tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330330132024-03-17T22:50:10.936-05:00GRAMBLING STORY ARCHIVENick DeRiso covered Grambling from 2002-2010, earning recognition as columnist of the year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (2003), Louisiana Press Association (2004, 2007) and the AP Managing Editors of Louisiana/Mississippi (2005-06). This blog serves as an archive of that coverage. Under DeRiso's leadership, The (Monroe, La.) News-Star's Sunday sports section was named Top 10 in the nation by the Associated Press in 2006.NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-62245257563542080202009-04-23T07:55:00.009-05:002009-05-30T08:33:59.699-05:00SWAC Championship Game 2007<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wjUenC4CaM16gTyKV9gPRsMlVhxSuSnGQRXrmsR8jcmdPEBXCha-9ZEWyJbpVe7R-vgvvFQsyMDP-5VxAOYTy_5r9Im0S9ww3FMC_9WIULc9v046_kfeCn5p1ao-B2yWfHF2/s1600-h/nickatlegion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285988632372940722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wjUenC4CaM16gTyKV9gPRsMlVhxSuSnGQRXrmsR8jcmdPEBXCha-9ZEWyJbpVe7R-vgvvFQsyMDP-5VxAOYTy_5r9Im0S9ww3FMC_9WIULc9v046_kfeCn5p1ao-B2yWfHF2/s400/nickatlegion.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling seeks redemption in title bout</strong> </span><br /><em>December 10, 2007<br /></em>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — A month and a half ago, Grambling State looked like an unstoppable force.<br /><br />Winners of seven straight, GSU had clinched a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game on Nov. 3, even while a gaggle of teams on the other side of the bracket were still jockeying for position.<br /><br />First-year coach Rod Broadway's lone loss on the season was against upper-classification Pittsburgh. His team's average margin of victory was a comfortable 18 points a night.<br /><br />Grambling hasn't won since — falling 28-14 to ULM, a second Football Bowl Subdivision foe, on Nov. 10 and then 22-13 to Louisiana SWAC rival Southern on Nov. 24.<br /><br />Now the title match looms this Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.<br /><br />"They know what's at stake in this game," Broadway said. "We've been talking about a championship all season. That's our goal. We've just got to play a little bit better."<br /><br />Jackson State earned a chance to face Grambling for the league crown with a 3-1 finish, a run that included an emotional win over its own in-state league rival, Alcorn State.<br /><br />GSU is still a respectable 8-3 overall — and 8-1 in SWAC play — but appears to have lost whatever momentum November once promised.<br /><br />Broadway remains focused on the big picture.<br /><br />"If you would have asked us at the beginning of the year, if we felt like 8-3 was a successful year, we would have said 'yes,'" Broadway said. "We definitely didn't like the way the last games unfolded. But competing with a I-A team doesn't happen very often. I still thought we had a chance to beat Monroe, and we had a chance to beat Southern. We just didn't play very well. I think we lost focus a little bit."<br /><br />It's not just that Grambling hasn't won a game since defeating Alabama State to clinch the title berth on Nov. 3. It's that the Tigers have looked like a completely different ball club in the two losses that followed.<br /><br />GSU averaged 30 points a game through the win at Alabama State, but has scored just two touchdowns a night since.<br /><br />A defense that had held opponents to 14 points a contest before Nov. 3 is now surrendering 25 points every time it takes the field. In fact, that unit has given up an average of 98 yards more per game against ULM and Southern than it had over Grambling's previous nine opponents.<br /><br />Special teams breakdowns have also suddenly begun to plague the team.<br /><br />The result is GSU's first multi-game losing streak since Broadway took over in the offseason.<br /><br />"We know what we need to do," said a determined Brandon Landers, the junior Grambling quarterback. "We're in an uplifted mood. We just want to send the seniors out with a championship."<br /><br />The team, as Landers reminds, still has a meaningful shot at redemption. If Grambling were to complete its season with a win on Saturday, its late-season swoon would be all but forgotten.<br /><br />"We're pleased — and disappointed — with the year so far," Broadway said. "We'd like to be 9-0 in the league. You can't be too disappointed in losing one conference game. I think in most conferences in the country, if you told them you were 8-1, most people would be pleased. We're disappointed that we lost to Southern, but we're pleased with the direction we are going. We are in the championship game. That's what you play for."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Quick slants: Grambling football/SWAC Championship Game </span></strong><br /><em>December 7, 2007<br /></em>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />In a way, first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway isn't surprised that his team's seven-game winning streak came to an end.<br /><br />"It gets harder every week," he said. "Every time you win, it gets harder the next week. We have a saying: 'Big game this week.' We say that every week, and they don't get bigger than the next one."<br /><br />Grambling is preparing for the eighth Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, held Dec. 15 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., against Jackson State.<br /><br />The two teams are in far different places emotionally.<br /><br />Jackson comes into the match on this nearly perfect 3-1 run — including a season-ending romp over in-state SWAC rival Alcorn State — that helped clinch the Eastern Division crown.<br /><br />Grambling, on the other hand, hasn't won a game since Nov. 3, a skid that includes tough losses to nearby out-of-conference opponent ULM and then Louisiana league rival Southern.<br /><br />"As a coach, you are going to lose," said Broadway. "You've got to learn from it. We're trying to learn from these losses, and hopefully our players can learn from them as well."<br /><br />This will be GSU's fifth appearance in SWAC championship game history, and Jackson's second. Grambling is 4-0, while JSU is 0-1.<br /><br />There's that pressure again.<br /><br />"The more you win, the bigger each game gets," Broadway said. "Our kids are starting to understand that. They're starting to get a feel for what we are trying to do, and where we are trying to go with this program.'<br /><br />NO PLACE LIKE DOME<br /><br />One of the principal drawbacks of the open-air Legion Field, historic though it may be, has been the reluctance of some SWAC fans to endure the wintery conditions associated with the December playing date.<br /><br />There has been talk, for years, of attaching a dome to the Alabama landmark -- and that project appears to finally be nearing reality.<br /><br />The Birmingham City Council this week approved a new plan from Mayor Larry Langford to increase local sales taxes by 1 cent on the dollar, as well as double business licensing fees, with proceeds going toward a new roof at the facility, among other projects.<br /><br />Officials said the increases, slated to take effect on Jan. 1, would provide $64 million to support $500 million in construction bonds.<br /><br />Legion Field, originally built in 1926, now seats 71,600 after the 2005 removal of a decaying upper deck. Artificial turf was later installed.<br /><br />It's perhaps best known as the former home of the storied Iron Bowl rivalry between Alabama and Auburn (1948-88, 1991), as well as the Hall of Fame Bowl (1977-85). Alabama-Birmingham still plays its home football games at the stadium, which was also host to a Rolling Stones in 1994 and soccer events associated with the 1996 Olympics and 2005 World Cup.<br /><br />LET'S PLAY TWO<br /><br />Under the SWAC's soon-to-be-scrapped nine-game mandate, the league's championship contest is guaranteed to be a rematch every season.<br /><br />In preparing a second time for Jackson State, however, Grambling players are being careful not to get too caught up in their 30-20 win back on Oct. 20.<br /><br />"We've watched our game against them," said senior GSU receiver Clyde Edwards, "and we'll try to work through our own mistakes. But we're also watching games they played after us to see what they've done later."<br /><br />Among those mistakes for Grambling: Jackson quarterback Jimmy Oliver passed for 328 yards as his offense averaged more than 6 yards per play, the second worst performance of the year for GSU against league opponents behind Arkansas-Pine Bluff.<br /><br />Grambling didn't score an offensive touchdown after the 12:29 mark in the second quarter, and was also just 4-of-7 in the red zone -- a performance that has contributed to its middle-of-the-pack No. 4 conference ranking in that stat.<br /><br />A LIGHT SCHEDULE<br /><br />The team practiced just three times this week in an effort to allow for study time during finals week.<br /><br />"You can't drill too much, because of exams," Broadway said. "The most important thing for them is to finish strong in their academics."<br /><br />He said Grambling would return to its normal game-week practice schedule next week.<br /><br />KEEPING UP WITH JONES<br /><br />Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, a two-time finalist for the Grambling job, has signed an extension through 2011.<br /><br />The protracted A&M negotiations actually began last February, and the school's board of trustees approved the new contract over the summer. But Jones' new deal wasn't completed until four days after he met with officials from Western Carolina about the vacant position there.<br /><br />Jones, a teammate of ex-Grambling quarterback and coach Doug Williams on the 1988 Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, has won three Eastern Division titles — finishing as SWAC runner-up to GSU in 2002 and '05 before besting Arkansas-Pine Bluff last season for the league crown. His six-year record at A&M is 49-21.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Line play has contributed to Grambling's sputtering offense<br /></strong></span><em>December 11, 2007</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — They're up front about Grambling State's late-season offensive struggles.<br /><br />They start, well, up front.<br /><br />"It's been our issue over the last three games: We can't protect very well," said first-year GSU coach Rod Broadway. "We knew at the beginning of the season that we would have some issues up front, and it's started to show. We're playing with an offensive line that's got to get better."<br /><br />Grambling lost 25 letter winners last offseason, and no where was that exodus more deeply felt than along the offensive line — which lost three of five starters, including perennial all-conference tackles Andre Bennett and Derrek Governor.<br /><br />But the remade group, led by senior center Tavarus Cockrell, was unbent. Inspired by the uptempo style of its new position coach, offensive coordinator James Spady, the group quickly jelled.<br /><br />In fact, junior quarterback Brandon Landers was so well protected that he went four games without being sacked. That stretch included the Oct. 20 win over Jackson State — GSU's opponent this Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, held at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.<br /><br />Something happened, however against Alabama State on Nov. 3, though it was understandably lost in the hoopla of clinching the Western Division crown and a berth in this title match.<br /><br />Grambling won the game, but gave up three sacks. The trend continued in subsequent contests, both losses, at ULM and against Southern.<br /><br />Landers has been tackled a total of 14 times in 2007, and nine of those sacks have come since Nov. 3.<br /><br />"We've been struggling for the last two or three games," Cockrell said. "We watch the film, and our receivers are open all the time. We just don't give him enough time. We haven't been holding them off long enough."<br /><br />Landers is unwilling to place the blame on any one portion of the offense, preferring instead to talk in general terms about improving.<br /><br />"Nobody is pointing any fingers," he said. "We just need to go in with a good game plan and a good attitude and prepare to win. The mood has been good in the locker room. Nobody is down on anybody."<br /><br />Still, as Landers has been put under increasing pressure, the offense has sputtered.<br /><br />Inconsistency up front has slowed the running attack, too. Freshman Frank Warren, who had four games with 90 or more yards before Nov. 3, has totaled 108 yards in the three games since.<br /><br />In fact, three of Grambling's four worst days on offense in 2007 have come over this span, with only the loss at Pittsburgh in September featuring fewer yards.<br /><br />Grambling has been 1-of-4 in red zone chances, while Landers tossed five of his total 15 interceptions on the year.<br /><br />"Brandon is playing well, but he's started getting beat up," Broadway said. "My hat's off to that kid, because he's taken some shots. We've got to do a better job of protecting him — because when we give him some time, he's a good player."<br /><br />Members of the line — which also features tackles Everett Edwards and Randall Bennett with guards Revay Smith and Muhammad Karim — are at a loss to explain the downturn.<br /><br />They may have worn down. Or opponents may have finally gathered enough information on the reworked offense to better defend against it.<br /><br />Nothing has changed in the way they prepare. Cockrell is also quick to praise Spady.<br /><br />"Seems like teams have found some way to beat us," Cockrell said. "Our problem has been picking up twists and blitzes. Our coach does a heck of a job. It just seems like at game time, something happens."<br /><br />Broadway said the staff is considering a few new looks for Saturday's game, in the hopes of better protecting Landers.<br /><br />"We've had some issues up front," Broadway said. "They've got to get better. But we may also have to go with max protection and rely on (senior receiver) Clyde (Edwards) to make some plays downfield for us."<br /><br />Cockrell, for his part, is well aware of how critical his unit is to the offense's success: Landers' quarterback efficiency rating has dropped an average of 45 points in games this year where he has been sacked two or more times.<br /><br />"We've got to pick it up a little bit," Cockrell said. "This is our last game, and it all boils down to the offensive line."<br /><br />FIVE GRAMBLING PLAYERS HONORED<br />Grambling State had five players named All-Southwestern Athletic Conference, including three first-team members, on Monday.<br /><br />Grambling's first-teamers were: OL Tavarus Cockrell, WR Clyde Edwards and DB Zaire Wilborn. Its second-team honorees were WR Reginald Jackson and RB Frank Warren.<br /><br />Alabama and Southern both had nine players earn either first- or second-team All-Southwestern Conference honors to lead all teams.<br /><br />The teams were selected by league coaches and sports information officials along with selected members of the media.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Renewed focus has earned dividends for Grambling's Banks</strong><br /></span><em>December 13, 2007</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — When first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway arrived, he got an early scouting report on returning senior defender Jason Banks.<br /><br />Not much of it was good.<br /><br />"We heard so much about what he couldn't do," Broadway said. "Or — wouldn't do."<br /><br />The 6-5, 300-pound Banks possessed an outsized skill set. No one argued with that.<br /><br />After all, Banks entered this season with 99 career tackles, and led all linemen last season with 29.<br /><br />The question was whether he would give the kind of consistent effort required to be a team leader.<br /><br />Banks said it all started with questions about the defensive playbook. Small doubts turned into sweeping philosophical differences.<br /><br />That fractured locker room played a key role in last year's 3-8 debacle, Banks said. In the end, this defense looked nothing like the 2005 edition that helped Grambling win 11 games and the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.<br /><br />"We believed in each other through last year," Banks said. "We just didn't believe in our scheme. There were holes."<br /><br />A remade staff, and a renewed run-stopping attitude, have since led GSU back to the title game. Jackson State awaits on Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.<br /><br />It's clear now that Banks viewed the transition in Grambling coaching staffs as a chance to start over — on the field and off.<br /><br />He was the first player to speak to Broadway at his introductory press conference, striding over to introduce himself and talk about the upcoming season.<br /><br />He and Broadway ended up talking instead about academics. Banks, a criminal justice major, listened earnestly — and he impressed his new coach.<br /><br />Banks hasn't stopped impressing him, either.<br /><br />"I don't know who they were talking about," Broadway says of the offseason doubters. "I am extremely proud of Jason Banks."<br /><br />Banks has developed a symbiotic relationship with fellow tackle Melvin Matthews. Together with ends John Scroggins and Christian Anthony, they transformed one of the SWAC's most sluggish defenses into one of its best.<br /><br />GSU ranks second in the league against the rush, after finishing dead last in 2006. Five opponents so far have been held to less than 100 yards rushing, with three managing 30 yards or less — including Jackson State back on Oct. 20.<br /><br />"The scheme we have now has everybody accounting for everybody," Banks said. "We all lean on each other to make plays. Melvin might ask me to help out, if he sees a certain alignment, or I might ask him. We're working together."<br /><br />Though it struggled against Southern, Grambling has more often been at its best during critical games. The defense allowed an average of 11 points in games against defending league champion Alabama A&M, eventual 2007 Eastern Division winner Jackson State and in the contest against Alabama State that clinched this berth in the SWAC Championship Game.<br /><br />At the center of that new defensive fire stands the unlikeliest of sparks, Banks.<br /><br />The Baton Rouge native has gotten stronger as the season has gone on, clogging the middle while making 15 of his 21 total tackles over the past four games. That's perhaps meant less than his vocal direction: Banks has become the heart and soul of this run defense.<br /><br />"That's why we told the guys, from Day 1, that we would be starting with a clean slate," Broadway said. "I don't care what people say about you. We will let you prove what kind of person you really are."<br /><br />Banks said the first inkling of Grambling's defensive resurgence came during its first spring sessions under Broadway and first-year defensive coordinator Clifford Yoshida.<br /><br />"We showed each other that we could stop our offense," Banks said. "We started feeling like we could go out and stop anybody. We started believing in the new scheme."<br /><br />Banks is the best individual example of how this defense has redeemed itself over the 2007 campaign. He's not only made good on a career some thought was lost to underachievement, but also put his team in a position to win its second conference crown in three seasons.<br /><br />"We are extremely proud of the way he has performed, and the way he has grown as a football player and as a person," Broadway said. "You've heard this before: It's not how you start, but how you finish."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Grambling focuses on return game, protection<br /></span></strong><em>December 14, 2007</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING -- Surprising breakdowns on special teams highlighted Grambling State's emotional loss in the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />But memorable misfires in the kicking game, though they led to six points in a tightly contested win for Southern, weren't the only concern this week.<br /><br />"We had some problems with our kicking game that we hadn't had before," said first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway. "They also put us in some holes that we couldn't get out of."<br /><br />Time and again, Jaguars' talented punter Josh Duran forced the offense to begin drives from deep in its own territory. In fact, Grambling's best starting point in the second half was its own 33.<br /><br />Four third-quarter punts, as Southern gathered itself for the win, put the Tigers at their own 14-, 13-, 2- and 17-yard lines. Southern averaged 48 yards per attempt, compared with 29 for GSU.<br /><br />"Field position played a big role in that game," said senior receiver Reginald Jackson. "That limited our opportunities. If we would have had better field position it might have been a different outcome."<br /><br />Jackson has been used at returner, as has Clyde Edwards, Kovarus Hills and Kiare Thompson, among others.<br /><br />The group ranked No. 3 in the league with an average of 11 yards per punt return. But they again will face a stiff challenge. JSU's fourth-ranked attack features sophomore Brett Bennett, who averages nearly 40 yards a punt.<br /><br />Jackson has the best numbers for Grambling, with 17 returns for 170 yards. Edwards returned four punts for a respectable 49 yards against Southern.<br /><br />Grambling will also have to focus on better protecting its own kicker, senior Tim Manuel.<br /><br />Southern's Joe Manning blocked a third-quarter punt deep in Grambling territory, leading to a safety. Jarmaul George also blocked an extra-point attempt after GSU's final score of the day.<br /><br />A QUICK ERRAND BEFORE THE GAME<br /><br />There will be pomp, circumstance and then a bus ride.<br /><br />Receivers Clyde Edwards and Reginald Jackson were two of the Grambling seniors reportedly set to graduate during ceremonies this morning on campus.<br /><br />Fall commencement begins at 10 a.m. in the newly opened Assembly Center, with keynote speaker Leon Whittaker, dean emeritus of graduate studies and a GSU alumnus.<br /><br />In all, 275 undergraduate and graduate students will receive their degrees. Also included in that group is defender Donald "Duck" Williams, among others.<br /><br />The football players will then bus over separately to Birmingham, Ala., for the league title game. The rest of the team left on Thursday.<br /><br />A LEARNING EXPERIENCE?<br /><br />Grambling's players sounded refocused this week, as they prepared with both energy and emotion for Saturday's game.<br /><br />Losing will do that, right?<br /><br />"Losing is never good thing," GUS coach Rod Broadway said, "but you can learn something from it if you approach it the right way."<br /><br />Broadway, for one, has taken the team's two-game slide personally. He has driven himself, the team and his staff with fiery vigor all week.<br /><br />"I hate losing," he admits. "It drives me nuts. But if you coach long enough, you've got to deal with it. We're hoping to learn from its as a staff, and hopefully the players can learn from it, too."<br /><br />FAMILIAR FOES, CHAMPS<br /><br />Looking back, between 1965 and 1990, only four championship trophies from the SWAC didn't have the name of one of these two programs etched on the front. (Alcorn won each of them, in 1969-70, '76 and 1984.)<br /><br />Grambling and/or Jackson has won won seven of the last 15, too. In all, Jackson State can boast an impressive 15 conference championships, while Grambling has 21 -- with 17 of them coming under the late coaching great Eddie Robinson, who passed away in April of this year at age 88.<br /><br />The SWAC then renamed its championship trophy after Robinson, who established a still-standing Division I record for career wins over a 57-season career at GSU. The first rechristened award will be presented on Saturday.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>OPENING DRIVE: Grambling vs. Jackson State, SWAC Championship Game</strong><br /></span><em>December 15, 2007</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><strong>Grambling (8-3) vs. Jackson State (7-4)<br />Kickoff: </strong>1 p.m. today, Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.<br /><strong>TV: </strong>ESPN Classic<br /><strong>Series: </strong>Grambling leads 35-21-1<br /><strong>Coaches: </strong>Grambling, Rod Broadway (8-3, first year; 41-14 overall); Jackson State, Rick Comegy, 13-9, second year; 120-61 overall).<br /><br />So much has changed in the last month for Grambling State.<br /><br />Once on a roll, it has played just twice since Nov. 3 — and lost both. In the meantime, a series of suitors have courted its first-year coach Rod Broadway.<br /><br />With so much uncertainty surrounding the program, this game couldn't get here quickly enough.<br /><br />But can Grambling's offensive juggernaut, which put up eight touchdowns in a homecoming blowout over Texas Southern, grind back into gear? GSU has scored just six touchdowns since — and just only three touchdowns since beating Alabama State in early November.<br /><br />That coincides with Grambling's two-game skid against ULM and then Southern to end the regular season, a shocking downturn that nearly obscures the seven wins in a row that came before.<br /><br />"We just played some teams that were better than us," Broadway said. "We had a chance, but Monroe was better than us this year — and we just didn't play well against Southern. In all three areas, there was a letdown. Things that hadn't happened throughout the course of the year, all of sudden have been happening. Most of them are correctable."<br /><br />One of GSU's victories came by a 10-point margin against Jackson State on Oct. 20.<br /><br />KEY TO VICTORY: Forget about October's win<br /><br />The score in Grambling's 30-20 regular-season victory against Jackson State doesn't reflect how close it actually was.<br /><br />The game, in fact, locked into a tie three times through the first half before Grambling finally pulled away. GSU then held possession for almost the entire fourth quarter to keep the ball, and the win, away.<br /><br />Several key penalties, including flags that helped Grambling convert on two fourth downs and another that allowed GSU to rekick a missed field goal, also gave Jackson's opponent new life time and again.<br /><br />"We've looked at areas we think we can attack," Broadway said. "If they are the same areas as before, then we will do that. But we'll change some things. We learned a lot from playing that game. We'll have a plan that will help us win the ballgame."<br /><br />TOP MATCHUP: Jackson's defense vs. QB Brandon Landers<br /><br />JSU's defense, led by Marcellus Speaks (77 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss) and Marcus Jamison (63 tackles), has seen the blueprint from Grambling's trio of season-ending games.<br /><br />Successive teams have hassled junior Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers, leading to some of his worst performances on the year. Result: GSU finished the year 1-2.<br /><br />Look for Jackson to employ a similar attack, with far more blitzing than it did back in October.<br />Smart playcalling and quick decision making will be critical. Grambling will need to establish the run to slow JSU's dashing defenders some, and Landers — second in the SWAC with 2,380 yards and 21 touchdowns — will have to make the short passes and smart checkdowns, too.<br /><br />GET IN THE GAME<br /><br />Grambling held Jackson State to just 25 yards on the ground earlier this year, but could be looking at new-look rushing attack on Saturday.<br /><br />Jackson State's Eric Haw, who leads the team with 630 yards and seven touchdowns on 145 attempts, isn't expected to start after undergoing knee surgery. Lavarius Giles got the majority of JSU's carries in its regular-season finale against Alcorn, and finished with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts.<br /><br />'07 IMPLICATIONS<br />For Jackson State, this is a chance to reclaim its spot atop the conference after a long decade in the wilderness. JSU has won 15 SWAC titles, including consecutive crowns in 1995-96, but has struggled through some decidedly lean years until the arrival of second-year coach Rick Comegy.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Grambling is in the SWAC Championship Game for the fifth time since its inception in 1999, and is playing for its 22 nd league crown. The question is whether GSU will still have its coach next week, after Florida A&M made a job offer to Broadway — and set a tentative announcement date for a new coach for this Monday.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>DISARMED: Jackson State passes Grambling State to end SWAC run<br /></strong></span><em>December 16, 2007<br /></em>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Grambling State is no longer undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Games.<br /><br />Jackson State finished that streak with a 42-31 win over GSU on Saturday in a contest that came down to quarterback play.<br /><br />Grambling, now 4-1 in title matches, finishes coach Rod Broadway's initial season at 8-4. Jackson State, in the second season under Rick Comegy, improved to an identical record.<br /><br />"There's disappointment in how it ended, but 8-4 is not bad," Broadway said. "It gives us something to build on."<br /><br />Everything that junior Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers tried to do, JSU's Jimmy Oliver did better.<br /><br />Landers finished 18-of-38 for 229 yards and two touchdowns. But his occasional problems with ball placement, and a couple of critical drops, left an opening for an emotionally charged JSU team with a partisan crowd on its side.<br /><br />In all, he suffered three picks.<br /><br />"They made some plays on the ball, and there were some bad throws," said Landers, a Carroll High product. "We needed to execute better."<br /><br />There were four lead changes in a game, and amazing streaks of offensive firepower. Grambling scored three times in the third period alone, but three of the four quarters saw Jackson put up two touchdowns.<br /><br />"At one point, we scored 19 unanswered points," Broadway said, "but the story of the day was missed tackles."<br /><br />Twice Oliver seemed to have been stopped, and instead made game-changing plays.<br /><br />In the end, he earned most-valuable player honors by passing eight fewer times than Landers but completing almost as many passes for 30 more yards, one more touchdown and two fewer interceptions.<br /><br />"He made the difference in the ball game," Broadway said. "He played like a champion today."<br /><br />It made for one of the most thrilling of the SWAC's nine title matches.<br /><br />An interception by Sterlington native DeMichael Dizer on the third play of the game set up Grambling's first touchdown, a one-yard blast by freshman running back Frank Warren.<br /><br />Unfazed, Jackson State relied on a dizzying array of creative flourishes by Oliver — who at one point turned a broken running play into a 11-yard first-down scramble — to answer with its own score on a 14-yard touchdown reception by Cedric Dixon.<br /><br />"He's a hell of player," said senior Grambling receiver Clyde Edwards, who led all receivers with seven catches for 72 yards. "He kept making something out of nothing."<br /><br />Landers was then picked off by JSU defensive back Domonique Johnson, who raced back 31 yards for a touchdown — just the 19th non-offensive score in the league all season.<br /><br />It was Landers' seventh interception over the last four games, as defenses have had surprising success in hounding him on passing downs. Landers was sacked four times in the game.<br /><br />A stunning series of penalties resulted in Grambling's next points.<br /><br />First, a personal-foul flag stalled GSU's following possession, but senior punter Tim Manuel punted the ball to the Grambling half-yard line.<br /><br />A delay of game penalty moved Jackson back further still. Then, as Oliver attempted a pass from the end zone, JSU was called for holding — resulting in a safety.<br /><br />A streaking 30-yard catch by Reginald Jackson set up Grambling senior kicker Tim Manuel's 37-yard field goal, narrowing the Jackson lead to 14-12 early in the second quarter.<br /><br />JSU then quickly gave the ball back, when Grambling's Jeffrey Jack smacked tight end Marcel Frost — freeing the ball to be recovered by Nigel Copeland at the Jackson 24.<br /><br />But when Grambling failed to score on the next possession, a long ebb followed.<br /><br />Jackson scored 14 quick points after defensive back Keith Camp blocked a Manuel kick.<br /><br />The first touchdown was keyed on a couple of dramatic plays by Oliver.<br /><br />He hit Carlos Simpson on a 34-yard reception to the Grambling 19 — then, after a mad scramble from the top to the bottom of the field, found an uncovered Christopher Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a TD.<br /><br />Landers followed with a line-drive interception to Jackson defender Marcellus Speaks, handing the ball right back at the Grambling 26.<br /><br />GSU actually held to fourth down, but then jumped offsides to give Jackson a new set of downs. Lavarus Giles' subsequent three-yard touchdown extended JSU's advantage to 28-12.<br /><br />In the second half's final possession, GSU was forced to punt again.<br /><br />The time in the locker room did Grambling good.<br /><br />GSU opened the third quarter by holding Jackson to a quick three-and-out, then freshman running back Cornelius Walker dashed for 37 yards to the Jackson 30. Landers followed with a 30-yard touchdown strike to Nick Lewis.<br /><br />Even his errant two-point conversion pass, thrown to the wrong shoulder, was hauled in by tight end Tim Abney — who exploded for 10 quick points to tie the game.<br /><br />The Neville product caught in a 44-yard touchdown pass after a JSU fumble, and added a second two-point conversion.<br /><br />Manuel's 26-yard field goal then gave Grambling its first lead since the first quarter.<br /><br />But Oliver continued to amaze, playing his best when things seemed the most dire.<br /><br />Standing in the clutches of Grambling's Brandon Logan, Oliver connected with Terrance Jones on a 15-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead 35-31.<br /><br />"He just made some great plays," Comegy said. "Everybody knew he was sacked. But that's the way he plays."<br /><br />Giles joined in the act, somehow squirting through a group of Grambling defenders for his own thrilling 57-yard touchdown. He finished with a game-high 132 yards on 23 carries, a game after taking over for the injured Eric Haw.<br /><br />Just then, a sunny afternoon suddenly turned dark and foreboding — and the skies opened up. Neither team could find a rhythm in the swirling rains, and most of the once-raucous crowd made its way to the exits.<br /><br />The score remained at 42-31 from there on.<br /><br />"We're just not good enough this year to win it," said Broadway, whose team finished on a three-game skid after winning seven straight. "We stopped progressing somewhere a long the way."<br /><br /><strong>SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP<br /></strong><br />GOOD PLAY<br />Sterlington native DeMichael Dizer, on the third play of the game, intercepted Jackson State quarterback Jimmy Oliver and returned the ball to the GSU 40. Grambling's first score of the game followed on a 1-yard run by freshman Frank Warren.<br /><br />BAD PLAY<br />Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers, passing on second down at his own 31 in the second quarter, was picked off in the flat by Jackson State's defensive back Domonique Johnson — who raced into the end zone to give JSU a lead that it didn't relinquish until less than two minutes remained in the third period.<br /><br />BIG HIT<br />Grambling defenders Keefe Hall and Donald "Duck" Williams smacked Oliver around on a key third down play, just moments after GSU tied the game at 28 early in the second half. Oliver eventually fumbled, though recovered his own ball. Jackson's opportunity to quickly retake the momentum was over.<br /><br />DID YOU NOTICE?<br />Senior Larry Kerlegan, switching from backup quarterback to receiver, pulled in a tough third-down conversion along the sideline for Grambling late in the first period. That was his second catch of the year.<br /><br />SOMETHING SPECIAL<br />Grambling senior Tim Manuel, in position to give Grambling its first lead since early in the first quarter, had a kick blocked for the second week in a row. Jackson State defensive back Keith Camp slipped in on a field goal attempt midway through the second period. Manuel also had an extra-point try stopped against Southern in the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />GET IN THE GAME<br />Replay might have corrected a disappointing miscall by the officials on an Oliver pass during Jackson State's second possession of the third period. The receiver bobbled and then dropped the forward pass, but it was ruled a fumble. Two plays later, Grambling tied the game on a touchdown and two-point conversion by GSU tight end Tim Abney.<br />--Nick Deriso<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Abney was fabulous in Grambling finale<br /></span></strong><em>December 17, 2007</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Tim Abney, despite an up-and-down career marked by injury, ended his Grambling State career with a flourish.<br /><br />He had a hand in 10 of 19 third-quarter points that helped GSU retake the lead late in Saturday's Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game.<br /><br />"I tried to do my best to put us in position to win a championship," Abney said.<br /><br />And how.<br /><br />The Neville High product collected a two-point conversion after Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers' touchdown pass to Nick Lewis at the 9:46 mark, then caught his own TD grab in a one-play, 44-yard scoring drive. Finally, Abney added a second straight two-point conversion to complete the scoring jag.<br /><br />Just 32 seconds of game time had passed.<br /><br />"They called my number and I went out there and played like it was my last game," Abney said. "I wanted to go out with a bang."<br /><br />Those points tied the game at 28 and were followed by a 26-yard Tim Manuel field goal to give Grambling a slim advantage. Jackson State subsequently answered with two more touchdowns, however, to regain control of the contest.<br /><br />Abney would finish third on the team for all-purpose yards, a more appropriate end for a player that struggled valiantly through a lingering groin problem.<br /><br />Abney led all receivers in yards per catch as a Grambling freshman in 2003, but went down and missed the next season then part of 2005. Since then, he received a medical waiver to play an additional year while attending graduate school at GSU.<br /><br />But he was forced to work primarily as a tight end and possession receiver, since the injury robbed him of critical speed.<br /><br /><strong>They showed love:</strong> National media members covering the SWAC Championship Game included Dave Coulson, executive director of Football Championship Subdivision coverage for the Sports Network, and Ralph Wallace of CollegeSportingNews.com<br /><br />Both had attended the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game between Appalachian State and Delaware the night before in Chattanooga, Tenn. Appalachian State won its third consecutive lower-classification title.<br /><br />Part of game week festivities was the Sports Network's 21st annual FCS awards banquet, which includes major awards players and coach of the year named after key figures from both SWAC title match participants.<br /><br />Defensive players receive the Buck Buchanan Award, after the Grambling standout. The offensive award is named for Walter Payton, a Jackson State product.<br /><br />Finally, the network's coach of the year award is named for Eddie Robinson, who graced the cover of the banquet program.<br /><br />Coulson composed a tribute inside to Robinson, as did writers Tony Moss and Mickey Charles.<br /><br />"In my 30 years of covering college football," Coulson said, "I've never heard anyone utter a disparaging word about a man they simply call 'Coach Rob.'"<br /><br />Walter Dean, the standout Grambling rusher from the early 1990s, was guest speaker. Dean remains the only SWAC player to win the Payton Award.<br /><br /><strong>The same, but different:</strong> Grambling and Jackson State ended the season with identical records, but got there in far different ways.<br /><br />Where GSU dropped three games to end its 8-4 campaign, Jackson began with two losses, both to non-conference foes.<br /><br />First came a stumble against Mississippi Division II power Delta State on Sept. 1, 27-15, then a far more sobering loss against regional rival Tennessee State, 16-13 on Sept. 8.<br /><br />Jackson coach Rick Comegy said the team used the early diversity as a springboard.<br /><br />"We all cried on the way back from that game," Comegy said. "We were coming together. From that time on, they started playing for the blue and white."<br /><br />JSU won seven of its next nine to advance to the 2007 league title game, falling against Prairie View on Nov. 10 and Grambling on Oct. 10 — a loss avenged by Saturday's 42-31 victory at Legion Field.<br /><br /><strong>Tiger pause:</strong> Grambling seniors Jason Banks and Clyde Edwards were team captains for the championship game. ... The title was Jackson's 16th in the SWAC, but first since 1996. That 11-year span was JSU's longest drought since going nine years without a title between 1963-72. ... Former Grambling quarterback and coach Doug Williams was recognized with other attending legacy SWAC alums at midfield before the game. Among them was Williams' former Tampa Bay teammate Jimmy Giles, who attended Alcorn State.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">BACKFIELD IN MOTION: Warren's production sparked Grambling's run in 2007<br /></span></strong><em>December 26, 2007</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Grambling State's dramatic turnaround in 2007 was keyed by the most surprising of things: A freshman running back.<br /><br />At Grambling?<br /><br />Known over the balance of the last decade for its bluntly unbalanced, pass-oriented approach, GSU was instead powered this season by Frank Warren's 852 yards on the ground.<br /><br />The Alabama native helped lift a newly resurgent rushing offense five spots to No. 4 overall for yardage in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Warren finished as the league's No. 3 overall running back.<br /><br />"The coaches were great for me, helping me make the transition from high school to college," Warren said. "The seniors helped me out, too. I give everybody credit for helping me get here."<br /><br />A GSU team that lost eight games in 2006 won that many times a season later, with Warren as the offense's center point.<br /><br />"He was definitely a key," first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "He was one of our best players this year."<br /><br />The change for this offense was as complete as it was surprising: Warren's total yardage in this season alone is just shy of the combined output from Grambling's top rushers in 1998-2000.<br /><br />Warren was just 150 yards away from becoming the first to reach 1,000 since 2001, only the second in 14 seasons, and only the 10th since 1958 at Grambling.<br /><br />A year after GSU passed 30 more times than it rushed, Warren and Co. flipped that script — running 50 more times than junior Brandon Landers threw it.<br /><br />That was part of a larger strategy by new coordinator James Spady to slow the pace, something that might have helped in a series of 2006 losses when GSU's defense seemed to fade.<br /><br />"People are so concerned with getting it now; it's a microwave society," said Spady, who also coaches the offensive line. "Then you get in the kind of battles this offense was in last year, and you're running three plays then scoring a touchdown — and your defense is sent right back out there. That is not my personal philosophy."<br /><br />The new scheme gave Warren a platform, and he emerged as a star. The SWAC recognized him multiple times as newcomer of the week — then gave Warren freshman of the year honors.<br /><br />"We understood that we were inexperienced at spots, but we expected a lot out of them anyway," Broadway said. "It didn't matter if they were freshmen, if they were good."<br /><br />Warren was, and from the beginning.<br /><br />In his collegiate debut, Warren rushed for 143 yards at Alcorn State.<br /><br />"Starting my first game, that was big moment for me," Warren said. "I had my eyes opened. It was not like the games I had played most of my life."<br /><br />He's being modest: Warren was a finalist for the Class 5A Back of the Year award as a prep standout at Pleasant Grove, Ala.<br /><br />He then added 104 yards for GSU against Mississippi Valley, and scored his first two career touchdowns against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.<br /><br />Walker played a critical role in Grambling's win at the State Fair Classic game, where he rushed for 109 yards against Prairie View — a performance highlighted by a key stretch over GSU's final drive when he gained 43 yards on six attempts to set up the game-winning field goal.<br /><br />Warren's season high of 149 yards came in Grambling's final home game of the 2007 campaign, a blowout over Texas Southern.<br /><br />That was the prototype for the way this offense is meant to run: "The running game took the wind out of them early," said departing senior receiver Clyde Edwards.<br /><br />Warren then scored 14 of GSU's 21 points against Alabama State, once by air and one on the ground, in a win that clinched the Western Division crown.<br /><br />From there, however, the Grambling running attack faded — and, perhaps not coincidentally, so did the team.<br /><br />GSU entered a non-conference contest against ULM rushing for 153 yards per game, No. 2 in the SWAC, but was held to negative production on the night. The Tigers would manage just 151 total rushing over their final three games.<br /><br />All were losses, including upsets at the Bayou Classic against Southern and then the SWAC Championship Game versus Jackson State.<br /><br />Warren was steadfast through the adversity, framing the good times and the bad as a learning experience.<br /><br />"It built character," he said.<br /><br />Warren's production and effort over the balance of the season couldn't be denied, even if the team slumped at season's end. He almost single-handedly helped change the complexion of the Grambling offense.<br /><br />GSU ran 409 times in 2007, most in three seasons and almost 76 more attempts than last year. Even through that trio of stumbles, Grambling finished '07 with an average of 134 yards per game on the year — also the most since '04 and 40 more per game than a season ago.<br /><br />"Frank stepped forward and carried the load for us this year," Broadway said. "He has a chance of becoming a great player."<br /><br />With three years still to play, Warren could easily pass Walter Dean for second all-time in rushing at Grambling — and might even challenge the school record of 3,795, set by Eric Gant in the early 1990s.<br /><br />GSU's last 1,000-yard rusher was Brad Hill, who had 1,023 yards for former coach Doug Williams six years ago. Before that, Gant's 1,243-yard campaign under Grambling legend Eddie Robinson dates all the way back in 1993.<br /><br /><strong>2007 GSU SEASON RECAP<br /></strong><br /><strong>Final record: </strong>8-4 overall; 8-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference<br /><br /><strong>Best game: </strong>On Oct. 27 against Texas Southern, Grambling did what you are supposed to do in a homecoming game: Beat your opponent like a drum. GSU set season-high marks for rushing and passing touchdowns, and yards rushing.<br /><br /><strong>Worst game: </strong>Some thought Grambling had a shot at knocking off upper-classification ULM on Nov. 10. Instead, GSU was held to negative yards rushing, while surrendering a season-high number of interceptions and sacks. The eventual 28-14 loss at ULM was part of a three-game slide to end the year.<br /><br /><strong>Turning point: </strong>That skid actually started against Alabama State on Nov. 3. Grambling was held scoreless after the 8:03 mark in the second quarter, and the offense never really got in sync again.<br /><br /><strong>Most telling stat: </strong>Grambling's offense averaged 31 points a game before Nov. 3, then 20 points in the four games that followed. GSU went 1-3 over that stretch.<br /><br /><strong>Most valuable player: </strong>Freshman running back Frank Warren averaged a first down on every two attempts. He had nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage, with five rushing touchdowns and one receiving score.<br /><br /><strong>Top offensive players: </strong>Reginald Jackson led all receivers in yards and catches, while fellow senior Clyde Edwards was tops in scoring. Edwards also set school marks for career yards, catches and touchdowns.<br /><br /><strong>Top defensive players: </strong>Defensive backs Zaire Wilborn and Jeffrey Jack led all tacklers, with 67 stops each. Senior tackle Jason Banks became an important voice in the locker room.<br /><br /><strong>Top special teams player: </strong>Senior kicker Tim Manuel was 13-of-19 on field goal attempts and 29-of-34 on extra-point tries to lead all Grambling players with 68 total points. He also averaged 40 yards a punt.<br /><br /><strong>Unsung heroes: </strong>Tim Abney, whose career was hampered by injury, provided both senior leadership and an important check down option in a new offense that values short passes.<br /><br /><strong>Emerging star: </strong>Junior Keefe Hall grew into his role at middle linebacker, finishing second on the team with 62 tackles. Nobody recovered more fumbles.<br /><br /><strong>Key injury: </strong>We never got to see what converted quarterback Larry Kerlegan could really accomplish in the slot, as he sat for extended stretches with a nagging ankle injury.<br /><br /><strong>Returning starters, offense (7): </strong>QB Brandon Landers, RB Frank Warren, LT Everett Edwards, LG Revay Smith, RG Muhammad Karim, FB Dante Cheek and WR Kovarus Hills.<br /><br /><strong>Returning starters, defense (6): </strong>DT Melvin Matthews, DE Christian Anthony, LB John Carter, DB Kenneth Anio, DB Jeffrey Jack and DB Nigel Copeland.<br /><br /><strong>Returning specialists (1): </strong>LS Carlton Johnson.<br /><br /><strong>Notes: </strong>With Clyde Edwards, Reginald Jackson and Tim Abney all departing, a new face will have to quickly emerge to stabilize the receiving corps. ... Other signing day priorities: Offensive linemen and a kicker. ... Other emerging stars: RB Cornelius Walker, DE Christian Anthony, QB Tonie Spears, DB Nigel Copeland.<br /><br />-- Nick Deriso, nderiso@thenewsstar.com<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-17945140546663443022009-03-09T23:11:00.003-06:002009-04-15T23:15:09.403-05:00Remembering: Grambling's David Lewis<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>In memory: David Lewis made a personal impact at Grambling </strong></span><br /><em>June 20, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />For me, next season's Grambling home football opener -- no matter the outcome -- will be a somber experience.<br /><br />Absent from the Robinson Stadium pressbox will be David Lee Lewis, who died last week and was honored during a memorial on Thursday morning in Ruston.<br /><br />A criminal justice professor at GSU for two decades before retiring a few years back, Lewis was one of those quietly important contributors, even if few outside of his classroom or "The Rob" ever knew it.<br /><br />And, I'm honored to say, he was my friend.<br /><br />Lewis was remembered during those emotional services as a mentor to scores of criminal justice majors, emerging leaders-in-the-making who went out into the world to make it a better place. And as a force behind countless community efforts, including those to erect a museum in honor of Grambling's late football coaching legend, Eddie Robinson.<br /><br />Lewis was a tireless volunteer, a deeply committed soldier, for Grambling, for Lincoln Parish, for America. His so-called "retirement" never lessened that passion.<br /><br />He was also, as a longtime scoreboard operator at GSU, a guy I knew as a student of the game who scouted pro football referees. He could expertly spot the ball on an inside running play with one eye -- even while still focusing on the pressbox vittles with the other.<br /><br />Generous and sharp, David Lewis was a steady presence, the voice of reason, but also a deeply humorous guy. He once correctly predicted, within 20 people, the abysmal attendance at a meaningless out-of-conference game -- and I still owe him some money on that.<br /><br />In fact, I never covered a GSU game at Robinson Stadium without Lewis at the scoreboard, and we never missed an opportunity to trade barbs, stories and quips. He bested me every time.<br /><br />Still, while he could see the intrinsic humor in life, David Lewis was never a frivilous person. His standards were high, sometimes impossibly so. Lewis had a sharp focus, and a serious one, on leaving this place better than he found it, and for honoring those who did what was right.<br /><br />He was instrumental, for instance, in helping to secure the former women's gymnasium as the future home for exhibits in memory of Robinson. Countless students, friends and family members spoke on Thursday of similar efforts in their own lives, gestures often made away from public notice.<br /><br />Mr. Lewis' commitment to service and pride in citizenship touched students and family alike. His son Bobby -- one of five children he often lovingly mentioned -- was serving in the war on terror when he heard of Lewis' passing.<br /><br />The list of boards and associations he had served on was read aloud during Lewis' funeral, and it took a remarkable amount of time. But Lewis, known to those closest to him as "Big Daddy," always had a moment for his children, for his grandchildren, for his students, for his school.<br /><br />He coordinated local youth activities, sent out notes and cards on special occasions, and worked diligently to promote and protect community programs -- touching hundreds of young people's lives. And that was on top of a 20-year tenure as a professor and then the criminal justice department's undergraduate program director at GSU.<br /><br />It seemed fitting that Dr. Ruby Higgins, a former GSU administrative official and dear friend of Lewis', would suggest on Thursday that an endowed scholarship be established in his honor. Lewis, though he never made the cover of Sports Illustrated, wove himself into the very fabric of Grambling.<br /><br />The dizzying achievements of Robinson, former basketball coach and athletics director Fred Hobdy or second school president R.W.E. Jones have been, at least more recently, well documented in publications like that.<br /><br />But it takes an every-day attention to detail by a cast of thousands to stitch together a legacy like Grambling's. There are others who made smaller contributions that were, if not as widely recognized, just as important on a personal level.<br /><br />Mr. Lewis was one of those people. He'll be missed.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-86214626075898688252009-02-15T22:38:00.004-06:002009-04-01T23:23:24.204-06:00The time that ... Maurice Clarett considered a transfer to Grambling<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Wait for greatness?: Reports have Clarett pondering move to GSU</strong><br /></span><em>September 9, 2003 </em><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Grambling State's Doug Williams spent all day talking about Maurice Clarett - perhaps the nation's best collegiate runner, but perhaps one without a school.<br /><br />A writer from ESPN called. Some of Williams' friends in the National Football League, too. And a lot - a whole lot - of college representatives.<br /><br />Both Williams and GSU athletics director Albert Dennis confirmed that they had not heard from the sophomore running back on Monday.<br /><br />In fact, the only person Williams didn't talk to, he joked, was Clarett.<br /><br />"That's been the talk of the day," Williams said, chuckling. "We've gotten calls from all over."<br /><br />Clarett helped lead Ohio State to its first national championship since 1970 last season - and has been in trouble with the NCAA ever since.<br /><br />Still, when the ESPN guy called, GSU's sixth-year coach was typically blunt: "I don't think a headache comes with the kid. He didn't shoot anybody. They didn't arrest him for drugs. He didn't rape anybody. Ain't no problem with the kid."<br /><br />The New York Times broke a story this summer indicating that Clarett could have received preferential help with exams last season. Then the NCAA made inquiries into gifts that Clarett allegedly received that could be related to a possible relationship with an agent.<br /><br />Clarett was held out of practices, then suspended for six games.<br /><br />Next came a traffic stop, one where Clarett said he was "test driving" a car that was suspiciously loaded to the roof with video and stereo equipment. Then he gave a false report concerning who the stuff belonged to.<br /><br />The NCAA is now investigating that - and there is some indication that Ohio State isn't optimistic about Clarett's eventual return.<br /><br />News reports had Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel staging a team picture this Wednesday - with no spot saved for the troubled running back.