What the Fountain City Classic offers to the community

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - The Fountain City Classic is known for having an outstanding atmosphere - whether that be on the field where the game is played and the bands perform, or outside the gates where the tailgating is happening.The Fountain City Classic has events with plenty of opportunities to network and affect college students lives in a big way.For the 36th time, Albany State University and Fort Valley State University will battle it out at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium for the Classic.This game brings out a crowd every year and has people getting ready for the tailgate days in advance.“We get excited about the tailgate... we try to come down early,” said Columbus resident, Gordon Griswould.But besides the game, there are plenty of other things going on leading up to it. Thursday evening, the Classic will host its 19th annual Cufflinks and Pearls and Leaders of Today and Tomorrow networking mixer.“It is an annual networking mixer,” said Jatavia O’Neal, Fountain City Classic Commi