The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl states that its mission is to showcase and support HBCU football players and students as it aims to create opportunities for HBCU athletes to get noticed by NFL scouts and for HBCU students to network with employers.
For more than 50 Grambling State University students who recently traveled to New Orleans for the 2025 Legacy Bowl Career Fair, it was mission accomplished.
GSU Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) Director Antoinette Livingston said the trip provided four key opportunities for GSU students — internships, employment, networking, and learning.
“The Legacy Bowl Career Fair is invaluable for students, especially juniors and seniors. Juniors focused on networking for future internships, while seniors aimed to secure job offers,” Livingston said. “Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. More experienced students appreciate the direct interaction with professionals who provide real-world insights on resumes, interviews, and industry standards.”
“Sophomores who attended for the first time this semester could experience the dall for them. They noted that the fair helped demystify the professional world, giving them a clearer picture of what to expect in various industries. Additionally, the Legacy Bowl Career Fair has been instrumental in building confidence and providing valuable contacts that could lead to future opportunities.”
Former Grambling State quarterbacking greats James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams co-founded both the Black College Football Hall of Fame and the Legacy Bowl, and both feel that the Career Fair is an important component of the overall bowl experience they had in mind when creating the HBCU All-Star contest.
“I really think the Career Fair is the most important part of the Legacy Bowl,” Williams said. “We started the Legacy Bowl to give the kids a chance for the scouts to see them as a player. But we also know not everybody is going to move on to the National Football League, and with the job fair and all the companies here, the kids get a chance to interview with and maybe catch on with one of these companies.
“That’s the most important of this week — that Career Fair with more than 100 businesses accepting resumes and talking to potential employees. And talking football, 11 (NFL) teams are here (interviewing prospective staff members), nine basketball teams are here, so if a student wants a career working in sports, that opportunity is here, too. But at the end of the day, there’s all kinds of jobs available here and that creates a better future for everyone.”
Livingston said the variety of learning experiences and opportunities is what makes the Legacy Bowl Career Fair so important for students.
“This career fair is significant for juniors and seniors, as it assists juniors in establishing connections for internships and aids seniors in securing job offers,” Livingston said.
“For sophomores, it serves as a valuable introduction to the career fair landscape, providing hands-on experience with essential issues such as appropriate conduct, attire, preparatory knowledge, and how to effectively translate skills and classroom experiences into meaningful conversations.”
The topics of panel discussions held during the Legacy Bowl Career Fair included Careers In The NFL, Navigating Your Career Choice, Skills Based Hiring, Empower Your Career, Networking For Career Growth, and From Intern to Full Time.”
The students not only got the opportunity to talk with prospective employers and business leaders from more than 100 businesses from across the nation but also got to meet and network with some of the more than 900 students from 56 HBCUs that had students in attendance for the Career Fair.
“It enriches their perspective and broadens their understanding of the diverse professional landscapes they may enter,” Livingston said about the interaction between students from other HBCUs. “The fair not only opens doors to potential career paths but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared experience among students from various backgrounds and institutions.
“Engaging with peers from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities helps our students build a wider network, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration from different viewpoints and experiences. This interaction promotes a collaborative spirit and can lead to lifelong professional relationships and friendships beyond their college years.
Getting to meet with members of the Crescent City Chapter of the Grambling University National Alumni Association was another opportunity Livingston said she was pleased to see the GSU students receive.
“An extra event hosted by the Grambling University National Alumni Association enhanced this year’s Legacy Bowl trip,” Livingston said. “Gaining support from alumni and discovering the resources available to students added significant value to the traditional experience. The alumni gathering on Friday night was a highlight for many, providing a relaxed atmosphere for students to connect with alumni.
“This event fostered mentorship opportunities and valuable networking, allowing students to gain insights from past graduates. Together, the Legacy Bowl Career Fair and the alumni event offered essential tools and connections for students’ future success.”
That alumni event allowed the GSU students the opportunity to kick back and have some true New Orleans-inspired good times complete with Crescent City cuisine and even an impromptu step show/dance off.
“The evening’s festivities allowed the students to unwind and recharge after such a demanding day,” Livingston said. “It was a wonderful opportunity for them to relax and bond with their peers in a more informal setting. The mini step show and line dancing offered a fun cultural experience that entertained and brought everyone together, fostering a sense of community and school spirit.
“Moreover, having the chance to interact with alumni in a casual atmosphere made it easier for students to ask questions and seek advice, which they might have hesitated to do in a more formal setting. This blend of fun and networking was invaluable, adding a layer of enjoyment and relationship-building to the weekend’s events. Overall, the evening was both refreshing and enriching, providing a perfect balance to the rigors of the career fair earlier in the day.”