<br /><br />In steps NFL legend Jim Brown, who has become an advisor for the Clarett family - and is a friend of Doug Williams'.<br /><br />On a Saturday night radio program, Brown strongly suggested - should Clarett be declared ineligible for the Buckeyes - that he consider transfer to Grambling State.<br /><br />"I think that if the Claretts would consider transferring, Grambling would be an ideal situation for the kid," Brown told ESPN Radio's Bob Valvano. "Doug Williams is a great coach. He could hone his game. He'd be in school. It's a great situation. Doug would be perfect for the kid, but that's up to him and his mother."<br /><br />If Clarett were to transfer down to I-AA Grambling, he would have to sit out the remainder of the 2003 season - but could start in 2004, setting himself up for a look in the NFL draft the following spring.<br /><br />The earliest Clarett could be in Black and Gold would be the spring game of 2004 - but only after first serving whatever NCAA sanctions are eventually handed down. He would also have to enroll this year, and remain eligible to play throughout his suspension.<br /><br />Williams says to be mentioned as a possible landing spot for what many thought would be a Heisman Trophy candidate speaks volumes about where the program is headed - and where it's been.<br /><br />A third-straight Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2002 was just the latest signature moment, he reminds, in a Grambling State legacy that includes countless NFL draftees - and four Pro Football Hall of Famers.<br /><br />"Grambling brings national visibility," Williams said, "even if we are I-AA. Scouts are coming here every day. That means he's getting everything that he would have gotten there - except 100,000 people at the game."<br /><br />The talk of a new running back of Clarett's talent and speed would be welcome news for GSU team that's always trying to balance its offense.<br /><br />Quarterback Bruce Eugene led Division I-AA in total offense and points scored - but he was also the team's second leading rusher. That trend remained on Saturday in the Tigers' first SWAC game of the year.<br /><br />Williams can only imagine what it would mean to have Eugene handing off instead to Clarett - who had 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.<br /><br />"We don't have a Maurice Clarrett. It would be a big difference," Williams said. "It would take a lot of pressure off of Bruce. There's nothing I can do, but keep my phone line clear."<br /><br />With that, Williams - understandably - excused himself and hung up.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Ohio State officially releases Clarett, sparking local interest</strong></span><br /><em>September 10, 2003</em><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - The first in a sequence of events that could bring one of the nation's best collegiate running backs to an area school has happened.<br /><br />Tuesday, Ohio State released Maurice Clarett - the hero of the Buckeyes' national championship game earlier this year - from his scholarship with the school. The move came hours after Clarett was charged with lying about items stolen from him in a borrowed car - part of a string of off-field problems since the Fiesta Bowl.<br /><br />Northeastern Louisiana entered the narrative when the Clarett family's adviser in this matter, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, encouraged Clarett to transfer to Grambling State University - should he be released by Ohio State.<br /><br />That happened on Tuesday - though NCAA penalties have yet to be decided.<br /><br />Brown suggested Clarett's transfer over the weekend on an ESPN radio program, though no one at Grambling State has yet heard from him or his family.<br /><br />"We could use him," said sixth-year GSU coach Doug Williams. "I don't think Ohio State would have won the national championship without Maurice Clarett."<br /><br />Williams entered a Tuesday news conference dominated by talk of Clarett carrying a Tigers jersey with No. 13 on it. "That's what he would wear," he joked. "Isn't that what most of the questions will be about?"<br /><br />Williams didn't have any more information about the possible move - though he met with his offensive coaches to discuss the possibility of having the talented rusher join the Tigers, who have just begun defending their third-consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference title.<br /><br />"It would alter our offense to more of a running attack," Williams said, "and would take some pressure off of (junior quarterback) Bruce Eugene. It would give us a chance to win a fourth straight."<br /><br />Clarett was charged, according to the Associated Press, with misdemeanor falsification, said Columbus, Ohio, city spokesman Scott Varner. If convicted, Clarett could face up to six months in a jail and a $1,000 fine.<br /><br />Clarett had already been suspended indefinitely by the team after charges of academic irregularities and improper gifts. Ohio State has been working for more than two weeks on a response to several pages of allegations sent by the NCAA to the university.<br /><br />New allegations of cash transactions were raised by a Cleveland television station on Monday. "It's out of our hands," Williams said of the latest charges. "That would be up to the NCAA."<br /><br />If Clarett transferred to another Division I-A school, he would have to sit out a year in addition to any suspension or ineligibility handed down by the NCAA. He could transfer to a Division I-AA, II or III and be immediately eligible to play after the possible penalties.<br /><br />Williams said Tuesday that he learned about Jim Brown's suggestion of a transfer - and of each new wrinkle in the Clarett case - from the Internet and news reports. He said Brown's faith in his coaching abilities was a tip of the hat to GSU.<br /><br />"He has a lot of respect for what we have done here at Grambling," Williams said of Brown. "I think he feels, as an adviser, that Maurice would need someone he can relate to a lot better than some other places."<br /><br />NCAA spokeswoman Kay Hawes would not speak to the Associated Press about the Clarett case but did say that if a suspended or ineligible player transferred, the athlete's new school would first have to declare him ineligible, and would then seek his reinstatement through the organization.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">NCAA leaves Clarett with trio of options<br /></span></strong>· Troubled running back hit with suspension, not banned from playing.<br /><em>September 11, 2003<br /></em>By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />The NCAA handed down a season-long suspension Wednesday for troubled Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, but didn't ban him from playing.<br /><br />With an earlier release from the football team already announced, Clarett now faces three options:<br /><br />· Give up collegiate football and go to class.<br /><br />· Petition the NFL for early entry into the draft.<br /><br />· Transfer to a Division I-AA school - some have said it might be Grambling State, where regulations state Clarett would be eligible to play his junior year before reaching the required age for pro draft.<br /><br />Players must wait until three years after their high school graduation to enter the NFL. Clarett will be a sophomore this season.<br /><br />GSU coach Doug Williams, who learned of Clarett's possible interest in the Tigers on the Internet, says the first two possibilities are unlikely - in particular, petitioning the NFL.<br /><br />"The unfortunate part about challenging the rule," Williams said, "is that he would probably never get the opportunity to reap the benefits. The NFL would drag the case out so long, that he would be eligible for the draft anyway."<br /><br />Jim Brown, a family advisor, first raised the possibility that the NCAA's most electrifying runner - Clarett scored the game-winning touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl on his last play for the Buckeyes - might transfer to the Lincoln Parish school to finish out his college eligibility.<br /><br />That set off a national media maelstrom, including stories on ESPN and FOX, on the wire services and in most major newspapers.<br /><br />Like Brown, Williams has insisted that Clarett needs more football experience - and that, sure, Grambling would be a great option - before the running back contemplating joining the NFL.<br /><br />"It's silly to question Williams and Brown on this point," columnist Michael Wilbon wrote in the Wednesday edition of The Washington Post. "One is a Super Bowl MVP and the other the greatest football player ever."<br /><br />Even so, Williams is not allowed by NCAA rule to contact Clarett.<br /><br />"No, I'll call (current Grambling running backs) Ab Kuuan and Rueben Mays," Williams said, and laughed loudly.<br /><br />So, he remains pragmatic. "Even if (Clarett) comes here," Williams said, "he'll still have to serve the suspension that the NCAA has imposed upon him."<br /><br />Clarett, who is accused of lying to the NCAA, school investigators and the police through a series of troubles this off-season, will get to keep his scholarship at Ohio State, school officials said. But his attorney told the Associated Press: "He's considering his options right now."<br /><br />The NCAA and Ohio State continue to investigate Clarett. The school has been working for more than two weeks on a response to a multi-page set of allegations from the NCAA.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Clarett turns focus to NFL<br /></strong></span>· Suspended RB will now try to enter pro league; GSU still waiting on a call.<br /><em>September 15, 2003</em><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />There's a reason why Grambling State coach Doug Williams didn't hear from suspended Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett this week.<br /><br />"My lines must be down," Williams joked. "They ain't ringing."<br /><br />No, Clarett - who was being encouraged by family advisor Jim Brown to transfer to GSU - has decided to ask that the NFL change its eligibility rules instead.<br /><br />NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday that Clarett's attorneys have requested that he be allowed to play early. Tagliabue said NFL lawyers would discuss the situation, perhaps next week.<br /><br />The NFL stipulates that players wait three years after high school graduation to play. Clarett, who was suspended for one year this week over various NCAA violations, is a sophomore.<br /><br />This signals the presumptive end to a flirtation with GSU that began with a phone call from an old friend of Williams'.<br /><br />Jacksonville Jaguars executive James "Shack" Harris, a Carroll High and GSU alum, asked Williams on Sept. 7 what he thought of Clarett.<br /><br />"We talk all the time," Williams said, so he thought nothing of it. "I told him I think he is a hell of a running back. He said, `OK, I'll call you back.' Evidently, he and (Clarett family advisor) Jim Brown had been talking."<br /><br />When Williams got home, he discovered just what that call meant while browsing the World Wide Web.<br /><br />"You go to the Internet, you find out that Maurice was considering coming to Grambling," Williams said. "I didn't know that's what James was talking about. I'm thinking that Jacksonville was trying to find a way to get him into camp."<br /><br />Williams met with his offensive coaches early last week, as the buzz about the Buckeye got louder.<br /><br />A running back of his caliber, Williams said, would have meant a change in the team's pass-oriented scheme behind SWAC offensive player of the week Bruce Eugene.<br /><br />"We would find a way to throw it as much as we ran it. We had talked about giving it to him 25 to 30 times. But all that was hypothetical. Now, we'll just have to throw it 60," he said, and chuckled.<br /><br />Tagliabue told the AP that the NFL remains opposed to changing its age restriction, instituted 13 years ago with the agreement of the Players' Association.<br /><br />Reporters also asked Tagliabue, a former NFL lawyer, about the possibility of the rule being overturned by a lawsuit: "My feeling as commissioner is that we have a very strong case and that we'll win it."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>NCAA checks GSU's actions over Clarett<br /></strong></span><em>September 25, 2003<br /></em>By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Troubled football star Maurice Clarett apparently won't be coming to Grambling State University, but the NCAA could be.<br /><br />The National Collegiate Athletic Association is investigating comments made by coach Doug Williams concerning the suspended Ohio State running back - indicating that they could have been a violation of recruiting rules.<br /><br />Both Williams and GSU athletics director Al Dennis have consistently said they never spoke to Clarett - who was widely reported in early September to be considering a transfer down to the Division I-AA school.<br /><br />But the inquiry refers to a section of the regulations stipulating that colleges may not contact a student-athlete at another NCAA or NAIA four-year institution - even indirectly - without written permission from the player's current athletics director.<br /><br />Specifically mentioned is an article posted at www.thenewsstar.com on Sept. 9 and a televised news conference the next day on campus. "They are saying that we indirectly made contact with the kid" through the media, Dennis said.<br /><br />GSU received notice in a letter from Chris Strobel, the NCAA's director of enforcement for secondary infractions, on Sept. 15 asking for more information.<br /><br />"All of these comments attributed to him were in response to questions being asked," Dennis said - noting that the story appeared nationally on ESPN when Clarett family adviser Jim Brown mentioned Grambling State as a possible transfer option.<br /><br />Dennis also confirmed that Grambling State never received any clearance to talk to Clarett and GSU wasn't seeking it. "When all of this broke, our registration was already closed. He wasn't coming to Grambling, anyway," Dennis said.<br /><br />Calls to Strobel were not returned on Wednesday. The letter doesn't mention possible sanctions or a deadline for responding.<br /><br />"I'm puzzled by the idea that we would get a letter, if there was no contact by either party," Williams said.<br /><br />He then said he suspects that entering a Sept. 9 news conference while carrying a No. 13 GSU jersey sparked this inquiry. Clarett wore that number at Ohio State.<br /><br />"I was poking fun at the local media that I see every week," Williams said. "This is very small. There are a whole lot of things that have happened with Clarett that are bigger than poking fun with a No. 13 jersey. I find it hard to believe."<br /><br />The jersey, Dennis reminds, belongs to current Grambling State punter Darien Morgan.<br /><br />"This wasn't an attempt to contact Clarett," Dennis said. "If he's asked a question - would you like to have a player of Clarett's ability on your team? - can that be construed as trying to contact him? We don't see it that way."<br /><br />Clarett has since apparently decided to forgo the rest of his college eligibility, announcing his would sue for early entry into the NFL draft this week.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Transcript from Sept. 9 news conference at GSU</strong><br /></span><em>September 25, 2003</em><br />Coach Doug Williams enters as media members discuss possible Maurice Clarett transfer to Grambling State)<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>Good morning. Hot topic, today, huh? By the way, I brought a jersey today. (Holds up No. 13 GSU jersey.) You probably didn't think I had a No. 13. That's what he'd wear!<br /><br /><strong>The News-Star's Nick Deriso: </strong>What are you talking about coach? Who?<br /><br /><em>(Laughter) </em><br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>I don't know! That's what all the questions are going to be about this morning, ain't they?<br /><br /><em>(More laughter.)<br /></em><br />After opening comments about the previous week's opponent, Alcorn State.<br /><br /><strong>KTBS-Shreveport's Tim Fletcher: </strong>Coach, have you heard from Maurice Clarett?<br /><br /><strong>The (Ruston) Daily Leader's O.K. Davis:</strong> Or anybody associated with him?<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>No, the only thing I've heard was actually this morning on ESPN. From what I've heard on ESPN, it doesn't sound like he's going to play anywhere. From what they said, Ohio State has supposedly finished their report and they realized he had taken some cash - which would probably make him ineligible anywhere he would go. That's what I heard this morning on ESPN.<br /><br /><strong>Davis: </strong>So he's not going to Southern, either.<br /><br /><strong>Williams:</strong> That's good news. (GSU assistants) Coach Spears and I, Coach White and Coach Hayes, were in there yesterday talking about our game plan, thinking about our running attack, to take some pressure off Bruce Eugene. But now, we just got to go back to doing what we've been doing.<br /><br /><strong>Davis: </strong>If that report is true, would most schools back off?<br /><br /><strong>Williams:</strong> That would be out of our hands. All of that would NCAA's business.<br /><br /><strong>Fletcher: </strong>What would be the advantage of him coming to Grambling?<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>We'd have Maurice Clarett - and a lot of other people wouldn't. We could use him. If you look at it, 1,267 yards and 16 TDs - I don't think Ohio State would have won the national championship without Maurice Clarett. I figure, if we had him, it would give us a chance to win a fourth straight.<br /><br /><strong>Fletcher: </strong>What's the advantage for Maurice?<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>Gives him an opportunity to play and help us win a championship - and to continue his education.<br /><br /><strong>Davis: </strong>Would you run him more than five times a game?<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>We would find a way to throw it as much as we ran it. We had talked about giving it to him 25 to 30 times. But all that was hypothetical. Now that we probably won't have him, we'll just have to throw it 60.<br /><br /><strong>Unidentified television reporter: </strong>I'm just curious what your reaction was when you heard about all this.<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>Actually, it was surprising. Saturday morning, (Jacksonville Jaguars executive) James Harris called me - he and I talk all the time. Evidently, he and (Clarett family adviser) Jim Brown had been talking. He called me and asked me what I thought about Clarett. I didn't know exactly what he was talking about. I said, I think he's a hell of running back. (Laughter). He said, I'll call you back. The next thing I know, when I get home, you go to the Internet and find out that Maurice considered coming to Grambling. That's what James was talking about when he asked me what I thought. I was thinking that the Jacksonville Jaguars were trying to figure out a way to get him to camp. Actually, he and Jim Brown had been talking, if his family agreed and if everything was all right at Ohio State, that he could transfer here.<br /><br /><strong>Fletcher: </strong>Jim Brown mentioned specifically how playing for you would be an advantage. How did that make you feel?<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>I've known Jim for some time and I've got a lot of respect for him - and he has a lot of respect for what we have done here at Grambling. As the adviser, he felt like Maurice would need somebody he could go and relate to a lot better than at other places.<br /><br /><em>(After several comments about appealing the NFL Draft rule and the next week's opponent, Alabama A&M, Williams gets up to leave.)<br /></em><br /><strong>Fletcher: </strong>One more about Clarett. What's your plan now? Do you just sit back and wait, or you gonna call James Harris or call Jim Brown?<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>No, I'm gonna call (GSU running backs) Ab Kuaan and Rueben Mays. That's what I've got. <em>(More laughter.) </em>That's what I've got to work with. That's all I can do. Right now, Clarett does not bother me, because I never talked to him, never talked to his family, never talked to Jim Brown. I never imagined having the kid in the backfield, No. 1 -<br /><br /><strong>Davis: </strong>You weren't going to have him this year anyway.<br /><br /><strong>Williams: </strong>No. Even if he came here, he still has to go by the suspension that the NCAA imposes upon him. There was no reason to get happy about having him, unless it was for next year.<br /><br /><strong>RECRUITING RULE IN QUESTION</strong><br />An athletics staff member or other representative of the institution's athletics interest shall not make contact with the student-athlete of another NCAA or NAIA four-year collegiate institution, directly or indirectly, without first obtaining the written permission of the first institution's athletics director (or an athletics administrator designated by the athletics director) to do so, regardless of who makes the initial contact. If permission is not granted, the second institution shall not encourage the transfer and the institution shall not provide financial assistance to the student-athlete until the student-athlete has attended the second institution for one academic year. If permission is granted to contact the student athlete, all applicable NCAA recruiting rules apply.<br /><br /><strong>THE NCAA'S LETTER TO GRAMBLING</strong><br />Dear Mr. Dennis,<br />This is in regard to information that was obtained by this office, which indicates a violation of NCAA recruiting legislation may have occurred in the institution's football program.<br /><br />Specifically, in an online article of The News-Star on September 9, 2003, and during a televised press conference on September 10, 2003, head football coach Doug Williams indirectly contacted four-year college prospective student-athlete Maurice Clarett. In the article and during the press conference, Mr. Williams confirmed his interest in having Mr. Clarett transfer to the institution and discussed how Mr. Clarett's talent would be a valuable asset to the football program. Unless the institution previously had received written permission to contact Mr. Clarett from Ohio State University, it appears a violation of NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.3 has occurred. If written permission to contact had been received from Ohio State University, then Mr. Williams' comments appear to have violated NCAA Bylaws 13.11.6 and/or 13.11.8<br /><br />In order that complete and accurate information is on file with the enforcement department, it would be appreciated if you would review this information and submit the results of our inquiry into writing. In responding, please provide a statement indicating whether the above information is accurate. In order to support your response, please provide (1) a statement from Mr. Williams; (2) a copy of the permission to contact form provided by Ohio State University to the institution, if any; and (3) a statement indicating whether the institution believes it has violated NCAA legislation in this matter.<br /><br />I appreciate your assistance in the review of this matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.<br /><br />Sincerely, Christopher S. Strobel Director of Enforcement for Secondary Infractions<br /><br /><strong>Note: </strong>The bylaws 13.11.6 and/or 13.11.8 do not apply to Grambling State, because the school says it does not have written permission from Ohio State to talk to Clarett. These rules, in general, deal with the way signings are announced to the media once permission has been granted.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Williams says talk about Clarett helped university</strong><br /></span><em>September 25, 2003</em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - "People are talking about Grambling," sixth-year coach Doug Williams said, smiling and shaking his head at more talk of Maurice Clarett - a story that broke over this tiny country school like a thunderclap.<br /><br />Williams was congenial over the past few weeks - answering every question about the troubled Ohio State star, often tossing out one-liners, regularly reminding all those assembled that he hadn't spoken to Clarett and trying to turn the conversation back to the games at hand.<br /><br />Still, the questions came.<br /><br />Are you going to call Maurice Clarett?<br /><br /><em>No, I'm going to call (GSU running backs) Ab Kuuan and Reuben Mays.<br /></em><br />Have you heard from Maurice Clarett?<br /><br /><em>My lines must be down. They ain't ringing.<br /></em><br />Now, it appears Williams shouldn't have been so quick with the quip. The NCAA has made an inquiry, saying Williams' comments to the media might be a violation of their recruiting regulations.<br /><br />"I think the NCAA is too serious about finding a violation," Williams said. "The rule they cite is so vague."<br /><br />They call it indirect contact - a no-no, because schools are forbidden by rule from talking to athletes without permission from their current university's administrators.<br /><br />Williams calls it PR.<br /><br />"It was spreading like wildfire," Williams said of the news. "I don't know if the university really understands the impact of the publicity that Grambling got. We were across the country every day! That was good publicity."<br /><br />He's defiant in his denial of tampering: "I didn't call him. He didn't call me."<br /><br />That wasn't the point.<br /><br />Now, there is no question that Williams would have been happy to have Clarett - baggage or no baggage.<br /><br />Williams hasn't brought GSU back to SWAC dominance - back to challenging the nation's best Division I-AA school until the waning moments of last Saturday's game - with players of destiny.<br /><br />He's done it with players who've had problems - but, more importantly, had desire.<br /><br />Williams and his coordinators have coached up for so long, it is hard to believe their offices haven't levitated to the top floor of the Stadium Support Facility.<br /><br />It wasn't always like that.<br /><br />Eddie Robinson's GSU was a flickering beacon of opportunity, the place where the best and brightest of those under America's boot heel came to make their names.<br /><br />But, as this country moved deeper into the second half of the last century, different opportunities opened up for blacks. The desire to win overcame other, more hateful impulses. African-Americans not only were recruited, but starred on college teams in towns where they once dared not stop for gas.<br /><br />This coincided with the fading of the Southwestern Athletic Conference as a place where the obvious black talents resided.<br /><br />The Doug Williamses, the Walter Paytons, the Jerry Rices, the Steve McNairs came along less frequently. They didn't have to play at historically black schools to get noticed.<br /><br />There's an oddly powerful joy in that - if only because every athlete is now entitled to an audition, if not a place in the team photo.<br /><br />It's odd, though, because - as with everything in America - there was a cost: With a vast majority of what they call "draftables" already cashing in on scholarships from schools that promise an alphabet soup of success (TV, PR and BCS), what's left for Grambling?<br /><br />GSU is not going to get a Maurice Clarett on the way up. They're going to get him on the way down, if they get him at all.<br /><br />In the modern period, the Tigers win or lose with those who are left. Lately, it's been mostly winning - thus, Clarett's apparent interest in transferring to GSU after a rocky end at Ohio State.<br />He wasn't coming. We now know that.<br /><br />Williams looked like he knew it from the beginning, so he was enjoying the spotlight as it dilated on his alma mater.<br /><br />He considered the hullabaloo much about something, all right: Recruiting. And not Maurice Clarett.<br /><br />Robinson constructed the Grambling legend with the pick of the African-American talent pool. But a Buck Buchanan (the first pick in the 1963 AFL draft) or a Tank Younger (the future four-time NFL Pro Bowler between 1951-55) may as well be biblical figures to today's youngsters.<br /><br />You've got to do whatever you can, Williams says, to get the word out about your program - even a storied one like Grambling State.<br /><br />Willie Davis? Charlie Joiner?? Heck, the average new recruits were learning their ABCs when Doug was hoisting the Super Bowl MVP trophy with Washington.<br /><br />But Clarett, without ever running a single yard, gave Grambling State currency. Kids today would notice if collegiate football's best runner last year - the national championship's crowned prince - was even hinting at joining this country school.<br /><br />It meant Grambling State had arrived. Again.<br /><br />The news of this inquiry will travel just as fast, marking as it does the first time Williams has stepped into any possible NCAA trouble as a head coach at GSU.<br /><br />Should something come of this initial investigation, it could hurt Williams' chances at moving on to a job at a larger program. Generally, the toughest NCAA sanctions for a I-AA school involve limiting recruitment - a particularly cruel irony.<br /><br />But, for now, it's hard to argue with Williams' logic: "I'm trying to help my school. The NCAA probably needs to be dealing with something else, you know? Clarett never went to class here. He didn't get stopped here in his car. There are a whole lot of other things they need to worry about, rather than Grambling."<br /><br /><em>Nick Deriso is sports editor at The News-Star, 411 N. Fourth St., Monroe, La., 71201. An online archive of his columns is at www. thenewsstar.com/nickderiso. You can contact him at (318) 362-0234 or at <a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a>.<br /></em><br /><strong>COMMENTS ON CLARETT A FOCUS</strong><br />The NCAA inquiry specifically mentions a story posted Sept. 9 at www.thenewsstar.com. Here are Grambling State coach Doug Williams' comments from that piece:<br /><br />"That's been the talk of the day," Williams said, chuckling. "We've gotten calls from all over."<br /><br />"Grambling brings national visibility, even if we are I-AA. Scouts are coming here every day. That means he's getting everything that he would have gotten there - except 100,000 people at the game."<br /><br />"We don't have a Maurice Clarett. It would be a big difference. It would take a lot of pressure off of (GSU quarterback) Bruce (Eugene). There's nothing I can do, but keep my phone line clear."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling: NCAA problems began with jersey<br /></strong></span><em>September 26, 2003<br /></em>By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING- While the NCAA apparently views the event as "isolated or inadvertent" - and, thus, not as serious - Grambling State coach Doug Williams still can't believe he got in trouble over a jersey.<br /><br />The National Collegiate Athletic Association has begun an inquiry into possible "indirect contact" with Maurice Clarett at GSU.<br /><br />The NCAA specifically mentioned a news conference - part of which later aired nationally on ESPN - where Williams entered carrying a Grambling State jersey with the suspended Ohio State runner's number on it.<br /><br />"What," Williams said, "is `indirectly contacting' someone? If I had talked to (Clarett family adviser) Jim Brown and said: `We want him.' That's contacting him. But holding up a jersey? Something is wrong with this picture."<br /><br />Prospective schools must get permission from an athlete's current athletics director before they can talk to transfers. Brown had said publicly that he favored a transfer down to Division I-AA Grambling State for the soon-to-be-suspended star.<br /><br />"I came in a little light-heartedly," Williams said. "I knew a lot questions were going to be coming about the Clarett situation."<br /><br />The good news for Grambling State is that the infraction has been referred to Chris Strobel, who is the NCAA's director of enforcement for secondary infractions.<br /><br />There is a significantly lower threshold of penalty for those violations. Post-season penalties, for instance, are reserved for major infractions.<br /><br />"We won't have any comments about the specific situation," said Kay Hawes, the NCAA's associate director of media relations. "It's NCAA policy not to comment on current and on-going investigations."<br /><br />But being as the letter came out of the office of secondary infractions, what is at stake for GSU comes into sharper focus.<br /><br />A secondary infraction, as defined in the NCAA Bylaw 19.02.2, "is one that is isolated or inadvertent in nature, provides or is intended to provide only a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage and does not include any significant recruiting inducement or extra benefit."<br /><br />Like holding a jersey up in a news conference.<br /><br />"It shouldn't have even been an issue with Grambling," Williams said. "That jersey did not have `Clarett' on it. If I had put his name on the back of the jersey, that would have been a different thing. I would have agreed with them wholeheartedly."<br /><br />As outlined in NCAA Bylaw 19.5.1, the stiffest sentence handed down for these lower-level infractions would involve Williams - who could be restricted from recruiting trips for one year or perhaps suspended for one or more games.<br /><br />The school could also face fines up to $5,000 or lose financial aid scholarships. Most of the other penalties do not apply because Clarett never suited up for Grambling State.<br /><br />Still, those are a lot of possible headaches over the exhibition of a jersey, something Williams said was meant to be a joke.<br /><br />"We have a No. 13 in every color," he said. "That's the bottom line. We didn't go out and buy it."<br /><br />Yet, GSU officials contend that this footage, recorded at a local news conference then shown on ESPN, is largely responsible for the NCAA inquiry.<br /><br />"It makes it look like, the way ESPN showed it, that he was saying that we want Clarett," athletics director Al Dennis said. "That jersey belongs to our punter, Darien Morgan."<br /><br />Williams has one more bone to pick: The tape didn't include his comments.<br /><br />"Not a word was spoken," Williams said, meaning the NCAA couldn't have known the context to go with those images. "All they saw was No. 13 - and they interpreted it any way they wanted to."<br /><br />While no deadline has been set for GSU's response, Dennis said he hopes to have the school's response ready to send today.<br /><br />Also mentioned in the letter of inquiry was a related story posted at www.thenewsstar.com on Sept. 9, called "A Wait for Greatness."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling avoids NCAA penalties</strong><br /></span><em>December 20, 2003</em><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />The NCAA, as first reported at www.thenewsstar.com, has completed its inquiry into comments about troubled running back Maurice Clarett made by Grambling State University coach Doug Williams and will not penalize the school.<br /><br />GSU is, however, required to give updated training on indirect contact with a prospective player and review NCAA policy on recruiting, GSU athletics director Al Dennis said.<br /><br />Kay Hawes, the National Collegiate Athletic Association's associate director of media relations, said the association has a standing policy not to comment on investigations.<br /><br />"They disagreed with us that there was a secondary violation," Dennis said of the NCAA. "So, we will go back over our education process and use that press conference as an example to show how things can go wrong."<br /><br />Lane Howell, the school's rules compliance officer, will touch on these rules during monthly meetings.<br /><br />The NCAA issued a letter of inquiry to GSU on Sept. 15 after Williams answered interview questions concerning the possible transfer of the former Ohio State running back. The school was asked to explain comments first published by The News-Star's Web site - and images that later appeared on ESPN.<br /><br />The inquiry referred to a section of the regulations stipulating that colleges may not contact a student-athlete at another NCAA or NAIA four-year institution - even indirectly - without written permission from the player's current athletics director.<br /><br />"Our intent was never to make contact with the young man," Dennis said. "But because of the way the report went out, they still felt it was a violation."<br /><br />The NCAA reviewed a tape of the Sept. 9 news conference, a printed transcript and other material submitted by Grambling State before ruling that a secondary infraction occurred.<br /><br />These infractions, as defined in the NCAA Bylaw 19.02.2, are those that are "isolated or inadvertent in nature, provide or are intended to provide only a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage and do not include any significant recruiting inducement or extra benefit."<br /><br />There is a significantly lower threshold of penalty for secondary violations. Post-season penalties, for instance, are reserved for major infractions.<br /><br />As outlined in NCAA Bylaw 19.5.1, the stiffest sentence handed down for these lower-level infractions would have involved Williams - who could have been restricted from recruiting trips for one year or perhaps suspended for one or more games. The school could also have faced fines up to $5,000 or lost financial aid scholarships.<br /><br />Williams has said he suspects that entering the news conference while carrying a No. 13 Grambling jersey sparked the inquiry. Clarett, who then was reportedly considering a transfer and remains suspended from the Ohio State football team, wore that number.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-63551940852214592332009-01-27T17:58:00.000-06:002009-05-30T07:55:16.733-05:00Recruiting: Grambling's 2008 signing day class<strong><em>Here are Grambling State University's announced football signees, with same-day analysis, from National Signing Day in February 2008:</em></strong><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling sought to solve its problems up front</strong> </span><br /><em>February 7, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING -- Grambling State wore down up front last season, ending 2007 by losing its final three games.<br /><br />That made second-year GSU coach Rod Broadway's mission clear as National Signing Day approached.<br /><br />Offensive linemen, and more offensive linemen. And more offensive linemen.<br /><br />"We took guys that we thought could come in and help us," Broadway said. "We didn't go out and just recruit. We knew we had to go out and get some linemen -- which we did."<br /><br />Did they ever.<br /><br />Grambling signed three Louisiana offensive linemen -- including Marksville's Demetrius Porter and Darius Rose and Julian Wyndon, both of Captain Shreve -- along with Georgia product Sanford Banks and Alabama native Quint Roberts.<br /><br />And that's just the recruits who are 6-6 and under.<br /><br />"We got seven guys, and most of them are 6-4, 6-5 and in the 300 pound range," Broadway said. "They are pretty athletic."<br /><br />Grambling also added two behemoths in Chris Beardon, a 6-8, 300-pounder out of Georgia; and Greg McGrue, a 6-8, 260-pound Alabama native.<br /><br />"We've taken some steps," Broadway said. "We need to bring in five or six every year, with the shortage that we feel we have. We can't do it in one recruiting class. It's going to take a couple to really fix that situation."<br /><br />Broadway also added three prospects up front on defense, and expects to continue to collecting talent on that line, as well. He held back four scholarships, and said he expects as many as two defensive linemen from Florida, where he was a long-time assistant to Steve Spurrier in the 1990s.<br /><br />GSU is also still pursuing in a kicker in the wake of Tim Manuel's departure. A pair of quarterbacks will provide depth, and push for playing time, behind returning seniors Brandon Landers and Larry Kerlegan. Grambling also signed three prep players with experience at linebacker, another position in need of depth.<br /><br />Still, it's clear the focus was on the offensive line.<br /><br />"It's no big secret what happened last season," Broadway said. "We knew what our problems were, and we've taken some steps to improve them. We think we've got some who can come in here and play for us next season, and hopefully there are some who can play two or three years for us. Hopefully, we can get to the point where are not depending on anybody to come in and play right away."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">GRAMBLING STATE'S 2008 SIGNEES, DAY 1<br /></span><strong>Breakdown: </strong>21 signees (15 offense, 6 defense)<br /><strong>Sleeper: </strong>Grambling came away with the area's best-kept secret, Rayville quarterback Justin Higgins -- a duel-threat to run and pass, but also to play and stay eligible.<br /><strong>Sudden impact: </strong>An offensive line that wore down late in 2007 has been radically remade.<br /><strong>One that got away: </strong>Grambling was actually pursuing a pair of kickers, a position of need, but ended Wednesday without one.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Second-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway took a different approach than his predecessor, signing a smaller, more targeted class. He said he wanted depth a several positions, most notably on the offensive line, and the class perfectly mirrored that focus.<br /><br /><strong>QUARTERBACK </strong><br /><strong>Brendan Crawford, 6-5, 205, Chapin (El Paso, Texas) HS: </strong>Passed for 2,207 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 466 yards and nine more scores.<br /><strong>Justin Higgins, 6-1, 190, Rayville (La.) HS: </strong>Former Louisiana Class 3A MVP; threw for 2,109 yards and 21 touchdowns, while running for 967 yards.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Crawford and Higgins provide the needed depth for a program entering 2008 with two seniors under center.<br /><br /><strong>OFFENSIVE LINE<br />Sanford Banks, 6-5, 303, Carver (Columbus, Ga.) HS: </strong>One-star recruit, listed at 5:93 in the 40-yard dash by Scout.com. Rivals called Banks the No. 68 recruit in Georgia.<br /><strong>Chris Beardon, 6-8, 300, Towers (Stone Mountain, Ga.) HS: </strong>A one-star Scout.com prospect; a 2008 DeKalb County Football Coaches Association All-Star.<br /><strong>Greg McGrue, 6-8, 260, Huffman (Birmingham, Ala.) HS: </strong>A two-star Scout.com prospect, and ranked No. 34 overall in Alabama by Rivals.<br /><strong>Demetrius Porter, 6-5, 280, Marksville (La.) HS: </strong>Named Class 3A all-state; ranked as the 37th best prospect in Louisiana by Dandy Don's Football Recruiting Web site.<br /><strong>Quint Roberts, 6-6, 325, Anniston (Ala.) HS: </strong>Member of one of the top Alabama prep lines; participated in the 2007 Atlanta NIKE Rivals.com Combine.<br /><strong>Darius Rose, 6-6, 250, Captain Shreve (Shreveport, La.) HS: </strong>Honorable mention All-District; had previously committed Division II.<br /><strong>Julian Wyndon, 6-3, 315, Captain Shreve (Shreveport, La.) HS: </strong>An all-district performer last year for the 5A Louisiana school; helped his team to the LHSAA playoffs.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Grambling landed a few big fish in McGrue, Beardon and Roberts. Good thing: The entire line is likely to be rebuilt.<br /><br /><strong>WB/TE/ATH<br />Nico Brown, 6-0, 160, Jonesboro-Hodge (La.) HS: </strong>Named honorable mention all-state WR; had 48 receptions for 479 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.<br /><strong>Elijah Dauzart, 6-1, 195, Peabody (Alexandria, La.) HS: </strong>Earned consecutive honorable-mention state Class 4A honors at WR; had 500 receiving yards and nine TDs.<br /><strong>Myron Hobbs, 6-3, 185, John Ehret (Marrero, La.) HS: </strong>WR averaged 17.4 yards per catch; Max Emfinger ranked Hobbs No. 13 in his Louisiana Super 75.<br /><strong>Donovan Moss, 6-4, 240, Shades Valley (Irondale, Ala.) HS: </strong>Targeted as a first-year TE project; teammate of fellow signee Van Phillips.<br /><strong>Van Phillips Jr., 6-2, 205, Shades Valley (Irondale, Ala.) HS: </strong>Lettered in four sports; tight end as a sophomore, he then switched to receiver.<br /><strong>Rodale Pippen, 6-0, 185, Halifax County (South Boston, Va.) HS: </strong>ATH, with 2,000 passing yards and 25 scores to go 500 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Hobbs could work his way onto the field quickly. Pippen looks like the kind of eye-popping phenom who can tear his way through lower-classification football.<br /><br /><strong>DEFENSIVE LINE<br />Michael Harris, 6-2, 240, Bastrop (La.) HS: </strong>DT made 72 tackles with three sacks as a senior; part of three consecutive Class 4A state titles.<br /><strong>Devin Herd, 6-2, 260, Pineville (La.) HS: </strong>Class 4A all-state honorable mention; earned special mention honors on Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Recruiting Blog.<br /><strong>Sirderrick "Big Bear" Landreth, 6-2, 310, Huntington (Shreveport, La.) HS: </strong>A one-star Scout.com DT; helped his team to the Class 5A playoffs.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Grambling signed an all-Louisiana group in hopes of one day replacing emotional leader Jason Banks.<br /><br /><strong>LB/DB<br />Maurice Crawford, 6-2, 245, Glenwood (Smiths, Ala.) HS: </strong>Selected first-team all-state at linebacker; finalist for the ASWA Mr. Football honor.<br /><strong>Naquan Smith, 6-1, 185, Mays (Atlanta, Ga.) HS: </strong>Second-team all-city; played both SS and LB; reports 77 tackles last season.<br /><strong>Stephan McCord, 6-2, 180, McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.) HS: </strong>Starting DB on the state's top-ranked defense; earned honorable mention all-region honors.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Each could see early playing time, since the loss of hard-hitting safety/linebacker Zaire "Pitbull" Wilborn left a big hole in this defense.<br /><br />-- Nick Deriso, nderiso@thenewsstar.com<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling recruiting notebook: Quarterback signees will make for intriguing fall</strong> </span><br /><em>February 8, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Rayville's Justin Higgins, the state's most productive prep passer, could change the complexion of practices this fall at Grambling State.<br /><br />He'll join a stable of quarterbacks that includes incumbent senior quarterback Brandon Landers and backup Larry Kerlegan — not to mention new signee Brendan Crawford of Chapin High in El Paso, Texas.<br /><br />And right away, too.<br /><br />"We're going to give everybody a chance; you've got to prove yourself every day," Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "Brandon is our starter, but he's got to keep getting better. Justin might be the guy to make him better."<br /><br />Landers, entering his fourth year as a starter, also prepped locally, at Carroll High.<br /><br />A dual-threat, Higgins is coming off District 1-3A MVP honors, having passed for 2,100 yards while running for another 1,000. The agile Crawford, taller than the 6-1 Higgins by four inches, passed for 2,200 yards while rushing for 500, as well.<br /><br />"We're quite hopeful that we can win with Brandon, but we are going to give Justin a chance, and we will give Crawford a chance to play," Broadway said, "and we will go with the best one we have."<br /><br />In the end, however, Broadway said the focus of this recruiting period was protecting Landers, not replacing him.<br /><br />"Brandon is not our problem; our problem is up front," Broadway said. "That kid showed a lot of courage, even while he got the heck beat out of him over the course of the year. When we protect him, he's a different player. We signed a couple, but we think he can be the guy."<br /><br /><B>Home, sweet home:</B><B> </B>Grambling, undergoing that radical reconstruction on the offensive line, offered more than the chance to start for prep prospects.<br /><br />"I liked the surroundings," said Sanford Banks, the 6-5, 303-pound Columbus, Ga., product. "It felt like it was home."<br /><br />Same with Greg McGrue, the 6-8, 360-pounder from Birmingham, Ala.<br /><br />"Grambling had everything I had been looking for," said Banks, who also reported interest from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Purdue and Southern Miss. "I really liked the campus and the support for me there."<br /><br />Banks and McGrue were part of a seven-man class of linemen signed by Grambling on Wednesday.<br /><br />"They told me I was at the top of their list," said Banks, who Scout said ran a 5.93 in the 40. "I think I have a great chance of starting, if I just work hard."<br /><br />McGrue, a two-star Scout.com prospect, was listed at No. 34 overall in Alabama by Rivals. Banks was ranked No. 68 in Georgia by Rivals, which gave him one star.<br /><br />Like many of the new faces on the GSU roster, McGrue first became aware of the program through its nationally televised annual rivalry game against Southern, the Bayou Classic. Growing up in Birmingham, he also had a chance to regularly see Grambling — which has appeared in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, held in that city, five times since 2000.<br /><br />"I've been going to the SWAC Championship, and just about every year, it seemed like it was Grambling," McGrue said. "Between that and the Bayou Classic, you just got to know all about the program and its history."<br /><br />Last season, Grambling reversed a 3-8 record from 2006, but finished on a month-long swoon that included losses to ULM, Southern and then Jackson State in the SWAC title match.<br /><br />Banks said he felt a rebuilt line could help GSU finish turning the corner.<br /><br />"I see that they are heading in a great direction," Banks said. "That's another reason I chose them. The only way they can go is up. Grambling had a great season, but they can do better. It will be up to us newcomers to help the upper classmen bring that championship home."<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">CATCHING UP WITH VAN<br /></span></strong>Alabama signee Van Phillips Jr., the tallest receiver in this signing class, has the size Grambling has so often lacked over the past few years.<br /><br />His dad, Van Phillips Sr., said he was also impressed with how Grambling's towering legacy continues to play out.<br /><br />Phillips Sr. said his son was impressed by "the tradition of Coach Eddie Robinson, the growth of the university, the wholesomeness of the recruiting process, the spirit of unity between head coach Broadway and his assistants, how he was recruited by linebackers coach Andre Robinson (a Birmingham-area native) and receivers coach Sammy White — and the way the president of the university remained with the recruits after his presentation. All of that was very impressive. Finally, GSU talked more about life after football — the importance of a college degree."<br /><br />A one-star recruit, Phillips said he also drew interest from Auburn, Middle Tennessee State, Memphis and Arkansas State, among others. Phillips Sr. said his son had five scholarship offers from other Division I programs.<br /><br /><br />Here is an updated list, with biographical information, from National Signing Day at Grambling State:<br /><b>OL Sanford Banks, 6-5, 303, Carver (Columbus, Ga.) HS:</b> One-star recruit, listed at 5:93 in the 40-yard dash by Scout.com. Rivals called Banks the No. 68 recruit in Georgia.<br /><strong>OT Chris Beardon, 6-8, 300, Towers (Stone Mountain, Ga.) HS: </strong>A one-star Scout.com prospect. Earned a spot in the 2008 DeKalb County Football Coaches Association All-Star Showcase.<br /><strong>WR/DB Nico Brown, 6-0, 160, Jonesboro-Hodge (La.) HS: </strong>Named Honorable Mention All-State by the LSWA; caught 48 receptions for 479 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.<br /><strong>QB Brendan Crawford, 6-5, 205, Chapin (El Paso, Texas) HS: </strong>Named to both the APSE and the TSWA Class 4A all-state team as an honorable mention. Lifted Chapin to second place in 1-4A after passing for 2,207 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while also rushing for 466 yards and nine more scores.<br /><strong>LB Maurice Crawford, 6-2, 245, Glenwood (Smiths, AL) HS: </strong>Selected to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State First team; participated in the AISA All-Star Game. A finalist for the ASWA Mr. Football honor; also a member of Glenwood's basketball team.<br /><strong>WR Elijah Dauzart, 6-1, 195, Peabody (Alexandria) HS: </strong>Earned consecutive honorable-mention state Class 4A honors. Had 38 catches for 500 yards and nine touchdowns; also plays basketball. Dauzart added 24 receptions for 372 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. PelicanPreps lists him at 4.74 in the 40-yard dash.<br /><strong>DE Michael Harris, 6-2, 240, Bastrop (La.) HS:</strong> Made 72 tackles with three sacks as a senior; helped his team capture three consecutive Class 4A Louisiana state championships.<br /><strong>DL Devin Herd, 6-2, 260, Pineville (La.) HS: </strong>Named a 2006 Class 4A LSWA All-State honorable mention; earned special mention honors on Jim Stefani's Class of 2007 Underclassmen Recruiting Blog.<br /><strong>QB Justin Higgins, 6-1, 190, Rayville (La.) HS:</strong> Former Louisiana Class 3A MVP, is a duel-threat who threw for 2,109 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, while running for another 967 yards.<br /><strong>WR Myron Hobbs, 6-3, 185, John Ehret (Marrero) HS: </strong>One-star recruit, was an honorable mention Class 5A all-state selection. Hobbs averaged 17.4 yards per catch, with 732 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns last season. Max Emfinger, the respected scout, ranked Hobbs No. 13 in his Louisiana Super 75. Rivals.com reports a 4.52 time in the 40-yard dash<br /><strong>DT Sirderrick "Big Bear" Landreth, 6-2, 310, Huntington (Shreveport) HS: </strong>Scout.com, which gave the 6-2, 310-pound Landreth a one-star rating, had him at 5.0 in the 40-yard dash. Helped lead his team to the LHSAA Class 5A playoffs.<br /><strong>DB Stephan McCord, 6-2, 180, McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.) HS: </strong>Starter on the state's top-ranked defense; earned honorable mention all-region honors last season in which he returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a single game. Also ran track and played prep basketball. Brother of T.J. McCord, a Grambling defensive back.<br /><strong>OT Greg McGrue, 6-8, 260, Huffman (Birmingham, Ala) HS: </strong>A two-star Scout.com prospect, and ranked No. 34 overall in Alabama by Rivals -- which called McGrue a "massive offensive lineman with superior strength." Euns a 5.4 in the 40-yard dash and, with an 18 on his ACT and a 3.2 GPA, is eligible to play.<br /><strong>TE Donovan Moss, 6-4, 240, Shades Valley (Irondale, Ala.) HS: </strong>Targeted as a first-year project recruit; teammate of fellow signee Van Phillips. A key member of his school's basketball team.<br /><strong>WR Van Phillips Jr., 6-2, 205, Shades Valley (Irondale, Ala.) HS:</strong> Lettered in four sports, while maintaining a 3.2 GPA. A tight end as a sophomore, he switched to receiver and began bulking up from about 167 pounds.<br /><strong>ATH Rodale Pippen, 6-0, 185, Halifax County (South Boston, Va.) HS: </strong>Mulitple All-Western Valley District honoree. Had 2,000 passing yards and 25 scores to go 500 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns last year. Rivals reports a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.<br /><strong>OL Demetrius Porter, 6-5, 280, Marksville (La.) HS: </strong>Named to the 2007 Class 3A LSWA All-State Team; participated in the 2007 Baton Rouge NIKE Rivals.com Combine. Ranked as the 37th best prospect in Louisiana by Dandy Don's Football Recruiting Web site.<br /><strong>OL Quint Roberts, 6-6, 325, Anniston (Ala.) HS: </strong>Member of one of the top Alabama prep lines; participated in the 2007 Atlanta NIKE Rivals.com Combine.<br /><strong>OT Darius Rose, 6-6, 250, Captain Shreve (Shreveport) HS: </strong>Honorable mention All-District. Had previously committed Division II.<br /><strong>SS/LB Naquan Smith, 6-1, 185, Mays (Atlanta, Ga.) HS: </strong>Second-team all-city and defensive player of the week by The Atlanta Journal Constitution as a junior, then honorable mention all-state last season. Reports a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, with 77 tackles last season. MaxPreps also lists two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.<br /><strong>OL Julian Wyndon, 6-3, 315, Captain Shreve (Shreveport) HS: </strong>An all-district performer last year for the 5A Louisiana school; helped lead his team to the LHSAA Class 5A playoffs.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-18795464280544153502009-01-14T00:21:00.006-06:002009-01-14T00:29:37.599-06:00The time that ... Grambling lobbied for the Heisman<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>On the campaign trail</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Grambling hopes Eugene earns Heisman consideration</span><br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Nick's note: </strong><em>A sad conclusion came to this effort when Eugene went down in the third quarter of the 2004 opener with a season-ending knee injury. He would return for a record-smashing final campaign in 2005, however, leading Grambling to its 21st SWAC title.