Alabama State University, founded 1887, is a historically black
university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU was originally founded in Marion, Alabama in 1867 as the Lincoln Normal School. In 1887, the
university opened in its new location in Montgomery but an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling forced the school to change its
name; thus, the school was renamed the Normal School for Colored Students. In 1954, the
school change its name to Alabama State College. The college regained university status in 1969.Alabama State's colors are black and gold and their nickname is the Hornets. Alabama State sports teams
participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for
football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).