JACKSON — Attendance at last year’s Capital City Classic was just over 16,000. That was enough to send red flags up to the administrations at Jackson State and Alcorn State.

On Wednesday at the University Club in downtown Jackson, it was the key subject in a breakfast press conference hosted by former New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister.

While McAllister played at Ole Miss and has no ties to either Jackson State or Alcorn, he is a big promoter for the city of Jackson with several business ventures and knows the importance of the contest, now in its 18th year.