</em></span><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>July 7, 2004<br /></em>GRAMBLING — Supporters from Grambling State are mounting a Heisman Trophy campaign for record-breaking senior quarterback Bruce Eugene.<br /><br />It won't be easy.<br /><br />"He's got an outstanding story," said interim GSU coach Melvin Spears, who recruited Eugene to Grambling. "You're talking about a guy who came out of the St. Thomas housing project (in New Orleans). It's a major feat if he's even considered in that company right now."<br /><br />Eugene says making the list would be a great moment not only for himself, but for Grambling State.<br /><br />"Being mentioned for an award like that lets me know that I'm doing what's being asked - and we're getting recognized," said Eugene, who has set GSU's single-season marks for yards, completions and TDs. "In the process, that helps other Grambling players get recognized and helps my school gets its name out there."<br /><br />But, like all Division I-AA performers, Eugene will face an uphill battle for recognition by Heisman voters.<br /><br />"I certainly feel that his accomplishments, his numbers, are worthy of the accolade," said former GSU quarterback James "Shack" Harris, vice president of player personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars. "But realistically, the Heisman is not something he can win. It's not Bruce. It's the system."<br /><br />Alcorn State standout Steve McNair remains the highest recent vote-getter from I-AA. He finished third in 1994 - only to go on to league MVP honors while the top two choices, Rashaan Salaam and Ki-Jana Carter, have struggled in the NFL. Doug Williams finished fourth in the 1977 Heisman voting behind eventual winner Earl Campbell.<br /><br />"But the Heisman Trophy, when you think about it, honors the best player in college football - whatever the division," Spears said. "Does that mean the best guy in his conference, the best guy on his team or just the best guy? The question I pose is this: What if the best college football player does not play in Division I-A?"<br /><br />Grambling State supporters will use technology to present that message.<br /><br />Kenn Rashad - a 1990 GSU graduate best known for launching the SWACPage.com site - has offered to help design a separate Heisman Web site for GSU. It's something that could quickly raise Eugene's profile among potential voters who don't closely follow Division I-AA football.<br /><br />"Instead of trying to get the media to see Bruce Eugene, I thought we could bring Bruce Eugene to the media," Rashad said. "I'd like to see some flash components that illustrated what he did week by week on the field, with perhaps some video highlights that could be downloaded."<br /><br />The Web site is still in the earliest planning stages, Rashad added.<br /><br />E-mails were sent out a couple of weeks ago by Peter Forest, GSU's director of athletic media relations, that asked selected people to participate in a Heisman steering committee.<br /><br />"We are in the process of putting together a group of supporters," Spears said. "When all the students get back, in August, we will also have a introductory party."<br /><br />The hope isn't that Eugene wins so much as gets some measure of recognition for what he's already accomplished at Grambling State.<br /><br />"He may not win the award," Rashad said, "but he most certainly should be on the list."<br /><br />Eugene, who wowed observers even as a redshirt freshman out of New Orleans' Cohen High School, was a part-time starter during GSU's 2001 SWAC title season - then led the Tigers to another championship in 2002.<br /><br />He is the school's record-holder in passing completions, attempts, yards and total offense, and is ranked second in passing touchdowns.<br /><br />That dominance led to two consecutive top-three finishes in voting in the Walter Payton Award, which recognizes Division I-AA's offensive player of the year. He was third in 2002, then second last season.<br /><br />Harris, who won or shared the conference title in every season he played at GSU in the 1960s, thinks Eugene will return to the Payton Watch List as a senior. "He should be a top candidate for the best player in Division I-AA," Harris said.<br /><br />Eugene was also named a first-team All-America quarterback by The Sports Network in 2003, then a second-team quarterback on The Associated Press' All-America football team.<br /><br />"I guess the only thing I can say about Eugene and the Heisman list is: How can you not have him on that list?" Rashad said. "He has been a finalist for the Walter Payton Award the last two years and I am certain he will be a finalist again this year. Being a finalist among the best football players on the I-AA level automatically makes Eugene better than many of the players on the I-A level."<br /><br />Too, as more people hear about Eugene, they also reacquaint themselves with a Grambling State football program that was reborn under former coach Doug Williams.<br /><br />"My outlook, my vision, is more institutional - rather than winning the award," said former offensive coordinator Spears, who took over as interim when Williams resigned in February. "It's about having the opportunity to have a guy that's talked about all over the country. That's good for Grambling. If you can have one kid say Bruce Eugene is a Heisman Trophy candidate, and look twice at Grambling, then we've done what we need to do from a marketing standpoint.”<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-20060425892735457312008-12-31T09:35:00.026-06:002009-05-30T08:33:49.854-05:00SWAC Championship Game 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BrSxTbPAgypaHOUZc9xWcTjp4Xq2PC3iKCyg53oDxq4YYHXhrtkRcz6Qj-MImqFCeqee-mjM2ircxGrw-3CDoS7Aw4_3JhpOgpClt8Z1jMz9MhNQoBIa9S053WgMZNCyKbvk/s1600-h/legionpress.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285989227764963682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BrSxTbPAgypaHOUZc9xWcTjp4Xq2PC3iKCyg53oDxq4YYHXhrtkRcz6Qj-MImqFCeqee-mjM2ircxGrw-3CDoS7Aw4_3JhpOgpClt8Z1jMz9MhNQoBIa9S053WgMZNCyKbvk/s400/legionpress.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Grambling and Jackson State have become familiar foes</span> </span></strong><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 9, 2008</em><br /><br />GRAMBLING — Talk about a zero-sum game.<br /><br />Coaches use the 0-0 equation with numbing consistency in each postseason. The regular season records, they’ll say, mean nothing. The embodiment of that, however, is Grambling’s recent history against Jackson State.<br /><br />The two teams, set to meet again on Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, have played each other three times since October of 2007, with GSU winning twice in regular-season action.<br /><br />Of course, the lone loss was the most memorable, as JSU romped to a 42-31 victory in the '07 edition of the SWAC title match.<br /><br />The regular season, in fact, meant nothing.<br /><br />“It’s no holds barred,” third-year Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said on Monday. “The records are out the door.”<br /><br />This 2008 rematch sets up the same way, with Grambling taking another regular-season victory last October. There are important differences, though.<br /><br />Whereas both 2007 matchups produced scores in bunches, a new year brought two squads together that were as good on defense as they were inconsistent on the other side of the ball.<br /><br />Grambling only scored one offensive touchdown in its 14-5 regular-season victory Oct. 20 over Jackson, a 46-yard touchdown reception by Nick Lewis. Defensive back Bruna Foster sealed the game with a 34-yard interception return for a score.<br /><br />JSU’s points came on a safety and a field goal, as quarterback Trae Rutland’s 20-of-34 passing day produced 255 yards but also two picks.<br /><br />“I don’t know if what happened three months ago has any bearing on this game,” said coach Rod Broadway, now 18-6 in two seasons at Grambling. “Just like it didn’t last year.”<br /><br />The 2007 SCG, remember, ended up as an offensive firefight led by a group of veteran playmakers, with 73 total points scored on what became a rainy December night. JSU put up 416 yards to Grambling’s 326 as Jackson captured its first league title since 1996.<br /><br />GSU had previously won at Jackson, Miss., on Oct. 20, 2007, during an afternoon that included four offensive touchdowns and four field goals.<br /><br />“Jackson is the one we want,” said Lewis, who hauled in a 24-yard third-quarter pass in the ‘07 title match. “That one still leaves a bad taste in our mouths.”<br /><br />Comegy can’t say that those old stats hold any real meaning.<br /><br />That was, you know, then.<br /><br />“I don’t know if it’s about familiarity or matchups,” Comegy said, “so much as planning, cutting down on mistakes, preparing your team and knowing what kind of situation you are in.”<br /><br />Today, both teams have new quarterbacks, each of whom was helped along late in the year by a stable of young rushers, to go with stifling defenses.<br /><br />Much has changed. But not this: Everyone is 0-0 again.<br /><br />The regular season, we’ve seen, doesn’t count. Not with these two.<br /><br />“You both won each side of the conference,” Comegy said. “It becomes: What do you want to do? You become a champion, or you don’t.”<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Win in SWAC title game would be one for the books at Grambling</strong><br /></span>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 10, 2008<br /></em><br />GRAMBLING — It’s not often that new history is made at Grambling.<br /><br />Not when the program’s most recognizable coach piled up a jaw-dropping 408 career wins and 17 conference championships.<br /><br />Still, earning 11 wins in one season was a rarity even for the legendary Eddie Robinson, who coached at GSU for nearly 60 seasons. He did it just twice, in 1972 and 1974.<br /><br />GSU boasts a total of 21 league crowns, and has won its division in six of the last nine tries. Its 493 football victories rank No. 2 all-time by winning percentage for historic lower-division teams, only behind Yale.<br /><br />Still, the program boasts just four 11-win campaigns ever.<br /><br />Second-year coach Rod Broadway and the 10-2 Grambling Tigers play for that historic victory on Saturday against Jackson State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN Classic.<br /><br />“We have a chance to step up and do something that’s special,” Broadway said. “Hopefully, this team can do something that hasn’t been done a lot around here, and that’s win 11 games.”<br /><br />The most recent was in 2002 and ‘05, under Robinson successor Doug Williams and Melvin Spears, respectively.<br /><br />Even if GSU were to lose, the program has reached the 10-win plateau only 10 other times, with eight of them under Robinson (1945, ‘47, ‘55, ‘73, ‘75, ‘77, ‘80 and 1992). Williams, the quarterback on those 1975 and ‘77 squads, later reached the 10-victory mark as a coach at GSU in 2000-01.<br /><br />Broadway is already the first Grambling coach to go undefeated in SWAC play since 2005, and just the second since Robinson did it in the early 1990s.<br /><br />One more win would likely secure the mythical National Black College Championship for Broadway’s squad – just the fourth for GSU since 2000. Grambling moved to the top of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network’s black college football poll last week with its victory over Southern and a loss by former-No. 1 Tuskegee to Alabama State.<br /><br />“There’s a big difference between good and great,” Broadway said. “One more win puts us in high cotton.”<br /><br />Broadway enters this title match on a remarkable run, dating back to his final seasons at Division II North Carolina Central. He has lost just three conference games in five seasons, and has won 10 times in three out of the last four campaigns.<br /><br />Saturday, in fact, marks his fourth consecutive league title match – though Broadway also oversaw Grambling’s first-ever loss in five appearances at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game last season.<br />GSU won in 2000-02, under Williams, and again in ‘05 under Spears.<br /><br />“Hopefully we can go 3-1,” Broadway said. “That’s a tribute to this staff, which has done some marvelous things over the past few years.”<br /><br />Broadway also has a chance to preserve a key piece of Grambling history in Saturday’s game.<br /><br />Jackson State is attempting to capture consecutive wins in the SWAC title match, something only one other team has done since the contest’s inception in 1999 – GSU. Southern advanced to two straight championship games in 2002-03, but fell the second season to Alabama State.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Things are looking 'better' for Grambling's Broadway<br /></strong></span><em>Posted by NickDeriso at 12/10/2008 8:05 AM CST on thenewsstar.com<br /></em><br />No one is going to accuse Rod Broadway of being an effusive guy. You've got to drag him, kicking and screaming, into a kind word about his Grambling football teams.<br /><br />Not many would guess that he's having all that much fun, either. Not from the pained look he sometimes has when dealing with the pesky press.<br /><br />He usually sticks with the script in these moments, always talking about improving -- even as his squad strung together nine wins this season. To the point where it's a running joke that every news conference of his begins with someone asking some variation on a theme: "Is your team getting better?," "Are you a good team yet?," so on.<br /><br />The fact is, though, that Broadway's group hit a plateau last season as it clinched the SWAC's Western Division crown. They dropped three in a row to end the year, including the in-state Bayou Classic rivalry game and the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game against Jackson State.<br /><br />They didn't, and fans of the coach's favorite phraseology will love this, keep getting better.<br /><br />Fast forward one calendar year. Another SWAC crown on the line, JSU again the opponent. But a whole different attitude.<br /><br />"They've stayed focused; they’ve stayed in the now," Broadway said, looking loose and enthused. "This has really been a fun group to be around, and a fun group to coach, and an exciting group to watch."<br /><br />Grambling isn't taking its foot off the gas going into the league's title match. I've seen, yes, improvement across every unit. That's made it easier for Broadway to admit some things. Like, say, that he's got a good team.<br /><br />The "fun" part? A hush falls over the assembled media. But that's actually a reflection of how comfortable Broadway has become in his role at Grambling, and far more reflective of his natural demeanor away from cameras and microphones.<br /><br />Still, hearing it leads me to believe that Broadway must really like his chances. That is, all together now, if his team keeps improving.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Grambling, Jackson State quarterbacks took winding paths to title match<br /></span></strong>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 10, 2008<br /></em><br />GRAMBLING — No one, through the first month of the season, saw this coming.<br /><br />Jackson State and Grambling, fresh off a shared trip to the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, had lost their starting quarterbacks.<br /><br />Had struggling replacements in Trae Rutland and Greg Dillon, respectively.<br /><br />Had just one win a piece.<br /><br />That '07 title match couldn't have been receding faster in the rearview mirror.<br /><br />Something clicked, however, for both teams. It started with both quarterbacks.<br /><br />Rutland threw three touchdowns passes and seven picks in Jackson State's initial four games. He's only thrown one interception since, shooting to No. 4 in the league for completion percentage.<br /><br />Dillon, meanwhile, was thrust into the No. 1 spot when fourth-year starter Brandon Landers was declared ineligible on the eve of the fall practices — then benched for Missouri transfer J.P. Tillman. He finally regained the job after a breakout Grambling win in Dallas against Prairie View.<br /><br />"Brandon was a big part of our team," Dillon said. "I knew that was going to hurt us a lot, because he was so experienced. We just tried to work it out."<br /><br />It wouldn't be easy. Both Landers and departed Jackson State quarterback Jimmy Oliver played cornerstone roles in getting their teams to the championship game of a season ago — and during the contest itself.<br /><br />Landers, in what seemed like a turning point, threw two touchdowns passes and a pair of 2-point conversions over just 32 seconds as the second half began.<br /><br />Oliver couldn't be stopped, however, as he tossed a trio of passing scores and repeatedly scrambled away from Grambling defenders to make tongue-wagging plays downfield.<br /><br />JSU would win 42-31, securing its 16th SWAC football title and first since 1996.<br /><br />"Jackson State is a good football team," second-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "They played us very tough last year. Next week is going to be a big one."<br /><br />Rutland had briefly contended for the starting role at Jackson in 2007, throwing for 302 yards, four interceptions and no touchdowns before Oliver took a firm grasp on the role.<br /><br />A season later, Rutland, like Dillon, was thrust into the spotlight in the 11 th hour.<br /><br />A.J. McKenna, from Lackawanna College, took most of the snaps with the No. 1 JSU offense last spring. But by the fall, both McKenna and Hinds Community College transfer Terrence Barnes had left the team.<br /><br />Rutland, then as now nursing a bad shoulder, subsequently found himself — as had Dillon — contending with yet another talented transfer from the upper classification, former Louisiana Tech quarterback Michael Mosley.<br /><br />Rutland "has a strong desire to be the man," third-year Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said as fall practices began. "He's going to have to be our leader."<br /><br />Like Dillon's GSU squad, Rutland and Jackson State sputtered early. Grambling started 1-2, while JSU was once 1-4.<br /><br />No surprise, really. Questions at quarterback don't usually lead to title game berths.<br /><br />Except in a weakened Southwestern Athletic Conference, where it did for both the Eastern and Western divisional champions.<br /><br />JSU, winners now of six in a row, enters Saturday's contest boasting a 7-4 mark, but without a single victory over a team with a winning record in 2008. The 10-2 Grambling has reeled off nine straight victories — seven of them against SWAC foes.<br /><br />Even so, there is no denying either player's steady maturation. Rutland and Dillon have found a way, no matter the level of competition, to win.<br /><br />"We're proud of Greg," Broadway said. "We lost Brandon two weeks before the season, so we came in here with a lot of inexperience at quarterback. To be able to win 10 ballgames, that's a great testament to our team."<br /><br />Dillon, a product of the Mayzant projects in Bogalusa, secured his place in this season's storybook ride with a do-anything performance 70 miles down the road at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.<br /><br />Running for 136 yards and a score while passing for 151 and another, Dillon helped spark a stirring 29-14 comeback last week over Southern. Grambling had to overcome that two-touchdown deficit to earn a rematch opportunity against JSU.<br /><br />Dillon, who wore "May" and "Zant" on his eye black for the Bayou Classic as a tribute to his humble beginnings, wasn't a celebrated prospect. He walked on at ULM, where the coaches wanted him to play defensive back, before transferring.<br /><br />Yet his role in two game-changing drives that put Grambling ahead for good against Southern can't be overstated.<br /><br />Dillon made consecutive passes to Nick Lewis on a two-play, 51-yard scoring drive to pull GSU within 2, then ran for 32 of the next drive's 51 yards to earn a lead that he never relinquished.<br /><br />"His creativeness with his feet killed us," Southern coach Pete Richardson said afterward. "He did a good job."<br /><br />Dillon was named the Bayou Classic's most valuable player after accounting for 77 percent of Grambling's total offense — a sterling performance only dulled slightly by two early turnovers.<br /><br />"Greg is developing into a very good player for us," Broadway said. "He's learning how to manage the game. If he can protect the ball, we will be in pretty good shape. He's gotten better and better. He just has to eliminate turnovers."<br /><br />Dillon, so far, has remained unscathed despite his slashing style of play, and that is where the storylines with his counterpart at Jackson State diverge.<br /><br />Rutland, battling tendinitis in his shoulder, had to share time with Mosley in Jackson's most recent game, a win over in-state rival Alcorn State — but doesn't appear to be jeopardy of losing his starting job, if healthy.<br /><br />Rutland completed 8 of 10 passes for 72 yards, adding 17 rushing yards and a touchdown, as JSU built a 21-point lead — only to sit out during a second-half skid where Mosely and Co. went three-and-out five times and gave the ball back on a pick. Alcorn pulled to 26-21 before finally falling in the 16th Annual Capital City Classic.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">For Grambling, neither rain nor sleet ...<br /></span></strong><em>Posted by NickDeriso at 12/12/2008 7:43 AM CST on thenewsstar.com<br /></em><br />You might have suspected, as torrential downpours and teeth-splinteringly frigid winds beset the Grambling football players this week, that they simply took their football practices inside.<br /><br />Maybe did some walk throughs in the warm comfort of a basketball gym, and cursed the fates.<br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />“We practiced anyway,” said sophomore quarterback Greg Dillon. “We tried to do it the same as usual. Being out in the cold and rain might give us a better feel for the weather in Birmingham.”<br /><br />Will it ever. Most times, historic Legion Field is a wintry windstorm of a place by the time the Southwestern Athletic Conference holds its annual December championship game. Last season, a rumbling storm blew through as GSU completed the second half of action against Jackson State.<br /><br />Dillon and his teammates, preparing for a rematch against Jackson on Saturday, got a taste of both this week in practice.<br /><br />“It been cold here the last few days, that’s for sure,” he said. “But with the rain and all, hopefully that’s prepared us a lot. I think we’re ready for it.”<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Jackson State overcame slow start to reach SWAC rematch </span></strong><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 12, 2008<br /></em><br />Jackson State, once again, started slowly this season.<br /><br />A year ago, as JSU secured its first Southwestern Athletic Conference championship since 1996, Rick Comegy’s squad dropped its initial pair of contests – including a 16-13 heartbreaker against Tennessee State in the Southern Heritage Classic.<br /><br />Many left them for dead. But Jackson would lose only two more games in 2007, one of them to Grambling, before beating GSU in a December 2007 rematch for the league crown.<br /><br />Current starting quarterback Trae Rutland was a backup back then, playing in eight games and throwing for 302 yards. Even losing its starter, however, Jackson was picked to repeat as the SWAC’s Eastern Division champion in preseason polling.<br /><br />As was Grambling. One month into the season, both teams had combined for two victories.<br /><br />Rutland, a Mississippi State transfer, struggled in his first outings. JSU opened at 1-4 – while managing 18 or fewer points in each of its first four contests. Through Jackson’s conference opener, a loss to Southern, Rutland had seven interceptions on a team ranked ninth in the conference for turnover margin.<br /><br />“I’m just glad,” Comegy, in his third year with JSU, said, “that we were able to find ourselves later on in the year.”<br /><br />JSU’s offense switched from a spread look to a run-first attack in late October, steadying Rutland while springing rusher Luther Edwards. Edwards instantly ran for more than 80 yards a game over the balance of that month.<br /><br />But, just as importantly, Jackson State’s defense came to life.<br /><br />“We were scrounging around early, trying to find the right combination,” Comegy said. “Things changed for the best.”<br /><br />Jackson enters Saturday’s title contest ranked No. 1 in the league for total offense (233 yards ppg), No. 2 in rush defense (73 yards ppg), No. 1 in pass defense (161 yards ppg) and No. 2 in sacks – besting opponent Grambling in each of those categories.<br /><br />Along the way, JSU linebacker Marcellus Speaks, announced as the league’s defensive player of the year on Wednesday, compiled 115 tackles (54 solo; 20.5 for loss), along with 5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one blocked kick while leading this team to the SWAC Championship Game for the second consecutive time.<br /><br />“We’ll try to get a hat on a hat,” second-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway said, when asked about slowing Speaks. “Hopefully, we can do that. They play good defense down there. I don’t see whole lot of points getting scored.”<br /><br />Speaks, who earned conference defensive player of the week honors three times this season, had six games with at least 10 tackles this season – including 14 at Grambling on Sept. 20. His season high was 16 tackles (with one for loss and an assist on a sack) against Southern on Oct. 4.<br /><br />That pushed JSU to six straight victories to close out the 2008 regular season, and a chance to win its first consecutive SWAC championships since 1995-96.<br /><br />“I’m happy we got to a peak point,” Comegy said. “It was late, but I am happy that we got there. We’ve come of age.”<br /><br />Comegy hasn’t dealt with complacency from his defending-champion players, he said, not in the wake of such a disappointing start on the season. He added that a chance to claim back-to-back crowns is its own carrot.<br /><br />“What young man doesn’t want to be a champion?” Comegy asked, rhetorically. “There are very few guys who are ever in this position. They ought to feel blessed and honored. As far as excitement, it ought to be built into the formula.”<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>OPENING DRIVE: Grambling (10-2, 7-0 SWAC) vs. Jackson State (7-4, 6-1)</strong> </span><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 13, 2008<br /><br /></em>BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A titanic defensive battle is in the offing, featuring the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s two hottest teams: Grambling was won nine straight headed into this title game, while Jackson State has won six.<br /><br />GSU, sparked by playmaking sophomore quarterback Greg Dillon, hasn’t had a contest decided by fewer than two scores over that span. Dillon has passed for 1,500 yards and 15 scores, while maintaining his spot as the team’s No. 2 rusher.<br /><br />“He has some ability to do some things like running the ball and throwing the ball,” said second-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway. “It’s hard for a defense to prepare for a guy like that.”<br /><br />Jackson State, however, might just be that defense. Opponents have averaged just over two touchdowns over their six-win streak.<br /><br /><strong>KEYS TO VICTORY</strong><br />As thrilling as Dillon’s improvisations outside the structure of Grambling’s called plays can be, he must do a better job of securing the ball.<br /><br />Sometimes, he tries to do too much: All of that was on display in GSU’s in-state rivalry victory against Southern, where Dillon won the game’s MVP trophy, but not before two turnovers that helped put Grambling in a 14-point hole.<br /><br /><strong>TOP MATCHUPS</strong><br />These two teams combined for fewer than three total touchdowns in a gritty regular-season meeting earlier this year, and this contest shapes up to be no different.<br /><br />Grambling and Jackson are ranked in the Top 5 in every meaningful SWAC defensive categories, and in the Top 15 for scoring defense nationally.<br /><br />“I don’t see a whole lot of points being scored in this ballgame; at least, that’s what I hope,” Broadway said.<br /><br />“We expect the same type of defensive game.”<br /><br /><strong>GET IN THE GAME</strong><br />Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said this week that he wasn’t going to commit one player to track Dillon, though a linebacker like Marcellus Speaks would make a good spy.<br /><br />Rangy, with a nasty ability to hit, Speaks has a SWAC-leading 115 total tackles. He’s joined on a tough unit that includes defensive end Marcus Benard (15 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss) and defensive back Domonique Johnson (four interceptions, 13 pass breakups).<br /><br />GSU’s still-coalescing offense will have its collective hands full.<br /><br /><strong>'08 IMPLICATIONS</strong><br />Grambling has advanced to its second title match in as many seasons under Broadway, and its sixth since 2000, but lost this contest last year to Jackson State. That gave JSU its 16th league title.<br /><br />A victory for GSU would extend its league-leading title haul to 22, and also secure the program’s fifth 11-win season ever — and first since 2005 under Melvin Spears.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lx4gPZBVc3KiILLMavK7CPTsYb_6-tuiqw9ji294HoTt5SXc8sPIiqmQh7QlvmpgxcTKbHDBInrPbYgbY5LV4ohu7PJEPj3sGtvU6kf5GNt8hEih_O0-IFdGb0zLM8qkBuD8/s1600-h/nickandchris.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285978406474340978" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lx4gPZBVc3KiILLMavK7CPTsYb_6-tuiqw9ji294HoTt5SXc8sPIiqmQh7QlvmpgxcTKbHDBInrPbYgbY5LV4ohu7PJEPj3sGtvU6kf5GNt8hEih_O0-IFdGb0zLM8qkBuD8/s400/nickandchris.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>22nd to none: Grambling sitting pretty, winning ugly </strong><br /></span>Column by Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 14, 2008<br /></em><br />BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Grambling, throughout this season, won ugly.<br /><br />But it won.<br /><br />“You say we won ugly,” second-year GSU coach Rod Broadway said on Saturday, “but it’s a sweet taste to us.”<br /><br />GSU did whatever it had to in an effort to secure victory. On offense, on defense, on Saturday after Saturday.<br /><br />And it won.<br /><br />Jackson State endured a familiar fate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, as GSU claimed a league-leading 22nd crown.<br /><br />Grambling’s offense sputtered and missed. But JSU never got close, as the defense strangled another victim.<br /><br />Foes, all season, would slowly find themselves on the losing end of things, while GSU closed its fingers around their scoring chances.<br /><br />It was more gritty than pretty. It didn’t need to be.<br /><br />Grambling won, as it had the week before. And the week before that. They did it eight, nine and then 10 times in a row after Saturday’s 41-9 victory over JSU.<br /><br />“You don’t win by looking pretty,” said junior Grambling end Christian Anthony, the game’s defensive most valuable player. “You win by getting ugly.”<br /><br />They did.<br /><br />This isn’t a finesse team, even on offense – where the rangy quarterback Greg Dillon makes out-of-body plays.<br /><br />He led the unit to two quick touchdowns to open the title match. But, just like that, Grambling’s offense went ice cold for a time on this frigid December afternoon – missing an extra point, missing on a few scoring opportunities, missing a field goal to end the second period.<br /><br />The defense never surrendered an inch: JSU failed to reach the end zone through the first two quarters.<br /><br />When the bands marched out onto the Legion Field’s turf, “13-0” was blinking above their heads on the scoreboard.<br /><br />Ugly.<br /><br />But Grambling’s defense loves wins like this. They’ve embraced ugliness.<br /><br />That wasn’t their slogan – instead, they repeated “Finish!,” after getting tripped up in the 2007 title match by Jackson – but it should have been.<br /><br />Grambling built that slight lead by limiting JSU to 127 yards of first-half offense; Jackson never reached the GSU red zone over the initial two periods.<br /><br />It got worse for JSU. The Grambling defense emerged from the locker room with a furious abandon. When the championship contest was over JSU had coughed up the ball five times, twice on fumbles and another three times on picks.<br /><br />Jackson managed only 53 total yards rushing, 168 yards passing – minus that 66-yard touchdown reception, it was just over the century mark – and its lowest scoring output since, well, Grambling beat JSU 15-5 back on Sept. 20.<br /><br />That one was ugly, too.<br /><br />But Grambling won.<br /><br />Credit Broadway, a collegiate defensive lineman and former Florida line coach. Credit coordinator Cliff Yoshida, a quietly efficient taskmaster.<br /><br />Credit this streaking star of a linebacker Keefe Hall (who had a clutch early pick, just two Saturdays after taking defensive Bayou Classic MVP honors), the fiery presence of rover Jeffery Jack, the knifing edge rush of Christian Anthony (who added a thrilling first-half sack), the big-play brilliance of defensive backs like T.J. McCord (who almost scored on a third quarterback pick) and Kenneth Anio (who completed the scoring with a dramatic 85-yard touchdown return on a pick).<br /><br />Credit them all: This was a group effort. An ugly one, done as one.<br /><br />“They’re really confident in what they are doing,” said Yoshida, who with Broadway has claimed three conference titles in four years dating back to their tenure at North Carolina Central. “They think they can stop anybody. And they did.”<br /><br />They never thought about last year. They never thought about how it looked.<br /><br />“We won ugly all year,” Hall said. “Man, I’m actually proud of that.”<br /><br />That means doing whatever it takes to win. No matter how it looks.<br /><br />The SWAC trophy, named for Grambling coaching legend Eddie Robinson, is just as shiny. The tears just as real. The familiar chants of “I thought you knew!” echo just as loudly.<br /><br />Sure, this championship was won despite an offense that scarcely resembles the torrid point-scorers of Grambling’s storied past.<br /><br />Yet, the truth is, GSU didn’t need that kind of production. Not with this crew of quarterback-hassling, pass-thieving, run-stuffing scene stealers.<br /><br />GSU’s offense struggled through a rebuilding year, meaning there were only scattered, embryonic successes.<br /><br />But Grambling won, primarily through the force of its defensive will.<br /><br />For me on Saturday, and all season, this group stirred up the ghosts of Fred Collins’ fearsome Trees of Terror from yesteryear at Grambling, gnashing and grinding until opponents simply crumple.<br /><br />Their connective legacy – fearsome and, yes, ugly – was never more obvious than during a three-possession, early-second half sequence at Legion Field, keyed by a remarkable defensive stand.<br /><br />JSU recovered a Terrance Dunn fumble on the initial possession of the third quarter at the GSU 34. Grambling’s defense shrugged it off, holding Jackson to a field goal.<br /><br />One play later, David Stuckman tore through the JSU special teams, pushing the score 20-3 on a 91-yard kickoff return for Grambling.<br /><br />“That was the turning point,” said third-year Jackson State coach Rick Comegy. “Then we started turning the ball over. We just couldn’t regain that emotion.”<br /><br />JSU quarterback Trae Rutland was simply run over on his next try, a possession which went: Devastating sack by Otis Young, devastating sack by Melvin Matthews, devastating interception by T. J. McCord – who returned the ball to the JSU 3.<br />Dillon then hit Kiare Thompson for their second touchdown to push Grambling’s lead to 24 points.<br /><br />The defensive line called themselves “Trench Dogs” this year. On Saturday, they dug a ravine – then tossed Jackson in.<br /><br />GSU’s offense had another hiccup when Dillon turned it over again, flinging an interception to the JSU 2 late in the third period. But Grambling, as per usual, forced a quick three-and-out.<br /><br />“After that,” said Matthews, the senior Grambling defensive tackle, “I knew they were finished.”<br /><br />Jackson State managed a 66-yard touchdown on a broken passing play, this one coming from Louisiana Tech transfer Michael Mosley, but it was far too little, far too late. GSU then held Jackson out on a two-point conversion attempt, and added Anio’s touchdown return for a touchdown.<br /><br />This defense would not be denied. Not this year. Not on this day.<br /><br />Ugly or not, Grambling had won, placing the capstone on the fifth-ever 11-win season at Grambling.<br /><br />“You can label it whatever you like: Pretty, ugly, whatever,” Broadway added, bristling some. “We’ve got a lot of them, and you can’t take that from us.”<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">SWAC Championship notebook: There was another title at stake<br /></span></strong>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><em>December 15, 2008<br /></em><br />BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Saturday’s 41-9 victory in the 10th edition of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game meant more than returning the Eddie Robinson Trophy to Grambling.<br /><br />It likely earned GSU, who entered the title match ranked No. 1 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll, a 13th national black college title.<br /><br />“We knew with a win, we would be national champions,” said second-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway. “That’s a good feeling.”<br /><br />GSU last won a national black college crown in 2005, under Melvin Spears. It also claimed the mythical title in 1955, 1967, 1972, 1974-75, 1977, 1980, 1983 and 1992 (all led by Robinson), and in 2000-01 (under successor Doug Williams), according to the current Grambling media guide.<br /><br />Broadway has a series of incentives tied into earning the Western Division, SWAC and national black college titles built into his contract, which was updated and extended in the offseason.<br /><br />Grambling extended its league lead with a 22nd conference championship on Saturday. GSU has topped the SWAC’s Western Divison six times since 2000.<br /><br /><strong>YOU PICK ’EM<br /></strong>Grambling’s defense, the league’s most opportunistic, opened the title match with yet another turnover.<br /><br />That was a sign of things to come, as GSU forced five of them.<br /><br />Lance Castleberry’s first-quarter fumble recovery gave Grambling the ball at the Jackson 48 just three minutes into the game. GSU then marched down to score the contest’s initial points.<br /><br />In all, Grambling defenders intercepted three passes on Saturday, returning them for a total of 113 yards. T.J. McCord accounted for 28, while Kenneth Anio’s 85-yard dash to the end zone completed Saturday’s scoring.<br /><br />“It was a good old-fashioned butt kicking,” said third-year Jackson State coach Rick Comegy.<br /><br />Perhaps the most dramatic Grambling pick came courtesy of Keefe Hall, who basically fielded a punt when Christian Anthony forced JSU quarterback Trae Rutland into a pass that went straight up.<br /><br />Standing at the GSU 20, Hall had to locate the football, then prepare for the coming onslaught of Jackson tacklers.<br /><br />“It seemed like it was in the air forever,” said Hall, who posted a team-leading 8 total tackles. “I knew I was going to get hit. I just started holding my breath.”<br /><br />Grambling’s King Beckwith also recovered a fumble.<br /><br />Rutland, in his post-game remarks, looked like a player who had been digging his way out all day – only to get deeper.<br /><br />“We knew it would be a defensive battle,” said Rutland, who was 7-of-15 for just 90 yards. “They just got the best of us. They got to the ball well, and just kept putting us in a bad spot.”<br /><br />Jackson State’s average field position was its own 31. Only two drives started in Grambling territory, and neither ended in touchdowns.<br /><br /><strong>SAME, BUT DIFFERENT<br /></strong>Grambling coach Rod Broadway insisted throughout the run up to this SWAC Championship Game rematch that the opponent meant little.<br /><br />He repeated that mantra after Saturday’s emotional win over Jackson State, one season after falling 42-31 at the same Legion Field venue.<br /><br />“Last year was last year,” Broadway said. “Every year is a new beginning; every game is a new beginning. We tried to focus on that all year.”<br /><br />Broadway’s players didn’t necessarily toe into the company line.<br /><br />“This one is just that much more special,” senior defender Melvin Matthews said, “because it was Jackson State.”<br /><br />Matthews was a little used backup on Grambling’s most recent SWAC title-winning team, back in his freshman campaign of 2005. That, too, added a personal dimension to the journey.<br /><br />“For me, it’s so special, to leave out the way I came in – on top,” he said.<br /><br />Matthews – who had a career on par with NFL defender Jason Hatcher, but with far less fanfare – made a critical sack during a three-and-out that seemed to sap the fight from Jackson State as the second-half began.<br /><br /><strong>FOCUSED ATTACK<br /></strong>Versatile sophomore Grambling quarterback Greg Dillon won his second most-valuable player trophy in as many weeks, though in a more conventional manner.<br /><br />GSU shot out of the gate with a pass-first attack, as Dillon threw for 103 of his 145 total yards by air in the first half.<br /><br />A shoulder injury took him out of the game briefly in the second period, but Dillon returned. He finished 13-of-19 for three touchdowns, adding one rushing score.<br /><br />Compare that with his do-everything night against Southern two Saturdays ago, when Dillon accounted for 77 percent of GSU’s total offensive yards. He was second for team rushes in the Bayou Classic, but actually ran for zero net yards against Jackson.<br /><br /><strong>TIGER PAUSE<br /></strong>Sophomore running back Frank Warren rushed for 82 yards, many of them critical. He zipped to a 24-yard rush on the second-quarter drive where Dillon got dinged up and left the game. Earlier in the first period, with GSU pinned at its own 7, Warren ran for 29 yards on first down. Eight plays later, Grambling scored. … GSU was on the home side of Legion Field for the first time since its 2005 SWAC Championship Game victory over Alabama A&M. The Tigers were on the visitor’s side, opposite the press box, in 2006 for a loss in the SWAC-MEAC Challenge and then again in 2007 as GSU dropped its first SWAC Championship Game in five tries since 2000. … Grambling was stellar on returns, taking JSU kickoffs back 398 yards, averaging 57 per attempt.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Memorable celebration envelopes Grambling after SWAC title win<br /></span></strong><em>Posted by NickDeriso at 12/15/2008 6:46 AM CST on thenewsstar.com<br /></em><br />Sometimes the celebration of a championship is just as entertaining as the game itself.<br /><br />Grambling’s sidelines, as Saturday’s 41-9 thrashing of Jackson State wound down, dissolved into a raucous party – with tears and hollers, brawny singing, emotional hugs and high fives.<br /><br />Linebacker Keefe Hall, while multiple coaches got the ice-bucket treatment, fell to the Legion Field turf and began to make a mock snow angel.<br /><br />Others, including quarterback Greg Dillon, raced to the fences surrounding the field to be with family. Many were so busy posing for pictures that they missed the final points of the game, when Kenneth Anio raced nearly the length of the field to score on an interception return.<br /><br />Only the roar of the crowd drew their attention back to what football was left to play. As the final cheers grew louder, a Grambling fan held a sign that read: “Eddie Robinson Should be Proud Now,” in honor of the ESPN Classic broadcast.<br /><br />Dillon got doused with Gator-ade. Charlie Brewer joined other teammates standing on a bench who were leading the Grambling faithful in cheers.<br /><br />League representatives quickly rushed onto the field to prepare for the post-game awards ceremony. A boxful of hats reading “SWAC Champions 2008-2009,” placed at midfield, was snatched up in a matter of moments.<br /><br />Jeffrey Jack, who wore eye black that read “my” and “time,” stood fidgeting just outside the roped area where the SWAC’s championship trophy, named in honor of Grambling legend Eddie Robinson, had been placed. He'd transferred from LSU only to endure a losing season, then a heartbreaking loss in the conference title match.<br /><br />“Can I just hold it?,” said Jack, who had a team-tying eight stops. “Can I kiss it? That’s all I want!”<br /><br />Then … he did.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-61277170986839221542008-11-24T11:49:00.003-06:002009-01-14T00:54:33.958-06:00Bayou Classic 2007<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">BAYOU CLASSIC 2007: Robinson said emotional goodbye a decade ago<br /></span></strong><em>November 21, 2007<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — The 1997 Bayou Classic won't be remembered as much of a game, with Southern breezing to a 30-7 victory.<br /><br />Grambling State, in fact, managed just eight first downs, and was one-of-10 on third down. Southern held GSU to a season-low 123 yards of total offense.<br /><br />Yet the 23rd edition of this legendary rivalry game — a blowout before 64,500 at the Superdome in New Orleans — stands as one of the most cherished in the series, since it marked the final contest coached by Grambling's Eddie Robinson.<br /><br />Robinson, at the time, tried to down play things.<br /><br />"I'm really not trying to think of this game as my last," he said, days before kickoff. "It's there in the back of my mind, but I'm really just trying to take this as just the next game we have to try to win."<br /><br />That's not the way it turned out, of course, as a final loss marked the end of the late Robinson's sterling 57-season career. His career tally: 408 wins, with 165 losses and 15 ties over 45 winning seasons.<br /><br />There was more to it, though, then and now.<br /><br />"During that last game, I'll never forget looking into his eyes," said former Grambling offensive lineman Toriano Young, a Wossman product. "He had a couple of tears rolling out. He said: 'I tried to teach you as football players, but most of all as young men.' You won't find too many coaches who would talk about not just about football, but also the game of life."<br /><br />Now, a decade later, the Bayou Classic is set for kickoff at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Superdome — without Robinson, its cofounder. He succumbed to complications from Alzheimer's seven months ago at age 88.<br /><br />"The game itself has continued — and, for our family, there is a feeling of pride and accomplishment," said Eddie Robinson Jr., a former player who coached alongside his father for 15 seasons. "The feeling on that last day, in his last game, is something you really can't describe, though — even if you've lived it."<br /><br />The emotions surrounding the 1997 Bayou Classic continue to resonate, even if the contest was over almost before it began.<br /><br /><b>LOSS NEVER IN DOUBT</b><br /><br />Southern jumped out to a quick 20-point lead in 1997, as quarterback Marcus Jacoby connected on touchdown passes of 3 and 16 yards, while kicker Chris Diaz hit field goals of 32 and 39 yards.<br /><br />"We couldn't give you a show," Robinson lamented after the game. "They played better from the beginning."<br /><br />Grambling answered at 8:42 in the second period with a 49-yard catch and run by Silas Payne, but could not find the end zone again.<br /><br />The deflating finale was particularly frustrating for offensive coordinator Melvin "Jim" Lee, a former standout for Robinson on GSU's undefeated 1955 teams who later served for 40 seasons as his assistant.<br /><br />Lee's tenure on the sidelines included more than 300 of Robinson's wins, but concluded with six straight stumbles over that emotional season. The program, hobbled by integration, had become the victim of passing-game inconsistencies — and passing times.<br /><br />"The kids tried their very best," Lee said, "but we just didn't have the talent."<br /><br />More than 250 credential requests were filled, overflowing the Superdome's allotment of 175 seats for the media. The locker room and stands teemed with well-known Grambling products, including Willie Davis, James Harris, Ernie Ladd and Roosevelt Taylor. Charles Smith, Henry Dyer, Mike Williams, James Hunter, Elfrid Payton and Trumaine Johnson were also spotted.<br /><br />"He was really touched by that," Robinson Jr. said.<br /><br />Still, the very attention that Robinson so richly deserved as he concluded an immortal college football career — he still holds the Division I record for victories — ended up working against Grambling on that Saturday in November 1997.<br /><br />"Everybody did us a favor by putting all the attention on Eddie Robinson," Southern coach Pete Richardson said then. "We just had to come in and do what we usually do."<br /><br />That was win, and handily. Richardson would never fall to Robinson, and claimed two of Southern's four SWAC titles of the 1990s during his final seasons at Grambling.<br /><br />"My dad never really looked at it from a personal standpoint. He just wanted to beat Southern — whoever was the coach," Robinson Jr. said. "Pete was a guy who had some good athletes. He and his staff just did a good job of coaching, not just against Grambling but against everybody."<br /><br /><b>THEN, AN EMOTIONAL SENDOFF</b><br /><br />When this one was over, Jacoby had added a third touchdown for Southern, and the second TD toss to John Foreman, before Diaz finished the scoring with a three-pointer from 27 yards with five minutes remaining.<br /><br />As the clock, and Robinson's career, winded down, GSU players like Young and defensive back Fahkir Brown could sense the enormity of the moment.<br /><br />"It's a great honor, playing in his last game," Brown, now an NFL starter for the St. Louis Rams, said after the game. "I know I was playing my hardest."<br /><br />Robinson's counsel still resonates for Young, called "Big Preacher" back then.<br /><br />"I'm glad I got a chance, this privilege, to play under a legend in his own time," Young said. "I may not ever see him again, but I know I got chance to play for him — and to build a father-son relationship with him."<br /><br />In the end, Silas — named Grambling's player of the game — led all Tigers' receivers with four catches for 76 yards. GSU quarterback Michael Kornblau only completed two other passes for 14 additional yards. Wingback Frank Bailey led the Tigers with fewer than 30 rushing yards.<br /><br />Defensively, linebacker Claudell Sanford — who also kicked off for Robinson — topped all GSU tacklers with 11, adding a fumble recovery. Lineman DeCarlos "Los" Holmes, a former All-Northeast standout at Grambling High and now an assistant at Bastrop, added nine tackles — including four for a loss.<br /><br />"It wasn't a really good memory because we lost," Robinson Jr. said. "That, combined with it being his last one, I would say we had mixed emotions. But the send off that the fans gave him? I thought that was great."<br /><br />Robinson left the game in style, to cheers from both sides of the stadium. The Chrysler Minority Dealers Association presented the then-78 year old with a 1998 Dodge Intrepid during post-game festivities.<br /><br />"We're so proud to be playing in this facility, in the state of Louisiana and in the greatest country in the world," Robinson said then, fighting back tears.<br /><br />He also stopped to accept a call from President Bill Clinton.<br /><br />"Mr. President," Robinson said, "to be here with my friends, and people I know and love, and to be talked to you, this is indeed a great honor."<br /><br />Then just after 5 p.m., he began to make his way out of the Superdome.<br /><br />"Wait, Coach," a Superdome official said, as Robinson turned the key on the Intrepid. "There is a press conference to go to next."<br /><br />The event and all of its attendant duties had almost been lost in the hoopla, the game very nearly turned into a sideshow. But, in this instance, it was appropriate. Robinson's towering achievements deserved no less.<br /><br />"I saw a lot of evidence of him taking it all in later," Robinson Jr. said. "The way he was treated, and the way he was honored, really hit him then."<br /><br />The College Football Hall of Fame would waive its mandatory three-year waiting period following retirement for Robinson, notifying him just weeks later of his induction.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;font-size:85%;">g</span><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>NEW ROBINSON SPECIAL</strong><br /><br />NBC Sports will air the documentary "Every Man a Tiger: The Eddie Robinson Story" a half hour before the Bayou Classic on Saturday.<br /><br />"NBC came in and spent a lot of time with us," said Eddie Robinson Jr., who coached with his father for 15 years. "We're just thankful to have him and the family recognized like that."<br /><br />The 30-minute special will be presented commercial-free at 12:30 p.m. by State Farm. A trailer of the film can be viewed at www. nbcsports.com/robinson.<br /><br />The longtime former Grambling coach passed last April at age 88.<br /><br />— Nick Deriso, nderiso@thenewsstar.com<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>BAYOU CLASSIC 2007: With plenty still to play for, Grambling moves past ULM loss<br /></strong></span><em>November 20, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Losing to ULM, as emotional as that was, is behind them now.<br /><br />Sure, Grambling State's stumble goes on the overall ledger, but this week's Southern game counts.<br /><br />In the standings, and in the lore surrounding this program.<br /><br />GSU had won eight Southwestern Athletic Conference contests, including seven in row, before falling against that nearby upper-classification foe two weeks ago. A win against Southern, though, would complete a second undefeated league run in two seasons.<br /><br />The Bayou Classic kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Superdome in New Orleans, and will be broadcast nationally on NBC.<br /><br />"We're still 8-2," said first-year coach Rod Broadway. "We're undefeated in our league, and we're proud of that. Our goal is to win the conference championship."<br /><br />Grambling secured a berth in that match by beating Alabama State on Nov. 3. Next came a two-touchdown loss to ULM.<br /><br />"As much as we wanted that game, it's not a conference game," said record-breaking senior Grambling receiver Clyde Edwards, a Houston native. "We're still undefeated in SWAC. Now, we're getting ready for Southern."<br /><br />Even locals like junior quarterback Brandon Landers, who prepped at Monroe's Carroll High, have put the disappointment behind them.<br /><br />"Life goes on. We're focused on Southern, on the game at hand," said Landers, who is 1-1 as a starter in the Bayou Classic. "We've put that behind us; now we are focusing on the next opponent."<br /><br />Southern, at 7-3 overall and 5-3 in league action, has fallen into third place in the SWAC's Western Division, taking some of the intrigue out of Saturday's game. But not much.<br /><br />"If I have heard it one time," Broadway said, "I have heard it a thousand times: 'We don't care how you do, as long as you beat Southern."<br /><br />Either the Jaguars or GSU have now advanced to represent the West at the SCG in seven of its eight total editions. Grambling has established a 4-0 record, while Southern is 2-1.<br /><br />With a trip to the next championship contest already assured, Grambling has a chance to continue a decade of dominance that has run unabated through a series of coaching changes. Doug Williams led GSU to titles in 2000-02, while Melvin Spears helped the Tigers to another in 2005.<br /><br />Still, Broadway isn't looking that far down the road just yet. Not with the emotion, pageantry and flinty competitiveness that Southern always adds to this in-state conference rivalry.<br /><br />Twice, in 1999 and 2003, the Bayou Classic decided which of the two teams advanced to the SWAC Championship Game. Southern won both, on its way to a pair of titles.<br /><br />"There's a lot of meat left on that bone," Broadway said of Grambling's season. "We can't get too satisfied with the championship berth with Southern staring us in the face. We've got to get ready for that."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">BAYOU CLASSIC 2007: Taking cues from a defensive guru<br /></span></strong><em>November 22, 2007<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — One of the most intriguing subplots of this Bayou Classic stars Clifford Yoshida.<br /><br />Once a defensive coordinator for longtime Southern coach Pete Richardson, he returned to Baton Rouge in 2006 as an assistant with Rod Broadway at Division II North Carolina Central and topped his former boss.<br /><br />He then followed Broadway from NCCU to Grambling, setting up a rematch in Saturday's in-state Southwestern Athletic Conference rivalry game.<br /><br />Kickoff for the Bayou Classic between Southern and Grambling is set for 1 p.m. at the Superdome. NBC will broadcast the game nationally.<br /><br />"We're doing something a little different, demanding some different things," said Yoshida, who was with Broadway for three seasons at NCCU. "They seem to be responding. I'm happy with the progress."