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Apologies if you’ve read this before: Alabama A&M says it has hired its own firm to “promote” the 82nd Magic City Classic, the annual rivalry game between two of the state’s storied HBCUs, Alabama State and A&M. However, the firm says it is “not under contract” with the university

In an email from A&M attorney Regina Conley that was forwarded to the school’s Board of Trustees by Chair Wayne Watts, and obtained by AL.com, she wrote: “[To] update you on the status of the University’s retention of a promoter to receive AAMU’s assets as set forth in the Licensing Agreement for the use of Legion Field or the 2023 Magic City Classic Event. As such, on Friday, September 22, 2023, AAMU entered an agreement with the Louisiana-based management team, NOCCI. NOCCI is authorized to receive AAMU’s assets for the 2023 Classic Event.”

However, in response to an inquiry from AL.com, NOCCI President/CEO Dottie Belletto wrote: “We are not under contract for the Magic City Classic with Alabama A&M. NO further comment at this time.”

September 22 is the same date AL.com reported that in a letter from A&M Athletic Director Dr. Paul A. Bryant to Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin dated September 13, 2023, A&M had retained another firm, the LRY Media Group, “to serve as AAMU’s promoter” for the 2023 Classic.

Later that day, LRY issued a statement saying it had “not been retained by Alabama A&M University to serve as AAMU’s promoter for the Magic City Classic.”

RELATED: A&M says it retained own firm to promote 2023 Magic City Classic, form denies it

In the email to Trustees late that same afternoon from Watts, he added: “I wanted to make sure that you had all of the facts concerning this situation. If you would like to know more about this agency, please click this link. https://www.nocci.com/. FYI: This is the organization that is responsible for the Bayou Classic, and many other events. Respectfully, Wayne”

AL.com reached out to Conley and Watts on Monday morning for further comment and clarification. As of yet, neither has responded.

The 2023 Magic City Classic, the 82nd renewal of one of the most lucrative annual events in Birmingham is slated to be played in less than five weeks, on Saturday, October 28th.

Production of the game has long been managed by the Alabama Sports Council (ASC), a nonprofit entity that engages Eventive Sports to handle sponsorship sales and overall operations. Alabama State has a four-year agreement with ASC to manage the Classic. A&M has long refused to sign a contract with ASC.

In the September 13 letter from Bryant, the AD stated: “AAMU has not authorized any other entity to act on its behalf with respect to the 2023 Magic City Classic or the Agreement for Legion Field Stadium.”

Specifically, the letter stated that A&M “has not authorized” the ASC, Eventive Sports or Alabama State University “to speak or act on AAMU’s behalf.”

As previously reported, the September 13th letter was sent two days before an A&M-imposed deadline for ASC to submit a new contract proposal. (A&M and ASU have signed an agreement to receive $500,000 each from the City of Birmingham for the next four years.)

On Thursday, September 14, in response to an August 25 meeting comprising representatives from A&M, Eventive, and others, the institution received a new contract proposal from ASC. Under it, on top of the $500,000 each school receives from the city, ASU would receive an additional $1 million in 2023 and 2025, years when it is designated as the “home” team, and $300,000 in 2024 and 2026. A&M would receive $100,000 in 2023 (the lesser because the lateness of the agreement does not allow time to raise additional funds), then $1 million in 2024 and 2026 when it’s the “home” team and $300,000 in 2025.

On Monday, three days later, an attorney representing A&M sent a cease-and-desist letter to ASC demanding it no longer use the school’s “well-known trademarks” or photos depicting the institution’s mascot or players in any efforts to promote or sell sponsorships to the event.

RELATED: A&M cease-and-desist letter ires public officials, casts ‘doubt” on Magic City Classic.

The letter states the demand “extends to all print and digital advertising materials, social media, and blog posts, tickets, passes, banners, flags, signs, merchandise, and displays of the Marks and Images at public and private events such as at press conferences, parades, tailgate parties, luncheons, pep rallies, sponsorship villages, and pre-game and halftime shows and broadcast.”

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