Let the games begin! On Aug. 21, after an extensive search for two successful Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduates, Ford announced the selection of Opal T. Mabry and Jamal Wallace to participate in the 2007 Ford Black College Road Trip community outreach adventure.

Dubbed “Roadies”, Mabry and Wallace will travel more than 8,000 miles across the U.S. for 13 weeks, in an all-new 2008 Ford Expedition EL customized by Funkmaster Flex. They will visit 10 HBCU Football Classic games in cities like Atlanta, New Orleans, Baltimore and Memphis. While on the road, they will serve as Ford community ambassadors as they meet with young people throughout the country and talk with them about the importance of higher education and share stories about their own HBCU experience. They will also visit various African American historical landmarks and partner with key community organizations like Big Brothers & Big Sisters and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. At the games, the “Roadies” will participate in on and off field activities like pre-game parades, step-shows and halftime updates. Each week, they will tell their stories of good deeds and provide commentaries on the football games during the syndicated television show “Inside the Game.”

"The 2007 Ford Black College Football Road Trip continues to serve as a key community relations initiative for Ford Motor Company," said Marc Perry, multicultural marketing manager for the Ford brand. "This marks the seventh year that we've selected "Roadies" to go on tour and we're excited to have both Opal and Jamal onboard. They embody the Ford personality with their positive, can-do attitudes and commitment to servicing the community."

2007 Black College Road Trip “Roadies”

Opal T. Mabry
Opal T. Mabry is a 24-year-old Oakland native and recent graduate of Southern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. Her experience with Southern University's campus life includes working as a news writer with the Southern University DIGEST, completing a three week program with the Southern University foreign language department, where she had the opportunity to attend the University of Orizaba, Vera Cruz, Mexico, all while interning at Max 94.1 in Baton Rouge. She also served in a leadership role as president of the Southern Broadcast Association, a newly formed organization within the Mass Communications Department. Mabry is currently working as a Traffic Producer at Clear Channel in San Francisco.

“The football games, the exposure to southern living and the overall HBCU experience," are things that I will never forget about my years at Southern University," said Mabry. "The 2007 Ford Black College Road Trip is like a dream come true for me. Being able to participate in a variety of community activities and getting the chance to show that it's possible to go to an HBCU and be successful is very important to me. I am just so thankful that Ford has given me this opportunity."

Jamal Wallace
Jamal Wallace is a 25-year-old Bronx native and recent graduate of Livingstone College. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and is currently working as a counselor for troubled children in North Carolina. While at Livingstone, Wallace was inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma, a Criminal Justice Honor Society and Alpha Kappa Mu, a National Academic Honor Society. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, whose fundamental purpose is achievement.

"My time at Livingstone College was really an eye-opening experience for me," said Wallace. "At Livingstone I was immersed in my culture on a daily basis and really came out of the HBCU experience feeling like I could do anything. I am excited about being able to interact with the people at every classic and of course, taking the 2008 Expedition EL out on a cross-country test drive as a community ambassador for the Ford brand."

For more information on the adventure of the “Roadies," including tour stops and video coverage from the various events, log onto www.fordroadtrip.com.

2008 Ford Expedition EL Black College Road Trip Custom Vehicle
The vehicle of choice for the Black College Road Trip is a customized all-new 2008 Ford Expedition EL, which combines bold Ford truck design, functionality and toughness with high levels of interior refinement for consumers who need the flexibility of a full-size SUV. It's powered by Ford’s tough truck-proven 5.4-liter Triton™ V-8 engine, and features First-in-class PowerFold™ third-row seats and a class-exclusive second-row CenterSlide™, which allows the interior to be configured to the owners needs. It’s an SUV ready to handle the adventures of the “Roadies” and the Road Trip. Ford’s customization guru Funkmaster Flex also has added his tuning talents to help prepare the Expedition EL for the trip.

“I have customized this 2008 Expedition as a true head-turner,” said Funkmaster Flex. “From the battle of the bands to the game-winning touchdown, this custom Ford Expedition will stop traffic while the Roadies are on the tour.”

More information on the all-new Ford Expedition and other Ford vehicles can be found at: www.fordvehicles.com.

2007 Black College Road Trip Tour Stops