<br /><br />Grambling enters this weekend's contest at No. 2 for total defense, allowing 288 yards a game — and league-low 17 touchdowns. Grambling is also No. 2 in the SWAC for turnover margin, with a plus-15 ratio.<br /><br />"'Coach Yo' is a big improvement from last year, I must say," said senior Grambling defensive back Jeffrey Jack, an LSU transfer. "He makes good calls, and prepares us very well. He puts us in good position within the game so we can stop people."<br /><br />This remade Grambling staff has won eight SWAC games already, with a chance to go undefeated in regular-season league play at the Bayou Classic. In fact, its only two losses are against upper-division teams, Pittsburgh in September and ULM earlier this month.<br /><br />Even in that two-touchdown loss to the Warhawks on Nov. 10, Broadway took time out to praise his improving defenders for plugging up the middle.<br /><br />"Our defense never gave up," Broadway said. "For the most part we stopped the run, though we lost containment a couple of times and the ball got outside. We created some turnovers that weren't able to capitalize on."<br /><br />The connection between Yoshida, a 37-year coaching veteran, and Richardson goes back to the Jaguars' initial SWAC championship in 1993. He and Richardson went 11-1 (the program's second 11-plus win season ever) and brought home Southern's first league crown in 18 years — and its first outright crown in 34 seasons.<br /><br />That began an impressive streak for Southern, though Yoshida departed for East Carolina. The Jaguars would win five titles over the next 10 seasons — a run that included SWAC Championship Game victories in 1999 and 2003 — as well as a runner-up finish in 2004.<br /><br />Many credit the groundwork installed by "Coach Yo," who's helped reshape a similarly moribund Grambling defense that had hovered near the bottom of the league in many key categories for much of last season.<br /><br />"It's pretty comparable," Yoshida said. "They've taken a little while to get used to what we are trying to teach. Old habits are sometimes hard to break — after all, they had played under the old system for three years."<br /><br />Grambling would end up allowing a league-worst 34 touchdowns in 2006, with 21 surrendered by its cellar-dwelling rush defense.<br /><br />Meanwhile, on that return trip last year to Baton Rouge, Yoshida befuddled Southern — forcing the Jaguars into seven turnovers (six interceptions and one fumble recovery) on the way to a shocking 27-20 victory.<br /><br />"We've got shut them down again, to keep his reputation up," said Jack, who leads all Grambling tacklers with 64.<br /><br />That NCCU win in Baton Rouge was part of a school-record 11-0 season, as Broadway and Yoshida won a second consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Football championship.<br /><br />Broadway, one of black college football's hottest commodities last offseason, then found his way to Grambling and brought Yoshida along.<br /><br />They found a Grambling defense in transition.<br /><br />The program had missed critical on-field leadership as consecutive defensive ends left through the NFL Draft in 2005-06, first Kenneth Pettway and then Jason Hatcher, then saw four starters graduate going into 2007.<br /><br />But all was not lost, Yoshida said.<br /><br />"In my opinion, we have some pretty good guys in the back end — and we have some size up front," Yoshida said.<br /><br />He and the Grambling staff have been able to transform senior lineman Jason Banks into an every-down menace on the nose, and maximized the emerging talent of sophomore end Chris Anthony.<br /><br />Fellow end John Scroggins, though hobbled this week with an ankle injury, provides critical disruption for the youthful linebacking unit led by junior John Carter and converted safety Zaire "Pitbull" Wilborn. A veteran secondary manned by Jack and DeMichael Dizer, among others, rounds out the group.<br /><br />"I think we've got some athletic ability; the kids run pretty well," Yoshida said. "When we put it all together, I think we're pretty decent."<br /><br />Described by more than one Grambling defender as a mad scientist-type, Yoshida has used inventive schemes and one-of-kind personality in the film room to forge a newfound confidence.<br /><br />This group has, in fact, been at its best in league matches that mattered most.<br /><br />Grambling allowed an average of 11 points in games against defending league champion Alabama A&M, eventual 2007 Eastern Division winner Jackson State and in the contest against Alabama State that clinched a berth in the SWAC Championship Game.<br /><br />A&M managed just 147 total yards (30 of it on the ground), while only 34 of ASU's 169 total yards came by air. Jackson State had better passing numbers, but could eke out just 25 yards on the ground.<br /><br />"I think we can get a lot better," Yoshida said. "We're just taking it one week at a time, and trying to improve. It's typical coach-speak. But that's really what you are trying to do."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">BAYOU CLASSIC 2007: Lewis arrives for Grambling in 'Nick' of time</span><br />Big-play junior has become Tigers' leading receiver in yards per catch</strong><br /><em>November 19, 2007<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Southern will likely have a tight focus on passing downs against Grambling State.<br /><br />After all, GSU starts widely respected receivers Clyde Edwards and Reginald Jackson. The former holds a school record for career touchdowns, while the latter is a guy who's gobbled up 57 passes so far in 2007.<br /><br />That tends to draw attention away from junior Nick Lewis, who's managed just 10 receptions.<br /><br />He's taken an opportunistic approach when the ball comes his way, though, rewarding the patient with some memorable, electrifying experiences.<br /><br />That was Lewis, for instance, dashing 51 yards for a score against Texas Southern at homecoming, then adding another 63-yard stunner against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Louisiana-Monroe two weeks later.<br /><br />"Nick can run, and now he's catching the ball better," said first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway. "That's what it's all about, growth. He's growing as a player, and getting better and better."<br /><br />Up next for GSU is its pitched in-state rivalry game against Southern, in the 34th edition of the Bayou Classic. Kickoff is 1 p.m. Saturday at the Louisiana Superdome.<br /><br />Lewis arrives in New Orleans as the perfect check down, when Edwards and Jackson are covered, for the deep passes that open up Grambling's running game.<br /><br />"That sets the mold for how we want to play the game," said Lewis, a 6-0, 180-pound Marshall, Texas, product.<br /><br />A knack for the big catch has helped Lewis shoot up to No. 4 on the team for total receiving yards with 239.<br /><br />He's averaging a team-best 23-yards per catch, well past the SWAC's leading receiver — Alabama A&M's Thomas Harris, who is averaging 18. Only Jackson has made a longer catch and run for Grambling this season.<br /><br />"Nick is very deceptive, and has great size," said 10th-year Grambling receivers coach Sammy White. "He came out of Marshall as a running back, but has been working with me for three years and we're looking for big things out of him."<br /><br />Lewis says he's fine, for now, outside the spotlight. A backup who never saw the field when GSU surged to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2005, he is more focused on the big picture of winning.<br /><br />Beating Southern this week at the Bayou Classic, Lewis said, would help Grambling regain whatever momentum it lost in that two-touchdown stumble against ULM.<br /><br />"We can see on the film that they are a pretty good team," Lewis said. "On offense, we've got step up."<br /><br />When Lewis hauled in that 51-yarder at homecoming, it was his only catch of the day — and just his seventh on the year.<br /><br />Still, Lewis has already matched his receptions total as a sophomore, when he averaged just 14 yards a catch. And he didn't even appear in the stat sheet for four games, sitting out against Alabama A&M and Prairie View and being held without a catch at Alcorn and FBS foe Pittsburgh.<br /><br />"When he gets the chance, he's making the best of it," said junior quarterback Brandon Landers. "We're trying to get everyone involved in the offense right now, and he's making plays."<br /><br />That includes critical receptions on each of Grambling's first three scoring drives against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They went for 18, 17 and then 27 yards, helping GSU regain a lead it would never relinquish.<br /><br />His 15-yard reception at Alabama State was part of Grambling's second scoring drive. Lewis also had one catch (for 17 yards) against Mississippi Valley, and two against Jackson State.<br /><br />Each was a league win for Grambling, part of a streak of seven in a row that hurtled GSU to its fifth Western Division crown since 2000.<br /><br />"He's got all the tools," Edwards said. "He's making the best of his opportunities."<br /><br />And Lewis is making them at just the right time, since both Edwards and Jackson are departing seniors.<br /><br />"It will be between him and (junior Clinton native) Kovarus Hills," said White, himself a former All-SWAC wingback at Grambling. "Nick has really been coming around. He could definitely be our No. 1 receiver one day."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>OPENING DRIVE: Grambling vs. Southern, Bayou Classic XXXIV</strong><br /></span><em>November 24, 2007<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Grambling State has won eight straight Southwestern Athletic Conference games so far.<br /><br />The Tigers have clinched a trip to the SWAC Championship Game, their fifth since 2000.<br /><br />So what?<br /><br />All of that means little to many fans if Grambling falls in the Bayou Classic, its annual nationally televised Superdome contest against in-state rival Southern.<br /><br />Lose them all, supporters have told first-year GSU coach Rod Broadway, but you better win this one.<br /><br />That would appear to be an easy proposition<br /><br />After all, Grambling's only 2007 losses have been to upper-classification foes Pittsburgh and ULM. Meanwhile, the once-streaking Southern opened with five wins but then finished 2-3, leaving the Jaguars to play the spoiler role.<br /><br />But this is a spot that suits the Jaguars, who are a respectable 2-2 in the Bayou Classic when Grambling has already booked a trip to Birmingham — winning in 2000 and '02.<br /><br />"This is one where I've been told you can throw the records out the window," Broadway said. "I don't know if how we are doing, or how they are doing, has anything to do with this game. It's how well you prepare and how well you play during the course of the game."<br /><br />Southern, which is trying to avoid finishing lower than second place in the West for the first time since 2000, has gone 11-3 against Grambling since Pete Richardson took over. That run has pushed Southern ahead by one all-time victory, but the series is knotted at 3-3 since 2001.<br /><br /><strong>GAME DETAILS<br /></strong>Grambling (8-2) vs. Southern (7-3)<br /><br />• Kickoff: 1 p.m. today, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans<br /><br />• TV: NBC<br /><br />• Series: Southern, 17-16.<br /><br />•Coaches: Grambling, Rod Broadway (first year, 8-2; 41-13 overall); Southern, Pete Richardson (15th year, 121-52; 163-66-1 overall).<br /><br />•Line: Grambling by 11 1/2<br /><br />KEYS TO VICTORY<br /><br />Do the little things<br /><br />As dramatic as the Bayou Classic can be, with so many stirring twists and turns, the games have typically turned on one or two key plays.<br /><br />Grambling fell last year, for instance, when a fourth-year starting running back couldn't convert on a fourth-and-one from the Southern 2-yard line with less than two minutes remaining.<br /><br />The pitched emotions associated with the Bayou Classic require a centered, fundamentally sound approach. Broadway has stressed that all week.<br /><br />TOP MATCHUP<br /><br />Grambling running backs vs. Southern defense<br /><br />When Grambling couldn't get its running game going against ULM two Saturdays ago, the passing attack was grounded as well. The new scheme installed for junior quarterback Brandon Landers relies on the rush, and intermediate passing, to set up deep strikes to receivers Clyde Edwards and Reginald Jackson.<br /><br />If Southern makes GSU one dimensional, as ULM did, the Tigers could fall for a second time in as many years.<br /><br />GET IN GAME<br /><br />Grambling's defense has been drilling extensively for the screen play, something Southern has used to bedevil the Tigers.<br /><br />"They threw a lot of them last year, and they beat us," said Grambling defensive back Jeffrey Jack, the team's leading tackler. "We've been working on executing against that. If we give a good effort, we can win."<br /><br />2007 IMPLICATIONS<br /><br />The Bayou Classic doesn't count in the sense that Grambling has already secured a berth in December's SWAC Championship Game.<br /><br />Then again, the Southern game is critical to state recruiting, and to bragging rights. Players like senior GSU defender Jason Banks would also like to gain momentum with a final regular-season victory.<br /><br />"You don't want to go into the championship with a loss," Banks said. "Southern lost to us in 2004 and went on to lose the SWAC."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">BAYOU CLASSIC 2007: New Orleans game still big deal for Robinsons</span></strong><br /><em>November 24, 2007<br /></em><br />y Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />NEW ORLEANS — For Doris Robinson, the trip back to New Orleans was one of both joy and melancholy.<br /><br />There are so many things she remembers, in and around the Superdome, about her life as the wife of late longtime Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson.<br /><br />Robinson co-founded the Bayou Classic in this place, perhaps his most obvious legacy after passing last<br /><br />April at age 88. His name is written on a commemorative banner inside the facility — and, even today, across her heart.<br /><br />"I have cried today," said Doris Robinson, who cared for her husband through a long bout with Alzheimer's-like symptoms. "But I am through with that now. I am going to enjoy the rest of this weekend."<br /><br />This is just the second time she has attended the Bayou Classic, today's nationally televised in-state rivalry game against Baton Rouge-based Southern, since Robinson retired a decade ago.<br /><br />Married as childhood sweethearts in 1941, Doris and Eddie were present when the Superdome honored Robinson with that banner.<br /><br />"It means a lot," Doris Robinson said. "Everything has. When people say good things about him, I know that way back then I wasn't wrong."<br /><br />Robinson and her son Eddie Robinson Jr. were set to spend the rest of Friday night visiting with friends and family. Today, she will be honored — fans have taken to calling Robinson the "First Lady of Football" — before the 34th playing of the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />"It's always been a real good event for the state, and one that everybody has come to associate with my father and the family," said Robinson Jr., who coached alongside his dad for 15 seasons. "It brings back a lot of good memories."<br /><br />The last few months have been a whirlwind for the Robinson family, as a series of the coach's former Southwestern Athletic Conference foes honored a man who still holds the Division I record for wins. The SWAC also announced that its football championship trophy will be renamed for Robinson.<br /><br />At Grambling, the football team is wearing jersey patches in memory of the former coach, and Doris Robinson was also recognized before GSU's first home game.<br /><br />Today, NBC Sports will also air a 30-minute Robinson documentary at 12:30 p.m., a half hour before kickoff, called "Every Man a Tiger." Included is never-before-seen archival footage as well as new images and interviews collected earlier this year.<br /><br />"It has been great, and sometimes overwhelming," Doris Robinson said. "Of course, they were not telling me anything that I didn't know about him already. It just so happened that everything I knew about him was good. It's been nice sharing the memories."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>BAYOU BUMMER: Grambling falls to Southern for 2nd straight Classic loss<br /></strong></span><em>November 25, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />NEW ORLEANS — Grambling State University fell behind in the first quarter and never regained the lead in a tightly contested Bayou Classic loss to Southern University.<br /><br />GSU's 22-13 stumble, its first in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, leaves the team at 8-3 overall.<br /><br />"The most embarrassing part is they played harder than us," first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "I think they had a little more intensity than we had tonight."<br /><br />The Tigers have lost two straight after falling to the University of Louisiana at Monroe in non-league action two weeks ago.<br /><br />Despite that skid, Grambling has already secured a berth in the SWAC Championship Game, to be played Dec. 15 against Eastern Division champion Jackson State. GSU earned the Western crown for the fifth time since 2000 with a win over Texas Southern in October.<br /><br />That didn't lessen the impact of losing to Grambling's in-state conference rival.<br /><br />"They outcoached us, and they outplayed us," Broadway said. "We'll regroup in the next couple of weeks and try to win the SWAC Championship."<br /><br />Southern, which has taken two in a row against GSU, now leads the all-time series 18-16. Over the years, Southern has had overwhelming success when the games are close, winning nine of 11 contests decided by a touchdown or less since the game moved to the Superdome in 1974.<br /><br />Attendance on Saturday, announced at 53,297, was the fourth-lowest ever. Last season's crowd of 47,136, in the first-post Katrina playing of the Bayou Classic, set the record for smallest gate.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>BAYOU CLASSIC: As always, this rivalry leaves little room for error</strong><br /></span><em>November 25, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />NEW ORLEANS — Southern scored.<br /><br />Grambling scored.<br /><br />Southern scored again.<br /><br />It was only the first quarter in the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />Always a back-and-forth affair, and often featuring whisker-thin margins of victory, this is the way it goes when Grambling and Southern play.<br /><br />This makes for a November afternoon spent twisting and squirming in edge-of-the-bleacher anticipation.<br /><br />That's true for fans as much as it is for first-time participants like rookie Grambling coach Rod Broadway.<br /><br />"I enjoyed everything," he said, "except the outcome."<br /><br />There are now just two victories separating Southern and Grambling since this intense, emotional rivalry moved into the Superdome. The Jaguars have won 18 times while GSU has taken 16.<br /><br />Over the past six years, each had won three times. Coming into this game, Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers was 1-1 all time as a starter against the Jaguars.<br /><br />So, not surprisingly, the 34th Bayou Classic began with a knotted-up initial period, then deadlocked with a series of failed attempts to score after Southern established a 14-7 lead.<br /><br />Southern ran 35 first-half plays, and Grambling ran 34. GSU had 10 first downs through half time, while Southern had 13. Each had an interception.<br /><br />"Oh, man," junior Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers said, as senior receiver Reginald Jackson sat nearby trying to compose himself after the game.<br /><br />"We both came out fired up," Landers finally continued. "Southern stayed on us, though."<br /><br />Blows were landed, and countered. But both teams stood, a bit bloodied but resolute, having resolved almost nothing as the bands played.<br /><br />All was as expected.<br /><br />Grambling might have seen an opening when starting Southern quarterback Bryant Lee left the game with a fractured thumb. Instead, the second half began with two punts.<br /><br />Even when Southern put together a drive deep into Grambling territory early in the third period, backup passer Warren Mathews lost a fumble after being smothered by a group of Tiger tacklers.<br /><br />Nobody had scored since the 1:50 mark in the first period.<br /><br />Somebody would have to make a mistake. Any mistake would do, with a game this close.<br /><br />Grambling made that mistake, then made another.<br /><br />Both miscues came on special teams, leading to five points by the Jaguars, first on a safety then on a field goal.<br /><br />"It got us in trouble, but the difference was they played harder than us, and faster than us," Broadway said. "It's not one thing. It's a lot of things. We couldn't defend the pass; we couldn't stop the run. We couldn't throw; we couldn't catch. It was a total breakdown on our part."<br /><br />Southern had the smallest sliver of a lead, 19-7 midway through the fourth quarter.<br /><br />It would be enough. It usually is.<br /><br />Southern is 9-2 in Bayou Classics decided by a touchdown or less — a streak that includes last year's edition, when Grambling lost after failing to convert on fourth-and-one to extend its final offensive drive.<br /><br />An offensive showcase-turned-defensive battle that produced just two points over two periods then turned again.<br /><br />Southern scored, then Grambling scored, then Southern scored again in a fourth quarter every bit as fast-paced and thrilling as the first.<br /><br />The contest had blown open with an almost visceral suddenness, like a balloon popping.<br /><br />Grambling added a 27-yard touchdown pass from Landers to senior Clyde Edwards — tightening his grip on the school record for scoring receptions — but then gave up a long pass to set up the deciding Southern field goal.<br /><br />"They're a good team," Landers said. "They made the plays down the stretch. You've got to take your hats off to them."<br /><br />A final Landers interception made it official. But this one had been over since that first snap was lost at the feet of Grambling punter Tim Manuel.<br /><br />In a rivalry like this, played to a virtual draw, there is no room for error.<br /><br />And certainly not for two.<br /><br />Grambling, as expected, would lose.<br /><br />"They played harder than us; they played better than us," Broadway, clearly frustrated, finally said. "It's just embarrassing."<br /><br /><em>NICK DERISO is assistant managing editor at The News-Star, 411 N. Fourth St., Monroe, La., 71201. Contact him at (318) 362-0234 or at nderiso thenewsstar.com</em><br /><br /><strong>GRAMBLING-SOUTHERN RECAP</strong><br /><br />GOOD PLAY<br /><br />Junior Grambling defensive back Aaron Brown picked off a Bryant Lee attempt early in the second quarter, the first turnover of the 34th Bayou Classic and his first-ever interception. Brown is a brother of Chris Brown, a key secondary contributor on Grambling's 2002 championship team.<br /><br />BAD PLAY<br /><br />Junior quarterback Brandon Landers, set up late in the first half at the Southern 30, was hit on a safety blitz just as he threw, sending the ball wobbling between two GSU receivers. Southern defensive back Michael Williams was there to pick it off, snuffing a chance for Grambling to even the score at 14.<br /><br />BIG HIT<br /><br />Sterlington product DeMichael Dizer, a senior Grambling defensive back, put a stinging hit on Southern receiver Clevan White — knocking him back three yards on the Jaguars' initial drive of the day.<br /><br />SOMETHING SPECIAL<br /><br />Senior Grambling kicker Tim Manuel had a trio of effective, if not very pretty, directional punts in the first half, pinning Southern deep in its own territory. But a blocked attempt in the third quarter, then a mishandled ball inside the Grambling 10 on a final-period bad snap, erased what had once been a stellar day on special teams.<br /><br />DID YOU NOTICE?<br /><br />Senior Grambling quarterback Larry Kerlegan took the field for the first time since re-injuring his ankle against Mississippi Valley, lining up in the slot during Grambling's initial drive. He later spelled at quarterback when Landers took a breather after a third-quarter clobbering by Southern's Joseph Selders and D.J. Bolton.<br /><br />GET IN THE GAME<br /><br />Attendance at the game, announced at 53,297 on Saturday, was the fourth-lowest ever. Last season's crowd of 47,136, in the first-post Katrina playing of the Bayou Classic, set the record low. The biggest gate ever remains the initial playing in 1974, when 76,753 fans crammed into the old Tulane Stadium. The two highest-attended Bayou Classics of the last decade were in 1996 and 2002, both with Superdome capacity crowds of 72,586 announced.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>BAYOU CLASSIC: Grambling's Broadway confronted by furious fans</strong><br /></span><em>November 25, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />NEW ORLEANS — First-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway got a rude introduction into the furious emotion associated with losing the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />In the frenetic moments following Southern's 22-13 win in this in-state rivalry game, Broadway was accosted by several supporters — including former Grambling defender Elfrid Payton.<br /><br />Broadway was still stung by the fans' response, as reporters encircled him outside the GSU lockerroom in the Superdome moments later.<br /><br />"They can have this (expletive) job," Broadway said. "If that's the way they want to do, they can have this (expletive) job."<br /><br />Payton also confronted former Grambling coach Doug Williams after the 2003 Bayou Classic, which GSU lost 44-41, nearly causing a fist fight.<br /><br />"That's a shame," Broadway said. "We are trying as hard as we can try. That's why I don't want (fans) down there (on the sideline). That stuff is uncalled for."<br /><br /><b>RECOGNIZING THE ROBINSONS:</b> Doris Robinson appeared at midfield in pregame ceremonies, where she was recognized along with son Eddie Robinson Jr. and grandson Eddie Robinson III.<br /><br />The late Eddie Robinson coached his final game at the 1997 Bayou Classic, wrapping up a career that included a Division I record 408 wins. The Superdome later honored him with a commemorative banner that still hangs in the facility. He's one of just five people ever to be so recognized — and the only one not associated with a New Orleans sports team or the Superdome itself.<br /><br />Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal and Grambling president Horace Judson were among those who shared the spotlight with Robinson's widow, who was decked out completely in gold.<br /><br />A moment of silence was held for Robinson before kickoff.<br /><br /><strong>TIGER PAUSE:</strong> The Grambling football team debuted a new jersey on Saturday, playing in gold with black and white stripes — reminiscent of the style worn by the Tigers under Coach Eddie Robinson in the 1970s, but with a black stripe down the side and without the red accent. ... The Tiger Marching Band, meanwhile, appeared in white tuxedos, a look from the 1980s. ... Ford Motors, a game sponsor, handed out thundersticks before the game, added a tremendous amount of volume to the raucous proceedings. ... Grambling captains were Jason Banks, Clyde Edwards, DeMichael Dizer (a Sterlington product) and Tim Manuel. ... Freshman Grambling running back Frank Warren was prominently featured in a commercial during the Bayou Classic for a new video game focusing on black college football programs.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>BAYOU CLASSIC: Fans say they understand Grambling coach's frustration<br /></strong></span><em>November 26, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />NEW ORLEANS — Grambling State's Rod Broadway can be forgiven for angry comments made in the furor of emotion following Saturday's loss in the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />That's the response from many GSU fans, a day after their first-year coach lashed out when confronted by disappointed alumni on the Superdome sidelines.<br /><br />"I was always of the opinion that fans are supposed to be the support group of an athletic entity," said Michael Watson, a 1977 Grambling graduate. "How was this latest display of contempt toward Coach Broadway supportive?"<br /><br />Moments after exchanging heated sideline barbs with supporters, including former Grambling defender Elfrid Payton, Broadway became increasingly frustrated in front of a group of reporters when asked about the situation.<br /><br />"They can have this (expletive) job," Broadway said, stabbing the air with his index finger. "If that's the way they want to do, they can have this (expletive) job."<br /><br />Broadway then stormed back into the locker room.<br /><br />"The guy approached Coach in an ignorant manner which in no way reflects the attitude of loyal Grambling, alumni, supporters and friends," said GSU fan Kendall C. Price, a Monroe native. "What Coach said wasn't in his heart, but he said it in human defense of his feelings."<br /><br />Besides, longtime Grambling fan Beverly Thomas said, Saturday's loss can't tarnish the stellar job this new staff has done in rebuilding after a dismal record last season.<br /><br />"Coach Broadway has turned a 3-8 team into an 8-3 within a year," she said. "GSU went from SWAC champs in 2005 to SWAC chumps in '06 and now is on the road to becoming SWAC champs again in '07. My hat goes off to him."<br /><br />Widespread support for Broadway could also be found on The News-Star's story chat and on various Web-based message boards.<br /><br />"Broadway is well within his rights with what he said," OPLioninVA wrote on thenewsstar.com forums. "Elfrid Payton is a shining example of what is wrong with sports today: Overzealous fans that really need to either apply for the job, or have a seat. He and the others are an embarrassment to quality fans of college football programs all over the country."<br /><br />Poster Yankkee added: "Coach Broadway is a class individual who deserves better treatment than this."<br /><br />Asked again later about the incident, Broadway reiterated that he felt stiffer screening measures should be put in place to keep packs of roaming onlookers from impacting the game.<br /><br />Grambling athletics director Troy Mathieu said the school had given out sideline passes to only a select few key alumni — including former players Trumaine Johnson and Doug Williams, who later coached at GSU from 1998-2003. Mathieu was unsure how others gained the necessary credentials to walk the sidelines.<br /><br />"I fully support Coach Broadway and I understand his frustration," said Kenn Rashad, a 1990 Grambling graduate who owns the black college sports message board TSPNSports.com, where a lively discussion on Broadway's comments continued into Sunday.<br /><br />"Unfortunately, in the game of college football, fans seem to forget what their role is," Rashad said. "That role does not include accosting a coach or player — especially right after an emotional loss. Considering that this is nothing new for Elfrid Payton, Coach Broadway is justified in his remarks."<br /><br />Payton also confronted Williams after the 2003 Bayou Classic, a gut-wrenching three-point stumble that kept Grambling from an historic fourth consecutive conference championship game.<br /><br />"What really disappoints me is that a former player from Coach Eddie Robinson's lineage was a major player in the group that embarrassed all true fans of Grambling," Watson said. "On a day in which we were honoring this great man, one of his former players acted in a manner that was the antithesis of what Coach stood for and tried to teach his players."<br /><br />OPLioninVA, posting at thenewsstar.com, added: "Keep your head up Coach Broadway and staff. Although we did not win this game, I still see the big picture, and I know many others do, too."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-92145916130182265602008-10-06T21:01:00.008-05:002009-01-14T00:28:40.588-06:00Remembering: Grambling's Brandon Landers<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Carroll's Landers picks Grambling<br /></strong></span><em>· Playing for Super Bowl quarterback Doug Williams played an important part in the decision. December 11, 2003<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Carroll High quarterback Brandon Landers, the area's top local offensive recruit, confirms that he has verbally committed to play for Doug Williams at Grambling State.<br /><br />"To be coached by the first black quarterback to win the Super Bowl had something to do with it," Landers said. "He knows the game. I'd like to follow in his footsteps and do some of the things he's done at Grambling State University."<br /><br />Williams has said that any prep signings this off-season would redshirt in 2004 behind senior Bruce Eugene, the top quarterback in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Coach Jesse Smith has installed a similar spread offense at Carroll High.<br /><br />"Whatever move he made, I'd support," Smith said of Landers' commitment. "But we do a lot of the same things that Grambling does. He will be in a system where he will throw the football. I believe, with the experience that he has gotten over the years, that this is as fine a program as he could be going to."<br /><br />Landers also recognized the opportunity to quickly integrate into the SWAC's best passing offense the past two seasons.<br /><br />"I feel like Grambling would treat me better," Landers said. "The offense they run is basically the same offense that we run."<br /><br />Landers, who led Carroll to a second straight District 2-3A crown this season, finished his prep career with 2,302 yards on 140-for-245 passes, along with 16 TD passes and five interceptions. He was The News-Star/Glenwood SportsCare player of the week for Week 5 this season - after passing for 300 yards and a score against Ferriday, while also returning an interception for a touchdown.<br /><br />"In my opinion, he had an outstanding year," said Smith. "He pretty much led the team. He was able to run the football and pass it too. He did everything we expected."<br /><br />In his last high school game, the multi-talented Landers passed for 204 yards and ran for a score in a third-round playoff loss.. He also had 48 career tackles and three interceptions for Carroll.<br /><br />Landers says he was recruited by McNeese State, Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana Tech. Others like Texas A&M were reportedly interested as well.<br /><br />"But I never really considered anywhere else," Landers said. "I felt like Grambling fit me."<br /><br />Landers follows in the footsteps of Grambling State legend James "Shack" Harris, who is also a Carroll High alum. Harris was the first black quarterback to be drafted into the NFL, playing for Buffalo, Los Angeles and San Diego.<br /><br /><strong>Cooper's departure could shift QB status<br /></strong><br />Carroll High quarterback Brandon Landers could immediately move into the No. 2 slot at Grambling State. Coach Doug Williams granted two-year backup quarterback Gary Cooper a release on Monday.<br /><br />"I'm not a guy who believes in a two-quarterback system," Williams said. "Somebody has to take the bull by the horns. It's unfortunate for Cooper, because he wants to play. But as long as Bruce is healthy, he's our starter."<br /><br />Cooper had career numbers of 14-for-36 at GSU, with three interceptions and two scores.<br /><br />Further back in the quarterback rotation are Texas freshmen Brandon Logan from San Antonio and Arnel Rolfe of Dallas. Neither has taken a game-day snap.<br /><br />"They've got to step it up in the spring," Williams said.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Landers learns another lesson the hard way </strong><br /></span><em>September 12, 2004 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />NORMAL Ala. - The grounds crew at Louis Crews Stadium can thank Grambling State quarterback Brandon Landers for all the work facing them this morning.<br /><br />I expect there are several freshman-shaped holes out there today.<br /><br />Perhaps that was expected for Landers, who got his first collegiate start a year early when senior All-American Bruce Eugene was injured last week.<br /><br />Still, the timing couldn't have been worse, as GSU arrived in Alabama to face one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's most inventive and aggressive defenses.<br /><br />Alabama A&M relentlessly harassed Landers. It threw everything at him - linebackers, safeties, the kitchen sink, other appliances. That ensured Landers wouldn't win the game, yet his fiery determination would again win over the coaches.<br /><br />"We have believed that Brandon Landers could handle the things we do," said interim GSU coach Melvin Spears, who fell to 0-2 with the loss to Alabama A&M. "Brandon and Bruce worked closely together all summer. He has grasped the information at a very fast pace."<br /><br />There were moments of shimmering promise, followed by thudding despair.<br /><br />That's a freshman quarterback for you.<br /><br />For instance, Landers took advantage of a blocked punt by Winnfield junior Donald Alexander on A&M's first possession of the third quarter, firing a brilliant pass to Mangham senior Chad White over the middle for a critical completion at midfield.<br /><br />But the inevitable sack ended that drive. Landers ran right into the rush on that play, a rookie error.<br /><br />He kept his head up.<br /><br />"My athleticism will always help me," Landers said. "As I get more familiar with the offensive scheme, I will only get better."<br /><br />As soon as Landers got going on Saturday, he would get leveled.<br /><br />A sack - no surprise, that - by A&M's Cedric Harris killed the first promising drive of Landers' night in Alabama. After starting 0-of-4, Landers had finally completed an underneath pass to junior Henry Tolbert that turned into a 15-yard gain.<br /><br />GSU didn't score, but Landers kept going. He kept getting hit, but he kept going.<br /><br />With 6:03 left in the game, Grambling State had used all of its timeouts. This was how this tough night would end, in real time - a slow wait.<br /><br />Somebody forgot to tell Landers.<br /><br />With 54 seconds left, he was still flinging it. GSU's first 0-2 start since 1996 - when former coach Eddie Robinson lost his initial three contests on the way to a 3-8 record - would have to wait. Landers hit Tolbert for a 25-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 21-9.<br /><br />But, too often, even when Landers could get a throw off, a very young receiving group again dropped it. GSU was also without its top target from last year's A&M game, as Moses Harris joined Eugene with a season-ending injury during Week 1.<br /><br />"It hasn't been roses for them. They've faced some challenges," said third-year Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, who had never before won against GSU - a streak that included the 2002 SWAC title game. "Grambling has enough guys on that team that are used to winning. One thing I know about winning, once you get that taste in your mouth, you don't roll over for anybody."<br /><br />So A&M kept coming.<br /><br />Sacks count against a team's rushing yardage on the official stat sheet, so it's no surprise that the Tigers ended up with a staggering minus-two yards in the first half. Junior Ab Kuaan's first-down yardage was leaking out with each defensive play on his quarterback.<br /><br />Yet, Landers was always out there under center when the whistle blew, lined up again and ready to go. He prides himself on that.<br /><br />"I lead by action," said Landers, The News-Star/Glenwood SportsCare Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at Carroll. "I've never been a very vocal person. So, I lead by what I do."<br /><br />A big, tough unit, GSU's offensive line was simply outnumbered by A&M's zone-blitz scheme. It often had seven hats on eight defenders.<br /><br />That's why Landers could have been confined to bed rest by a doctor and not spent as much time on his back. Adding insult to injury, Grambling State wore white - meaning those grass stains may never come out.<br /><br />But Spears takes solace in that flickering passion from his first-year signal-caller. You won't find many players still gunning for the end zone with under a minute left in an already-decided game.<br /><br />"He's very athletic, very versatile, with an outstanding arm," enthused the ever-upbeat Spears. "When the lights come on, he's a different kind of player. He has a flair as a leader. I think we are in good hands."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Saving the day has been child's play for Grambling freshmen<br /></strong></span><em>September 20, 2004 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />CINCINNATI- Remember when they used to make freshmen carry the older players' shoulder pads back in after practice?<br /><br />Now, they're carrying the team.<br /><br />Witness Grambling State's first win of the 2004 season. Quarterback Brandon Landers hands off to Landry Carter, who runs it in from four yards in the third quarter on Saturday against Bethune-Cookman, GSU's first points on the day.<br /><br />Defensive end Jason Banks also notches two sacks for 14 yards in losses.<br /><br />Landers tosses a 46-yard scoring strike to Clyde Edwards to get GSU to within two points.<br /><br />Every one of the playmakers mentioned is a freshman. GSU would beat Bethune-Cookman 24-23 on Saturday in the Ohio Classic.<br /><br />"I couldn't ask for anything better," said Landers, a Carroll High product named offensive player of the year just last spring by The News-Star. The ... high school ... offensive player of the year.<br /><br />"To be on the Cincinnati Bengals field, being a young player," Landers marvelled from inside Paul Brown Stadium. "I've waited for this my whole life."<br /><br />His whole life. Landers was born on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 1985.<br /><br />But we've never seen anything like this before: Kid's stuff is now the stuff of legend. Landers has led GSU to 32 fourth-quarter points in three games.<br /><br />"Leaders," Landers mused, and he couldn't be more right, "are born."<br /><br />Born in the second Reagan administration.<br /><br />And not just Brandon Landers, who replaced All-American Bruce Eugene after the senior suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of 2004.<br /><br />First-year Georgia running back Danny Ware exploded for three scores against Georgia Southern. Tennessee's Brent Schaeffer became the first true freshman to start an SEC opener since 1945. A youngster named Darius Walker might have turned Notre Dame's season around with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a second-week win over Michigan.<br /><br />Landers' first start was somewhat less glamorous. But playing through it made him a better quarterback in Cincinnati.<br /><br />"They were sending six or seven people at me last week (against Alabama A&M)," said Landers. "So (interim GSU) Coach (Melvin) Spears told me that we were going to the shotgun (against BCC), and that I should be patient and stay with it. He put the ball in my hands."<br /><br />That Alabama A&M nightmare included just 11 completions on 40 tries. GSU didn't convert a single third-down - putting freshman punter Tim Manuel just one punt away from the school record for attempts in a game.<br /><br />"Bouncing back from a performance like that," said Eugene, "is all about character."<br /><br />Alabama A&M was credited with a five sacks, but Landers was hurried and pushed around all night.<br /><br />"He's taken so many licks," said offensive coordinator Sammy White. "To keep getting up, that says a lot about him."<br /><br />Landers would flourish Saturday in the shotgun, a scheme that made all the more sense when senior center Lance Wright left the game with an injury.<br /><br />"What we were trying to do was to take some of the pressure off of Brandon," said Spears. "When you get down a couple of touchdowns, you've got to keep passing. But we wanted to give him a better opportunity. At halftime, we told him: `It's your show. Show us what you've got.' "<br /><br />But just in case the freshmen get too comfortable, however, note that Landers' first collegiate win came with some veteran help.<br /><br />Junior Henry Tolbert made a key scoring grab to narrow BCC's lead to two points in the third quarter. And Eugene attended Saturday's game, encouraging the team during warmups and helping out with playcalling upstairs with running backs coach Vyron Brown.<br /><br />"We're going to keep him around," Spears said of Eugene, laughing. "He'll basically be our cheerleader - and he'll also help us with Brandon."<br /><br />Saturday's game was Eugene's first since undergoing knee surgery a week ago on Thursday.<br /><br />"I can help him, because I've been there," said Eugene, who was given wide latitude last season to audible from the line based on what he saw on the field. "That hands-on experience will make a difference."<br /><br />A Landers scramble for a quick 53 yards seemed to loosen up this offense in the third quarter. The team's biggest second-half adjustment had to do with confidence.<br /><br />"Those are the intangibles that Brandon brings to the table," said Spears. "He had great poise. In the end, he looked like Bruce Eugene back there - and that's a good comparison."<br /><br />The move into the booth will also ensure that Eugene can stay for the entirety of the game, without enduring whatever pain comes from standing on the sidelines. Eugene, who moved around on crutches, is applying for another year of eligibility on a medical waiver.<br /><br />"Everything is progressing very well for Bruce," said Spears, who is also taking a more prominent role in the offense, after concentrating on the defense early in the season. "As he heals, we'd like to give him an opportunity to look at the game from a different perspective. Hopefully, when he gets back, he will have a better understanding - and be a better player."<br /><br />You could criticize GSU's hard-headed focus on making Landers pass. After all, he had attempted 62 throws in five quarters of play before arriving in Cincinnati. But whether they ran or he threw, there was going to be a learning curve.<br /><br />"When you lose your trigger guy, it makes you a little stagnated - until you get the new trigger guy in place and working," said Spears. "I knew you would start seeing an outstanding quarterback soon - one who happens to be a freshman - in Brandon Landers."<br /><br />NICK DERISO, named columnist of the year this summer by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, is sports editor at The News-Star, 411 N. Fourth St., Monroe, 71201. Contact him at (318) 362-0233 or at nderiso@thenewsstar.com.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Landers' stellar freshman season may not yield sophomore one<br /></strong></span><em>December 14, 2004</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Another week brings another freshman of the year honor for Carroll High product Brandon Landers. Yet, he still doesn't know whether he will get to start again next season at Grambling State.<br /><br />Landers, who was honored Saturday night by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, took over when senior GSU quarterback Bruce Eugene went down in the third quarter of the 2004 season opener. Landers was also named freshman of the year by the Southwestern Athletic Conference.<br /><br />"It never ran across my mind to win both awards," said Landers, who broke the school's single-season passing yards record for a freshman - set by Doug Williams in 1974. "You always set goals for a season - you know, once I got the starting job, I decided I wanted to win. But awards like this are a great feeling. I didn't even think I was going to play."<br /><br />GSU defender Kenneth Pettway and place-kicker Brian Morgan, both seniors, also received first-team All-Louisiana honors from the LSWA, while sophomore offensive tackle Andre' Bennett was given an honorable mention.<br /><br />The awards come as GSU awaits word on a medical exemption for Eugene. If the NCAA grants Eugene an extra year of eligibility, coaches have said Landers would be redshirted.<br /><br />"We talked with the NCAA, and it's still under review," said interim GSU coach Melvin Spears. "If Bruce comes back, Landers will redshirt. He will get an opportunity to watch more, and to learn. But if Bruce doesn't come back, then Landers will be the incumbent in camp."<br /><br />GSU signed LaMarque High product Larry Kerlegan out of Houston last season - who was ranked No. 11 nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks by Rivals.com - but grades kept him off the roster. Kerlegan is expected to be in camp this spring.<br /><br />"I talked to Bruce the other day, and he still doesn't know whether he will be back or not. We'll wait and see," said Landers, who posted a 6-4 mark as a starter while completing 132-of-316 passes for 2,283 yards, along with 18 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. "In the meantime, I know we're going to start back up in January. I am going to work on getting stronger, on my technique. Redshirting, if that happens, could make me better - just sitting back and watching and learning. I could get more of the experience I need."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">GSU's quarterbacks battle as friends<br /></span>Camp competition at Grambling is far from combative<br /></strong><em>August 17, 2005<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - There's a sure sign that Bruce Eugene is feeling it again.<br /><br />Grambling State's former All American quarterback is trash talking once more during the team's stretching exercises before practice.<br /><br />"This offense," Eugene was saying the other day, "has speed for sale."<br /><br />GSU coach Melvin Spears has consistently hedged on how that return impacts his depth chart. After all, Brandon Landers rocketed to conference freshman of the year honors once Eugene lost his senior season to a knee injury in the 2004.<br /><br />"Brandon did a wonderful job for us last year down the stretch," Spears said. "But when you talk about experience, Bruce Eugene knows the system. We will let the best guy play."<br /><br />Landers has a different answer.<br /><br />"I know what the situation is," he said. "Bruce is getting his old position back."<br /><br />Even so, the expected creative tension hasn't followed.<br /><br />In fact, these two remain friends. As they enter the practice field, one will say to the other: "Be perfect today."<br /><br />"That way," Landers said, "we know we are pushing each other to do better. At the same time, I am trying to learn from him."<br /><br />Eugene also says that competition hasn't gotten in the way of their relationship: "The whole thing of `let's be perfect' is that we are trying to make each other better. We get along just fine."<br /><br />Eugene still wears a knee brace - though Spears says that's simply as a precaution.<br /><br />"He's the only guy I've ever seen go through an ACL injury and not lose any flexibility," said Spears. "Bruce is better than he was before. First off, his rehab was extensive, but also he's a fast healer."<br /><br />Questions about the knee haven't trumped Eugene's past performances, which likely pushed Grambling to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Western division in more than one preseason poll so far.<br /><br />Grambling's career total offense leader with 10,172 yards, he was last seen as a junior in 2003 passing for 3,805 yards and 34 touchdowns. Eugene also ran for 412 yards - second most on the team - and another six touchdowns on the ground.<br /><br />That makes Eugene, despite the fact that he spent the last season earning his degree, the most productive returning quarterback in Division I-AA.<br /><br />Yet Landers never stopped working, even as a move to the No. 2 spot became clear.<br /><br />The Carroll product paid particular attention to his upper-body strength this offseason, focusing on bench pressing on an incline and lifting by shoulder shrug. The result has been a sharper release, and better ball speed.<br /><br />Spears, wary after an injury-marred 2004, said he won't consider redshirting Landers.<br /><br />"The nature of the beast is that you never know how the game goes, and how it may fall," said Spears, who lost Eugene in the third quarter of the season opener last year.<br /><br />Landers isn't interested either.<br /><br />"A quarterback who redshirted might relax," said Landers, who threw for almost 2,300 yards as a freshman. "It's a mind thing. I'm not thinking about next year. I'm thinking about right now. That will help me stay ready, as always."<br /><br />The No. 3 quarterback is a celebrated prep prospect, Larry Kerlegan of Houston's LaMarque High.<br /><br />"You always have to think in terms of two or three years down the road," said Spears. "You've got to be prepared. Bruce Eugene won't be back - one way or another. Those other guys have to be ready to play."<br /><br />Still, as even Landers admits, it's clear the team belongs to the likeable Eugene right now.<br /><br />Eugene has always been gregarious, knowledgeable and well regarded, even if he is only just now completely inhabiting the leadership role.<br /><br />"The kids really rally around Bruce," said GSU offensive line coach Carl Roberts. "He not only knows his own assignment, but also the linemen's assignment. He has that leadership quality."<br /><br />Eugene earned a lot of credibility when he led Grambling to the 2002 championship, after a season behind Randy Hymes - quarterback on those 2000-01 title teams.<br /><br />But Eugene gained real authority as a team captain when he wrestled down a more common nemesis: His weight.<br /><br />"I know within the circle of this team, they believe in me," Eugene said. "That's what I go on."<br /><br />Spears sent Eugene to the Duke University diet and fitness center over the summer, where he lost 25 pounds in just four weeks on a diet of 1,800 calories a day.<br /><br />Eugene was just getting started. He's now dropped more than 40 pounds.<br /><br />"In rehab, and while I'm lifting weights or walking, every time I get ready to eat something I shouldn't be eating, I think about the naysayers," said Eugene, who at one point ballooned up to a startling 308 pounds. "Everybody said I couldn't lose weight. Let them talk. I know in the end I will be standing on top."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">For Grambling State quarterback Brandon Landers ...</span><br />Waiting was the hardest part<br /></strong><em>March 15, 2006</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Brandon Landers was brought in to be the Next Big Thing at Grambling State.<br /><br />The Carroll High product expected to apprentice during the 2004 season behind record-smashing quarterback Bruce Eugene, then assume the spotlight.<br /><br />Something happened on the way to his debut.<br /><br />Eugene went down with a knee injury, and suddenly Landers - just months after playing Class 4A ball in high school - was under center.<br /><br />It took time and adjustment for both Landers and the staff, but he eventually claimed conference freshman of the year honors after leading a newly run-oriented GSU to a winning season.<br /><br />"My freshman year, they wanted give the ball to the veteran backs," Landers said. "Having guys like that, it took some pressure off of me."<br /><br />Landers then got his belated redshirt, gaining more valuable experience, when Eugene was given a medical exemption before the 2005 campaign.<br /><br />So, there's little drama in this: Landers is penciled in at starter as GSU's spring sessions get underway today.<br /><br />The plot thickens, however, when examining how Landers' return could affect the playbook.<br /><br />"We might put in a few wrinkles here or there to play up to Brandon's strengths," GSU coach Melvin Spears said. "But a year behind Bruce has given Brandon a much better grasp of the offense, both in terms of being able to make all the different adjustments and running the team more efficiently."<br /><br />Landers, always gritty and confidant, says the days of running the ball to mask immaturity are over. He's ready to fit into a passing system that has established itself as the Southwestern Athletic Conference's most dangerous and entertaining.<br /><br />"I don't know about any changes (to the scheme); I hope they keep it the same so we can keep rolling," Landers said.<br /><br />Then, after some thought, he adds: "Playing behind a guy like Bruce, everyone will be expecting a whole lot of things. I'm just going to go out and play the game that I know how to play."<br /><br />Questions about the offensive focus can be forgiven, even by some of the players, after the way Landers' presence in 2004 so radically altered Grambling's look.<br /><br />His freshman campaign ended with redemptive win over Southern, but Landers had just 13 passing attempts on the day. (To put that into perspective, Eugene had as many tries by the first GSU possession of the second quarter in the 2005 Bayou Classic.)<br /><br />Ab "Killer" Kuuan was the tip of the sword in this reworked ground attack, averaging 131 rushing yards a game over the final month of the season. The last time he and Landers shared the field, Kuuan was receiving his Bayou Classic MVP trophy after running for 126 punishing yards against Southern.