HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M will honor the man that its stadium is named after at 6 tonight when the Bulldogs host Central State in the inaugural Louis Crews Classic.

Crews, during an illustrious 16-year career from 1960-1975, became the school's all-time winningest coach, amassing a record of 95-53-3. He owns A&M's lone undefeated season, going 8-0 in 1963 and won four Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships.

Current head coach Anthony Jones says he is honored to coach in the inaugural game.

"Coach Crews forged his career here and did extremely well," Jones said. "He brought national attention to this program, had a great name, was a great coach and a great educator that produced a number of great student-athletes that went on to serve in a variety of fields.

"I am honored and privileged to be coaching at the same school he called home for so many years."

While Jones has a ways to go before he can catch Crews - he is 35 wins shy of surpassing Crews - he has informed his players the best way to honor him is to win tonight's game.

The Bulldogs are looking to even their record after last week's disappointing season opening loss to Tennessee State 27-14.

"This is a huge game for us," Jones said. "Absolutely huge. This is our classic. We're coming off of a loss. Central State is coming off of a win. We're still trying to find our identity. You don't find your identity in a loss, particularly a somewhat lopsided loss.

"We need to try to move forward, but this is not going to be by any way shape or form a pushover game."

The Mauraders, a Division II independent, are coming off of a big 34-14 win over West Virginia State and Jones says they'll be brimming with confidence when they come to town.

"This team has tasted victory," he said. "Last year, they played 11 games and got one win. This year, they got a win their first time out and I can guarantee that taste is fresh in their mouths, their minds and their thoughts and they're going to come here to beat A&M and take the trophy and ruin our classic.

"If we're not up and ready for the challenge that can happen. This is a huge game for us. For us to go into conference play 0-2 ... that would be devastating."