BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- The gates are now open and Magic City Classic tailgaters are getting ready to celebrate the 83rd annual HSBC football game between Alabama A&M and Alabama State.
Wednesday morning, CBS 42 News met up with Derrick Wilson who drove in from Meridian, Mississippi to meet up with his younger cousin Gregory Wilson who drove in from Hampton, Georgia. While the two men both attended the same high school in York, Alabama they went on to play in rival marching bands at Alabama State, and Alabama A&M, respectively.
As you can imagine, the two really seem to enjoy the rivalry between their schools this week. From putting up the tent, to setting up lawn chairs cousins Derrick and Gregory Wilson worked together to transform their designated tailgating space into a place to call home for five days.
When it comes to team loyalty, however, they are clearly a house divided. Derrick Wilson was a drum major for the Mighty Marching Hornets of Alabama State from 1984 until 1987, while younger cousin Greg played the sousaphone in the Alabama A&M Maroon & White Band from 1991 to 1995.
When asked who’s going to win on Saturday, Derrick quickly replied, “Oh Alabama State, go Hornets!”
The former drum major and his wife Janise will be celebrating in style this week, living out of a 43-foot RV we were allowed to tour Wednesday morning.
“We love this one because the living room separates from the kitchen and the rest of the camper,” Derrick explained showing us the couches that can be transformed into beds.
Janise Wilson, who is from Virginia, does all the cooking for everyone for the week.
“When I married him I married into all of this,” she explained. “It’s a real exciting time, and to see them just to gather, and you know and just love on each other which we need so much of right now, so it is a blessing.”
Come kickoff time, when the fans for opposing schools sit on opposite sides of the stadium, family unity is put on pause:
“Yeah you know I walk him to his side, you know, you gotta respect your elders, and then I go over to the A&M side,” younger cousin Greg explained with a laugh. When asked whose going to win he replied, “Hopefully we do, you know. But all in all we’re here to watch the band, you know to see the band perform.”
Alabama State has won the last two Magic City Classics, and the overall Magic City Classic record is 43-36-3 with Alabama A&M leading the series.