<br /><br />"That was my first question: Are we still going to have the same offense? Or are we going to run it?" said senior Henry Tolbert, who just set a new school record for receiving touchdowns in a season.<br /><br />"The coaches feel like it's on him," Tolbert said. "If Brandon can show this spring that he can run the offense the way Bruce did, everything will be the same."<br /><br />Spears said he has always known that Landers was physically gifted. He just felt Landers needed more time to adjust to the speed of decision-making in the college game.<br /><br />He got that chance when Eugene returned for a rare sixth season of eligibility - though the bench wasn't always a comfy spot for a competitor like Landers.<br /><br />"It was tough; that was my first time ever sitting out an entire season, but I learned a whole lot," said Landers, who earned offensive player of the year honors from The News-Star and Glenwood SportsCare in 2003.<br /><br />"I paid attention to the game, learning about what was called on the field," he said. "I knew my role. I did what was asked."<br /><br />In the end, Landers had a front-row seat as Eugene marched through the record books. A capstone came when Eugene smashed a 20-year-old Division I-AA mark for touchdown passes in a season during the SWAC championship win last December.<br /><br />Landers found that, in the end, he had made a friend.<br /><br />"We bonded together; we developed a really good friendship," Landers said. "I hope to be a leader and do the same things Bruce did. It was honor playing behind him."<br /><br />Landers also grew closer to Tolbert, sure to be one of his primary targets in `06, over the past two seasons. That chemistry translates off the field too, where the two are roommates.<br /><br />"I feel really good about Brandon taking over," Tolbert said. "I don't think I could feel any better about anybody. I was here when he first got here, so I've seen a lot of progress. Sitting behind Bruce was great for him. My expectations are really high coming in."<br /><br />Look for a strong push for starting time from second-year passer Larry Kerlegan, a celebrated former Texas recruit. Grambling was also still in the market for another quarterback signee as late as last weekend.<br /><br />But in the end, the stage is set. It's Landers' job to lose.<br /><br />"Brandon Landers showed a lot of maturity last year in the way he handled things," Spears said. "It allowed him to learn a lot from Bruce Eugene. What we will do this spring is polish that. We're eager to see what he learned from the whole process."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Landers lays down the law</strong><br /></span><strong>Grambling QB interned as local marshal this summer </strong><br /><em>August 7, 2006<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — When Grambling State holds its first fall practice this afternoon, quarterback Brandon Landers will be the new sheriff in town.<br /><br />Well, marshal, actually.<br /><br />The Carroll product, a criminal justice major, spent the summer interning with Ouachita Parish marshal Wince Highshaw Jr. — a stint that included serving warrants and working court security.<br /><br />Landers said that real-world experience uniquely prepared him to take over a leadership role as GSU quarterback.<br /><br />And to continue in that role in his impoverished neighborhood when football is over.<br /><br />"I'm the first person in my family to go to college," Landers said. "Doing something like this, going to school and working hard, it's a way to show younger people that success is not about drugs. I want to be a role model in the neighborhood."<br /><br />Landers — friends have already taken to calling him "Officer Landers" — is by far the most experienced returning quarterback at Grambling.<br /><br />Pushed into duty after an injury to the now-departed Bruce Eugene, a two-time Walter Payton Award finalist, Landers would eventually earn conference freshman of the year honors.<br /><br />He struggled with the assignment early on, but showed flashes of the talent that only months before helped lead Carroll to a second straight District 2-3A crown.<br /><br />Landers now stands 309 attempts, 131 completions and 17 touchdowns further along than sophomore Larry Kerlegan, GSU's backup when Eugene returned and Landers redshirted a year later.<br /><br />In fact, Kerlegan has just one college completion on seven attempts — a touchdown pass late in that blowout win over Concordia, an over-matched NAIA team. Presumptive No. 3 Desmond Brentley is a true freshman out of Pittsburgh's Perry High.<br /><br />Still, GSU coach Melvin Spears has stressed that this will be a competitive camp for Landers, with Kerlegan and Brentley getting their share of reps.<br /><br />"Our goal was to bring in enough competition so that we could make certain that Brandon doesn't get complacent," Spears said. "We've got a couple of guys who can do that. We want to be competitive everywhere, at every position."<br /><br />Later, Spears reiterates one of this off-season's early mantras: "Leadership has no seniority."<br /><br />A visibly more mature Landers welcomes the challenge.<br /><br />Time spent in local courtrooms, where he's gotten an up-close examination of how life can turn on a bad decision, along with a year behind Eugene helped reshape this flinty former high school star. Landers is focused, energetic, and a bit humbled.<br /><br />"Some people from my neighborhood have asked me, how can you be a police officer with where you come from?" Landers said. "I want to show them you can make it out. You don't have to do illegal things to get there."<br /><br />Landers was already something of a neighborhood hero, finishing his prep career with 2,302 yards and 16 touchdown passes to go with 48 career tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back for Carroll.<br /><br />His senior season in 2003 included a 300-yard, one-touchdown passing day against Ferriday. He also returned an interception for a touchdown that night, on the way to <I>News-Star</I>/Glenwood SportsCare player of the week honors. Landers' final prep game was a third-round playoff loss, but he passed for 204 yards and ran for a score.<br /><br />"He was able to run the football and pass it too," said Carroll coach Jesse Smith when Landers committed to Grambling. "He did everything we expected."<br /><br />That led to offensive player of the year recognition at the All-Northeast banquet — though Landers couldn't attend because he was also a crucial contributor on the Bulldogs' basketball team, which was playing that night.<br /><br />Recruiters, Landers said, came calling from ULM, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, Northwestern State and Texas A&M. But he chose to stay close to home, hoping to play one day for former Grambling coach Doug Williams.<br /><br />Landers figured to have some time to gather himself, since he arrived as Eugene entered what promised to be a heralded senior season. But in short order, Williams left for an executive job in the NFL — turning the reins over to Spears, his former offensive coordinator — and then Eugene blew out his knee in the season opener.<br /><br />"Brandon did an outstanding job in 2004 when Bruce went down," Spears said. "He has a great feel for the game when the lights come on."<br /><br />Still, the life lesson was clear: Be prepared.<br /><br />Landers started contemplating on a longer timeline.<br /><br />"You gotta think about life after football," he said. "The air might go out of the ball one day."<br /><br />Landers said Highshaw, a family friend, helped him get the internship — and it's been something that helped Landers frame everything that's important right now, not just football.<br /><br />"When I got into criminal justice, and found out the type of things that they do, I got really interested," Landers said. "Marshal Highshaw gave me the opportunity to get some hands-on training, and I've learned so much that will help me."<br /><br />Landers took the summer to get in shape, and not just physically. That's something that will bolster a maturation process his coach thinks is critical for Grambling's success on the field this year.<br /><br />"He's learned the system; he has the tangibles," Spears said of Landers. "It's just going to be a matter of how quickly he can show that on the field."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Landers handled it all on and off the field<br /></strong></span><em>September 4, 2006<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The context surrounding Grambling State quarterback Brandon Landers' numbers on Saturday makes them all the more impressive.<br /><br />While attempting to mediate an argument, Landers saw his brother murdered and his cousin critically wounded in his hometown of Monroe just two Fridays ago. Yet, he still threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns against Hampton at legendary Legion Field.<br /><br />"I tried to go on with my everyday life," said Landers, a former Carroll High standout. "I tried to stay close to my team and my coaches, really just to take my mind off of things. Coach kept telling me that everything happens for a reason. I just looked at is as motivation."<br /><br />Perhaps accordingly, Landers had his struggles, from a one-pass possession stopped on an interception to several attempts that badly overshot receivers.<br /><br />But in the end, he was efficient enough to put the team in position to win — even if it didn't work out that way — and he did a good job of distributing the ball, hitting four different receivers for touchdown passes.<br /><br />"He's had some ups and downs the week, certainly," GSU coach Melvin Spears said. "But he worked hard, and he executed for the most part. It's a whole lot for a young man to have on his shoulders. I'm ready proud of him."<br /><br />The funeral for Frank Landers, 18, of Monroe, is set for Tuesday, Brandon Landers said.<br /><br /><strong>Tallying it up: </strong>Hampton got big numbers courtesy of its big stars against Grambling, from NFL prospect Justin Durant — who led the team with eight tackles and 2½ for a loss — to running back Alonzo Coleman.<br /><br />Coleman, the MEAC's preseason offensive player of the year, amassed 78 yards on 12 carries, despite missing the latter part of the game to injury. Van Morgan took over and added another 83 yards on 14 carries.<br /><br />Princeton Shepherd left the game as well, but still passed for a team-best 120 yards, along with a touchdown. T.J. Mitchell spelled Shepherd and connected on 6-for-16 attempts for 89 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.<br /><br />Marquay McDaniels was stellar, with 113 yards and a score at wideout, 48 yards on punt returns, and 8 yards rushing on three tries.<br /><br />Shepherd (passing), Coleman (rushing), McDaniels (receiving) and Durant (tackles and sacks) were the team leaders last year, as well.<br /><br /><strong>Sweet home, Alabama: </strong>Six Grambling teammates played for linebackers coach Andre Robinson during a previous tenure at Birmingham's Parker High School.<br /><br />They include: linebackers Brandon Arnold and Josh Bester; center Tavarus Cockrell; wide receivers Reginald Jackson; Xavier Jackson and Henry Tolbert; and defensive lineman Donald Williams.<br /><br />Senior running back Ab Kuuan is also from nearby Sylacauga, Ala.<br /><br />They'll be headed right back this week, as Grambling returns for a rematch of last December's SWAC Championship Game against Alabama A&M.<br /><br />"We've got to come out and take care of A&M," said safety Bryan Langford. "We've got to be ready, even if it goes to overtime, to go the distance."<br /><br />Tolbert had four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown at Legion Field. Kuuan had 37 yards on 17 carries and a special-teams tackle.<br /><br />Bester had six tackles, including an assist for a loss; Williams had four, with one for a loss.<br /><br />Kuuan and Tolbert were pregame team captains, as well.<br /><br /><strong>Gave them five: </strong>Hampton and Grambling shared the Sheridan Broadcasting Network's black college national title in 2005. But the Pirates have owned Grambling as of late.<br /><br />GSU actually has a 57-25 overall record against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but it has fallen to 2-6 all time against Hampton — including five losses in a row.<br /><br />But GSU didn't go easy, fighting until the last play of the game as it went to overtime.<br /><br />"It's what you expected," Landers said. "It was a hard-fought battle to the end. Hopefully, we gave the people what they came out to see, two great teams trying to be victorious."<br /><br />You have to go all the way back to former GSU coach Eddie Robinson's 1994 team to find a win — and it was a squeaker, too: Grambling won 32-29.<br /><br />Spears has lost to HU three times, twice as a offensive coordinator in 1998-99 and then this year as head coach. GSU, under Doug Williams, lost by scores of 28-15 and 27-7.<br /><br />Grambling is now 2-2 on ESPN affiliates since 2003, beating Alabama State and Alabama A&M last year and falling to San Jose State in '03 and Hampton over the weekend.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Landers back as GSU's starting QB<br /></strong></span><em>October 11, 2006<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Three games into Grambling State's two-quarterback experiment, the race is a dead heat.<br /><br />Larry Kerlegan and Brandon Landers, both redshirt sophomores, have each shown the ability to take charge — and to take a leave of absence.<br /><br />Kerlegan was the dynamo at Houston, winning a weekly Southwestern Athletic Conference award while Landers posted negligible stats. The roles were reversed at Mississippi Valley State, where the opposing coaches clearly schemed to stop Kerlegan and Kerlegan alone.<br /><br />The two passers also shared duties, though they had more similar success, in a rout against Prairie View in between.<br /><br />"I think they are getting there," GSU coach Melvin Spears said. "We're still looking for a little more continuity."<br /><br />Landers will get the start this week against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as first reported at www. thenewsstar.com on Tuesday morning. But Spears said that Kerlegan will again spell him at quarterback.<br /><br />Situations, Spears said, will dictate who plays and when.<br /><br />"It's a studying process," he said, "and I think Brandon is a little further along. That's why he's getting a few more reps."<br /><br />Landers, who won SWAC freshman of the year honors while subbing for the injured Bruce Eugene at Grambling in 2004, has played with renewed vigor since Kerlegan hit the field. The competition seems to have emboldened both to work harder.<br /><br />Still, add in the bye week, and it's been a month since these two began splitting duties and the numbers still don't provide an easy answer as to who should start.<br /><br />The efficiency ratings are lopsided in Kerlegan's direction, with a 68 percent completion rate compared with 53 percent. But Landers has piled up nearly twice as much passing production. Through this week, he has 882 yards and nine passing touchdowns while Kerlegan has 418 yards and 4 scores.<br /><br />That means they'll continue to share time, Spears said.<br /><br />"We're not asking them to win the game, just to manage it and get the ball to our receivers and running backs," Spears said.<br /><br />Kerlegan got 285 of those passing yards against Houston, while Landers went 0-for-3. Landers then had 213 yards in the air last week at Valley, while Kerlegan had minus-2.<br /><br />In Dallas against Prairie View, they almost perfectly split 297 total passing yards, as Kerlegan sparked the offense with 172 yards.<br /><br />Again, no clear frontrunner.<br /><br />Kerlegan is the team's second-leading rusher with 180 yards, but Landers is the only one of the two with a score on the ground.<br /><br />And so it goes.<br /><br />"Larry Kerlegan throws the ball just as well," Spears said, "He just needs to continue to learn the system. Brandon can run too, though he's not as a fast as Kerlegan. They both have things we like. That's why we'll continue to use both."<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>AGENT OF CHANGE: Monroe's Landers settles in with new Grambling staff, playbook</strong><br /></span><em>August 5, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Brandon Landers, now a redshirt junior, has seen it all during his time at Grambling State.<br /><br />He's been the green freshman, unexpectedly inserted in 2004 when GSU's record-smashing passer Bruce Eugene blew out a knee.<br /><br />He's been the camp underdog, fighting to get that same job back, when Eugene returned.<br /><br />Once relied upon, in 2005 Landers was eventually redshirted.<br /><br />He's been the presumptive No. 1 himself, struggling in 2006 to fight off a flinty backup.<br /><br />Today, the Monroe native is, simply, the starter.<br /><br />"I always live by the idea of being ready for anything," said Landers, a criminal justice major and volunteer with the Marshal's Office. "Things will come at you. I am making the necessary adjustments, but I don't think of it as a difficult thing. Football is football."<br /><br />Landers' career has been the definition of things coming right at you. He is, in fact, the first quarterback to start consecutive seasons at Grambling since '04.<br /><br />Then coming off All-Northeast offensive player of the year honors at Carroll, Landers was recruited in 2003 by Doug Williams, played in 2004 and '06 under Melvin Spears and will finish his career under new Grambling coach Rod Broadway.<br /><br />"Brandon has something about him that you can't help but like," Broadway said. "He has shown some leadership skills. The guys have taken to him, and he's a nice guy to be around."<br /><br />The first transition was largely seamless, since Spears had run Williams' offensive for six seasons before succeeding him as head coach.<br /><br />Broadway, however, is installing a completely new look — one that will test both Landers' decision making and his ability to manage the playcalling in a variety of offensive situations.<br /><br />Landers, bolstered by the new coaches' confidence in him, remains steadfastly optimistic as he faces perhaps his most rigorous challenge yet.<br /><br />"We're excited about being back at it," Landers said. "We're bonding as a team, trying to get better. You can sense the change, and the excitement about the coaching staff. I feel a difference already in the team."<br /><br />Landers was productive last season, averaging 194.4 yards per game. A highpoint was his 350-yard passing performance at home against Jackson State, which earned Landers Southwestern Athletic Conference player of the week honors. He also passed for 17 scores, which ranked second in the league.<br /><br />The offense's troubles at closing out games contributed to Grambling's disastrous 3-8 record, but it still would finish with a SWAC-best average of 348.3 yards per game.<br /><br />New offensive coordinator James Spady loses six starters from that group, but can find some solace in the return of Landers and senior receiver Clyde Edwards, his favorite target.<br /><br />Both have been meeting three to four times a day, Landers said, as a new playbook has been installed. Gone is the flashy go-for-broke style associated with Spears' tenure.<br /><br />This offense will certainly take its shots, but it's more in keeping with the pro-style offense that Williams always favored.<br /><br />"It's different from last year, when we were wide open," Landers said. "This is more of a set-up type offense. We won't be stuck on the approach of just getting the big play."<br /><br />That puts Landers in a place he's never been, having been asked to pass upwards of 50 times in games against Alabama A&M (his first start) and Jackson State in 2004. Landers never stopped competing, and eventually rose to Southwestern Athletic Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association freshman of the year honors.<br /><br />He finished with a school-record 2,283 passing yards, besting a freshman mark that had stood since Williams's debut in 1974 under Eddie Robinson.<br /><br />A highlight of that initial campaign came during the season-ending Bayou Classic when, in a style that could become familiar under Broadway, Landers attempted fewer than 20 passes as GSU slowly suffocated Southern.<br /><br />"We're not asking him to win the game for us," Broadway said. "We want him to learn how to manage a game. Once he understands that, along with his continued growth as a player, he should be in pretty good shape — because if you have a triggerman, on all levels of football, then you have a chance to compete."<br /><br />Landers, matured in a crucible of change, is taking it all in stride.<br /><br />"I like the new look," Landers said, though he bristles at any suggestion that this offense might lack the implicit danger of GSU's old attack. "If you sleep on us, we'll hit you big."<br /><br /><strong>BEHIND BRANDON </strong><br />Senior Larry Kerlegan, an athlete of uncommon playmaking ability, is listed as the backup on Grambling State's fall depth chart.<br /><br />Over seven games last season, Kerlegan passed for 633 yards and seven scores, while running for another 215 yards to rank second on the team in rushing. That led to a move by the staff to work Kerlegan into the wideout rotation.<br /><br />"He plays the way you want kids to play, and that's fast," first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "We're going to use him in a variety of offensive situations."<br /><br />Sophomore Al Hawkins, the former minor-league baseball player, is the only other quarterback on the roster. He didn't attempt a pass in the Black and Gold game.<br /><br />"The guys who were backups in the spring will have to step up in the fall and get better," Broadway said. "They'll have to perform well or get out of the way for some of the freshmen we're going to give a chance to play."<br /><br />Grambling's remaining quarterbacks from the 2006 roster included Desmond Brentley, who has apparently transferred; and Zak Latif, who's now listed at tight end. --Nick Deriso, <a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Academics could sideline Grambling's senior quarterback</strong></span><br /><em>July 26, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Monroe product Brandon Landers, a three-year letterman at Grambling State, will likely miss next season over an academic issue.<br /><br />"I'm trying to see what I can do," the quarterback said. "I didn't get the grade I needed (in a history class), so it's up in the air right now if I will even play."<br /><br />Landers, a fifth-year senior after redshirting in 2005 at Grambling, most recently posted career highs for completions, yards and touchdowns in the inaugural season under GSU coach Rod Broadway. That helped the Tigers advance to their fifth Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game since 2000, before falling to Jackson State last December.<br /><br />Landers' absence opens the door to a spirited competition at the position just weeks before the year's much-anticipated opening kick. Grambling was again picked to win the SWAC's Western crown in preseason polling at the league's media day.<br /><br />Greg Dillon, a 6-0, 200-pound sophomore, is listed as Landers' backup in the 2008 season prospectus. The academic status of Larry Kerlegan, the No. 2 Grambling passer in 2005-07, is also unclear.<br /><br />GSU signed three prep athletes with quarterbacking experience, including Rayville product Justin Higgins. The 6-2, 185-pounder passed for more than 6,000 yards, rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 60 touchdowns in high school.<br /><br />El Paso, Texas, product Brendon Crawford (2,207 passing yards and 20 scores as a senior) and South Boston, Va., product Rodale Pippen (who split time at wideout, recording nearly 5,000 yards of total offense last year) were announced in GSU's most recent signing day.<br /><br />The most intriguing option might be J.P. Tillman, a redshirt freshman transfer from the University of Missouri who has been participating during informal summer 7-on-7 drills at Grambling. The 6-3, 250-pound prospect was a three-sport high school athlete, and ranked No. 22 in the nation among dual-threat quarterbacks by Rivals.com as a senior.<br /><br />Landers said it was unclear if an appeal could be made on his behalf. He is pursuing a degree in criminal justice.<br /><br />"They are trying to do all they can do," Landers said. "I hope to know more by Tuesday (when Grambling football players report for fall practice sessions)."<br /><br />Grambling coaches were unavailable for comment on Friday afternoon. The team opens this season Aug. 30 in Reno at the University of Nevada.<br /><br />Landers, who was named prep offensive player of the year by The News-Star after his senior season at Carroll High in 2003, ranks third all-time among Grambling passers with 7,024. He needs 1,388 to pass Doug Williams for second place.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Final narrative for Grambling's Landers hasn't been written<br /></strong></span><em>August 1, 2008<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Brandon Landers' time at Grambling, as impressive as it is statistically, will always be one of lost promise. But his narrative is far from finished.<br /><br />Landers initially signed as a prep quarterback with Doug Williams, only to see his would-be mentor leave for an NFL job. Then he was pushed too early, and with too little instruction, into the starting position as a true freshman in 2004 when Bruce Eugene went down. Then pushed back into a redshirt, and largely ignored, a season later when Eugene returned. Then pushed around as a redshirt sophomore in 2006, having belatedly retaken the starting position without ever having been properly prepared for it.<br /><br />He remained erratic, able to gut out terrific wins (Bethune-Cookman in Cincinnati, Bayou Classic XXXI) on the one-hand but still subject to deflating breakdowns (memorable OT losses to Alabama A&M and Hampton, last year's Southwestern Athletic Conference title match).<br /><br />Landers finally caught a decent break with the hiring of yet another new staff before his junior season. He was on his third head coach, but seemed to finally connect.<br /><br />That's when the interior of his line fell apart. Landers withstood the kind of blows that would bring down buildings, and occasionally fell into old habits.<br /><br />Grambling ended up one win shy of a championship. But Landers had become a vastly improved passer, a stronger locker room presence and, most importantly, an emerging leader off the field: He planned a successful offseason mentoring camp, volunteered as a marshal at the courthouse.<br /><br />"He wants to become an inspiration for kids in this area by becoming a mentor," said Esther Gallow, who has done so much important outreach work in the economically depressed Booker T. community that Landers was raised in. "He's saying, even if I don't go pro, I still want to show young people that they can get out of the neighborhood, get a college education and do something great with their lives."<br /><br />Sports fans don't like to hear it, but that's the important stuff.<br /><br />Just like that, though, and just 1,400 yards shy of Doug Williams' No. 2 all-time passing marks at Grambling, Landers came up short on a summer course — and a football career that never reached its full potential is apparently over.<br /><br />Yet what Landers accomplished, despite so much adversity (both the crushing poverty of his childhood environment and then at GSU), shouldn't be defined in total by the number of Bayou Classics or SWAC titles won or lost.<br /><br />Landers is one credit away from doing something more notable than winning that last game on the gridiron. He has dreams of becoming a law enforcement officer, and then a community leader of enduring substance — and that's more urgently needed than another shiny item for the program's trophy case.<br /><br />When he does all of that, and I think he will, football will perhaps finally be put in perspective as just one part of Brandon Landers' still-evolving story.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-65983766984367620532008-09-25T20:22:00.002-05:002009-01-12T23:09:05.385-06:00Continuing coverage of the Robinson Museum efforts<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Time (finally) to mark calendars on long-delayed Robinson Museum project </span></strong><br /><em>August 18, 2008</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Key dates for the long-delayed Eddie Robinson Museum are being talked about in terms of months, instead of years.<br /><br />For a project now nearly a decade in the making, that's a remarkable achievement in itself.<br /><br />"We're hoping to have a groundbreaking some time in the fall, and we'll get the ball rolling," said Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, whose office would oversee the project. "We're making great progress."<br /><br />At Grambling State from 1941-97, Robinson retired as the winningest football coach in college history with 408 wins — leading the Tigers to 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles over the years. He passed away in April 2007 at age 88, as the state moved to approve a plan to house a museum in his honor in the former women's gym on the Grambling campus.<br /><br />Over the intervening year, the museum began to build a belated head of steam.<br /><br />Organizers are now hailing the opening of bids on the long-delayed project, which are being accepted through Sept. 11 through the state's Office of Facility Planning and Control. A pre-bid conference is slated for Thursday at the former women's gym on the GSU campus.<br /><br />"The time frame from there goes like this: six weeks to award the bid to the contractor and then a start date is set — and then construction begins," Robinson Museum board chairman John Belton said. "I think the end of October looks good for that date."<br /><br />Belton, a governor-appointed board member since the project's inception, adds: "God is good."<br /><br />The bidding follows quick approval by the Louisiana Bond Commission of $1.3 million — $300,000 in cash and a $1 million line of credit — to be used for renovating exhibit space in the women's gym and hiring an exhibit designer.<br /><br />Those were the first state funds ever specifically earmarked for the effort.<br /><br />"We are on our way," local museum fundraiser and Robinson family friend Wilbert Ellis enthused. "I'm tickled to death."<br /><br />This project was first proposed nearly a decade ago in 1999 — two years after Robinson's retirement at Grambling and several before the onset of the Alzheimer's-related symptoms that ultimately led to his death.<br /><br />But a series of setbacks followed, including budget cuts and a since-resolved argument over where the museum would be located.<br /><br />"You know it's often very difficult to get in line for capital outlay projects," Dardenne admitted.<br /><br />Robinson's passing spurred renewed interest in the concept.<br /><br />"It has taken off," said Eddie Robinson Jr., the coach's only son and a former player and assistant under his father.<br /><br />"That's so great for the family. It's an inspiration to all of us. We're all so very happy about that."<br /><br />The Secretary of State's office has also been consistent in its support for a proposed Robinson Museum.<br /><br />"I had just been elected right before he died and had already been committed to try and move that project along," Dardenne said, "because I was very interested in it, personally. And I think the combination of those two events helped kick start it to get to the point where we're now going to have it as a reality in the next year or so."<br /><br />Word came last week that a groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at the proposed museum site. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Dardenne and other state and local officials are scheduled to attend, said Ray Higgins, museum curator.<br /><br />Higgins recently reviewed the state's extensive collection of Robinson-related material, including a priceless briefcase containing materials from the coach's final season at Grambling.<br /><br />That's part of a months-long project he's undertaking to collect and catalogue items for inclusion in the exhibit space — yet another tangible sign the museum, though it's taken a while to get here, is no longer a faraway point on the horizon.<br /><br />"We've had Coach with us that whole time," Ellis said. "I think he's working right along with us on this. I feel Coach's hand in all of it."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Organizers praised for ushering long-delayed Robinson Museum forward</strong><br /></span><em>August 29, 2008</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Members of the Eddie Robinson Museum Commission are hailing the opening of bids on their long-delayed project.<br /><br />They met on Thursday for the first time in a location dedicated to the museum, the former women's gymnasium on the Grambling State University campus where Robinson coached for nearly 60 years.<br /><br />"A long time coming," marveled John Belton, a governor-appointment board member since the project's 1999 inception. "We're almost there."<br /><br />After the commission met, prospective contractors then toured the facility, used more recently as university office space and for practice by GSU cheer groups, as part of a pre-bid question-and-answer session.<br /><br />Bids will be taken beginning Sept. 11 to underwrite a retrofit of the gym and a sweeping plan — on display during the meeting — to showcase Robinson through memorabilia and interactive exhibits.<br /><br />"You should all be very proud of your tenacity," said Cliff Deal, coordinator of museums with the Louisiana Secretary of State's office, which will oversee the project. "Your energy got it where it is today. Your desire and your hope got us here — no other reason."<br /><br />A museum in Robinson's honor was first approved by the Louisiana Legislature nine years ago, just after Robinson's retirement from a career that ended with a Division I record of 408 career football victories. But a series of disagreements over where the exhibits would be housed slowed the project to a near standstill until more recently.<br /><br />Robinson died in April 2007 from complications related to Alzheimer's at age 88, and that too gave an emotional charge to the efforts. The museum received its first state funding earlier in the year, and has now begun setting projected dates for groundbreaking and opening ceremonies.<br /><br />"It's a terrific feeling," said Eddie Robinson Jr., who played for and coached with his father. "The hay is almost in the barn."<br /><br />Deal was joined by Sailor Jackson of the Louisiana State Archives, who helped set an agenda for the coming months. The museum, for instance, still has to work out a loan agreement for memorabilia with the Robinson family.<br /><br />"This is not the end; it's just the beginning," Jackson said. "Next, we'll open bids, then we're on a fast track. We're talking mid-October when hammers start swinging."<br /><br />Exhibit designer Jules Babineaux outlined his plans for the space, which include a special exhibit for former players called "Tigers in the Pros," an interactive database, a large bronze statue of Robinson and a re-creation of his office.<br /><br />"We're trying to make it like the man was, bigger than life," said Babineaux, of Exhibits Etc.<br /><br />Organizers hope to hold a groundbreaking on the weekend of Grambling's first home football game this season, and open the doors on the weekend it returns to play at Robinson Stadium in 2009.<br /><br />The museum would include free admission, Deal said. "Our interest is in celebrating the memory of Coach," he said, "and to let everyone who can enjoy it."<br /><br />Former Grambling coach and athletic administrator Wilbert Ellis, a family friend and principal local fundraiser for the museum effort, praised a number of major donors — including the Dallas alumni chapter and the Shack Harris-Doug Williams Foundation.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Eddie Rob Museum groundbreaking gets emotional</strong></span><br /><em>September 21, 2008</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — A groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Eddie Robinson Museum, nearly a decade in the making, moved many to tears.<br /><br />"Coach used to say: 'Nobody can outwork me, if God gives me the strength,'" said former Grambling State University baseball coach and athletic administrator Wilbert Ellis. "And God gave him the strength. He gave us that strength, too."<br /><br />Ellis was one of a handful of locals who worked tirelessly toward this goal of honoring Robinson, who died in 2007 at age 88 after setting a still-standing Division I mark for college football victories.<br /><br />They gathered Saturday to unveil plans for the exhibit space, to be housed at the former women's basketball gymnasium on the Grambling State campus where Robinson coached for most of six decades.<br /><br />But a largely ceremonial moment took on a deeper emotion after so many years of struggle.<br /><br />"It's a great day, an unbelievable day," Eddie Robinson Jr. said, smiling even as he cried. "We are so blessed as a family."<br /><br />Recent dental work limited comments from Doris Robinson, the former GSU coach's widow. But she was in great spirits, presenting the state's renovation plans and then — after donning a hardhat affixed with the familiar Grambling "G" logo — turning over the initial mounds of dirt with a golden shovel.<br /><br />As many as a half a dozen people were dabbing tears by then.<br /><br />Robinson's legend, established over a career that spanned 1941-97, still holds that kind of startling power. Grambling President Horace Judson on Saturday called his school "the house that Eddie Robinson built," to widespread applause.<br /><br />But plans to honor him with a museum, first mentioned in 1999, hit a series of roadblocks involving funding, arguments over location, then shifting commission dynamics.<br /><br />That changed over the last few years as a rejuvenated board — helmed by John Belton, a governor-appointed member, with help from former Robinson assistant coach Doug Porter — began to pick up key support from Louisiana officials.<br /><br />Robinson's passing, after years of battling complications related to Alzheimer's, gave the efforts a final push.<br /><br />In a matter of months, the University of Louisiana System, which oversees Grambling, worked out a deal to house the exhibits on campus. The Louisiana Legislature then funded the museum for the first time since its inception.<br /><br />Throughout the long journey, the Secretary of State's Office — through the administrations of Fox McKeithen, Al Ater and now Jay Dardenne — has remained a strong advocate.<br /><br />"I appreciate the work that has gone on for the past 10 years," Dardenne said. "Their sweat and tears made this possible."<br /><br />Choudrant businessman James Davison, a longtime family friend of the Robinsons, was one of several in attendance wearing specially made shirts inscribed with the motto: "Coach Rob — we kept the faith."<br /><br />Like many, he paused several times during his remarks to compose himself.<br /><br />"This is a collective achievement, a historic occasion," Belton said. "Many asked: Will it ever happen? The answer is yes, and praise God for it."<br /><br />He specifically mentioned others besides Robinson who had not lived to see this belated ceremony, including original board chair Lottie Green; former Grambling professor David Lewis; and McKeithen, an early advocate.<br /><br />A surprise guest was former state Sen. Randy Ewing — who in 1999 introduced Senate Bill No. 919, which created the Robinson Museum commission.<br /><br />"We come here to honor Coach Robinson, but also his wife," Ewing said, gesturing to Robinson's partner of 64 years. "That was a winning team, too."<br /><br />Familiar faces from Grambling lore dotted the audience, including NBA Hall of Famer Willis Reed.<br /><br />"I am proud to have gone to a university where such a great man coached," Reed said.<br /><br />Respected school architects were represented by Mary Hobdy, widow of Reed's former basketball coach Fred Hobdy and secretary to the school's second president, R.W.E. Jones; along with Ophelia Nicholson, widow of the school's renowned former sports information director, Collie J. Nicholson.<br /><br />Several ex-players were in attendance, including Albert Dennis III and Eddie Scott, who has formed an alumni group called Eddie Robinson's Boys.<br /><br />Grambling Mayor Martha Andrus ruminated on the emotional reunion of so many faces from the area's storied past.<br /><br />"History is born again today, as we break ground for this museum," she said. "We are humble, fortunate and oh-so-very proud to see this come to fruition."<br /><br />State Sen. Bob Kostelka (R-Monroe) and state Rep. Rick Gallot (D-Ruston) both spoke as part of the official program, as well.<br /><br />"How sweet it is," Gallot said, "that this day has finally come."<br /><br />Other officials on hand included Ruston mayor Dan Hollingsworth, University of Louisiana System president Randy Moffett, District Attorney Bob Levy and Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau president Kyle Edmiston.<br /><br />The Rev. Julius R. Sumler, pastor at Grambling's New Rocky Valley Baptist — Robinson was a member there — gave the invocation: "We thank you, Lord, for a dream that you wouldn't allow to die."<br /><br />Grambling's Tiger Marching Band performed, both before and after the ceremony — playing Bill Wither's classic soul favorite "Lovely Day" as the program got under way and then the school's alma mater and fight song to conclude the event.<br /><br />"I'm pleased to be a part of history," Ellis said, as more tears welled up again. "This is a day I will always remember. I can see Coach now — and he's smiling."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-86313851853816881022008-09-12T20:18:00.006-05:002009-01-14T00:38:45.166-06:00Remembering: Grambling's first game at Northwestern State<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Historic first meeting between Grambling, Northwestern was defensive slugfest<br /></strong></span><em>September 11, 2008</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />The stands, that night, were separated by color.<br /><br />Fans sporting black and gold filled one set of bleachers, while purple and white populated the other.<br /><br />But there was something else that divided them, as Grambling played its first-ever game against Northwestern State on Sept. 14, 1974.<br /><br />"What was unique was not just the color of the shirts; you had all white people on one side and all black on the other," said Jack Brittain, an NSU special teams player in '74. "That was not something I was used to seeing. It was a different point of view."<br /><br />The newly expanded State Fair Stadium — now Shreveport's Independence Stadium — was packed to the lid, as 30,000 fans joined together despite their differences for a night of stirring football action.<br /><br />"We knew it was big, especially playing a school of different race from Louisiana," said Sammy White, then a junior wingback for the historically black Grambling college. "We knew the level of competition would be a step up for our program, and we wanted to give it everything we had to pull it out."<br /><br />At the time, the late legendary GSU sports information director Collie J. Nicholson said this "could become a regular series for the two clubs."<br /><br />But the Tigers wouldn't play another Southland Conference-affiliated program until falling to Arkansas State in the 1985 lower-division playoffs. Grambling, despite more recent efforts going back at least five seasons, hasn't played Northwestern since.<br /><br />That changes Saturday at GSU travels to Natchitoches for a long-awaited Louisiana rivalry game that's stirred powerful memories of their first meeting more than 30 years back.<br /><br />"It was actually a barrier breaker, as far as those things go," said Brittain, now Northwestern's sideline reporter. "As a freshman, it was my first football game, so my knees were shaking before we went out for the kickoff. Then, we were facing Grambling, who had such a great reputation for sending players to the professional leagues. We figured it was going to be an epic battle."<br /><br />Was it ever.<br /><br />'TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT'<br /><br />Senior Grambling quarterback Joe Comeaux, a Westlake native, opened the scoring with a four-yard TD scramble. He'd hit Dwight Scales on a 43-yard pass to the NSU 7 on the second play from scrimmage.<br /><br />Rodney Zeno, a senior GSU defensive back, added the extra point, but the 7-0 lead wouldn't stand for long.<br /><br />A White fumble on the Grambling 13 gave the ball back to Northwestern's Butch Ballard, who answered with his lone touchdown pass of the night — hitting Gene Knecht on an eight-yard strike.<br /><br />That followed a series of stuffs on off-tackle runs by Mario Cage, who couldn't get past Grambling seniors Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and Robert Barber.<br /><br />In a harbinger of kicking problems to come, NSU's extra-point attempt then failed.<br /><br />NSU's Cage — coming off a 1,000-yard, all-Gulf South season in 1973 — then made a dramatic second-quarter touchdown run on a pitch back from Ballard. (There are lingering discrepancies on the exact length of his run: Monroe's Morning World had it at 57 yards, The Times of Shreveport reported 61 and NSU's yearbook said 52.) Danny Foret's point-after attempt was true this time, giving Northwestern a 13-7 lead at the half.<br /><br />Neither team, however, could gather itself for a knock out on offense. It was all body blows.<br /><br />"That game," said White, "was tight, tight, tight."<br /><br />Nicholson once marveled over NSU's 1974 defense, saying "they make up for a lack of size with speed, aggressiveness and a desire to hit."<br /><br />Grambling's unit, meanwhile, featured James "Hound" Hunter as a secondary anchor along with the All-American Johnson, who late Grambling coaching legend Eddie Robinson had taken to calling "the best lineman in college football."<br /><br />Both teams would punt seven times over the course of the contest, with Grambling earning just four first downs and outgaining NSU by a total of only 74 yards. Northwestern fumbled seven times, losing three — while picking off GSU a total of four stunning times.<br /><br />"I was deep protection on the punts," Brittain said, laughing, "and we punted a lot. I just remember 'Big Hands' running past our center, right behind the snap as it was coming back. He would come in low, about one foot off the ground. All I could do is dive at his shoelaces. He would just shove me to the ground and trample right over me."<br /><br />Grambling returned to the field after halftime with a new quarterback, and Shreveport sophomore Terry Brown reeled off a dramatic 82-yard pass to White.<br /><br />"They were blitzing us a lot, so we had a one-on-one match up," said White, now an assistant coach at Grambling. "Terry threw a nice long ball on that one."<br /><br />Zeno's kick gave the Tigers their final margin of victory, 14-13.<br /><br />But not before a memorable NSU field goal attempt, blocked by Hunter, as time expired.<br /><br />Hunter's playmaking through that junior season had already drawn raves from Robinson, who called the Texan "Mr. Clutch." A canny pass defender and zippy returner, Hunter was "generally spoken of with a reverence reserved exclusively for legendary Saturday heroes," the late Nicholson once said.<br /><br />That legend was built on plays like the final one against Northwestern State.<br /><br />NSU got the ball back after an interception by linebacker Dan Boddie, who dashed back to the Grambling 34 with 4:03 left in the game. Ballard then drove down to the GSU 3 as time grew short, setting up a 20-yard attempt by Foret. Demons coach George Doherty, in a gutsy move, had ordered the try on third down with just 39 seconds remaining.<br /><br />Hunter got a finger on it, as perhaps did Johnson, and the attempt missed.<br /><br />'WAY BEYOND FOOTBALL'<br /><br />Cage, who went down to injury during that final push, rushed for 97 yards — though much of that was given back in the final team stats because of lost yardage by other players.<br /><br />Ballard finished the day 11-of-16 for just 88 yards and a score for NSU. Comeaux and Brown, meanwhile, combined for a 7-of-21 performance — a lack of efficiency under center that eventually led to the now-famous insertion of a redshirt freshman named Doug Williams three games later against Prairie View A&M.<br /><br />"We had our opportunities," Williams said. "We scored 14 points, but we were still largely ineffective. It wasn't one of those good old Grambling offensive days. You could give some of that to Northwestern, too. They had a good team."<br /><br />Doherty, entering his last season in Natchitoches after winning the Gulf South in 1972, had brought A.L. Williams in as offensive coordinator — and installed his new assistant's more pass-oriented offense in anticipation of handing over the reigns.<br /><br />NSU, which had already dropped its second straight game in 1974, was in the midst of consecutive 1-10 campaigns. Williams would coach at Northwestern for eight seasons, boasting ranked teams in 1980 and '82 when his teams finished 8-3 and 7-4 respectively.<br /><br />Williams went on to pass for 1,150 yards (nearly 400 more yards than Comeaux and Brown combined) over the remainder of the 1974 season. Grambling finished 11-1, claiming the ninth of 17 total Southwestern Athletic Conference championships under Robinson. (Williams later returned to coach at his alma mater, and played host to the first Southland foe ever at Grambling's Robinson Stadium — McNeese State in 2003.)<br /><br />Grambling's lone '74 stumble was a 19-14 loss to Alcorn, and they shared the SWAC crown. Robinson would finish the season at 236 career wins on the way to 408 total, a still-standing Division I record.<br /><br />The Northwestern victory, thrilling in its playing and encouraging in its social significance, holds a special place among them.<br /><br />"The perspective of this game is way beyond the football field," Brittain said. "In our lives, both at Grambling and at Northwestern, it had a big effect. What a great time to try something like that, to break through some of those unknowns."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-28461480794794541122008-08-06T20:58:00.002-05:002009-01-14T01:01:10.377-06:00Q&A with SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>SWAC Q&A: First-year commissioner Duer Sharp talks league's future</strong></span><br /><em>July 22, 2008<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />As the Southwestern Athletic Conference holds football media day, we check in with first-year commissioner Duer Sharp. A former interim athletic director at Grambling, Sharp previously served as the SWAC's assistant commissioner and had a previous tenure in the Big Ten Conference. He replaced Robert Vowels in January:<br /><br />Question: Any surprises so far?<br /><br />Answer: Coming from the Big Ten to the SWAC, you see that we have a long way to go. You are in here early, and you work late. But we feel like we've made a lot of advances. It took some time, but we're partnered with corporate sponsors now like Russell and State Farm. If we continue to work with member institutions as a team, and the conference office stays ahead of the curve, we can continue to have a voice.<br /><br />Question: One of the more significant moves during your first months in office involved scrapping the old nine-game mandate for football.<br /><br />Answer: The schools were saying: 'We need a seven-game conference schedule.' In the past, there was an issue of finding those additional games. There was a need then. Now, the schools are asking for relief. More and more, non-conference programs want to play SWAC schools, and this allows them to schedule more of those type games. We're still fine-tuning for the long term, but I think it's a good thing.<br /><br />Question: Do you credit the improved play of programs that have more recently struggled — like, say, Prairie View?<br /><br />Answer: People looked at SWAC football and thought it wasn't where it used to be. I don't think people say that anymore. We have gotten better and better. You can't take any weeks off in the SWAC anymore. We are starting to catch up with other conferences.<br /><br />Question: The SWAC, meanwhile, continues to struggle for respect in basketball. What's the solution?<br /><br />Answer: I think the way you have a higher profile is to schedule better non-conference opponents.<br /><br />Question: By that, you mean more competitive opponents?<br /><br />Answer: Right now, we are caught with our revenue being based on non-conference schedules. It's tough when you are at Memphis, at Illinois. You're not going to come out of there with a very good record. To me, this is what the SWAC needs to do to compete: Schedule more mid-majors. That will strengthen the conference's RPI. I'm looking for a way to attack this. Everyone should be included in that conversation.<br /><br />Question: You followed Robert Vowels from the Big Ten in 2004. Did you ever consider succeeding him atop the SWAC so quickly?<br /><br />Answer: You come into here to assist Robert with his vision, and to help out the member institutions. In the beginning, I came here because Robert gave me a call. He said, 'I need some help with the structure of the conference.' Over the years, we were able to do that.<br /><br />Queston: The nationally televised MEAC/SWAC Challenge was an early success.<br /><br />Answer: If you would ask anybody who has been to or played in that game, it's a like a bowl atmosphere — on the field and from all the different ancillary events associated with the day. SWAC football and MEAC football don't get a lot of chances to play in front of 90 million people. It's a chance to showcase what our conference is about to the nation.<br /><br />Queston: The league's championship football game — held outdoors in Birmingham each December — has traditionally struggled with attendance. Does a domed-stadium initiative there provide some hope for a long-term solution?<br /><br />Answer: The first thing to look at is this: On game day, look outside. We were fortunate that it was sunny last year; it was warm. That's the difference between getting 43,000 fans and 23,000. When you put the dome in the equation, that takes weather out of the equation. Hopefully, from an attendance standpoint, we can all benefit.<br /><br />Queston: Over the years, there have been bids from cities like Shreveport and Houston to lure away the SWAC offices. What is the league's future in Alabama?<br /><br />Answer: We enjoy Birmingham. We have a great relationship with the people and companies here. We're here until 2011; that's our agreement and we are planning on remaining here. I give credit to all of those cities, but it will be hard for any city to come in here and provide a better deal. Until that becomes reality, we will be here.<br /><br />Queston: Big picture, what are your goals as commissioner of the SWAC?<br /><br />Answer: I just want to continue to enhance the experience of the SWAC student athlete and the fan. That's our main goal. You want people to leave our member institutions saying: 'I had a great time competing and learning.' We want fans to come to our events and say: 'We had a great time.' I think we've already left our footprint on the SWAC, Robert and I. We've come a million miles. But we've got a million miles to go.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-66444471540132654032008-07-21T18:55:00.007-05:002009-01-13T08:35:12.382-06:00Grambling greats: College Hall of Famer Doug Porter<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>College Hall of Fame beckons Grambling resident Douglas Porter<br /></strong></span><em>May 7, 2008<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Grambling resident Douglas Porter, who had a five-decade long career in coaching and athletic administration, will be inducted into the College Hall of Fame.<br /><br />The National Football Foundation is expected to announce the 2008 class today. Porter appeared on the lower-classification ballot.<br /><br />A former assistant at Grambling State under Eddie Robinson, Porter was a head coach at former Division I-AA programs Mississippi Valley (from 1961-65) and Howard University (from 1974-78) and finally at Division II Fort Valley State (from 1979-94). He was a longtime administrator at Fort Valley, as well.<br /><br />Porter’s helped establish a Valley program that had not had a winning season in five years before his first in 1963, and has only matched his three in a row (through 1965) two other times — once in the 1950s, and another under Archie Cooley beginning in 1983. His .550 winning percentage has only been bested once among MVSU coaches who stayed five or more years.<br /><br />He then coached for nine seasons under Robinson, running an offense that featured future Pro Football Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner and quarterbacks James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams, later a Super Bowl MVP.<br /><br />Every Grambling senior was drafted by the NFL in 1969. In 1971, 43 GSU players were in pro football camps.<br /><br />“Even when I got to Fort Valley, the lead story was always that I was formerly an assistant under Coach Eddie Robinson,” Porter said recently. “That’s what they would start with. That gave you credibility, the fact that you had worked with Coach Rob.”