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Colorado State University Athletics
Rams To Take On Alabama In Inaugural C.M. Newton Classic Dec. 21
9/1/2021 8:31:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CSU will meet up with the Crimson Tide for the second time in history in Birmingham, Ala.
(portions courtesy Knight Eady)
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State men's basketball has added to its already strong 2021-22 schedule today with a matchup against Alabama in the inaugural C.M. Newton Classic in Birmingham on Dec. 21, announced today by both schools and Knight Eady, a Birmingham-based company that is operating the event. The game will take played in the new Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, the first college basketball game in the new venue since the remodel began in spring 2020.
The Rams advanced to the National Invitation Tournament's Final Four last year in Medved's third season at the helm, while Alabama is coming off an Elite Eight run in last year's NCAA Tournament. The two teams have only met once previously, with the Crimson Tide getting a 71-54 win in the 1990 NCAA West Regional opening round in Long Beach, Calif.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to compete against a great program like Alabama," said CSU head coach Niko Medved. "This is a game that will really challenge us as we get ready for our conference season."
The neutral-site game is named after former Alabama basketball head coach, C.M. Newton. Newton was a member of the University of Kentucky national championship team in 1951. After college, Newton began his coaching career at Transylvania in 1956 and became head coach at the University of Alabama in 1968. During his 12 seasons at Alabama, Newton led the Tide to a 221-123 record, won three straight SEC Conference titles (1974-1976) and made two NCAA tournament appearances.
In addition to his coaching accolades, Newton was the first coach to integrate the men's basketball team at the University of Alabama with Black student-athletes. When Newton started at Alabama, Vanderbilt was the only team in the SEC with one Black player. Wendell Hudson of Birmingham's Parker High became the first black athlete Newton recruited to play at the University of Alabama. In 1973, Newton put forth the first all-Black starting lineup in SEC history at a holiday tournament in Louisville. Newton helped pave the way for Black athletes to play at the University of Alabama and set the expectation for other institutions to follow. His commitment to diversity and inclusion made a difference for so many at the University of Alabama. This year's match-up will honor C.M. Newton, the legacy he made and the example he set for civil rights and equality.
"I am thrilled to have two great teams playing in the inaugural C.M. Newton Classic," said Martin Newton, C.M. Newton's son and Samford Athletic Director. "My father didn't care as much about wins and losses but more about creating equal opportunity for everyone to play, regardless of race. I hope this game will honor his legacy and shed light on the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion," said Newton.
"We are excited the Knight Eady group approached us about returning to play in Birmingham this year for the C.M. Newton Classic," said Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats. "It should be an exciting game for the fans and a great way to honor a legendary figure in college basketball. We have a lot of fans and supporters in Birmingham and playing there is something we are open to doing each and every year. It's also exciting because it will be our first opportunity to play in the newly-reconstructed Legacy Arena in front of what we believe will be an electric atmosphere."
The game time will be announced later, and tickets to the game will go on sale later this fall. For more information about the C.M. Newton Classic, please email stotts@knighteady.com. To join the email list to know game time and when tickets go on sale, click here. The event will make a donation to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in C.M. Newton's honor.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State men's basketball has added to its already strong 2021-22 schedule today with a matchup against Alabama in the inaugural C.M. Newton Classic in Birmingham on Dec. 21, announced today by both schools and Knight Eady, a Birmingham-based company that is operating the event. The game will take played in the new Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, the first college basketball game in the new venue since the remodel began in spring 2020.
The Rams advanced to the National Invitation Tournament's Final Four last year in Medved's third season at the helm, while Alabama is coming off an Elite Eight run in last year's NCAA Tournament. The two teams have only met once previously, with the Crimson Tide getting a 71-54 win in the 1990 NCAA West Regional opening round in Long Beach, Calif.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to compete against a great program like Alabama," said CSU head coach Niko Medved. "This is a game that will really challenge us as we get ready for our conference season."
The neutral-site game is named after former Alabama basketball head coach, C.M. Newton. Newton was a member of the University of Kentucky national championship team in 1951. After college, Newton began his coaching career at Transylvania in 1956 and became head coach at the University of Alabama in 1968. During his 12 seasons at Alabama, Newton led the Tide to a 221-123 record, won three straight SEC Conference titles (1974-1976) and made two NCAA tournament appearances.
In addition to his coaching accolades, Newton was the first coach to integrate the men's basketball team at the University of Alabama with Black student-athletes. When Newton started at Alabama, Vanderbilt was the only team in the SEC with one Black player. Wendell Hudson of Birmingham's Parker High became the first black athlete Newton recruited to play at the University of Alabama. In 1973, Newton put forth the first all-Black starting lineup in SEC history at a holiday tournament in Louisville. Newton helped pave the way for Black athletes to play at the University of Alabama and set the expectation for other institutions to follow. His commitment to diversity and inclusion made a difference for so many at the University of Alabama. This year's match-up will honor C.M. Newton, the legacy he made and the example he set for civil rights and equality.
"I am thrilled to have two great teams playing in the inaugural C.M. Newton Classic," said Martin Newton, C.M. Newton's son and Samford Athletic Director. "My father didn't care as much about wins and losses but more about creating equal opportunity for everyone to play, regardless of race. I hope this game will honor his legacy and shed light on the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion," said Newton.
"We are excited the Knight Eady group approached us about returning to play in Birmingham this year for the C.M. Newton Classic," said Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats. "It should be an exciting game for the fans and a great way to honor a legendary figure in college basketball. We have a lot of fans and supporters in Birmingham and playing there is something we are open to doing each and every year. It's also exciting because it will be our first opportunity to play in the newly-reconstructed Legacy Arena in front of what we believe will be an electric atmosphere."
The game time will be announced later, and tickets to the game will go on sale later this fall. For more information about the C.M. Newton Classic, please email stotts@knighteady.com. To join the email list to know game time and when tickets go on sale, click here. The event will make a donation to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in C.M. Newton's honor.
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