a little better.”

Last year’s game set the tone for Livingstone State, which went on to finish the season 5-3, its first winning season since 1998.

White said he sees this year’s team as one year older and in better shape.