<br /><br />Porter, who won 61 percent of the games he coached, was 30-21-2 in five seasons at Howard — part of a career record of 166 victories.<br /><br />At Fort Valley, a Division II program in Georgia, Porter won six conference championships and made two NCAA playoff appearances on his way to seven league coach of the year honors.<br /><br />Porter retired back to Grambling in 1997, where he became a trusted advisor to both former GSU coaches Doug Williams and Melvin Spears and current coach Rod Broadway. He has also been a steady presence in the efforts to establish a museum in Robinson’s honor.<br /><br />Porter has already been inducted into the Mississippi Valley State Hall of Fame.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">OUT OF THE SHADOWS: Legendary Grambling assistant built Hall of Fame resume as a head coach too</span></strong><br /><em>May 12, 2008</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Until this week, Douglas Porter was most often referred to as a former assistant under Grambling State’s mythical Eddie Robinson.<br /><br />Porter stood, without complaint, inside the dark outline of that coaching legend’s shadow — despite having assembled a terrific, if seldom decorated, career of his own.<br /><br />“That couldn’t have been easy with a person of his skill,” said James “Shack” Harris, Porter’s first quarterbacking protégé at GSU. “He was able to do it without ego, and to do it well.”<br /><br />Porter, in fact, had been a part of a larger storyline in shaping successful programs, even in the most trying of situations. He had won nearly 170 games during a trio of head coaching stints at Mississippi Valley State, Howard and Fort Valley State — a resume built far from the red clay hills of Grambling.<br /><br />Recognition for those efforts came on Wednesday when Porter was announced as part of the College Hall of Fame’s 2008 divisional class for lower-classification coaches and players.<br /><br />“He has never been in the limelight,” said Doug Williams, who later received mentoring from Porter at Grambling as a redshirt freshman passer. “This is one time when he gets his 15 minutes. He deserves it.”<br /><br />Nothing could stop Porter’s Hall of Fame journey: Not the crushing disparities found at rural black schools like Mississippi Valley State and Grambling, the benign neglect rampant even at metropolitan institutions like Howard, the forgotten backwaters of Division II ball at Fort Valley, or even a shocking moment when his body betrayed him.<br /><br /><strong>BUILDING A FOUNDATION<br /></strong>Porter, so happy to be taking over a program, didn’t ask too many questions upon assuming his first head coaching job at Valley.<br /><br />Once he got to Itta Bena, though, the gravity of the situation became apparent.<br /><br />“Hadn’t beaten Jackson, hadn’t beaten Alcorn — in ages,” Porter said, sizing up Mississippi Valley State’s performance against key league foes. “Two years before, Grambling had beaten us 93 to nothing.”<br /><br />He set about building a foundation of pride. That would require more than scoring 94 points on a Saturday afternoon.<br /><br />“It took us a couple of years,” Porter said. “We played a lot of freshmen, played a lot of young people. But then, it began to pay off for us.”<br /><br />Though Valley had not had a winning season in five years before Porter’s first in 1963, he reeled off three in a row through 1965 — something that has only been matched in Itta Bena on two other occasions.<br /><br />Grambling, it’s no surprise, was a measuring stick. That time when Robinson’s squad had nearly hung a Benjamin on the Delta Devils stuck with Porter.<br /><br />He finally began to gain on Valley’s cross-conference rivals and, in the process, to earn Eddie Robinson’s respect.<br /><br />Porter had gotten blown out by Grambling during their first trio of meetings — and by a combined score of 149-12. But Porter was gaining, losing by an average of about two touchdowns over the last three games<br /><br />“We came down in 1965, we played in Grambling —- and we led at halftime,” Porter said. “We lost 34-20, but we had been ahead 14-7. That was a measure of where we had come. We had gotten to the point where we could play anybody on our schedule. That was what I had hoped to do when I came there.”<br /><br />A year later, he was running Robinson’s offense.<br /><br />Porter said the chance to work alongside an American legend at Grambling — and to mentor future Louisiana Sports Hall of Famers like Harris and Frank Lewis — made what amounted to a demotion to offensive coordinator an attractive offer.<br /><br />“He was very effective in a variety of situations,” Harris said. “He was someone who really knew the game. Coach Porter was a leader in his own right. You respected him.”<br /><br />Grambling won six SWAC titles in the eight years Porter served under Robinson — three of them with Harris, who compiled a 31-9-1 record at Grambling.<br /><br />That period of profound success, however, was leavened by the emerging reality that Robinson was becoming professionally and personally entwined in Grambling.<br />This relationship, already nearly 35 seasons old, was set for life.<br /><br />Porter would have to move on in order to get an opportunity to run a program. After considering an offer from Florida A&M, he left in 1974 for the Washington, D.C.-based historically black college program Howard.<br /><br />“I wanted to be a head coach,” he said. “I saw that, after a few years here, there was not going to be a chance for that.<br /><br />“Change,” Porter added, laughing now, “wasn’t coming.”<br /><br />Porter and Robinson, in fact, both would work for another 24 seasons, but while Porter moved from Howard to Fort Valley in coaching and administrative positions, his old boss never left the helm at GSU.<br /><br /><strong>UPS AND DOWNS</strong><br />Porter said he soon learned that the administration at Howard didn’t have the same commitment to athletics that he had become used to at Grambling under Robinson and then-president R.W.E. Jones.<br /><br />Porter would finish with a winning record, but he’s always been left with the sense that he could have done better than his 30-21-2 mark over five seasons in D.C.<br /><br />“I thought at that time that the best move for me and my future in football was Howard,” Porter said. “It didn’t turn out to be that way.”<br /><br />Just over the horizon, however, was Fort Valley, where Porter would coach — save for one year — from 1979-97, and serve as athletics director from 1981-97.<br /><br />“In all things that I have been involved with — people might think this is a little sanctimonious — I felt that the Lord has a way of directing you to go certain places and do certain things,” Porter said. “I was glad to get out of that situation.”<br /><br />The then-current athletics director at Fort Valley was one of Porter’s college coaches. The school president had a child who attended Grambling during Porter’s tenure there.<br /><br />And middle Georgia residents, like those in rural north Louisiana, boast a deep-seated love affair with football.<br /><br />“There weren’t the same resources they had at Grambling, but the commitment to support the program was just as great,” Porter said.<br /><br />He’d capture seven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships between 1980-92, including four in a row from 1982-85.<br /><br />“It definitely didn’t surprise me that he was able to leave and do well,” said Harris, now a top front-office executive in the NFL. “Some people are destined for success; he was one of those kinds of people.”<br /><br />Five years after taking over, Fort Valley was winning its league title with both the offensive and defensive players of the year.<br /><br />But Porter, after so long on the sidelines, was beginning to fray. An in-season heart attack during his seventh campaign at Fort Valley sent him into spiraling introspection.<br /><br /><strong>'A GREAT FOOTBALL MIND'</strong><br />Fort Valley has begun that impressive string of championships in the 1980s running an offense that bore little resemblance to the attack associated with Robinson’s Grambling teams.<br /><br />Recruiting into a Division II program had something to do with it.<br /><br />“I didn’t have the offensive linemen that it would take to run the Wing T,” Porter said. “You need guys who have a lot of athletic ability to be successful. It was easier for us to find kids we could teach to pass block and drive block.”<br /><br />By ‘85, Fort Valley had developed a powerful defense to match that offensive power, too, leading the lower classification in several categories. Opponents were often held under a touchdown, and to minus-yards rushing.<br /><br />But these low-scoring matches — coupled with newly founded, Grambling-like expectations of winning — took their toll, creating a pressure-cooker environment.<br />Fort Valley, ranked No. 2, came into a game against No. 1 Central State and fell 14-7.<br /><br />A coach known for his easy-going nature — in fact, some at Fort Valley had once criticized him for not being emotional enough — was taking all of this personally.<br />Too personally.<br /><br />“It was a hard, hard loss,” Porter said. “We were going into our last two games with just one loss. To maintain that puts you under a tremendous amount of pressure that you don’t really realize.”<br /><br />He ended up flat on his back in a hospital room, with doctors trying to get his heart fixed.<br /><br />Porter kept asking about the scores, tried to keep his head in the game.<br /><br />But the doctors recommended a year off.<br /><br />The time away refocused Porter on what was important. He still loved football, but in a different way. He learned to let things go.<br /><br />“At the end of that, I was in the best shape I have been in, other than when I was in the Army,” Porter said. “But I wanted to coach. Coaching is all I have ever really wanted to do.”<br /><br />He would win more titles at Fort Valley, would serve as chairman of the Division II Football Committee and as president of the National Athletic Steering Committee and, after retiring, would play a key advisory role in smoothing the transition for Robinson successor Doug Williams at Grambling.<br /><br />“Fort Valley was a good fit for me,” Porter said. “We found that they had a strong group of followers, and they had established a good winning tradition. As with Grambling, I was happy to be a part of that.”<br /><br />Even if it always seemed to come second on his resume. Until Wednesday, when the College Hall of Fame called.<br /><br />“It’s one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed,” said Williams, himself a 2001 inductee. “Nobody deserves to be rewarded more than Coach Porter.”<br /><br />Porter attended the Hall of Fame ceremonies honoring Williams seven years ago, and Williams will join a burgeoning list of former students who will return the favor this summer. Porter said several Fort Valley players are organizing a group trip to South Bend, as well.<br /><br />“Most people don’t know how special a coach he is,” said Harris, a Monroe native. “He coached at small schools, and that sometime means you get overlooked, but he did an outstanding job with those programs. He’s well deserving. What a great football mind.”<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">For Grambling’s Porter, Hall of Fame career was about the kids</span></strong><br /><em>July 19, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />For Doug Porter, today will be the capstone on a career spent working with young people.<br /><br />Of course, the new College Football Hall of Famer won some games along the way, too.<br /><br />But that was never the point for Porter, a Grambling resident.<br /><br />"To be able to touch young people," Porter said, "to get them to believe in something, that always meant so much."<br /><br />The 79-year old earned membership in the College Hall’s 2008 divisional class after a 42-year career, which included 26 seasons as head coach at three small colleges. Porter also served eight seasons as an offensive coach during the legendary tenure of Grambling’s Eddie Robinson, and was athletics director at Fort Valley from 1981-97.<br /><br />"He was a top football mind, someone who really knew the game," said one of Grambling’s passers at the time, James "Shack" Harris —- now a general manager with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. "Coach Porter is a leader in his right."<br /><br />The National Football Foundation considers players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for induction in the College Hall of Fame’s divisional classes.<br /><br />Porter is joined in 2008 by W.C. Gorden, who coached at Grambling’s conference foe Jackson State from 1976-91.<br /><br />Four players are also to be inducted in ceremonies held today at South Bend, Ill.: Quarterback Jim Ballard (Mount Union, 1991-93); linebacker Ronald McKinnon (North Alabama, 1992-95), defensive end John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville, 1988-89) and halfback Brad Rowland (McMurry College, 1947-50).<br /><br />Porter, who won 61 percent of the games he coached, recorded 166 career victories —- the bulk of them at Fort Valley.<br /><br />There, Porter earned seven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships between 1980-92, including four consecutive crowns from 1982-85. He advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals in 1983 — when his team boasted the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year in Kelvin Parker and Taqwan Taylor, respectively — and to the quarterfinals in ‘85.<br /><br />"I have as much respect for Coach Porter as any one I have been around," said Harris, a Monroe native who later played for the NFL’s Bills, Rams and Chargers. "As good a coach as he was, he always played his role in shadows. That couldn’t have been easy for a person of his skill."<br /><br />Even working at that tiny Georgia Division II program, Porter coached three future NFL Draft picks, including first-rounder Tyrone Poole and Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Lloyd. (He also mentored some Grambling’s top quarterbacks in Harris, Matthew Reed and then Doug Williams, the future Super Bowl MVP.)<br /><br />"Coach Porter is a special coach in that he would always tell you the honest truth, about football and about life," Harris said. "It sounds simple, but it’s rare. So often a coach will tell you what you want to hear. When you get a chance to work with people like Coach Porter, you become a better person yourself."<br /><br />Named SIAC coach of the year seven times, Porter earned a lifetime achievement award from the All-American Football Foundation in 1998 and induction in the Mississippi Valley State Hall of Fame in 2006.<br /><br />"The recognition is overwhelming," Porter said. "But the most important thing to me was to affect the lives of young people. That was satisfying."<br /><br /><strong>COACH DOUG PORTER<br /></strong>Born: Aug. 15, 1929 in Memphis<br />Personal: Lives in Grambling, with wife Jean<br />Head coaching career: Mississippi Valley State (1961-65), Howard (1974-78), Fort Valley State (1979-85, 1987-96); also served as an offensive assistant at Grambling (1966-73) under Eddie Robinson, and has been a key advisor to each of his successors.<br />Career record: 166-107-5, only five losing seasons out of 26<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A SHARED EXPERIENCE: Grambling's duo of Dougs — Porter and Williams — boasts Hall of Fame friendship</span></strong><br /><em>July 20, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />A familiar face could be found among the crowd.<br /><br /><br />Doug Porter was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, with former player and protégé Doug Williams in attendance.<br /><br />The roles had been reversed in 2001, when Williams was named to the hall's divisional class as a player. Seven years later, Porter was recognized in South Bend, Ill., for head coaching work at a trio of lower classification programs.<br /><br />Porter also served from 1966-73 as an offensive assistant during the career of Grambling State's Eddie Robinson.<br /><br />There, he met Doug Williams, then a young quarterback. Later, after retirement, Porter returned to become a key mentor when Williams succeeded Robinson as head coach at Grambling.<br /><br />"It was big for me when Coach Porter showed up for my induction," Williams said. "When I found out that he was going in, I thought that was one of the greatest things. I got a chance to repay Coach by being there for him."<br /><br />Porter won 61 percent of the games he coached, recording 166 career victories at former Division I-AA programs Mississippi Valley State (1961-65) and Howard (1974-78), then at Division II Fort Valley State (1979-97). He also served as athletics director at Fort Valley from 1981-97.<br /><br />He might have won more still, had Williams followed Porter to Howard.<br /><br />Williams certainly wanted to, back then.<br /><br />"He was frustrated as a red shirt," Porter said. "He was running the scout team, but he felt he was better. He wasn't playing."<br /><br />Porter, then as now a wise and fair man, knew the steep coaching climb ahead at Howard. But he wasn't willing to pluck Williams out of a more favorable situation.<br /><br />"It wasn't in Doug's best interest to come," Porter said. "He wouldn't have been surrounded with the kind of people he had with Eddie: He wouldn't have had Dwight Scales; he wouldn't have had Sammy White — and those people were big contributors to his success. Had Williams come to us, he would have been a great quarterback, but throwing it to a group of receivers who made a lot of drops. That wouldn't have helped him."<br /><br />Williams would win a pair of league championships under Robinson, success that launched him into the race for the Heisman Trophy. Williams then became a first-round NFL draft pick, and eventually earned Super Bowl MVP honors in 1988.<br /><br />A lasting relationship, built as much on trust as on gridiron concepts, was forged.<br /><br />Fate brought them back together in 1997, when Porter returned to Grambling upon retirement. Williams was in the midst of launching the difficult post-Robinson era — something nearly unthinkable after his stirring 57-season tenure — and Porter's guiding hand again played a key role Williams' success.<br /><br />"It was Doug Porter who helped me though the whole transition," Williams said. "He wasn't looking for publicity for what he did. It wasn't hard for me to see that I needed Doug Porter close by me."<br /><br />Long after retirement, Porter — the son of a coach, Memphis prep legend W.P. Porter — still possessed a keen passion for football.<br /><br />"We'd sit down every day after practice and I would tell him what I felt," Porter said. "He was very amenable, though sometimes we would disagree. I could accept that, because it was his football team. The only thing I wanted to do was help him be successful."<br /><br />He was: Williams, with Porter on the sidelines in an advisory role, would win a trio of Southwestern Athletic Conference titles in 2000-02, and was one game away from the championship match in both 1999 and 2003.<br /><br />They now boast another bond, another shared memory in a lifetime filled with them.<br /><br />"He had such an impact on my life," Williams said. "He had a lot to do with the success that I had. In my life, Coach Porter has been a Hall of Famer for a long time."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-27982294848098133732008-06-21T19:14:00.003-05:002009-01-14T00:38:45.167-06:00The time that Gruden came to Grambling<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Gruden in Grambling: Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach tours GSU campus<br /></strong></span><em>June 2, 2008 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — It gave Jon Gruden pause.<br /><br />The Super Bowl-winning coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stood for a long moment, looking around the practice fields adjacent to Robinson Stadium, taking it all in.<br /><br />"Did (the late GSU) Coach (Eddie) Robinson coach right here?" Gruden said, quietly. "This is sacred ground."<br /><br />In northern Louisiana for today's third annual Doug Williams-Shack Harris benefit celebrity golf tournament, Gruden had asked the former Grambling State quarterbacking greats to give him a tour of their former school.<br /><br />That included a raucous trip to the campus bookstore — where, once word of his visit began to spread by cellular phone and text messaging, Gruden quickly attracted dozens of picture-and autograph-seeking locals.<br /><br />He even removed one of his now-familiar visors, and replaced it with a new Grambling hat — which Gruden wore during the rest of the visit.<br /><br />"Unbelievable players, unbelievable tradition," Gruden said. "I've been wanting to come here my whole life, really."<br /><br />Williams, who, along with Harris, represents an important cornerstone in that legacy, works with Gruden as an executive in charge of personnel for the Buccaneers — the NFL franchise that selected him as a first-rounder out of Grambling in 1978.<br /><br />Gruden was a ballboy for the club back then.<br /><br />"For me, it's almost unexplainable," a beaming Williams said. "This is something Gruden really wanted to do. It says a lot that he would take time out. He could have come in and just played in the golf tournament, but he wanted to make sure he got a chance to come to Grambling. He thinks that much of this place."<br /><br />Gruden looked every bit the GSU fan after filling a bag full of Grambling-themed items at the bookstore, quickly totaling more than $150 in sales. He bought a T-shirt with Robinson's likeness, a golf shirt with the Grambling logo, and several hats — which he then had signed by Eddie Robinson Jr., son of the late coaching legend.<br /><br />"The number of Hall of Famers who came out of here," Gruden said to Robinson Jr. "I admired your dad so much. I've got so much respect for everything that happened here."<br /><br />Gruden also asked about the planned museum in Robinson's honor, which will be housed in the former women's gymnasium on the Grambling campus.<br /><br />"It's a milestone," Robinson Jr. said, moments before the assembled group began snapping pictures of him with Gruden. "Imagine that: He's on Grambling soil. What a great thing."<br /><br />Gruden, personable and gracious throughout the nearly hour-long visit, would eventually take scores of photographs with the growing crowd.<br /><br />GSU students Chea Hudgins and Kara Burke took one set of shots, found that some didn't come out just right, then returned for another round of photos. Gruden happily obliged, then signed several autographs, as well.<br /><br />Later, a tour through the campus included stops at Robinson Stadium and the former site of Memorial Stadium — where Williams and Harris, a Monroe native, starred as quarterbacks for Robinson in 1960s and '70s.<br /><br />"It's exciting," Gruden said. "You're looking at the stadium where all the magic happened."<br /><br />They also paused for a moment Robinson's modest brick home on Adams Street in Grambling.<br /><br />Gruden said he wanted to make this pilgrimage last year, when he served as de facto emcee during the Shreveport-based golf tournament reception, but couldn't fit the trip into his schedule.<br /><br />He came a day early this time, piling into a van with Harris, Williams and several others — including former Tampa Bay tight end Jimmy Giles — and traveling to Lincoln Parish from Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. They played a round of golf at nearby Squire Creek before heading to Grambling.<br /><br />"He made sure he had a chance to do it this year," Williams said. "I think that speaks volumes about the kind of guy he is — and the respect that he has for Grambling and its players. He absolutely loves all of this."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-60665743520718435202008-05-28T09:22:00.007-05:002009-01-14T00:53:42.624-06:00Recruiting: South side of Monroe has been a Grambling talent pipeline<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling's great provider</strong></span><br />South side of Monroe has been talent pipeline<br /><em>February 6, 2006<br /></em><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - James Harris grew up right around the corner from Sammy White.<br /><br />Who lived down the way from Lane Howell. Who lived near a street that would eventually produce a flinty talent named Brandon Landers.<br /><br />Who shares a zip code with Desmond Lenard.<br /><br />The south side of Monroe sent them all to Grambling State, in an unbroken storyline that continued through last week's National Signing Day.<br /><br />"I grew up in that neighborhood," said Sammy White, a Richwood product who played and now coaches at GSU as offensive coordinator. "It gives me great joy to see where these guys progress and how they move along."<br /><br />In 1965, a Carroll High product was quarterback at Grambling. Forty years later, Landers is likely to follow Harris into the role.<br /><br />White was a star wingback for former GSU coach Eddie Robinson - after winning both football and basketball titles at Richwood in the early 1970s. Lenard, Carroll's wingback last season, committed to Grambling after earning All-Northeast honors as a kick returner.<br /><br />Derrick Wilhite, a 2006 signee out of Wossman, contributes to a legacy that includes ex-Wildcats assistant Lee Fobbs, a former player under Robinson, and current defensive back Bakari Guice.<br /><br />"There's no question that the south side of Monroe has added to that Grambling mystique," said GSU coach Melvin Spears. "From the Howells to James Harris to Goldie Sellers and on down to Brandon Landers - our freshman sensation in '04."<br /><br />Landers shot to conference freshman of the year honors in relief of injured quarterback Bruce Eugene, then redshirted last year when Eugene returned for a final season of eligibility.<br /><br />"I think this is a good place for finding highly skilled athletes - and that's true at many inner-city schools," said Carroll coach Jesse Smith Sr., who is also a Grambling product.<br /><br />"There is a lot of talent in this area. I think that through the years, we've proven that."<br /><br />Carroll's connection to GSU goes deeper than the head coach.<br /><br />Back in 2001, current Bulldogs assistant Levi Washington Jr. led all receivers in yards as Grambling won the second of three straight SWAC titles. The team uses an offense patterned on GSU's, as well.<br /><br />So, it's perhaps no surprise that Carroll split end Jesse Smith Jr. joined Lenard in signing with Grambling last week - along with teammates Derrick Johnson and Xavier Lee, both of whom play linebacker.<br /><br />In the end, though, all three of the southside schools - notably Richwood and, more recently, Wossman - have been an important thread through the tapestry of Grambling's football legacy.<br /><br />"It's great coming from that tradition," said Landers. "I'd like to have that same impact - not only as a player, but as an individual."<br /><br />Harris, perhaps the south side's most legendary product, led Grambling to 31-9-1 record between 1965-68, winning a conference title every single year. He was voted the team's most valuable player his final two seasons.<br /><br />But Landers reminds, Harris' most important contribution came after he left Grambling.<br /><br />Harris would become the first black athlete to be drafted as a quarterback. His NFL career - which included stops in Buffalo, Los Angeles and San Diego - was capped by an MVP performance in the 1974 Pro Bowl.<br /><br />Harris later moved into even more rarified air, working in the front offices of Baltimore and currently Jacksonville as one of the NFL's highest ranking black executives.<br /><br />Smith said Grambling provided a platform in that journey, and for the scores of southside youths who followed him.<br /><br />"Anytime you've got a kid who goes on and does well, that's an example that you can stir these kids with," said Smith. "It makes them understand that you can dream and it can happen."<br /><br />Carroll's Lane Howell, a two-way lineman for Robinson, was the first of three brothers to star at Grambling, beginning in 1960. Michael, a cornerback nicknamed "Trackdown," followed two seasons later. Delles, another defensive back, would arrive seven seasons later - but by then the family had moved to California.<br /><br />Grambling won its first Southwestern Athletic Conference title with Lane up front, establishing a 23-5-2 mark between 1960-62. Michael's 1964 squad went 9-3, winning the Sugar Cup over Bishop before falling in the Orange Blossom Classic.<br /><br />One of Michael's teammates that season was cornerback Goldie "Spider" Sellers, a Winnsboro native who eventually moved to the south side and played for Richwood.<br /><br />In 2004, White joined Harris in the SWAC Hall of Fame, recognition for a career that included three conference championships and co-offensive player of the year honors in 1975 at Grambling.<br /><br />"It was passed down to me," said White, later an NFL rookie of the year at Minnesota. "James Harris and Delles took me to a Grambling basketball game when I was in junior high. I was always around it. There were other places I could have played, but this was the only place I was ever going."<br /><br />Quarterback Matthew Reed, born in Winnfield, would prove so dominant at Richwood that he once threw nine touchdowns in a single game. Later, he was named Grambling's MVP as a junior, then made All-America as a senior in the early 1970s.<br /><br />White grew up idolizing Amos Augustine and Charlie "Tank" Smith at Richwood, then played after them at Grambling. Between 1968-71, former Carroll guard Solomon Freelon Jr. protected Harris, Reed and Frank Holmes.<br /><br />White says many of those greats called a neighborhood known as Bryant's Addition home. He still scouts for talent there, giving another generation the Grambling road map out of one of the area's most impoverished communities.<br /><br />"The thing about it is, we thought we were pretty good - and these guys could be that too," said White. "It's all about hard work."<br /><br />Landers, for his part, says he can't account for the staggering impact such a small geographic area has had on Grambling. But, when he's home, he sees the next group working to get there.<br /><br />"If you ride around, you see little kids out playing in empty lots and at the rec centers - and that's year-round," said Landers. "They're playing everything too, just like we did. Football, basketball, baseball. With small schools, you've got guys going both ways, playing all sports. That makes you better. Who knows? One of those kids could follow me someday."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-43942323249352449922008-05-27T12:26:00.007-05:002009-01-12T22:54:29.071-06:00The time that the Robinson Museum was (finally) funded<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>State considers $1.3M for Robinson Museum</strong><br /></span>Long-delayed project, first proposed 8 years ago, in line to receive funding for first time<br /><em>May 17, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Earlier this month, the long-delayed <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/eddie-robinson-museum-project.html">Eddie Robinson Museum</a></strong> project found a home.<br /><br />Today, supporters hope it will receive funding.<br /><br />The state's Bond Commission will consider a $1.3 million line of credit, money to be used for renovating exhibit space on campus and hiring an exhibit designer.<br /><br />"The other day was a big one, when we got the building," said local fundraiser and Robinson family friend Wilbert Ellis, "but this will be even greater because we will have the funds to do all the things we've dreamed of."<br /><br />At Grambling from 1941-97, Robinson retired as the winningest football coach in college history with 408 wins — leading the Tigers to 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles over the years. He passed away on April 3 at age 88, sparking renewed interest across the nation in this project.<br /><br />The museum was first proposed eight years ago — two years after Robinson's retirement at Grambling and several before the onset of the Alzheimer's-related symptoms.<br /><br />One of the points of contention for years was where the museum would be located, though that was resolved when Grambling and its oversight board agreed to transfer the school's former women's gymnasium for exhibit space.<br /><br />More consistent has been the issue of funding.<br /><br />A temporary exhibit of Robinson-related items opened in the lobby of the GSU Stadium Support Facility in June 2005. But Hurricane Katrina's devastation drew away whatever resources might have come from the state to build on that momentum.<br /><br />The Robinson Museum, organizers say, has never been closer to becoming a reality.<br /><br />"What the $1.3 million will do for the museum," said governor-appointed commission chairman John Belton, "is allow us to hire an architect, commission the museum exihibit designer as well as a local contractors to renovate and design the building that will hopefully become one of the top museums in the state of Louisiana."<br /><br />The project's closest brush with funding had previously come as former Gov. Mike Foster prepared to leave office, when he approved a wide variety of favored projects. His final state budget for fiscal year 2004 included $5.5 million dollars earmarked for the Grambling facility.<br /><br />But the Robinson museum was part of nearly $700 million in projects slashed by his successor, Kathleen Blanco, in an effort at budget balancing.<br /><br />Renovation costs for the gym — Robinson coached basketball there early in his career — have been estimated at $3 million to $4 million. An additional $2 million, Ellis said, would likely be required to complete the space — money that will need to come from outsider donors.<br /><br />The museum will be a part of the Department of State Museums Program, administered by the secretary of state.<br /><br />Jay Dardenne, the third person to serve in that role since the museum board was formed, took over in February — and quickly discovered that it could become the centerpiece for larger economic and tourism goals.<br /><br />"He's a true Louisiana legend, the benchmark for coaching," said Dardenne, who spoke at Robinson's local memorial. "There is such a broad base of respect for Eddie Robinson as some one who influenced young lives."<br /><br />The project was originally mentioned during the Louisiana Legislature's 1999 session, when then-Sen. Randy Ewing introduced Senate Bill No. 919. That bill, co-sponsored by the late Rep. Pinky Wilkerson of Grambling and several others, created the commission that has worked off and on since to develop a Robinson museum.<br /><br />"From '99 up until this point, we've come a long way," said Ellis, a longtime former Grambling baseball coach and athletics administrator. "We are making some progress. We are just going to keep taking it one step at a time until we get there. But we'll get there."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"></strong></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Robinson Museum, finally, gets more than a million in state funds</strong><br /></span><em>May 18, 2007<br /><br /></em><em></em>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />The long-delayed Eddie Robinson Museum is, all of a sudden, on a roll.<br /><br />Eight years after first being proposed, the project received quick approval on Thursday from the Bond Commission for state funding of $1.3 million.<br /><br />"It took less than five minutes," said local museum fundraiser and Robinson family friend Wilbert Ellis. "They made a motion, and it was done."<br /><br />Organizers sought the money for renovating exhibit space on campus and hiring an exhibit designer, said board-appointed museum board chairman John Belton.<br /><br />"In 12 to 18 months, we will be able to see one of the greatest museums in the state of Louisiana," Belton said. "I'm looking forward to that day."<br /><br />The commission voted unanimously to shift $300,000 from an administration project for repairs on state facilities to the museum project, transforming that allocation into available cash.<br /><br />Another $1 million was allocated as a non-cash line of credit, which means museum officials can make agreements to begin the project — which the state budget will then fund.<br /><br />State Treasurer John N. Kennedy, who chairs the Bond Commission, said: "We wanted to fast-track this. That's why we did it with lines of credit. They can move right along and get it done."<br /><br />The Thursday funding came less than a month after Grambling State's oversight board approved transfer of the former women's gymnasium for exhibit space on the Grambling State campus where Robinson coached for 57 years.<br /><br />At GSU from 1941-97, Robinson retired as the winningest football coach in college history with 408 wins — leading the Tigers to 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles over the years. He died on April 3 at age 88, sparking renewed interest across the nation in this project.<br /><br />"We've had Coach with us that whole time," Ellis said. "I think he's working right along with us on this. I feel Coach's hand in all of it."<br /><br />This museum was first proposed eight years ago — two years after Robinson's retirement at Grambling and several before the onset of the Alzheimer's-related symptoms that ultimately led to his death.<br /><br />But these are the first state funds ever specifically earmarked for it.<br /><br />"We are on our way," said an enthused Ellis, a former longtime GSU baseball coach and athletics administrator. "This is the booster shot we needed! I'm tickled to death."<br /><br />The museum will be a part of the Department of State Museums Program, administered by the secretary of state.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-26965155573684024012008-04-25T09:57:00.006-05:002009-01-13T08:29:00.557-06:00Grambling greats: Kenneth Pettway<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Pettway brings lightning to GSU defense</strong> </span><br /><em>October 29, 2003 </em><br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />The Grambling State defense calls itself the Black Front.<br /><br />"Coming to get you," junior Grambling State linebacker Kenneth Pettway says, with some menace. "Any time. Any day."<br /><br />Like most fronts, this gathering storm has lightning around its edges.<br /><br />Pettway was been that lightning - never more so than last week, as GSU's defense held Jackson State scoreless in the second half, securing a muddy 24-17 comeback win. He notched a team-leading 11 tackles - and 10 of them were solo.<br /><br />"He's like a gazelle - a long, lean gazelle," says Grambling State coach <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-doug-williams.html" target="_blank">Doug Williams.</a></strong> "He's all over the field."<br /><br />Pettway also had two crushing sacks - JSU's quarterback eventually had to leave the game - and one forced fumble.<br /><br />"We expect so much from him," says Tigers defensive coordinator Heishma Northern, "because he's so fast."<br /><br />Track star fast - but from a guy who is 6-4 and 240.<br /><br />In fact, Pettway was a four-sport performer at Gilmer High in Houston - earning letters in football, basketball, baseball and, yes, track - before signing with the University of Southern Arkansas. He holds the Gilmer school record in the discus.<br /><br />But since transferring to Grambling State, all he's been throwing around are opposing offensive starters.<br /><br />Pettway leads the Tigers this season in tackles, too - with 37 tackles and 14 assists in eight games. He's got four sacks in all.<br /><br />"I don't know whether he's ever going to be a team leader, because he's so quiet," Williams says. "But he has the ability to be a lot better football player - and to lead by example."<br /><br />Pettway started this off-season at defensive end, but moved to linebacker - where he has flourished in a system designed for tall and aggressive players.<br /><br />Grambling State's defense ranks No. 1 in the SWAC in defending the rush. The Tigers rank No. 3 overall on defense, behind only Southern and Alabama A&M.<br /><br />Much has been made of the play of the Tigers' linebacking corps this season, but Pettway acknowledges the role this GSU line has played in opening up opportunities.<br /><br />"The line is the key to our defensive success," Pettway says.<br /><br />Whether the linemen are occupying blockers or occasionally flooding inside to take their shots, it has worked to Pettway's advantage. He's fast enough to shoot gaps and headhunt quarterbacks - and tall enough to make a difference when he gets back into coverage.<br /><br />"They like playing behind those guys, because they know there will be a chance for some tipped balls," Northern says of the linebackers. "It all works hand-in-hand."<br /><br />Pettway has also come up with a few did-you-see-that? moments - like last week, when he literally leaped over the top of a Jackson State lineman who was trying a cut block. "Everybody was just sort of open-mouthed at the play that he made," Northern says.<br /><br />Williams agrees: "When a kid does something like that, you see what they've got to give. And you want to see that again and again."<br /><br />It's commonly acknowledged, even with the big season he's having, that Pettway can only get better: "He still has work to do on his thought process," Northern says, "on understanding that he can take over a game."<br /><br />Pettway talks more about technique. "I could still come up faster," he says. "I need to work on dropping back (into coverage)."<br /><br />His idol, while playing defensive end, was Tennessee Titans stalwart Jevon Kearse. But, even after switching to linebacker, Pettway continues to admire Kearse's rangy aggression and smart play.<br /><br />"I still look up to that man," Pettway says. "He's a beast in the league. I still feed off his moves. He keeps his head in the game."<br /><br />Pettway is part of a unit that has grown steadily as performers - and as teammates.<br /><br />"The way they watch film now is totally different," Northern says. "The way they communicate is totally different."<br /><br />Pettway says it look a few games for him to find his way at his new school. With so many younger players, the same could be said for Grambling State's defense, too.<br /><br />"We're starting to come together as a team," Pettway says. "Early in the season, we weren't as tight. But I see us jelling together now."<br /><br /><strong>Octavius is honored: </strong>Senior GSU cornerback Octavius Bond has been invited to play in the inaugural Division I-AA All-Star Classic, to be played Dec. 30 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.<br /><br />"Nobody works hard than he does," Williams says. "He's a great athlete."<br /><br />Bonds has 28 tackles on the second, with 21 solo grabs. He also has three interceptions and three pass breakups. His eight kickoff returns have averaged 21.5 yards.<br /><br />The selections were made by a committee of coaches, administrators and media from the 13 I-AA conferences. Teammate <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-tramon-douglas.html" target="_blank">Tramon Douglas, </a></strong>a senior receiver, was among the first 50 players selected to play in this game.<br /><br /><strong>Tiger bites: </strong>Texas Southern, GSU's opponent this week, has a three-game winning streak. … When the weather turns cold, it's particularly hard on Williams - who has had five surgeries on his left knee and one on the right. "They get stiff. I gotta keep moving," he says. Like most ex-football players, he has a knack for weather forecasting: "I wake up in the morning, and I know when it's cloudy - just from how stiff they are." … Grambling began a project to audiostream Williams' weekly news conference on the Internet on Tuesday. Portions of his comments are to be available at <a href="http://www.gramblingsportsinfo.com/">http://www.gramblingsportsinfo.com/</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>GSU's Pettway ready to tackle pros</strong><br /></span><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Kenneth Pettway is not just Grambling State's leader in tackles for a loss this year.<br /><br />He's a nice guy. Off the field, at least.<br /><br />"Definitely not the rah-rah type," said former GSU coach Doug Williams, who signed Pettway as a transfer from Southern Arkansas in 2002. "His actions speak for him. It's not word of mouth, like so many people."<br /><br />Williams - who left before last season for a personnel job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - will get another look at GSU's best defender this week at the NFL Scouting Combine, beginning today in Indianapolis.<br /><br />Pettway, a starter at both defensive end and linebacker, is the only player from the Southwestern Athletic Conference to be invited. He is also the first from GSU since Williams arrived with current coach Melvin Spears as offensive coordinator before the 1998 season.<br /><br />"He's quiet, but tough - a mild-mannered guy who led by example," said Spears, whose first win as interim in 2004 was keyed by a series of shattering second-quarter sacks by Pettway against Bethune-Cookman. He sent one quarterback to the bench on a crushing tackle, then sacked his replacement on the very next play.<br /><br />Not that Pettway talks about such heroics, not even on the eve of the combine.<br /><br />"My attitude going in is very positive," he finally allowed.<br /><br />It's easy to forget that Pettway was recognized as GSU's defensive player of the year last week, then flew out to Atlanta to receive Sheridan Broadcasting Network All-America honors.<br /><br />They give those awards to people who knock other people down.<br /><br />Call him Grambling State's easy-going horseman of the apocalypse, its polite prince of darkness.<br /><br />`TIMES HAVE CHANGED'<br /><br />Pettway talks about the honor of being invited. Still, he politely - and rightly - assumes that the combine is more of a challenge than a reward.<br /><br />"The NFL and the combine have gone away from black colleges since the days of Doug Williams and (James) `Shack' (Harris)," Pettway said. "Times have changed. So, it's a real honor if you get selected from one of our conferences."<br /><br />Pettway is, in fact, one of just eight players from a historically black college to receive an invitation to the combine this year.<br /><br />"I've got to be faster, a little better," said Pettway. "I want to prove to them that even though we don't play schools like Miami, we still have great players."<br /><br />Forced to sit out a year after transferring, Pettway had his initial experience at outside linebacker in his first game for GSU, a shutout loss to San Jose State in August 2003.<br /><br />"I was nervous when I was out there," said Pettway, who had played defensive end at Southern Arkansas. "But at the same time, I was thinking: They put me here because they thought I could do something. I just went about making plays."<br /><br />Make them he did: Pettway finished with 11 punishing tackles, including five solo grabs and three tackles for a loss of 9 yards. The conference named him defensive player of the week.<br /><br />He struggled at times, that first year. But by the time he lined up on that soggy night in Jackson, Miss., in October 2003, Pettway was on his way.<br /><br />The rain was biblical. Only GSU's quiet quarterback killer kept the dissipating crowd from noticing if the local animal population was, in fact, pairing up.<br /><br />Pettway accounted for 11 tackles, 10 of them solo, and two sacks. Jackson State's signal-caller also had to leave the game, as the local Tigers grinded their way to a win.<br /><br />"It took him some time to excel, because we had him in two positions," said Spears. "Coach Williams and I wanted to look at where he was going to project in the draft, and play him to that strength. Once he found his niche, he started to find real consistency."<br /><br />He would finish his junior season, the first at GSU after transferring, with a team-high 70 tackles. That included five sacks for a loss of 20 yards, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.<br /><br />Unassuming in life, Pettway proved to be merciless off the edge.<br /><br />`GREATNESS ... GOES ON'<br /><br />Production and versatility, coupled with Pettway's size and straight-line speed, have garnered uncommon attention for a small-school star.<br /><br />No surprise here, but Pettway - always more apt to sack than to smack - takes it in stride.<br /><br />"I've got to keep myself up because I know there will be a lot of competition from larger programs," he said. "They might be thinking I haven't competed at the same level. That keeps me in my place. When I am training, I realize I have got to give a little more."<br /><br />This week's combine sessions, held in Indianapolis, include both physical exams and hours of interviews on a position-by-position basis. Pettway is expected to be evaluated with the rest of the prospective linebackers on Sunday.<br /><br />Scouts will poke and prod him, measuring for height, weight, arm length, hand length and body fat. Pettway will run the 40-yard dash, participate in a vertical and broad jump, then grunt through a 225-pound bench press, 20- and 60-yard shuttles and the three-cone drill.<br /><br />Intelligence will then be measured using the Wonderlic Test, a 50-question exam administered over 12 minutes.<br /><br />"In this league, everything counts - and character is very, very important," said Williams, who will scout the combine talent for Tampa Bay. "There won't be any flaws there. He's been grounded for a long time. He's very humble."<br /><br />Both Williams and Spears attribute that to Pettway's parents - William and Annice of Houston - who have a strong connection with GSU. His father, in fact, is friends with Collie J. Nicholson, the school's legendary sports information director from 1948-78.<br /><br />"Most of those kids who had folks who went to Grambling grow up as a Tiger," said Spears. "They look forward to upholding the legacy."<br /><br />Pettway, a nice guy hoping to finish first, is clear-eyed about that challenge - and how it plays out for anyone looking to be drafted out of a historically black institution.<br /><br />"Coming from Grambling and going to the combine, I just look at it as a privilege," Pettway said. "I want to represent Grambling and all the greatness that has gone through there. It still goes on. I'm just glad I'm getting the chance to show that. Maybe the NFL will get back into the habit of looking at our conference."<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Is he a `Road Runner' or a `Widowmaker'?<br /></span></strong><br />The only thing missing from Kenneth Pettway's resume is one of those great Grambling State nicknames.<br /><br />Collie J. Nicholson, GSU's legendary sports information director from 1948-78, penned one for all the legends - from Paul "Tank" Younger to Gary "Big Hands" Johnson.<br /><br />"They had to have something behind the nicknames," said Nicholson, who still writes about sports from his home in Shreveport.<br /><br />Pettway, Nicholson agrees, fits the bill. "He should do well up there (at the NFL Combine)," said Nicholson.<br /><br />Pettway's great straight-line speed might suggest "Road Runner." That quiet intensity? How about "SBD," Silent but Deadly. His versatility as a two-position all-conference player? May we suggest "Switch Blade"? That propensity for crushing tackles reminds us of "Widowmaker."<br /><br />"You could always go out and get a nickname," Nicholson finally allows. "But Grambling has tried to give them more than just a nickname; they get an education, too."<br /><br />Degree in hand, Pettway hopes to school opponents on Sundays now.<br /><br />-Nick Deriso, <a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Pettway won't be a surprise at combine<br /></span></strong><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Kenneth Pettway, the most highly touted NFL prospect out of Grambling State in four seasons, has already garnered some pre-combine notice.<br /><br />NFLDraftCountdown.com lists Pettway as the No. 17 outside linebacker prospect in the nation. Great Blue North Draft Report has him at No. 15.<br /><br />"He has good height and long arms, which allow him to deflect passes or knock the ball out of the quarterback's hand," said Greg Benjamin, an online NFL draft evaluator at OTCDraft.com. "He uses his quickness to get by opposing offensive linemen and has good closing speed getting to the quarterback on the pass rush. He has a quick first step, which allows him to effectively beat most offensive linemen off the snap."<br /><br />Josh Buchanan of IAA.org - who named Pettway the top Division I-AA performer in the Las Vegas All-American Classic - lists him as the No. 18 I-AA prospect in the nation, and the No. 1 defensive end.<br /><br />"He had a big senior campaign with his 8® sacks and 16 tackles for a loss, really catching your attention," said NFLDraftCountdown.com's Scott Wright. "The level of competition is a concern, but he has the physical tools and productivity you look for."<br /><br />That could push Pettway up as high as the third round - a great thing for both player and school.<br /><br />"It's a major recruiting tool for us," GSU coach Melvin Spears said. "It tells you where this program is going since we have been here, from (former coach) Doug Williams through today."<br /><br />Benjamin expects Pettway's name to be called "during the latter portion of Day 2." He would be just the third GSU product drafted since 1995, and the first since Scotty Anderson was selected in the fifth round in 2001.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>3-4 adds up for Pettway<br /></strong></span>The growth of the defensive formation means the GSU standout is likely NFL-bound<br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - A sudden resurgence in the use of the once-popular 3-4 defensive alignment could be the best thing Kenneth Pettway has going for him in this year's NFL Draft.<br /><br />The Grambling State defender, commonly called a "`tweener," has the kind of size and speed to fit in that scheme - which values smaller, athletic linebackers.<br /><br />"A lot of teams are switching to the 3-4 defense, which would enable me to stand up and play linebacker but also pass rush," said Pettway, who began playing outside linebacker as well as defensive end during his junior season. "A year or two ago, there weren't that many who used it, but now there are about 10. The market's really open."<br /><br />The NFL Draft, held Saturday and Sunday, will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2.<br /><br />Pettway's stock has been rising with draft prognosticators, who originally projected him as a late-second day selection. A renewed interest in the 3-4 could be the reason.<br /><br />"There are more teams out there using the 3-4, and that's the good thing about it," said Tampa Bay personnel executive Doug Williams, who coached Pettway for a season before taking the NFL job. "He should get an opportunity with one of those teams."<br /><br />The 3-4 hadn't been fashionable since the early 1980s, but then New England won three of the last four Super Bowls with the scheme as its primary defensive look.<br /><br />That changes draft priorities. Players who look and play like Pettway are now a hot commodity.<br /><br />"Getting drafted will be a matter of matching the style of the team that might choose him," said Grambling State coach Melvin Spears, who took over from Williams after serving six seasons as his offensive coordinator. "He'll match up well in a 3-4 front, where they can use his skills as a weakside linebacker."<br /><br />Devised more than 50 seasons ago by Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson, the 3-4 alignment features three down linemen and four linebackers - as opposed to the more widely used 4-3, with only three linebackers.<br /><br />By last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers were all using the 3-4 as a primary scheme. Coaches at Cleveland, Dallas and San Francisco are considering a switch as well.<br /><br />That's why Williams says: "I think he has a great opportunity to get selected - it's just a matter of where," he said. "Here's a guy that has been down on a three-point stance for most of his career, so he will have to do a little changing. He will have to make some adjustments. He will have to drop off and play some man coverage."<br /><br />Pettway ended his two-season career in Grambling with 115 tackles - including 76 solo grabs - and 13® sacks for minus-75 yards. His 30 tackles for a loss accounted for 114 yards. He also had two blocked kicks in 23 games.<br /><br />Add in the 16 games Pettway played at Southern Arkansas before transferring and he had 167 tackles (with 102 of them solo), in 39 total games - including 23® sacks and 48 stops for losses.<br /><br />That production and a room-to-grow 6-4 frame earned Pettway a rare invite to the NFL Combine, the only one for a player from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2005.<br /><br />He was slowed by a hamstring pull, but Pettway participated in all of the events. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. reported his 40-yard time in Indianapolis at 4.75.<br /><br />"I thought his combine workout was good," said Williams. "The guys who did better had been playing linebacker all their life. For a guy playing a new position, I thought he adjusted very well."<br /><br />Pettway said he heard from six NFL teams this week, as coaches made final preparations for the draft.