Marauders set to play Kentucky State at 34th Circle City Classic®

Marauders and KSU reignite rivalry in Lucas Oil Stadium

8/22/2017 3:14:00 PM

Central State set to play rival Kentucky State at 34th Circle City Classic®

Central State University and Kentucky State University will continue their longstanding rivalry at the 34th Circle City Classic® on Saturday in Lucas Oil Stadium.

"It is truly an honor to be playing in one of the premier HBCU Football Classics. This will be our fourth year playing on this stage and we can't wait for another opportunity to showcase our talent," CSU head coach Cedric Pearl said. "We continue to show our appreciation to the Indiana Black Expo and the city of Indianapolis for allowing Central State to continue to be a part of this great event. Our coaches and players are really looking forward to taking on our biggest rival in a great venue like Lucas Oil Stadium."

Saturday marks the fourth straight year the Circle City Classic has played host to the CSU-KSU rivalry, which dates back to 1947. CSU currently owns a 35-21-1 advantage in the all-time series with the only tie coming in 1957. KSU has found recent success in the series, including last year's 17-14 overtime victory win.

With CSU joining the SIAC in 2013, the game holds significant implications in the SIAC West Division standings. The Thorobreds used last year's victory over CSU to jumpstart their season which included the West Division crown and appearance in the SIAC Championship. Senior running back Darian Nelson and his teammates are motivated to achieve a different outcome at this year's game.

"Everyone has come in with great focus and determination to improve off of last season," Nelson says. "Now in my second year with the program, I am looking forward to performing to the best of my ability to whatever I can to help our team win. Our game against KSU is always something our fans look forward to and we are going to everything we can to make our supporters proud."

The Marauders have a long history competing in the Circle City Classic® dating back to 1986. CSU has a 3-4 all-time record in the Classic with wins coming in 86', 87' and 92'.

1572 — (Left to Right) Dr. James Hammond, President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond,
Head Coach Cedric Pearl and Vice President Jahan Culbreath at Lucas Oil Stadium

The Circle City Classic® is a joint collaboration between Indiana Black Expo, Inc. and the Indiana Sports Corporation. The net proceeds from the Classic help support youth initiatives for each organization. Additionally, each year the Classic's educational partner, the Indianapolis Black Alumni Council, hosts an educational college fair that exposes over 2,500 youths to colleges and universities throughout the country.

CSU Vice President of Athletics & Institutional Advancement Jahan Culbreath expressed gratitude and excitement about Central State's continued partnership with IBE and Central State's participating in the game.

"The Circle City Classic continues to be a fixture not only in Indianapolis but throughout the country as one of the premier classics. The classic gives the opportunity to showcase the talent of our students and helps promote awareness of two tremendous HBCU institutions in the Midwest region. Central State is pleased to continue to work alongside the administration at KSU as well as the leaders and tremendous support staff who organize the Circle City Classic. Our partnership with the Circle City Classic helps us enhance our brand and broaden our fan base. Most importantly, our presence in Indianapolis continues to help grow the quality collegiate experience for all members of the CSU community," Culbreath said.

Tickets for the Circle City Classic are available online at - http://centralstate.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=373&cid=25

Game Details
Date: Saturday, September 23
Kickoff: 3 pm
Venue: Circle City Classic - Lucas Oil Stadium

Visiting Team: Kentucky State
Conference: SIAC
2017 Overall Record: 1-2
2017 SIAC Record: 0-0
2017 SIAC East Division Record: 0-0
Last Result: 30-23 W vs. Kentucky Wesleyan
Roster
2017 Statistics

Home Team: Central State Marauders
Conference: SIAC
2017 Overall Record: 0-3
2017 SIAC Record: 0-0
2017 SIAC West Division Record: 0-0
Last Result: 35-33 L vs. Morehouse
Roster
2017 Statistics

All-Time Series
CSU currently owns a 35-21-1 advantage in the all-time series with the only tie coming in 1957.

Last Meeting
Sept. 24, 2016 - Kentucky State defeats Central State, 17-14, in overtime.

Coverage
Listen (CSU Coverage) - http://www.gemcitysports.com/radio-1/
Listen - http://campusnation.com/
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/centralstate/football

Admission
Price: $10 - $50

Purchase tickets online at - http://centralstate.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event_listings.asp .

Parking
For parking details for the Circle City Classic, please visit - https://squareup.com/store/gate-ten-events-and-parking-inc/

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