<br /><br />"They are getting draft-day phone numbers," said Pettway, "and seeing how my health is. They've wanted to find out how I feel about the city where I might come."<br /><br />Pettway added that he will continue serving as a student coach at Grambling State - even with the draft whirlwind circling him. He plans to spend Saturday at the Black and Gold game that concludes the team's spring sessions.<br /><br />"It's been a trip for me. The combine was really strenuous, but in all of it there was enjoyment - because it was the first time for me going through it," said Pettway. "I'm just excited, and nervous all at that same time."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Pettway file </strong><br /></span><strong>Ht: </strong>6-4 <strong>Wt: </strong>255<br /><strong>College: </strong>Grambling State<br /><strong>Scouting report: </strong>Was a big-play penetrating DE in college. Is at his best when turned loose up the field. Has very good anticipation skills and initial quickness. Shows some closing burst as a pass rusher and has good instincts in that facet. Has long arms and good-sized hands to occupy blockers. He shows a decent array of pass rush moves. Is a relentless player that makes a lot of plays in pursuit.<br />- Scouts Inc., for ESPN Insider<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>GSU defender spends draft day at home fishing<br /></strong></span><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Don't look for replays of Grambling State defender Kenneth Pettway on television, receiving word that he was selected No. 227 by the Houston Texans in the 2005 NFL Draft.<br /><br />He spent the weekend as he normally would, working with his former teammates on Saturday before traveling home to attend church in Houston on Sunday.<br /><br />Then, the seventh-round draft choice went fishing.<br /><br />"I kept my phone with me," said Pettway, a speedy, large-framed defender who should succeed in Houston's 3-4 defensive scheme. "I didn't want to be in front of the TV, pulling my hair out. I just wanted to be out there with the people who helped me get to the place where I am now."<br /><br />So, the draft unfolded a world away.<br /><br />"He started for the first time here with us," said GSU coach Melvin Spears, "and he was here with us for the draft."<br /><br />That steady commitment is likely what attracted the Texans, who are based near Pettway's hometown of Gilmer, Texas. He will report with other rookies for Houston's mini-camp on Friday.<br /><br />The Texans needed an upgrade at outside linebacker, the main pass rusher in head coach Dom Capers' defense. Last year, Houston finished last in sacks with 24; the Texans were second-to-last the year before, with 19.<br /><br />That must have stung Capers, who has worked as a coordinator on tough, quarterback-harassing defenses at Carolina, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh - grooming Pro Bowlers in Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd, who could chase signal callers then drop into coverage.<br /><br />"For him to go to his home team in Houston is a big thing - and he's close enough that we can still go see him," said GSU teammate Bruce Eugene, who tried to call Pettway upon seeing his name on the draft board - but said he couldn't reach him because Pettway was out fishing.<br /><br />That's in-character for the grounded Pettway, who served as a student coach with the team during the GSU's just-completed spring sessions - sharing the lessons he learned, until the very end, as the only Southwestern Athletic Conference player to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this season.<br /><br />"When I am on the field, I'm just teaching what somebody else taught me - from trying out, from playing under (former GSU) Coach (Doug) Williams and Spears, from going to the combine," said Pettway. "I want to hand out that information."<br /><br />The combine experience turned into another showcase for Pettway's attention to his craft, when he injured his groin on the very first attempt at the 40-yard dash - but participated in every drill anyway.<br /><br />His stock had been rising, with positive notices in USA Today last week, among others.<br /><br />"Everybody has aspirations, and I do too," said Eugene. "But for it to become a reality, that's a dream come true."<br /><br />Pettway attended Gilmer High School, playing football for coach Mike Mullins. He also lettered in basketball, baseball and track before spending his first two collegiate seasons primarily as a backup defensive end at Southern Arkansas.<br /><br />Pettway then transferred to play for Williams in 2002 and began garnering playing time at outside linebacker, as well.<br /><br />He grabbed 70 tackles and made five sacks as a junior, then earned All-America accolades from The NFL Draft Report and All-SWAC first-team honors as a senior. Pettway made 45 tackles, including 28 solos, and ranked second in the conference with 16 stops for losses last season. He also tied for a SWAC-best 8.5 sacks.<br /><br />But GSU, a haven for NFL talent in the 1960s and '70s, hadn't had a player drafted since Scotty Anderson was selected in the fifth round by Detroit in 2001.<br /><br />"A dream come true, absolutely," said Spears. "This is a great day for Kenneth Pettway - and also a great day for Grambling."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>GSU's Pettway keeps focus </strong><br /></span>Houston's pick in the 7th round gets NFL taste<br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Grambling State product Kenneth Pettway got ready for his first taste of the NFL by continuing to run his linebacker drills on the practice field where he played college ball.<br /><br />He couldn't have guessed how long he'd end up spending inside the Houston Texans' facility, meeting and studying the club's scheme.<br /><br />"The meetings were about 10 times longer than college," said Pettway, a seventh-round pick for the Texans last month. "I think the shortest was about two hours. You've got to stay focused. There are no wasted words. Everything they say is something you need to know. There is no room for errors."<br /><br />The Texans' six draft picks - as well as free agents, and others trying out - participated in four rookie practices earlier this month where coaches introduced the players to the system.<br /><br />He then returned to Grambling State, where he lifted and ran with friends.<br /><br />"Working out, it feels the same," said Pettway. "But being back in Grambling, there was a different intensity. So many people know I have been drafted, and are pulling for me."<br /><br />Pettway is back in Houston this week to participate in 14 coaching sessions that last through June 8. A three-day minicamp follows, before a long break in front of training sessions.<br /><br />"They emphasized before every meeting that we take notes," said Pettway. Houston coach "Dom Capers walked around and watched for who was taking notes and paying attention. They didn't let us take the playbook home, but he said we could take the notepad home. We were expected to know the defense when we got back. I wrote down some extra things to work on."<br /><br />Pettway will keep the same number he had in two all-conference seasons at Grambling, the departed Jamie Sharper's No. 55. He found a jersey with his name already embroidered on it when he arrived at camp.<br /><br />"It was Grade A treatment," Pettway said. "We got off the plane and there was somebody waiting for you with Texans apparel. When we got there, our lockers were all set up. Everything was there, and it was all the right size. Everything you need, they had it."<br /><br />Pettway's transition was easier than many of the other newcomers, because he was born and raised in nearby Gilmer, Texas.<br /><br />"A lot of guys were from faraway places," said Pettway, a multi-sports prep star. "They had a couple of guys from Florida and California. Some of them said, `You are lucky to play in front of your hometown.' To me, it was big joy to get the opportunity to play where I grew up."<br /><br />His familiarity didn't translate, however, into recommendations on places to eat around Houston.<br /><br />"They fix everything for you," said Pettway, chuckling. "They give you a target weight and then you eat in the cafeteria, and that's it. You can go out and get your own food, but they encourage you to eat what the nutritionist has for you."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Pettway's first NFL deal is for three years with Texans<br /></strong></span><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Will Jordan, agent for Grambling State product Kenneth Pettway, says his client has signed with the Houston Texans.<br /><br />Pettway, a seventh-round pick in last April's NFL Draft, inked a three-year deal, Jordan said in a phone message on Friday. The contract, reportedly worth $965,494, includes a $40,494 signing bonus.<br /><br />"Pettway is a very special guy who has great skills," said Melvin Spears, who was an assistant and then interim head coach during Pettway's two seasons at GSU. "The Houston Texans are going to benefit more than they know."<br /><br />Playing both defensive end and outside linebacker, Pettway recorded 115 tackles and 13® sacks in 2003-04 at Grambling.<br /><br />Jordan said a quick deal is essential for rookies, who need to focus on making the team - not negotiating a deal.<br /><br />Hayes day in Bossier: Former GSU star Lionel Hayes lit up the Battle Wings last week in Bossier City, as the af2 Macon Knights posted an easy 57-36 victory.<br /><br />He finished 18-of-29 in the air, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jamaal Garman. Hayes also ran for a 4-yard touchdown as Macon improved to 4-6 with the victory.<br /><br />Quarterback at GSU during former coach Doug Williams' first two seasons at the helm, Hayes had his best year as a senior in 1999. Hayes completed 188-of-366 passes for 2,935 yards and 30 touchdowns with just six interceptions. A year earlier, as a junior, Hayes completed 151-of-301 passes for 2,373 yards and 19 touchdowns.<br /><br />Home cooking with Doug: Williams, now a personnel executive with the NFL's Tampa Bay franchise, talked about scouting Southwestern Athletic Conference products in a Q&A at buccaneers.com this week.<br /><br />"Well, No. 1, my job is for the Buccaneers, to get the best players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," he said. "But at the same time, there's no doubt that I might be a little partial to the historically black colleges, the SWAC or what have you. I'm not going to bring in a kid just because he went there. I want him to be able to show it."<br /><br />The Bucs have drafted former Southern cornerback Lenny Williams and given a tryout to ex-Grambling receiver Scotty Anderson since Williams arrived in Tampa, but neither made the team.<br /><br />Williams couldn't attend the opening of an exhibit of Eddie Robinson memorabilia in Grambling on Friday, he said, because he is filming a new special by NFL Films on the Super Bowl. Williams was the MVP of the 1988 game leading Washington over Denver.<br /><br />Tiger bites: The just-completed Melvin Spears Football Camp included 200 young hopefuls - hailing from places as far flung as Alaska. Large groups came from Shreveport, Alexandria and Belzoni, Miss., as well. … The AFL's New Orleans franchise re-signed Grambling product Calvin Spears, who has played for the VooDoo for the past two seasons. Spears coached the secondary at Grambling last season, then returned to finish fifth on the VooDoo with 32® tackles.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>GSU's Pettway staying a Texan<br /></strong></span><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING — Grambling product Kenneth Pettway is staying home.<br /><br />Pettway, a seventh-round 2005 draft pick for the Houston Texans, has reupped as an exclusive-rights free agent.<br /><br />"This is a really good organization," said Pettway, a native of Gilmer, just outside of Houston. "I was born and spent most of my life here. The city has grown a lot but, at the same time, it's home to me. As far as this franchise goes, they handle their business really well."<br /><br />Taken 237th overall by the Texans last year, Pettway finished with 115 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 30 tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, four passes defensed and two blocked kicks in 23 games at Grambling. He later garnered an invite to the 2005 Las Vegas All-American Classic postseason all-star game and was the only invitee from the Southwestern Athletic Conference at the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine.<br /><br />Pettway says he signed one-year contract, just as he did last season, in the hopes that a breakout year might result in a better deal.<br /><br />He's met new coach Gary Kubiak and a series of new assistants who were hired in the wake of Houston's league-worst 2-14 mark last season.<br /><br />"When I first met the new coach, he came off as a really good guy," said Pettway, who spent most of his rookie season — save for games against Jacksonville and San Francisco — on the practice squad.<br /><br />Kubiak and defensive coordinator Richard Smith Miami's coordinator last season under Nick Saban are moving from Houston's familiar 3-4 defensive alignment to the more conventional 4-3 look, with Pettway working on the outside.<br /><br />"So far, so good," Pettway said. "They've got me playing Sam or Will, either one."<br /><br />Pettway, who is participating in off-season training right now, said he expects the 4-3 playbook to be installed later in the spring.<br /><br />"We've been running and conditioning," Pettway said. "We'll start learning the new defense when we start coaching sessions."<br /><br />Pettway began his collegiate career at Southern Arkansas, where he had 52 tackles, 10 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble in 16 games. He was a four-sport performer in football, basketball, track and baseball at Gilmer High.<br /><br />The Texans now have signed nine free agents, and re-signed another eight players. They hold the top pick in April's NFL Draft and, by exercising a $8 million option that extends quarterback David Carr's contract through the 2008, seem to be positioning themselves to select Texas running back Reggie Bush.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-11581764675194200102008-03-31T08:13:00.006-06:002009-01-14T00:54:33.960-06:00Recruiting: Grambling State's 2007 signing day class<em>Here are Grambling State University's announced football signees, with same-day analysis, from National Signing Day in February 2007:</em><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Grambling State's 2007 haul</span></strong><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><strong>Breakdown: </strong>17 signees (10 offense, 7 defense)<br /><br /><strong>Local ties: </strong>Wossman offensive lineman Steve Timber aside, many of Grambling's local prospects either didn't get announced or were late adds. Bastrop defensive back Montrell Gardner was part of a group of players who apparently would not qualify -- and first-year coach Rod Broadway has decided against announcing those players. A group of Richwood players signed at a school ceremony, but didn't immediately sent in their paperwork.<br /><br /><strong>Sudden impact: </strong>Linebacker and offensive line units badly in need to rebuilding could get a quick fix with the addition of a Alabama prospect Jhirron Spencer, a linebacker out of Aliceville; and no less than four new guys up front.<br /><br /><strong>One that got away: </strong>Grambling decided to reverse course on a couple of offers not long after Broadway arrived, including one for Rivals two-star prospect Johnny Wooten of Garland. He looked to be an impact player, but on-going legal troubles were apparently a deal breaker.<br /><br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>It's too early to tell just what kind of impact this group will have for Broadway, who hasn't installed his playbook --- and arrived too late to participate in the recruiting process. He's saved back some scholarships, and will likely use them on transfers in the spring if they right mix of starters can't be found.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:webdings;font-size:130%;">g g g </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>An in-depth look at Grambling's newest signees</em><br /></span></strong><br /><strong>DB/WR Joshua Blackmon, 6-1, 180, Hueytown (Ala.): </strong>An athlete with the ability to help out on offense, defense and special teams. Earned special mention honors on Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Recruiting Blog. One of seven from the state of Alabama.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>A two-way prep star who could find a home in Grambling's deeply depleted secondary.<br /><br /><strong>LB Dante Cheek, 6-0, 220, Starr's Mill (Fayetteville, Ga.): </strong>Played tight end but is projected to play linebacker. Caught 32 receptions for 473 yards with three touchdowns, in a season highlighted by six catches for 100 yards versus Fayette County High.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Could play on both sides of the ball, as well; also starred as a prep tight end.<br /><br /><strong>OL Sam Cooper, 6-4, 285, Richwood (La.): </strong>Named Class 3A All-State by the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association. "Best of the Rest" prospect by Dandy Don. One of three Richwood players to sign with Grambling after advancing to Class 3A quarterfinals.<br /><strong>Instant analysis:</strong> One of five offensive lineman to sign; looks to have the athleticism this staff craves.<br /><br /><strong>DB Quincy Covington, 5-10, 175, Independence (La.): </strong>Recorded 49 tackles with 33 solo stops at the safety position. Broke up four passes with five interceptions for 83 yards and returned 31 punts for 391 yards. Had two games with multiple interceptions.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>An interception machine at powerhouse Independence; could start immediately.<br /><br /><strong>OG Brandon Gardner, Aliceville (Carrolton, Ala.): </strong>Played tackle in high school and projects as a guard in college. All-State and All-County as a junior. Blocked for an offense that produced over 2,000 yards on the ground in 2006.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>A former All-State performer with good feet, Gardner led the way for 1,700-yard rusher last season.<br /><br /><strong>WR Bryan Jackson, 6-3, 190, Carroll (Washington, D.C.): </strong>Tall, physical receiver with good speed. Caught 26 receptions for over 500 yards this past season. Scored six touchdowns via the pass with one rushing touchdown. Also plays special teams.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>In a signing class light on skill-position players, Jackson will have a chance to shine.<br /><br /><strong>LB Toby Mott, 6-0, 205, Richwood (La.): </strong>Earned Class 3A All-State Honorable Mention All-State honors last season. Posted 152 tackles and scored one defensive touchdown with three sacks. Also selected as District 2-3A MVP. Ranked third in the area in tackles.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>A bit undersized, but always around the ball, Mott was one of the one or two best area LBs.<br /><br /><strong>OG Victor Phillips, 6-4, 295, Minor (Adamsville, Ala.): </strong>Earned special mention honors on Jim Stefani's Class of 2007 Underclassmen Recruiting Blog. Participated in the Tuscaloosa Scout.com combine.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Versatile blocker who led the way for all-staters at QB and RB last season.<br /><br /><strong>DE Kendell Robinson, 6-4, 235, Parker (Birmingham, Ala.):</strong> Two-way player in high school who projects to play on the defensive side of the ball. Helped lead his high school team to a 6-3 record and an appearance in the state playoffs. Named a "Player to Watch" by The Birmingham News.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Two-way player in high school who projects to play on the defensive side.<br /><br /><strong>DE Antwon Rogers, 6-4, 225, Mays (Atlanta, Ga.): </strong>Played on the offensive line before switching over to the defensive side of the ball at the end of the season. Helped lead team to the second round of the playoffs.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Depending on what the coaches see, Rogers would be used at either of his prep positions.<br /><br /><strong>LB Jhrron Spencer, 6-1, 250, Aliceville (Ala.): </strong>Selected as the state of Alabama's Class 3A Lineman of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Recorded 126 tackles, 15 quarterback hurries, seven sacks and five fumble recoveries.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>A one-star Scouts.com recruit, could become next Pettway/Hatcher team so badly needs.<br /><br /><strong>WR Dezmond Spivey, 6-1, 175, Green Oaks (Shreveport, La.): </strong>Passed for 720 yards with five passing touchdowns, including a 234-yard passing effort against North Caddo.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>A do-anything player, he also played quarterback and defensive back -- and was all-district as a punter.<br /><br /><strong>RB Raymond "J.R." Spivey, 5-9, 170, Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.):</strong> Named First-Team All-Cobb County by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rushed for 1,677 yards and 20 touchdowns along with averaging 9.1 yards per carry. Nephew of former Grambling State quarterback and Jacksonville Jaguars team executive James "Shack" Harris.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>His 1,700 rushing yards as senior make a case for Spivey as heir apparent in an empty backfield.<br /><br /><strong>OL Steve Timber, 6-4, 330, Wossman (Monroe, La.): </strong>All-Northeast selection participated in the 2006 NIKE Training Camp in Baton Rouge. Named "Best of the Rest" prospect by Dandy Don's football recruiting Web site.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>The All-Northeast selection could fill any number of voids on the offensive line.<br /><br /><strong>WR Kiare Thompson, 6-0, 185, Burbank (Sacramento, Calif.): </strong>Recorded 18 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown last season; averaged 21.1 yards per catch. Also had 19 tackles. Ranked the 64th best prospect in California by Phil's Spartan Athletics message board.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Another two-way player who was also a standout defensive back; projects to play offense.<br /><br /><strong>WR DeMarion Turner, 6-2, 205, Richwood (La.): </strong>Two-way standout; switched to defensive back this season. Caught 23 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver in 2005. Earned second team All-District honors as an athlete.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Terrific WR who lost some recruiting buzz when he was switched to DB; likely to move back.<br /><br /><strong>RB Frank Warren, 6-0, 185, Pleasant Grove (Ala.): </strong>Selected to the Alabama Sports Writer's Association Class 5A All-State football team. Mentioned on Jim Stefani's Class of 2007 Underclassmen Recruiting Blog. Finalist for Class 5A Back of the Year award. Also plays on his high school's basketball team.<br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Word is, he plays with the same intensity as his uncle, the great Saints defender of the same name.<br /><br /><strong>NOTE: </strong>Grambling State only announced qualifiers this year; Bastrop defensive back Montrell Gardner was one of several others who also signed.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-52134904830467807372008-02-22T17:26:00.004-06:002009-01-12T22:50:08.217-06:00Remembering: Doug Williams' historic Super Bowl win<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">DIG DOUG</span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Play by play, Williams built a Super Bowl legacy 20 years ago</span><br /><em>Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />There was actually some indication of what was about to unfold.<br /><br />Sure, no team had ever come back from being down 7 or more points in any Super Bowl.<br /><br />But Doug Williams and the Washington Redskins — losing 10-0 to Denver Broncos after one quarter of play 20 years ago at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium — kept telling themselves the same thing.<br /><br />"We had been down like that already against Chicago," Williams said.<br /><br />The Redskins had fallen back two touchdowns before overtaking the Bears 21-17 in 1987’s divisional round.<br /><br />"And it was frigid there," said Williams a Grambling product. "In San Diego, we had 80-degree weather."<br /><br />A moment that grew into a cultural symbol — Williams, after a startling comeback, would become the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, and the first to earn MVP honors — was just a game back then.<br /><br />And Washington was losing.<br /><br />The NFC’s eventual representative in Super Bowl XXII had changed quarterbacks and running backs over the length of the ‘87 season.<br /><br />Then Williams nearly blew out a knee.<br /><br />He was still confident. But he might have been the only one.<br /><br /><strong>AT FIRST, DISASTER</strong><br /><br />Redskins rookie Timmy Smith started the contest, rather than the injured former Heisman trophy winner George Rogers, and was going nowhere.<br /><br />Williams’ initial third-down pass was dropped, too, giving Denver the ball for the first time.<br /><br />One play later, Broncos’ receiver Ricky Nattiel — then just 22, the youngest player in history to score in a Super Bowl — was hauling in a 56-yard touchdown pass from Elway.<br /><br />That was the fastest score in Super Bowl history.<br /><br />Washington was stymied again on its next possession, which included another third-down drop. Williams was 1-of-4 for nine yards as Denver added a field goal to go up 10-0 with nine minutes still remaining in the first period.<br /><br />"I think the average betting man would have gone with Elway," Williams said. "They didn’t give Doug Williams a prayer. Well, the good Lord does answer some."<br /><br />But not before Redskins returner Ricky Sanders fumbled the resulting kickoff, nearly giving Denver the ball back in Washington’s red zone. Williams would go on to complete this stirring 40-yard strike to Art Monk.<br /><br />That drive, and the next one, eventually also stalled — and Williams found himself twisting on the ground, grabbing a hyperextended left knee.<br /><br />The injury was so excruciating that Williams instinctively released the ball, though he was ruled down. San Diego’s squishy turf had already forced the Broncos to switch to a deeper cleat.<br /><br />Former starter Jay Schroeder returned to finish the drive, but was summarily sacked and then suffered yet another Redskins drop — their fourth already.<br /><br />The air, it seemed, had gone out of Washington — but not Williams, even though he was just four-of-10 for 78 yards as the second period began.<br /><br />"No question, I was in tremendous pain, but I was there to play the game," Williams said. "That’s how I looked at it. I couldn’t worry about that. You are on the biggest stage of your life. To me, it was like growing up — you throw a little dirt on it and keep going."<br /><br /><strong>DENVER’S ‘NIGHTMARE’</strong><br /><br />Williams returned from the sidelines and, 53 seconds into the quarter, threw an 80-yard touchdown to Ricky Sanders, his first-ever postseason score. The Redskins had managed just 63 yards on offense during the entire first period.<br /><br />Washington held as Elway threw what was then his sixth consecutive incompletion. Four plays later, Williams hit Gary Clark for a 27-yard score to take the lead.<br /><br />Williams was well protected behind an offensive line so talented that he had been sacked just once in the playoffs.<br /><br />"If the offense line did what I’d like for them to do, and receivers did what they can do, I knew we could get back into it," said Williams, who played for the legendary Eddie Robinson. "I just had to get the ball back."<br /><br />Denver, fading badly now, turned the ball over on a missed 43-yard field-goal attempt.<br /><br />Williams and the Redskins still had seven minutes remaining before the half.<br /><br />Two plays later, Smith ran 58 yards for a touchdown — his first score ever — and a 21-10 lead. He had just 126 regular-season yards, but 204 in this game alone.<br /><br />Denver had worked all week on stopping the Redskins’ vaunted counter running play. It didn’t matter.<br /><br />"‘Coach Rob’ used to say it’s all about blocking and tackling," Williams said. "If you block it right, they can’t stop you — and our line did that. We knew from a physical standpoint, we were the better football l team. That was proved as game went on."<br /><br />That last touchdown had tied the Super Bowl record, set by San Francisco in XIX and Chicago in XX, of 21 points in a single quarter.<br /><br />Washington needed just three more plays to score its fourth consecutive touchdown, as Williams hit Sanders on a 50-yard slant — tying a record for most TD receptions by a player in the Super Bowl.<br /><br />"When everybody is working on all cylinders like that, it’s the epitome of execution," Williams said.<br /><br />Washington, ahead now 28-10, stopped Elway on an interception in his subsequent possession.<br /><br />Smith dashed 45 yards to set up Washington at the Broncos’ 35. Denver’s defenders were distracted, then deflated.<br /><br />"You get he defense out of place, get them confused," Williams said. "All of a sudden they’re looking at each other, trying to make judgment calls. When they’re making all of these late changes, there is a chance that somebody is going to be out of place."<br /><br />Williams’ fourth touchdown pass, tying another Super Bowl record, to Clint Didier extended Washington’s now insurmountable lead to 35-10.<br /><br />TV announcer Frank Gifford, in a line that Williams can repeat from memory, said it best: "If this was a fight, they might stop it."<br /><br />In 222 previous post-season games to that point, no NFL team had ever scored more points in a single quarter. Oakland came closest in 1968, putting up 28; the Giants scored 27 all the way back in 1934.<br /><br />Williams ran into former Denver coach Dan Reeves this week. "He just shook his head and said: ‘That second quarter was a nightmare.’"<br /><br /><strong>TOUCHING SO MANY LIVES</strong><br /><br />Washington only scored once more, preferring instead to run the ball in long, quarter-eating drives.<br /><br />"We wanted to flatten this thing out and keep Elway off the field," Williams said. "You take time off clock, and make it a little more impossible."<br /><br />Desperate to catch up, Elway began to take more chances, and Washington defenders feasted on multiple turnovers.<br /><br />The enormity of the moment was becoming clear. A contest marked by personal firsts for Williams, the initial player in Super Bowl history to throw four touchdowns in a single quarter, and to throw four in a half, would have wider implications for African-Americans.<br /><br />"It’s a great feeling when you realize that people still recognize you and are grateful for what you did," Williams said. "They’ll come up and say: ‘God bless you; you don’t know what you mean to us.’ That’s a great feeling to have that kind of impact."<br /><br />The announcing team for Super Bowl XXII — Gifford, Dan Dierdorf and Al Michaels – were a microcosm of that sudden revelation.<br /><br />"Those guys were dumbfounded," Williams said, chuckling. "The last thing they expected was for it to be like that."<br /><br />Elway was portrayed as the golden-boy sure thing, while Williams would be largely disregarded as an all but forgotten outsider. Too often, the conversation had entered on Williams’ race, rather than what his team did well.<br /><br />"The problem with that Super Bowl was it wasn’t so much the game itself, as it was who the quarterbacks where," Williams said. "You had Doug Williams against John Elway, and we all know who’s going to win that game."<br /><br />Williams’ performance, resilient and eye-popping in its complete efficiency, opened eyes and opened doors.<br /><br />Two other black quarterbacks have followed Williams to the Super Bowl, though neither Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb or Tennessee’ Steve McNair would win.<br /><br />"The opportunity now," Williams said, "is more than it was then."<br /><br />Super Bowl XXII remains an afternoon where race relations achieved a rare vista — even if, at first, it started as just another football game.<br /><br />"That day still has significance," Williams said, "because it touched so many people’s lives — not just as a fan but from an emotional standpoint. From a time when there was no black quarterbacks to winning it, so many older people talk about what that game meant."<br /><br />In the smaller vernacular of sports, he’s the consummate underdog-made-good, too.<br /><br />"When somebody is down and out," Williams said, "they’ll put that game in."<br /><br />As he walked off that San Diego field, in a lingering image, Williams raised his helmet in triumph.<br /><br />"I had been to place people only dream about," Williams said, still taking it in. "You don’t get to that point too often."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-85034366930225940642008-02-21T09:50:00.003-06:002008-04-01T08:24:43.066-06:00Recruiting: Grambling State's 2006 signing day class<span style="font-size:100%;"><em>Here are Grambling State University's announced football signees, with same-day analysis, from National Signing Day in February 2006:</em></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Grambling State's 2006 haul<br /></span></strong>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><strong>Breakdown:</strong> 27 signees (15 offense, 12 defense)<br /><br /><strong>Local ties: </strong>Four of the local prospects listed on the original verbal commitment list were not announced early Wednesday - West Ouachita's Demarious DuBose and Carroll's Jesse Smith Jr., Desmond Lenard and Derrick Johnson.<br /><br /><strong>Sudden impact: </strong>Mobile fullback Corey Patterson, like GSU's Ruben Mayes, just makes plays.<br /><br /><strong>One that got away: </strong>OG Nigel Bolden (Cedar Hill, Dallas). Selected 2005 All-District 2-5A by TexasHSFootball.com, he would have made this fall's camp battles intriguing.<br /><br /><strong>Instant analysis: </strong>Signing running backs and offensive linemen isn't flashy, but it will improve a team that's solid at the skill positions. Ironically, Grambling didn't have a single commitment from an offensive lineman going into the final recruiting weekend - a glaring need. By Wednesday night, five had signed.<br /><br /><strong>BY THE NUMBERS<br /></strong><br /><strong>7</strong>-Number of signees who played running back or fullback in high school<br /><br /><strong>13</strong>-Louisiana prospects who signed with Grambling<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>An in-depth look at the 2006 Grambling signees:</em><br /></strong></span><br /><strong>QUARTERBACK<br /></strong>· QB Derrick Wilhite, 6-0, 180, Wossman (Monroe): Was 55-for-102 passing for 733 yards with 12 TDs and just three interceptions in regular season. Rushed 94 times for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. District 2-3A co-Offensive MVP with LSU signee Richard Murphy from Rayville. Also named to The News-Star/Glenwood SportsCare All-Northeast team.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Wilhite is talented enough to play anywhere, but it likely won't be quarterback. Even with record-smashing senior Bruce Eugene gone, GSU returns former conference freshman of the year Brandon Landers - a Carroll product who took over when Eugene went down in 2004. Houston-LaMarque product Larry Kerlegan, Eugene's backup last season, is also back.<br /><br /><strong>RUNNING BACK<br /></strong>· FB Marcus Frazier, 6-1, 255; BC Rain (Mobile, Ala.): A two-year starter; helped team to a region-winning 7-5 record and a second-round playoff run. Also played defensive end, where he was team's best tackler. Ran 4.55 in the 40-yard dash at a Birmingham combine event. Named the No. 15 prospect from southwestern Alabama by The Mobile Register.<br /><br />· FB Corey George, 6-2, 225; Bossier (La.): Starter on the 2005 Bossier Press-Tribune All-Bossier team. Rushed for 1,200 yards and 27 touchdowns, averaging seven yards per carry. Dandy Don's No. 60 Louisiana prospect. Brother Brandon signed with GSU last year. Part of a 2004 squad that reportedly became the first in parish history with three players to gain more than 1,000 yards rushing.<br /><br />· RB Patrick Henry, 5-9, 175, Covington (La.): Listed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. … One of Dandy Don's Top 100 Louisiana prospects. … Rushed for 1,340 yards on 262 carries for 15 touchdowns in 2004.<br /><br />· FB Robert Jones, 5-9, 230; Natchitoches Central (La.): Ran for the lone touchdown in the Chiefs' 45-6 loss to eventual Class 5A champion West Monroe on Sept. 30. Jones was used as a tailback in a spread offense that finished 3-7, with two of those wins coming over Southwood and Minden.<br /><br />· FB Kenneth Matthews, 6-1; 250; Clinton (La.): Two-way starter at both fullback and middle linebacker. All-District 8-2A second team on offense for a second straight season in 2005. Brother of GSU defensive lineman Melvin Matthews. Team went 10-1 before falling to OCS in playoffs.<br /><br />· FB/RB Cory Patterson, 6-0, 235, Davidson (Mobile, Ala.): First-team Class 6A All-State in 2005 by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Team switched from a shotgun passing offense to the power running game to fit his talents. Starting fullback for the South team in the 2004 Alabama High School Athletic Association's North-South All-Star Football. Named the No. 22 prospect from southwestern Alabama by The Mobile Register.<br /><br />· RB Ben Rogers, 6-1, 180; Parker (Birmingham, Ala.): Chosen by the city's head football coaches as a Birmingham All-City co-offensive player of the year. Class 5A All-State honorable mention by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Rushed for 1,500 yards and 18 scores in 2005 as team advanced to the second round of the ASHAA playoffs.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: It's easy to see many, if not most, of these prospects moving into other positions. Grambling's scheme values speed in its linebackers and secondary defenders, and running backs easily transition into those roles. That said, George, Patterson and Rogers have the prep credentials to push their way into eventual playing time. Matthews is a punishing blocker in the mold of current starter Ruben Mayes.<br /><br /><strong>WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS<br /></strong>· ATH Terrence Bell, 5-9, 163, Clinton (La.): Multi-position performer who played quarterback, wide receiver and kick returner in 2005. Part of an offense that averaged 300 yards of offense and 30 points per game. Second-team all-District 8-2A in 2005. Runs a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash; also ran track for Clinton, competing in the 100 and in the last leg of the 400 relay.<br /><br />· WR Jeremy Sylve, 6-3, 190, Bastrop: Played in 11 games including the playoffs and had 30 catches for 698 yards and seven touchdowns. Second-team District 2-4A. An evacuee transfer from Port Sulphur.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: Grambling has enough depth, not to mention talent, percolating in its prop program, to offer more scholarships in other positions of need, and that's what the coaches did. Both look to be eligible.<br /><br /><strong>OFFENSIVE LINE<br /></strong>· OL Randle Bennett, 6-6, 337, Valley Forge (Wayne, Pa.): Will likely compete for tackle spot. Runs well, great feet. Recruited by defensive coordinator Luther Palmer, a longtime coach in the area.<br /><br />· OG Jerome King, 6-5, 230, Davidson (Mobile, Ala.): Has great feet, versatile enough to excel either inside or outside. Could fit in on other side of GSU line. Davidson was 12-1 last year.<br /><br />· OL George Long, 6-5, 350, James Monroe (Fredricksburg, Va.): Named to Group AA All-State second-team by the Virginia High School Coaches Association. Honorable mention on The Washington Post's Fall 2005 All-Met team. First-team all-district and second-team All-Region A as a junior. Played up front on four straight teams that reached the regional playoffs. Considered Morgan State, as well.<br /><br />· OL Sam Onyeaka, 6-4, 350, Valley Forge (Wayne, Pa.): Inside player, long armed. Very athletic. Looks to compete for guard position. Team went 6-2 in 2005 under Jim Burner.<br /><br />· OL Ramon Otey, 6-2, 300, Huffman (Birmingham, Ala.): Part of a line that averaged more than 300 pounds per man, Huffman averaged 370 rushing yards per game - including a staggering 609 in a win over Hewitt.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: With the loss of three regular starters in Jonathan Banks, Charles Wilson and Tommy Dural, this was a point of emphasis - though you wouldn't have known it early on. Not until the final week before National Signing Day did the linemen begin pouring in, and Grambling's final list was impressive. Any of these prospects could work his way into line coach Carl Roberts' rotation this season.<br /><br /><strong>DEFENSIVE LINE<br /></strong>· DE Jody Ancar, 6-1, 220, Port Sulphur/Bastrop: Started two games, before suffering a knee injury; returned in playoffs to spark 4A state title run. Transferred to Bastrop from Port Sulphur following Hurricane Katrina. Bastrop assistant coach DeCarlos Holmes, a former GSU defensive lineman, also coached Ancar in Port Sulphur. Honorable mention on The News-Star/Glenwood SportsCare All-Northeast Team.<br /><br />· DL Chris Drummer, 6-1, 265, Ouachita (Monroe): All-district first teamer and honorable mention for All-State. Made 105 total tackles, including 11 sacks - best in northeastern Louisiana. Team's defensive most valuable player. Named to The News-Star/Glenwood SportsCare All-Northeast Team. Ouachita Coach John Carr says he has a 30-inch vertical leap.<br /><br />· DL Taurean Montero, Northwest (Opelousas, La.): The team's rookie of the year, he was honorable mention All-District selection last year. Suffered a torn medial collateral ligament late last season. Is not expected to qualify.<br /><br />· DE Jon Nixon, 6-2, 240, North Little Rock (Ark.): Named to HawgSports.com's Natural 21 list of top Arkansas prospects. Reportedly received an offer from Purdue, and considered both Vanderbilt and Arkansas, where he went for an official visit. Runs 4.9 in 40-yard dash, according to Rivals.com. Named to The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Top 30 Juniors to Watch statewide in 2004.<br /><br />· DT Vernon Pittman, 6-4, 370, Irving (Texas): A one-year letterman. Team slipped to 4-6 after a 6-5 season in 2004 that included a trip to the Class 5A Division II bi-district game. Was teammates with talented but troubled all-purpose running back Jamaal Evans, who finished with more than 4,000 yards in high school.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: For the second consecutive year, GSU will lose one of its best players from this unit. In 2004, it was defensive end Kenneth Pettway, who also spelled at outside linebacker. This time, it's end Jason Hatcher. Replacing those kind of playmakers is never easy, though Ancar has shown flashes of that kind of brilliance during an injury-marred season. Drummer was the area's most consistent pass rusher and Nixon is a certifiable steal if he's eligible.<br /><br /><strong>LINEBACKER<br /></strong>· OLB Demario Dixon, 6-2, 220; Southwood (Shreveport): All-district after both the 2004-05 seasons. Lettered for three years. Runs a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash. In a show of athleticism, caught a 2005 two-point conversion to help seal a 29-10 win that ended rival Byrd's 12-game winning streak over Southwood. A regular at GSU's off-season football camps.<br /><br />· LB Terrance Miley, 5-10, 175, Neville (Monroe): Made 62 tackles and six interceptions. Named to Class 4A All-State team by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Also played defensive back in high school.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: This unit has a steady center in returning middle linebacker Dimitri Carr, a Farmerville product, but it needs more speed off the edges. Both Dixon and Miley could provide that, as do several of the running back prospects who are expected to get looks for this position.<br /><br /><strong>DEFENSIVE BACK<br /></strong>· DB Mariko Martin, 6-3, 193, Carver (Montgomery, Ala.): Had four passes defended as team advanced to the second round of the post-season. Carver was a semifinalist in the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs for the first time ever in 2004. Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. Also reportedly had interest from Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Sam Houston State and Albany State.<br /><br />· DB T.J. McCord, 6-1, 180, McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.): An all-region selection. Had 80 tackles and three interceptions as a senior. Also a leader on defense last year with 65 tackles and 12 pass breakups. Named the No. 8 prospect from southwestern Alabama by The Mobile (Ala.) Register. Ran hurdles on high school track team, and played forward on the basketball team.<br /><br />· SS Michael Oliver, 6-3, 205, Homewood (Ala.): On back-to-back Alabama 5A state championship teams; had 11 tackles in those two title games. Starter on the 5A All-State team. Honorable mention on the 5A All-Metro team. Won state track titles last year in the 110 hurdles and as third runner in the 400 relay. Won the 300 hurdles at the 2004 Class 4A-6A track and field meet, as well.<br /><br />· DB Donald Roberts, 5-11, 185, Northwest (Opelousas, La.): Will provide needed depth in secondary. Also ran track, including 55-meter hurdles, in high school. Joins prep teammate Taurean Montero in Grambling. Is qualified.<br /><br />· SS Dante Thompson, 6-4, 218, Colerain (Cincinnati): Honorable mention on The Cincinnati Enquirer's conference all-star list. Great upside; has impressive speed. Rangy, could move into linebacking unit. Colerain was undefeated in Thompson's junior season. A qualifier.<br /><br />INSTANT ANALYSIS: A pressing need for depth has arisen with the unit struggling through an off-season of graduation, injury or grade problems. McCord looks to be eligible, while Oliver is a legitimate Division I-A prospect who drew interest from Alabama and Auburn. Coaches are high on Thompson and Martin.<br /><br /><strong>SPECIALISTS<br /></strong>While this is no longer a critical area, since rising junior Tim Manuel handled both punting and kicking field goals last year, the team continues to explore the possibility of signing another prospect. The position might also attract a transfer.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-61435286189971723902008-02-12T09:13:00.004-06:002009-05-18T22:39:12.233-05:00Remembering: Everson Walls' selfless act<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CALL TO ACTION</span> </strong><br /><strong>Selfless act by ex-Grambling and Cowboys star launches national crusade<br /></strong><em>January 6, 2008<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSBYrLLLpg49hzHy73JG_64kYDfYIhvtLTMQBjxJhVtFlHZl5AOedf0FTC7dboEuq_3qxo25tShL-vGYf9VtKrBaRuTQw9McBT5_x3EJpCktJvxmjhl_iuHT0bspu_UHWlrDD/s1600-h/nickandcubby.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282874201718445154" style="FLOAT: center; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSBYrLLLpg49hzHy73JG_64kYDfYIhvtLTMQBjxJhVtFlHZl5AOedf0FTC7dboEuq_3qxo25tShL-vGYf9VtKrBaRuTQw9McBT5_x3EJpCktJvxmjhl_iuHT0bspu_UHWlrDD/s400/nickandcubby.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Hope and love, outside of the storybooks, so often share time with searing pain and uncertainty.<br /><br />And so it was with <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-everson-walls.html" target="_blank">Everson Walls</a></strong> and former NFL teammate and life-long friend Ron Springs.<br /><br />"The last 13-to-14 months," Walls said and paused, searching for the words, "have been trying, triumphant — heavy on my heart. I've just been running the gamut."<br /><br />Walls, the former Grambling and pro standout, decided to give a kidney to Springs, was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, mourned as his college coach passed, helped spark a national conversation on organ donation, and then watched in horror as Springs slipped into a lingering coma.<br /><br />"Thank God I have faith," Walls said. "Thank God I have support from my family, because if it wasn't for that, I might have let all of that weigh on me."<br /><br />Walls has, indeed, remained light on his feet — cross-crossing the country to share this remarkable story, encourage support for a national donor bill introduced to Congress in his honor last September and bolster the spirits of transplant recipients, donor families and those still waiting for the next Everson Walls to come along.<br /><br />"As I look back, it has surprised me what I have come through," Walls said. "Something that I've really focused on since I decided to donate my kidney: Do not take anything for granted."<br /><br />That includes the fairy tale conclusion that so many had hoped for.<br /><br />Walls is just as often found these days at the side of Springs, who remains in a Dallas hospital, alive but not living.<br /><br />The rewritten epilogue is messier, more real. Media outlets struggled to frame the narrative.<br /><br />Bryant Gumbel, hosting HBO's "Real Sports," admitted that producers were initially inclined to shelve an already-completed segment on Walls' donation when Springs took the unexpected turn.<br /><br />But the two men's unordinary bond transcended even this stunning twist.<br /><br />"We planned," Gumbel said, "for our account of their relationship to stand as a tale of real selflessness and true teamwork. Unfortunately, their story took a sad and unexpected turn — one that, frankly, gave us pause about even airing the piece. Ultimately, we decided we should, because it's still an inspirational tale about the strength of friendship and genuine love."<br /><br />That simple, timeless emotion opened up a continuing conversation on organ donation of sweeping proportions.<br /><br /><strong>FRIENDS, THEN FAMILY</strong><br />They were teammates on early 1980s Dallas Cowboys squads at first, then best friends, then family.<br /><br />Godfathers to one another's children, their very lives were already inextricably bound.<br /><br />They shared a neighborhood. Their wives were close, too.<br /><br />In these small ways, they shared each other's story — even after Springs retired and Walls left for a successful stint with the New York Giants, where he won Super Bowl XXV in 1991.<br /><br />That same season, Springs developed Type II diabetes. Over the next 10 years, this once vibrant athlete — the former running back had led Dallas with 12 touchdowns in 1981 — saw his kidneys fail, forcing Springs into dialysis.<br /><br />He lost a foot to amputation. Finally both hands curled into nearly useless, withered commas, as muscular fibrosis set in.<br /><br />Walls, shocked at his friend's deterioration, began working out with Springs — hoping, he says, to help him through what ever period of time it took for a kidney donation to arrive.<br /><br />The search, which included two separate failed donation attempts by incompatible relatives, dragged on for three excruciating years. Springs also rejected an offer from his son, an 11th-year cornerback with the Washington Redskins, out of fear that the surgery would end his pro career.<br /><br />A year ago in February, Walls decided to step in.<br /><br />"I used to feel like an old penny," Springs said afterward. "Now I feel like a new John F. Kennedy 50-cent piece."<br /><br />Walls never struggled with the decision, though he did at first shy away from the media attention that followed — refusing, as Springs often noted, to inhabit the hero's cape.<br /><br />Walls said he hoped it would just be between the two of them, as so much always had been. Instead, his selfless act became a headline, then a call to action.<br /><br />"We wanted to keep it in house," Walls said. "We really never thought about what kind of impact it would have, until we started sharing it."<br /><br />He was stopped short, however, by the passing of former Grambling coach <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-eddie-robinson.html" target="_blank"><strong>Eddie Robinson</strong></a> — a towering mentor in Walls' life who <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/farewell-to-legend.html" target="_blank">succumbed to an Alzheimer's-related illness </a></strong>in April.<br /><br />Robinson's leadership toward a better America, with a focus on overcoming adversity and becoming a citizen contributor, still resonates.<br /><br />"It was funny, because when I was telling people my thoughts on this donation, I always came back to Coach Robinson's insights into life — to his testament on being a strong black man," Walls said. "That had a lot to do with all of this. I had been talking about Coach Robinson that whole time, and I still am. It's given me another opportunity to uplift his philosophy."<br /><br />Walls and a rejuvenated Springs threw themselves into Gift For Life — a national foundation they founded to promote awareness of kidney disease and encourage organ donation — and that became their second legacy, away from the field and that helmet with the star.<br /><br />They would be teammates, brothers and friends, forever. Not just on the gridiron, but in the public consciousness.<br /><br />Walls, in a whirlwind now, then found himself speaking before Congress in support of that House bill — called the Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift for Life Act of 2007, after their nonprofit foundation.<br /><br />The proposed law would establish a national organ and tissue donor registry center, authorize grants for state organ and tissue registries and create a database to help track long-term health effects for living donors.<br /><br />"It went from being for one person to being something that the entire world wanted to get involved with," Walls said, still moved. "It has touched so many people lives."<br /><br />There awaited, however, one more shocking turn in a tale that rivals the dark fables of old.<br /><br /><strong>ENDURING INSPIRATION</strong><br />Springs fell into the coma last October while undergoing elective surgery to remove a cyst in his arm. Doctors still don't know what sent him spiraling away, though Walls says he thinks it was a reaction to the anesthesia.<br /><br />Springs remains physically well, Walls said, but locked in a quiet place where he can't be reached.<br /><br />News stories have portrayed his hopes for recovery as virtually nonexistent, even as Springs' son Shawn described his father is "pretty much a vegetable."<br /><br />Walls remains steadfast in his friendship, and his faith.<br /><br />"It was not a reaction to the kidney," Walls said. "He's in good shape, and breathing on his own — and has been since a week after the incident. Ron is great candidate to come out of this coma. He still has body movement. The neurologist is very hopeful."<br /><br />Walls continues the work he started with Springs, refusing to let a moment of enduring inspiration be rendered less significant by this sad footnote.<br /><br />He's in Missouri this weekend to speak at the Smart Living Expo in St. Louis on behalf of the national donor bill. On Friday, he also visited a local Children's Hospital to visit with transplant patients.<br /><br />"This is the biggest thing that has happened to me in my entire life, including that Super Bowl," Walls said.<br /><br />The generation he spoke with at that St. Louis medical facility has no memory of the rest of Walls' considerable achievements in a football uniform. Not the best-in-the-nation mark for interceptions as a senior defensive back at Grambling, nor his Pro Bowl days at Dallas in 1981-83 and '85.<br /><br />Only that he turned so much attention to their plight.<br /><br />"As much as I take pride in my career as a player, now it's OK for others to think of football as secondary to how I am known now," Walls said. "To be known for that gives me much more gratification. Hands down, no comparison."<br /><br />He knows, deep down, that the final chapter hasn't been written yet.<br /><br />Not until their bill passes. Not until Ron Springs gets up from that hospital bed.<br /><br />"He will," Walls said. "I know he will."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-61943789491876631582008-02-11T09:47:00.002-06:002009-01-13T08:50:15.799-06:00Recruiting: Grambling State's 2004 football signing class<em>Here are Grambling State University's announced football signees, with same-day analysis, from National Signing Day in February 2004:<br /></em><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Grambling State's 2004 haul </strong></span><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><strong>QUARTERBACK<br /></strong><br />· Brandon Gultrey, 5-10, 160, McCall (Tallulah, La.) HS:<em> </em>McCall's only senior, finished year with 2,218 yards, completing 64.1 percent of passes.<br /><br />· Larry Kerlegan, 5-11, 180, La Marque (Texas) HS: Ranked No. 11 nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks by Rivals.com.<br /><br />· Brandon Landers, 5-11, 190, Carroll (La.) HS: The News-Star's Offensive Player of the Year on 2003 All-Northeast Louisiana team.<br /><br />· Mike Nichols, 6-5, 220, Westbury (Houston, Texas) HS: SuperPrep listed Nichols as 90th out of Top 100 prospects in the entire Big 12 region.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny: </strong>GSU did a good job of preparing for the future, as All-America quarterback <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-bruce-eugene.html" target="_blank"><strong>Bruce Eugene</strong> </a>enters his senior season. Landers was an early target, but the coaches kept working to sign more top-notch talent - including the two Texas quarterbacks. Kerlegan's academic status is uncertain, which probably means the race is between Nichols and Landers. Gultrey, who excelled as a safety at McCall, will likely be moved to another position.<br /><br /><strong>RUNNING BACK<br /></strong><br />·Michael Rainey, 6-1, 185, Vicksburg (Miss.) HS: Rushed for 359 yards and also caught 22 passes for 207 yards last season.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny: </strong>While Grambling State has decided to use <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/06/grambling-greats-ab-kuuan.html" target="_blank"><strong>Ab Kuuan </strong></a></strong>as its everyday rusher, he'll need someone to work in relief next season. That had been Henry Tolbert, but the coaches are moving him to the slot. Rainey is a similar runner, rangy and elusive.<br /><br /><strong>WIDE RECEIVERS<br /></strong><br />· <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/08/grambling-greats-clyde-edwards.html" target="_blank">Clyde Edwards</a>,</strong> 5-11, 170, Westbury (Houston, Texas) HS: Good academic performer; received first-team District 18-5A honors this season.<br /><br />· Xavier Jackson, 6-3, 195, Parker (Birmingham, Ala.) HS: Had more than 900 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.<br /><br />· Kenneth Miller, 6-2, 180, Winnsboro (La.) HS: Honorable mention on 2002 Class 3A All-State team. Also played basketball and ran track.<br /><br />· Albert Rogers, 6-3, 180, Northeast (Zachary, La.) HS: Two-way player, received second-team All District 8-2A honors. All-around athlete, excelled at safety as well.<br /><br />· Frank Green, 6-1, 185, Moncks Corner, SC/East Tennessee Univ.: Had 16 receptions for 242 yards and touchdown; also returned kick for another score last season.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny: </strong>Miller gives GSU the speed it so clearly craves, while Green brings valuable experience. Still, wide receiver wasn't a point of great need for the Tigers - despite the graduation of senior All-American <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-tramon-douglas.html" target="_blank">Tramon Douglas</a>,</strong> who broke Jerry Rice's record for receptions in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game. Freshman Tim Abney proved he was ready to audition for the No. 1 spot after tying for second in total touchdowns scored last season. Moses Harris and Paul Hardiman are also locks for playing time.<br /><br /><strong>TIGHT ENDS<br /></strong><br />· Antonio Shannon, 6-4, 220, Mansfield (La.) HS: Member of Class 3A All-State football team.<br /><br />· Travis Singleton, 6-3, 245, O. Perry Walker (New Orleans, La.) HS: Louisiana's No. 10 tight end prospect on the Zems Gems recruiting Web page. Impressive athlete, also plays basketball for Walker.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny: </strong>Shannon is the day's steal, a center on his school's basketball team who goes for passes like an aggressive rebounder. Singleton is listed at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash. Both of last year's tight ends are gone, meaning there will be a wide-open race to replace them. Gershone Jessie, an All-America candidate, has graduated. <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/09/grambling-greats-jason-hatcher.html" target="_blank">Jason Hatcher </a></strong>has been moved to defensive end.<br /><br /><strong>OFFENSIVE LINE</strong><br /><br />· Mike Smith, 6-5, 315, Vicksburg (Miss.) HS: Smith joins former VHS linemen Andre Bennett and Charles Wilson, sophomores who both started at GSU last season. Wilson is Smith's brother.<br /><br />· Quentin Smith, 6-2, 295, Centennial (Roswell, Ga.) HS: Son of former New York Giants OG Lance Smith, was part of group that gave CHS coach Mike Cloy his 100th career victory in 2003.<br /><br />· Tavarus Cockrell, 6-3, 295, Parker (Birmingham, Ala.) HS: All-State as offensive tackle and defensive tackle, also played basketball.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny:</strong> GSU coaches feel that they have the type of runner in Kuuan who can return some balance to the Tigers' offensive attack. The problem last season seemed to be the lack of athleticism up front, especially with the reintroduction of the Wing-T formation in the scheme - one that calls for lots of pulling linemen. Cockrell in particular is a signing aimed directly at correcting that.<br /><br /><strong>DEFENSE</strong><br /><br />· Guy Henderson, DB/WR, 6-0, 190, Karr (New Orleans, La.) HS: Superior athlete, also played quarterback for Karr as junior.<br /><br />· Deshon Pennie, DB, 6-0, 195, Nimitz (Houston, Texas) HS: First-team all-district as senior. Runs a legitimate 4.4, according to his prep coach.<br /><br />· Robby Smith, DB, 5-11, 170, Ruston (La.) HS: First-team pick on 2003 All-Northeast Football Team. Adept at both man-to-man coverage or stopping run.<br /><br />· Dee White, DT, 6-2, 260, Richwood (La.) HS: All-district pick as senior and honorable mention for 2-3A in 2002.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny: </strong>The defensive line and linebacker corps went largely unaddressed since GSU coaches are happy with the development of several players there. But a pair of new defensive backs were desperately needed with the graduation of both starters. That means Smith, Henderson and Pennie - perhaps the most accomplished of these backs coming out of high school - will get immediate reps and, possibly, playing time.<br /><br /><strong>SPECIALISTS</strong><br /><br />· William Mathis, KR/WR, 5-6, 155, Shades Valley (Pleasant Grove, Ala.) HS: Solid academic performer but also track star. Coaches say he is low 4.4 40-yard dasher.<br /><br />· Larry Anderson, P, 6-4, 215, Redemptorist (Baton Rouge, La.) HS: Received second-team all-District 7-4A honors last season. Also played forward on school's basketball team.<br /><br /><strong>The Skinny: </strong>Grambling State didn't have a reliable kickoff returner last season, often using starters from the defensive back and wide receiver units. So, Mathis will get an immediate look. Meanwhile, Anderson was badly needed at punter. Darien Morgan wasn't consistent enough in 2003 to be relied upon on an every-game basis.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-31289264598508945522008-02-08T08:10:00.000-06:002009-01-13T08:50:15.800-06:00The time that Clyde Edwards played his last game<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Edwards ends GSU career on bittersweet note</strong><br /></span><em>December 16, 2007</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It wasn't supposed to end like this for <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/08/grambling-greats-clyde-edwards.html"target="_blank">Clyde Edwards.</a></strong><br /><br />With his lowest output over four stirring seasons at Grambling State.<br /><br />With his team down 28-12 at the half, then finally falling 42-31, and with no touchdown receptions.<br /><br />With some thinking his coach would be gone to Florida A&M in the morning.<br />Without a second title to put the finishing touches on a career like no other receiver in the remarkable history of this passing offense.<br /><br />"I'm caught up in the moment," Edwards said, still in his pads. Still taking it all in.<br /><br />"That hurt," he said, slowly, finally, definitively.<br /><br />Edwards will perhaps be remembered as much for a school-record 37 career receiving touchdowns as for carrying a 3.9 grade-point average through graduation at Grambling on Friday.<br /><br />He raced over here to Birmingham later that day to participate in what once looked like a coronation.<br /><br />Grambling had won seven straight games by the first Saturday in November.<br /><br />And Edwards was one his way to claiming a spot among the program's very best — a list that includes Louisiana Sports Hall of Famers Charlie Joiner and <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-frank-lewis.html"target="_blank">Frank Lewis, </a></strong>as well as more recent standouts like Scotty Anderson, <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-tramon-douglas.html"target="_blank">Tramon Douglas </a></strong>and <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-henry-tolbert.html"target="_blank">Henry Tolbert.</a></strong><br /><br />Something happened on the way to the crowning ceremony.<br /><br />Grambling lost two straight going into Saturday, even as its coach began an extended flirtation with at least two other programs.<br /><br />Then it lost one more, the first time Grambling had ever fallen in a SWAC Championship Game.<br /><br />With Clyde Edwards somehow at the center of everything, but outside the circle of light.<br /><br />His initial pair of catches were for first downs, one for 15 yards and another for 13 — getting Grambling to the JSU 11 within the game's first two minutes.<br /><br />Even when things were supposed to be right, they somehow came out wrong.<br /><br />Edwards moved into history, passing Douglas in the Grambling record book for career receptions, on an early-second quarter pitchout — but ran into team mate Nick Lewis. No gain.<br /><br />He'd already broken the GSU record for career touchdowns, and was closing in on Anderson's mark for career yards.<br /><br />But he was losing. Again.<br /><br />"We gave everything we had," Edwards said. "They were just playing a little better."<br /><br />Honored at midfield before the game with the U.S. Army Strong Leadership Award, Edwards actually earned it later.<br /><br />He entered the locker room at the half down 16 points to Jackson State. But not down.<br /><br />Edwards never quit, even while the same couldn't be said for fans that should have been supporting him and his team mates in the final Football Championship Subdivision contest of the season.<br /><br />An announced crowd of 43,236 — second highest ever for a SCG — saw Jackson fans outnumber their counterparts by a factor of what looked like 10-to-1. Grambling supporters stayed away in shocking droves.<br /><br />No matter.<br /><br />Edwards needed just 14 yards in the second half to overtake Anderson as the school's all-time leader in receiving yards. He got 47.<br /><br />In fact, Edwards somehow finished with a game-high number of catches, and yards.<br /><br />Yet scoreless during his final night inside a Grambling uniform.<br /><br />Still, Edwards never got discouraged, never stopped playing. Never stopped bleeding black and gold.<br /><br />He is, quite simply, the greatest player, the greatest man, of the modern Grambling era.<br /><br />A pleasure to watch, and an even greater pleasure to know.<br /><br />"Clyde is special, not only as a football player," said first-year GSU coach <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/01/grambling-hires-rod-broadway.html"target="_blank">Rod Broadway.</a></strong> "Clyde is such a good, solid person. We would like to have an entire football team with the character of Clyde Edwards."<br /><br />He has, since 2004, made memories that will last longer than wins on the field — longer than even his trio of staggering school records.<br /><br />In this way, his tenure will never be over. We shouldn't think all that's left to celebrate is what Edwards did on the field.<br /><br />He's always been much more than that.<br /><br />"He's my brother, my right hand," said quarterback Brandon Landers, who has shared the field with Edwards through three years of starting at Grambling. "He's a man's man, a great American."<br /><br />If you didn't see Edwards' last game, and there are a numbingly large number who didn't, you missed a final moment with a Grambling hero for the ages.<br /><br />He didn't really have a great day.<br /><br />He didn't really have a great season, not the season he should have had.<br /><br />Not when Edwards had gone without a 100-yard night since facing Texas Southern back in October, when he exploded for three touchdowns. Edwards only other times to reach the century mark were against Prairie View and Jackson State, in the previous regular-season meeting.<br /><br />A new run-first attack didn't always feature him.<br /><br />Edwards took that in stride, too, as he had so many catches. He never spoke ill of the scheme, or the new staff. He never did anything that would draw attention to himself, or his own hopes.<br /><br />"I set some goals before the year, but in this offense it doesn't always call for that," Edwards said. "I've had to make the best of my opportunities."<br /><br />He only wanted to win a championship, he often said.<br /><br />Even that dream failed Edwards this season, though he helped reverse a disastrous 3-8 record from his junior year.<br /><br />There would be no trophy raising for him as a senior, making <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/02/swac-championship-game-2005.html"target="_blank">the lone championship </a></strong>of his sophomore year all the more bittersweet.<br /><br />"I feel like you come out the same, giving the same effort each season — you give it your all," he said. "Life is funny like that. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't."<br /><br />It wasn't supposed to end like this for Clyde Edwards.<br /><br /><em>NICK DERISO is assistant managing editor at The News-Star. Contact him at (318) 362-0234 or at nderiso@thenewsstar.com</em><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-2038423799007538762008-01-29T00:23:00.002-06:002009-01-14T00:27:52.692-06:00The time that Grambling played McNeese at home<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">GSU-McNeese: Something's got to give</span></strong><br /><em>September 17, 2003</em><br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />Grambling State's quarterback is leading Division I-AA in total offense. McNeese State's pass defense is No. 2 in the nation.<br /><br />Something's got to give on Saturday, as GSU - just days after an emotional win over the Southwestern Athletic Conference defending Eastern champion Alabama A&M - faces McNeese, Division I-AA's top-rated team, at home.<br /><br />"I think it's good for Grambling," Grambling State coach <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-doug-williams.html" target="_blank"><strong>Doug Williams</strong></a> said at his weekly news conference, "and I think it's good for the state of Louisiana to have this game here this weekend."<br /><br />McNeese's 52-20 opening-night drubbing of the Tigers in Lake Charles changed the 2002 season for both.<br /><br />GSU won the next 10 games on its way to a third straight SWAC title. The Cowboys would go on to become the national Division I-AA runner-up.<br /><br />Turnovers and youthful mistakes contributed to the lopsided score, the Tigers' coach said.<br /><br />"We're a much better team than we were last year at this time. In order to win against a team like McNeese," Williams said, "you can't afford to turn the ball over five times. We turned it over in positions where they could make plays and take advantage of it, too. At halftime, the score was 21-14. It wasn't like it was over with. The wheels came off in the second half."<br /><br />The most significant difference for Grambling State is quarterback <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/03/time-that-bruce-passed-doug.html" target="_blank">Bruce Eugene, </a></strong>who was benched after his flameout against the Cowboys last season. Eugene had completed just four passes on 22 attempts for 125 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions, against McNeese State.<br /><br />His second chance at starting came only after freshman Gary Cooper was injured in the second quarter of the Tigers' Week 2 matchup against Alcorn State.<br /><br />Eugene went on become a Walter Payton Award Finalist and Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. In 13 games, Eugene averaged 342.7 yards a game.<br /><br />He enters Saturday's contest as the team's starter under center - and its unquestioned leader. After accounting for five touchdowns for a second week, Eugene garnered his second consecutive SWAC player of the week honor. Individually, Eugene accounted for 458 offensive yards, more than the opponents' total - Alabama A&M had 367.<br /><br />The McNeese State defense, meanwhile, is giving up just 67.7 yards per game in the air.<br /><br />Again, something has to give. Williams seems thrilled at the challenge.<br /><br />"Yesterday, we talked about the impact of this game," Williams said. "We feel like, in I-AA football, this is the biggest game in the country. There's the LSU-Georgia game, then there's the McNeese-Grambling game. It's a good matchup."<br /><br /><strong>Morgan is a kick: </strong>Junior GSU kicker Brian Morgan was named SWAC specialist player of the week after going 6-for-6 in point-after attempts and adding a 21-yard field goal.<br /><br />"Morgan is kicking the ball better now than he did as a freshman - when he was a phenom," Williams said.<br /><br />Morgan was named SWAC freshman of the year in 2001. His nine points on Saturday were part of a 45-14 victory over Alabama A&M in a rematch of the 2000 and 2002 SWAC championship games.<br /><br />If it's possible, Morgan played an even bigger role in Monday's practices - generally a tough outing where the team works on conditioning through rigorous running drills.<br /><br />Williams told the team that if Morgan made a 52-yard field goal, they could stop the drills.<br /><br />"Everybody ran up to Brian and hugged him," Williams said. "They knew it was over."<br /><br />It was: "Morgan hit it."<br /><br /><strong>A funny show, period: </strong>Williams was a guest on the FOX network's "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Monday night, sitting in front of a case filled with momentos from his successful turn as coach at Grambling State.<br /><br />"Are you sitting in a trophy store?" co-host Tom Arnold joked, upon seeing several shiny pieces behind Williams - including one his three Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.<br /><br />The segment began with a short discussion on the fading hopes that suspended Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett would consider a transfer to GSU. But it took a predictably humorous turn when a housefly continued to buzz the former Super Bowl MVP's head.<br /><br />"I must be too sweet!" Williams joked on the program, which aired at 8 p.m. Monday.<br /><br />The next day, he was still chuckling about the segment, filmed before practice on campus.<br /><br />"Did you see me fighting that fly?" he said. "That was crazy."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>This season, GSU is settled in</strong><br /></span>· Tigers' game with McNeese State in 2002 came at a bad time - the season opener.<br /><em>September 19, 2003</em><br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Somebody was going to say it. We knew that.<br /><br />Might as well be Grambling State coach Doug Williams: "What a difference a year makes."<br /><br />Division I-AA runner-up McNeese State travels to Grambling on Saturday as the Tigers try to avenge last year's Week 1 52-20 loss. Kickoff for GSU's home opener is set for 6:30 p.m. Both teams enter the rematch at 2-1, and both are ranked nationally in I-AA.<br /><br />"The difference this year is that it's our fourth ballgame," Williams said. "Compare that to last year, where we only had seven guys who had started. Nobody knew which direction we were going. It was more of a wake-up call for us than anything."<br /><br />While the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions continue a rebuilding process that had only just begun in 2002, their Saturday opponent isn't all that much different.<br /><br />"If ain't broke," Williams said, pulling out another cliché, "don't fix it, you know? McNeese, I think, proved that they had an excellent football team by going to the championship game. They caught us early, and gave us a reason to go forward. Sometimes you need a wake-up call, and we got it."<br /><br />The McNeese offense is led by junior quarterback Scott Pendarvis, who earned Southland Conference player of the week honors for his opening-night performance this year against Henderson State.<br /><br />"McNeese is a team that makes very few mistakes," said GSU offensive coordinator <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/on-gsu-coach-melvin-spears.html" target="_blank">Melvin Spears.</a> </strong>"They are a very controlled, possession-type offense - with an outstanding defense. They force you to make mistakes, then they capitalize."<br /><br />The Cowboys balance their attack with senior tailback Vick King.<br /><br />"Their tailback is an excellent runner," said Tiger defensive coordinator Heishma Northern. "He runs hard and low to the ground - and never stops his feet."<br /><br />King was honored as the SLC's offensive player of the week after rushing for 147 yards against Georgia Southern last Saturday - pushing his career total to 2,145 yards and becoming the No. 8 runner in school history.<br /><br />"The quarterback throws the ball no more than 18-20 times, then they want to give it to Vick King," Spears said. "That's where they want it to be, in King's hands."<br /><br />The Cowboys, coached by McNeese graduate Tommy Tate, succeeded last season, Williams said, by utilizing a wicked bootleg. "We were not able to cope with that," he said. "We had a bunch of young linebackers who hadn't seen it."<br /><br />Grambling's defense has been working on a more controlled rush, stressing awareness of the passing lanes.<br /><br />"A lot of people try to attack us with boots, because we are so aggressive," Northern said. "San Jose and Alcorn did a good job with the shuttle pass. Hopefully, we can have a night like we had against (Alabama) A&M again."<br /><br />The Tigers so confused and rattled the Bulldogs' starter that Timothy Robinson was benched at the half.<br /><br />Defensively, the Cowboys are led by All-American linebacker Roderick Royal, tackle John Paul Jones and linebacker Keith Smith.<br /><br />"We're going up against one of the top pass defenses in the country," Williams said. "They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback up the middle."<br /><br />In Lake Charles last year, Eugene completed just four passes for 125 yards, had two picks and was sacked three times. His debut against San Jose in 2003 was a similar debacle.<br /><br />But, in both cases, he rebounded. Eugene has been responsible for six touchdown passes and four rushing scores in the last two weeks alone. He leads I-AA in total offense.<br /><br />"McNeese may think we are approaching this as a revenge game, but we are approaching it the same way we approach every game - one by one," an understandably confident Eugene said. "We just happen to have McNeese in the fourth week. We've just got to go in and take care of business."<br /><br />Tate has seen the progression.<br /><br />"He's a better football player this year," the Cowboys' coach said of Eugene, "although last year, he was obviously a good player. He can throw the ball; he has receivers who can catch the ball with a lot of speed. He breaks tackles then throws the ball as far as he needs to. We'll have to contain the pocket against them."<br /><br /><strong>Tiger bites:</strong> McNeese's Royal is one of 16 players who have been named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. The I-AA defensive honor is named after a former Grambling State player. … Sophomore GSU quarterback Gary Cooper - last year's starter at McNeese - made a rare appearance last week, mopping up in a lopsided win over Alabama A&M. He completed 1-of-2 passes for 4 yards in his first action since a September 2002 game against Tennessee State. … McNeese has not lost a game to the current members of the SWAC. The Cowboys are 3-0 against Prairie View A&M, 2-0 against Alcorn State and 1-0 vs. GSU.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">GSU defense to be tested again<br /></span></strong><em>September 20, 2003</em><br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Expectations were already high for a Grambling State defense that senior linebacker Antoine Smith says had sometimes been accused of underachieving in 2002.<br /><br />Then came a blowout 2003 season opener and the sudden departure of the Tigers' defensive coordinator, Michael Roach, due to personal reasons.<br /><br />But the unit never faltered - and, truth be told, kept even the San Jose State contest close until a weary fourth quarter.<br /><br />"We've overcome a lot of adversity," says Smith, who's been second in team tackles for the past two weeks. "And I believe we will continue to do that, because we have confidence. We have faith in our coach, that he will put us in the right position - and we have faith in each other."<br /><br />The pressure cooker gets a little warmer for new coordinator Heishma Northern's unit today as Division I-AA's top-ranked team arrives for Grambling State's home opener. Kickoff against McNeese - which, like GSU, is 2-1 - is set for 6:30 p.m. at Robinson Stadium.<br /><br />Through three games, the GSU defense has held opponents to just 17 total first-half points, allowing the offense to find its rhythm. That finally happened in Week 2, and the Tigers have won each game since.<br /><br />"They got off to a shaky start, but they have improved a lot since then," says McNeese coach Tommy Tate, now in this fourth year with the Cowboys. "They are a very good football team, fast and physical."<br /><br />A similar, smothering performance is required for Grambling State to have a chance at avenging last year's 52-20 opening-day loss against the Cowboys.<br /><br />"They run the football well," says GSU head coach Doug Williams. "That's how they control the tempo. If you control the running back, you control the game. McNeese also does a great job with bootleg passes. We're getting better at stopping that."<br /><br />Much of the credit for this unit's early success can be given to Northern. One of Williams' original hires, "Heish" had worked primarily with the defensive backs - where he had once been an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference performer at Southern University.<br /><br />"He's a very good coach. He studies the game well," Smith says. "If we continue to hustle to the ball, wrap up and make good plays, we'll be fine."<br /><br />Northern says team leaders like Smith, defensive tackles Joshua Kador and Jimmy Zachary and cornerback Octavius Bond have also helped solidify the group.<br /><br />"Those guys," Northern says, "have done a tremendous job. The thing that separates us from last year is that we have some active guys with a little experience. Last year, we had active guys, but they didn't always know where they were going. That helps a lot."<br /><br />But Northern's quiet intensity can't be discounted.<br /><br />"Last week, he was a little more relaxed as a coordinator. I think he settled down," Williams says of Northern. "He realized that he can do this. He's been around Coach Roach and around these guys. I think he did a good job."<br /><br />Northern points to Roach's open style of coaching as something that helped prepare him for the promotion to coordinator.<br /><br />"Coach Roach would always let me call some defenses here and there," says Northern, whose impact as defensive backs coordinator at GSU was already clear: Last year, the Tigers were No. 4 in the nation in interceptions.<br /><br />"It was kind of an apprenticeship role," Northern said. "He would always ask me what I thought about certain situations. I just have had a little bit more responsibility, in terms of calling all of the plays."<br /><br />This week's contest against McNeese represents perhaps the steepest hill yet defensively for Grambling State: A smart, patient quarterback in Scott Pendarvis and, perhaps more importantly, an electrifying runner in Vick King. Each has been named a Southland Conference offensive player of the week already this season.<br /><br />"A lot of people were waiting on the outcome of the (Alabama A&M) game for the same reason," Williams said. "Some felt like with the running game of A&M, there was a question about whether we could stop them. I think the defense, especially the front seven, did an excellent job on a guy that can really run the football."<br /><br />A&M's Jeremiah Bonds, who had exploded for 261 yards in just two games, was neutralized. Take away a broken play of 60 yards, and Bonds ran for just 57 yards last week. The defense also held the Bulldogs' two quarterbacks to 23 completions combined.<br /><br />"This is great time to play McNeese. We're starting to come together," says Smith. "I believe it's going to be a great game. When we have the mindset of being champions, despite whatever goes on, we succeed."<br /><br /><strong>Lining up@GSU<br /></strong>GRAMBLING OFFENSE<br />TE Gershone Jessie (6-4, 250, Sr.)<br />LT Jonathan Banks (6-8, 360, So.)<br />LG Aqua Etefia (6-2, 315, Jr.)<br />C Lance Wright (6-0, 300, Jr.)<br />RG Darryl Rogers (6-5, 300, Jr.)<br />RT Andre' Bennett (6-6, 330, So.)<br />QB Bruce Eugene (6-1, 245, Jr.)<br />TB <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-henry-tolbert.html" target="_blank"><strong>Henry Tolbert </strong></a>(5-9, 180, So.)<br />FB Ruben Mayes (6-2, 245, Fr.)<br />WR Moses Harris (6-0, 180, Jr.)<br />WR Tramon Douglas (6-0, 205, Sr.)<br />PK Brian Morgan (5-1, 185, Jr.)<br /><br />GRAMBLING DEFENSE<br />DE Antonio Hughes (6-3, 230, So.)<br />DT Jimmy Zachary (6-2, 300, Jr.)<br />DT Lennard Patton (6-4, 300, Jr.)<br />DE Kenneth Pettway (6-4, 235, Sr.)<br />LB David Hicks (6-3, 225, So.)<br />LB Marcus Yanez (6-0, 235, Jr.)<br />LB Antoine Smith (6-2, 200, Sr.)<br />CB Octavius Bond (6-1, 207, Sr.)<br />CB Seneca Lee (6-0, 195, Sr.)<br />FS Earin Bridges (6-1, 185, Sr.)<br />SS Terry Cooper (6-3, 195, So.)<br />P Darien Morgan (6-0, 195, So.)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Defeat proves aura of GSU<br /></span></strong><em>September 21, 2003 </em><br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Sometimes there's honor in losing. This was one of those times.<br /><br />Grambling State could have safely scheduled this year, secure in the knowledge that the Southwestern Athletic Conference awaited it. The same Southwestern Athletic Conference that it has dominated for three years straight.<br /><br />But the Tigers chose to take this test, a test they were doing well on - until a couple of late errors from quarterback Bruce Eugene, a guy who hadn't made any all night.<br /><br />"We knew our team needed to win this game," senior GSU receiver <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-tramon-douglas.html" target="_blank"><strong>Tramon Douglas</strong></a> said. "We wanted to step up and show that Grambling could play with the best of them."<br /><br />Take away two late interceptions, and the Tigers might have won.<br /><br />But, much more importantly, take away this loss to McNeese State and several questions would never have been answered about Grambling State.<br /><br />The Tigers showed they belonged in the top tier of Division I-AA on Saturday, pushing the No. 1 team to its limit. GSU fell late, 31-20.<br /><br />"I look at it from the perspective that we should have had respect from the start," Tigers coach Doug Williams said. "Unfortunately, one or two people write what they feel - but we didn't play for respect. We played to win."<br /><br />Still, there has always been the lingering question of how Grambling State compared with the football powers outside of that home conference. This was one of those times.<br /><br />While other teams participate in the first week of the Division I-AA playoffs, the Tigers are always in New Orleans for the tradition- and cash-rich playing of the Bayou Classic.<br /><br />Grambling State answered those questions on Saturday night.<br /><br />"McNeese came here as the No. 1 team in I-AA," Williams said. "It was the first time that a predominantly white school had come to Grambling. I think it was great; the fans got their money's worth from this football game."<br /><br />Some might question why GSU - an acknowledged champion in its own realm - would even chance such a moment at home.<br /><br />"When you look at our schedule, I think Coach Williams has done a great job of getting us the kind of competition where, in the end, we will be stronger," GSU offensive coordinator Melvin Spears said. "We will be able to better defend our national black championship."<br /><br />Still, it's not like Grambling State isn't used to the big game. Every game is big when you carry the history - both legendary and recent - of these Tigers.<br /><br />"The thing about being at Grambling is, we have a bull's-eye on us," Spears said. "Every week, everyone brings their 'A' game - because everybody wants to beat Grambling. Every team, whether it's Prairie View or McNeese."<br /><br />The teams that ought to win want another notch in their belt. The teams who shouldn't? Well, a season can be made for a 1-11 club - if that one win is against GSU.<br /><br />"They are not really looking at our team as a whole, but at the history of this institution - those outstanding players and outstanding teams that Coach Eddie Robinson always had," Spears said. "Based on that, it's always going to be a big game. Then, with the success that Coach Williams has had in the past three years, everybody wants a piece of you just that much more."<br /><br />That furious intensity meant the game was in doubt until the very last.<br /><br />McNeese succeeded early by taking advantage of Grambling's aggressive tendencies, allowing it to overcommit. But the Cowboys didn't capitalize, and Grambling's offense gathered itself to pull ahead 13-6 at the half.<br /><br />The old Cowboys strategy of mixing it up had instant success on the first drive of the second half. McNeese State quarterback Scott Pendarvis capped a 10-play, 74-yard opening drive with a 15-yard pass to fullback Luke Lawton to move the Cowboys ahead - but barely, 14-13.<br /><br />McNeese State's Roderick Royal was seen stalking the sidelines, exhorting his teammates not to take the Tigers so lightly.<br /><br />"They were shellshocked," Douglas said. "When they went in at halftime, they realized they had to play."<br /><br />For the second week in a row, Grambling State saw a different opposing quarterback in the second half. McNeese pulled Pendarvis in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, inserting <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/11/remembering-how-ulmgrambling-happened.html" target="_blank">Louisiana-Monroe </a></strong>transfer Ryan Corcoran. Corcoran then led a drive that ended with a 3-yard scoring strike by runner Vick King, pulling the Cowboys back ahead by one, 21-20.<br /><br />Pendarvis returned after the score, leading McNeese to a John Marino field goal that made it 24-20.<br /><br />It's only then that a mistake by Grambling State - this Eugene pass, once surely a touchdown, would pop up in the air and turn the contest inalterably.<br /><br />"We would have proved something if we had won," Douglas said. "They think they are better than us, because they won. One play made the difference."<br /><br />While Grambling scored the same number of points as it had in last year's season-opening loss to McNeese, the outcome was far different this time.<br /><br />"The one thing that it tells us is that, in Louisiana, we play excellent football," Spears said. "When you can have McNeese State and Grambling playing each other, and both in the top 10, that tells you this state has outstanding programs."<br /><br />These two teams gained a measure of respect for one another - as evidenced by McNeese State coach Tommy Tate, last seen embracing a shaken Eugene at midfield after the game.<br /><br />They both looked spent.<br /><br />"Coach Tate would be the first to tell you, he was in a dog fight," Williams said.<br /><br />You rarely find a team that should be proud of a loss.<br /><br />This was one of those times.<br /><br /><em>Nick Deriso is sports editor at The News-Star, 411 N. Fourth St., Monroe, La., 71201. An online archive of his columns is at www.thenewsstar.com/nickderiso. You can contact him at (318) 362-0234 or at nderiso@thenewsstar.com.<br /></em><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">GAMEBREAKER<br /></span></strong>· McNeese State completed a third-and-10 from its own 14 late in the game to hold on.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">GAME RECAP<br /></span></strong><br />GOOD PLAY<br />Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene found receiver Tramon Douglas in the left corner of the end zone with a perfect fade pass for a 15-yard score to give the Tigers a 13-7 lead in the second quarter. Douglas was double-covered on the play as he made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch.<br /><br />BAD PLAY<br />With 12:59 left in the second quarter, McNeese faced a third-and-16 at its own 16. The Cowboys' pass was incomplete, but the Tigers were flagged for defensive holding, giving McNeese an automatic first down.<br /><br />GOOD CALL<br />After opening the game on its first two drives in three- and four-wide receiver sets and not running one rushing play, Grambling switched to the I formation and started running the ball. The switch seemed to catch McNeese offguard. Grambling had some success running and went back to the pass on the drive, which led to its first score of the game.<br /><br />SOMETHING SPECIAL<br />It was a tough night for Grambling kicker Brian Morgan. Morgan missed an extra point, a 41-yard field goal and also had a kickoff go out of bounds.<br /><br />BIG HIT<br />McNeese faced a fourth-and-1 at the Grambling 31 with 8:13 left in the second quarter. The Cowboys tried to run fullback Luke Lawton up the middle, but Grambling linebacker John Petty fired across and drilled Lawton for a 2-yard loss.<br /><br />EXTRA POINT<br />Grambling set three school records Saturday. Quarterback Bruce Eugene set two records for completions in a game (36) and attempts in a game (68). Receiver Tramon Douglas set a record for receptions in a game with 17.<br />- Nick Deriso<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">JUST THE FACTS<br /></span></strong>GRAMBLING - A record-breaking day for Grambling State receiver Tramon Douglas against McNeese State dissolved into a heart-breaker, as the Tigers fell behind late and never recovered.<br /><br />GSU lost 31-20, despite remaining within one score most of the way - and despite Douglas' setting a new school record with 17 receptions.<br /><br />Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene had two first-half touchdown passes, both for 16 yards, to Douglas. He added another 15-yarder 10 minutes into the second half.<br /><br />But it was a final pass try to Eugene that finished the Tigers, as the ball bounced from his hands into those of waiting McNeese defender Stephen Barrett.<br /><br />McNeese State tailback Vick King then broke a 60-yard scoring run on the ensuing possession that sealed the game, 31-20.<br /><br />"It came down to one pass," said Douglas, a senior All-American. "It was behind me, but I got a finger on it - and couldn't bring it in. I'd like to apologize to the team."<br /><br />King finished with three touchdowns on the night. He ran 30 times for 215 yards.<br /><br />"We had our opportunities," sixth-year GSU coach Doug Williams said. "Bruce missed one or two touchdowns. We dropped one or two touchdowns. We have no one to blame but ourselves."<br /><br />A 16-yard catch by West Monroe High product Marcus Turner keyed the opening score of the game for McNeese. King broke free after a terrific cutback, scampering through a seam in the Tigers defense for a 31-yard touchdown.<br /><br />Then a 19-yard pass to Neville High product Tim Abney set up Grambling State's first points of the game - a 16-yard touchdown strike from Eugene to Douglas one minute into the second quarter. Brian Morgan missed the extra point.<br /><br />A stop on a fourth-and-1 midway through the second stalled a McNeese drive that included a 30-yard completion to B.J. Sams on third and 31. GSU linebacker John Petty smacked McNeese fullback Luke Lawton in the backfield for a two-yard loss at the Grambling 33.<br /><br />But then Grambling State couldn't convert on its own fourth-and-1 with 5:32 left in the half. Sophomore runner <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/06/grambling-greats-ab-kuuan.html" target="_blank"><strong>Ab Kuaan</strong></a> was stopped short, giving the Cowboys the ball back at the McNeese 38.<br /><br />Morgan made the extra point on his second try, as Grambling moved ahead 13-7 just before the half on a second Eugene touchdown pass to Douglas.<br /><br />Pendarvis started the second half with an opening-drive scoring pass to Lawton, but Grambling State answered with another Eugene-to-Douglas TD.<br /><br />Morgan's tough night continued when he missed a 41-yard field goal with one minute left in the third quarter.<br /><br />King's final scoring run sent most of the estimated 17,485 fans in attendance toward the exits with 1:50 left.<br />- Nick Deriso<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g </span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">McNeese St. won't be on GSU schedules in near future<br /></span></strong>September 22, 2003<br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Grambling State coach Doug Williams admitted that the two games against McNeese State were thrilling nights of football.<br /><br />It took a fourth-quarter turnover on Saturday to decide the contest. Even last year's game, an eventual blowout, was 21-14 at the half.<br /><br />So, can fans look forward to a regular series meeting between the Cowboys and Tigers?<br /><br />"No," Williams said, after losing to McNeese 31-20 at Robinson Stadium. "We took our shot at it, but I think now we have some other opportunities that we've got to look at. We do like to travel. We do like to go to Classics."<br /><br />The fact that Saturday's game didn't sell out isn't a factor in renewing the contract.<br /><br />"Tonight, it didn't matter," he said. "With McNeese coming here, being the No. 1, coming here, I think it was great."<br /><br />Williams says that GSU has already contacted other schools about the date that McNeese State has filled for the past two seasons.<br /><br />"There's a Classic that we have a possibility of playing in next year," Williams said. "It will either be this date or next. We are open next week."<br /><br />He confirmed that those discussions include San Jose State, which held the very successful Literary Classic for the first time with the Tigers to open the season.<br /><br /><strong>Missed tackle, missed opportunity: </strong>Turnovers again keyed McNeese State's win - though the Tigers did a better job in the rematch than they had in last year's blowout loss.<br /><br />The 52-20 loss in Lake Charles featured five turnovers, while Saturday's loss only included two.<br /><br />The difference in 2003 was the timing of the first mistake, as Grambling State was deep in the Cowboys territory, with a chance for a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.<br /><br />"We turned it over at a very, very crucial time," Williams said.<br /><br />But, with 4:30 left in the ballgame and down by only four points, Williams adds that the team still had a chance.<br /><br />That is, until Grambling State defenders missed a key tackle on the ensuing possession, when the Cowboys were facing third-and-10. MSU's B.J. Sams converted with a 16-yard catch - setting up runner Vick King's 60-yard scoring run to seal the win three plays later.<br /><br />"That wasn't a tackle. It was a body block," Williams said. "It's nobody's fault but ours. You've got to wrap up. If we tackle Sams, it's fourth down - and we get another shot."<br /><br /><strong>Sharing the wealth: </strong>Calvin Colquitt, last week's leading receiver for GSU, missed the game because of injury - though Williams said the Tigers have enough emerging weapons like Tim Abney and Chris Day to account for his absence.<br /><br />"I think the guys that can fill in played big," he said. "And that's the good thing about this football team. The guy that everybody watches is Tramon Douglas - and he still sets a record."<br /><br />While Douglas set a new school mark against McNeese State with 17 catches, Moses Harris and Abney added another 12. Day had just two catches, but averaged 11.5 yards on each.<br /><br />Seven different receivers touched the ball against the Cowboys, a week after Eugene passed to nine Tigers against Alabama A&M.<br /><br />"Abney is making some big plays," Williams said. When you have guys like that who you can spread the ball around to, it makes it difficult for defenses."<br /><br /><strong>Eugene rebounds in rematch: </strong>Bruce Eugene, despite the late turnovers, redeemed his shaky game last year against McNeese State.<br /><br />"That was his first game to start," Williams said. "He got a whole year under his belt. It makes a difference when you've got a trigger man who has seen it."<br /><br />Eugene finished 36-for-68 (both new school records) with 397 yards in the air and three touchdown passes. He also rushed eight times for 44 yards on Saturday.<br /><br />Compare that with the 2002 loss to McNeese: 4-for-22 with just 125 yards in the air. He had two scores, and two interceptions. Eugene also ran seven times, but for a shocking minus-16 total.<br /><br /><strong>Tiger bites: </strong>Grambling's offensive line didn't allow any sacks by the Cowboys. … Williams is not a big fan of the old-fashioned moral victory: "It's hard to take too much positive out of it, when you lose," he said. "But I've got to give the team a lot of credit. To sit here and say I'm not proud of the way they played? That wouldn't be fair to them." … McNeese State's King rushed for a career-high 215 yards.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Ball control<br /></span></strong>GSU's Tramon Douglas does it all again, finally<br /><em>September 24, 2003</em><br /><br />By NICK DERISO<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - A record-breaking receiving day for Grambling State's Tramon Douglas, in the end, didn't mean that much to him.<br /><br />"I would rather have one catch and we win, than have all those catches in a loss," the senior receiver said. GSU fell 31-20 to McNeese State on Saturday, while Douglas set a new school mark with 17 grabs.<br /><br />What it meant to the team, however, is something else entirely: As goes Douglas, so goes Grambling State.<br /><br />And, like the offense, Douglas started slowly.<br /><br />"He's giving us everything he has. He's made some tough catches for us," says Tigers coach Doug Williams. "But that little bruise on his knee hasn't always let him be Tramon Douglas."<br /><br />He's talking about the Tramon Douglas who averaged nearly eight catches a game in his All-American junior season at Grambling State - on his way to breaking Jerry Rice's Southwestern Athletic Conference single-season receiving yards record with 1,704 yards.<br /><br />After an opening loss in 2002 against McNeese, when Douglas had only one catch, the Tigers reeled off 10 straight wins - on the way to a third-straight SWAC championship.<br /><br />But Douglas didn't practice much during the summer, hobbled by that nagging knee problem. The week before GSU's season opener, he wasn't even in pads at practice.<br /><br />Douglas, of course, started - but again wasn't a factor in Grambling State's second-straight season-opening thrashing, pulling in just two catches for 30 yards as the Tigers were blanked 29-0.<br /><br />"He's working hard every day. He's not sitting down on it," Williams says. "It's not that anything is torn. It's just one of those bruises that you can't shake."<br /><br />The loss underscored the complementary nature of Douglas' success and that of his quarterback.<br />The longer it took Douglas to get healthy, the longer it clearly would take for Bruce Eugene to get on track this year.<br /><br />The Tigers' impressive showing in this year's rematch against McNeese, the nation's top-ranked Division I-AA school, is just the latest example.<br /><br />Douglas's 17 catches - only two fewer than all of the other GSU receivers combined - served to keep the game whisker-close until the very end. He broke the previous school record of 16 set by former wideout Nate Singleton against Virginia Union on Sept. 14, 1991.<br /><br />"I knew the team needed me this game," Douglas says. "I wanted to step up and show them that Grambling can play with the best of them."<br /><br />He was rewarded with the most rare of honors: Douglas has been named one of The Sports Network's Division I-AA players of the week - the first from the SWAC to receive that designation this season. He also was named one of I-AA.org's All-Stars and the SWAC's co-offensive player of the week.<br /><br />Something interesting happened, however, as Douglas slowly found his footing.<br /><br />Grambling State discovered some of its other receivers: Eugene threw to an astounding nine different people in a win over Alabama A&M - including scoring passes to juniors Moses Harris and Chris Day.<br /><br />"The good part about it is, Moses Harris made some good plays for us," Williams says. "Tim Abney is making tough catches. We're getting a lot of people involved. I was glad to see Chris Day score a TD; that helped his confidence level."<br /><br />While Douglas was smashing records against McNeese State, Harris and breakout freshman star Abney piled up 125 yards receiving combined.<br /><br />"We knew coming into this, after Tramon had a breakout season last year, that he wasn't going to be able to get as many passes," Eugene says. "Our focus has been to get other people open, then come to Tramon. So far this year, that's what's been happening."<br /><br />Still, without his go-to guy, Eugene sometimes looked tentative in the first two games - like he was thinking too much.<br /><br />"You can't depend on just one guy," Williams says he told Eugene. "He was feeling it. You can't just look Tramon's way, especially when he's not there."<br /><br />Then that first touchdown finally came - with nine seconds left in the half in Week 2 at Lorman, Miss. The 20-yarder was hauled in, of course, by Douglas.<br /><br />Grambling State has played better every successive quarter since.<br /><br />"The fact that Tramon is still not 100 percent has hampered us in certain situations," says Tigers offensive coordinator Melvin Spears. "Overall, though, we've got some guys who can come along. It's just that Bruce has to be a little more patient. Mechanically, he still was not always in a good throwing position. A lot of his pre-snap routine wasn't as good as it has been."<br /><br />After having scored just that one touchdown in the previous game and a half, Eugene and the Tigers then exploded for 12 scores in the next eight quarters of play.<br /><br />Eugene-to-Douglas accounts for five of them. Eugene has run in four more by himself.<br /><br />And so it goes.<br /><br />"It slowed him down, but one thing about Tramon: He's a fighter. He'll never quit. He'll never give up," Eugene says, sounding ever more confident. "Although the knee isn't 100 percent, he's still going to be out there giving it his all. We're grateful for that."<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-48732856467681697222007-12-22T23:32:00.000-06:002009-01-14T00:28:40.590-06:00Selected 2005 Grambling preseason stories<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Two veterans to compete for top offensive position</strong><br /></span>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br /><br />GRAMBLING - All eyes were on competing quarterbacks <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-bruce-eugene.html"target="_blank">Bruce Eugene </a></strong>and Brandon Landers throughout Grambling State's spring sessions.<br /><br />They will be again in the fall. Coach <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/on-gsu-coach-melvin-spears.html"target="_blank">Melvin Spears </a></strong>said he won't make a final determination on who will lead GSU's offense until after the arrival of heralded quarterback prospect Larry Kerlegan.<br /><br />So these sessions, though upbeat, didn't reveal much about the offensive scheme for 2005.<br /><br />"We'll evaluate the films, see how well we played. We'll look at Kerlegan when he gets here. But there will be no big changes in what we do," said Spears, who was 6-5 as interim last year after finishing with three wins in the final four games.<br /><br />Eugene, a former two-time Walter Payton Award finalist, was just one of several injured players from last year who rejoined the offense - including senior receiver Moses Harris.<br /><br />"Practices were a lot more up tempo," said Landers, who shot to conference freshman of the year honors when Eugene went down in Week 1 of last season. "We were moving from station to station in a more timely manner."<br /><br />Talented newcomers from the 2004 season, like freshmen receiver <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2008/02/time-that-clyde-edwards-played-his-last.html"target="_blank">Clyde Edwards </a></strong>and lineman Tavarus Cockrell, also returned as savvy veterans.<br /><br />"Injuries last year meant our kids got an opportunity to play at a young age," said Spears. "We had 15 freshmen playing last year - and that's been the difference this spring. They had participated and could work on the little things now. They got better."<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">A POSITIONAL LOOK<br /></span>QB: </strong>Eugene's heralded return, though marred by an obvious weight gain, was capped by a stellar performance at GSU's Black and Gold game. He was 19-of-34 for 275 yards, including three touchdowns and no interceptions.<br /><br />Landers, on the other hand, was just 4-of-13 for 100 yards.<br /><br />"I felt like it was a good spring practice, that there was good competition," said Landers, the former Carroll standout. "The spring game was tough for me, but you have games like that. We will go back and evaluate the film then go from there."<br /><br />Despite that game's disparity, coaches insist that the position hasn't been filled yet.<br /><br />"Bruce Eugene brings great leadership," said GSU offensive coordinator <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/10/grambling-greats-sammy-white.html"target="_blank">Sammy White</a></strong>. "His experience tell him to change the play, if need be. Brandon has different skills. When he first came in, straight out of high school, that was big adjustment - just getting used to the speed of the college game. But he's been working, and he's gotten stronger."<br /><br /><strong>RB: </strong>Senior <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/06/grambling-greats-ab-kuuan.html"target="_blank"><strong>Ab Kuuan's </strong></a>MVP performance in the Bayou Classic - along with a sturdy spring game - has solidified his position as the offense's every-down rusher.<br /><br />"He's become a complete back," said Spears. "He does all the little things."<br /><br />Kuuan, oozing confidence, finished the Black and Gold scrimmage with 11 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown.<br /><br />"He's starting to see the hole better," said Landers. "He's beginning to get a great feel for where he's supposed to be when he gets the ball. He's built a lot of confidence."<br /><br />A bevy of talented change-of-pace runners back up Kuuan - including Michael Rainey, a newcomer who impressed coaches throughout the sessions with his toughness. Ruben Mayes, a punishing runner and blocker, returns at fullback.<br /><br /><strong>OL: </strong>The loss of starting center Lance Wright, a team leader, and right guard Darryl Rodgers might have meant a steeper learning curve. But Wright had been out since the first play of the Jackson State game last October, when he went down with a lower-leg injury.<br /><br />Cockrell got some valuable experience as a substitute, as did senior Chris Wiggins.<br /><br />"They have had a chance to gel," Spears of the offensive line. "Wiggins is the most athletic guy out there. He can play all five spots, including center."<br /><br />Left tackle Jonathan Banks, left guard Charles Wilson and right tackle Andre Bennett return. They will be bolstered by mammoth Mississippi State transfer Donovan Davis.<br /><br />"We will have a couple of different combinations, with new guys who are coming in here," Spears confirmed.<br /><br /><strong>TE: </strong>GSU hasn't had a reliable performer here since the departure of all-conference tight end Gershone Jessie in 2003. Coaches aren't that concerned, though, since their scheme doesn't rely on the tight end to make plays. Jerome Spears made two big catches in the spring game, but it appears Matt Feeheley will get most of the snaps.<br /><br /><strong>WR: </strong>The return of Harris, who broke his ankle in the week before 2004's season opener, balances the unit across from the burner Edwards.<br /><br />"Moses' conditioning is not where it needs to be," said White, "but he's coming on in a hurry. We didn't push him too much this spring. We want to make sure he's ready for fall."<br /><br />Harris had four catches for 51 yards, including a score, in the Black and Gold scrimmage. Edwards added a 39-yard reception.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2007/04/grambling-greats-henry-tolbert.html"target="_blank">Henry Tolbert</a></strong> will play the slot. The senior caught three passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game.<br /><br />GSU's thunderous four- and five-wide sets will feature Reginald Jackson, Kovarus Hills and Paul Hardiman.<br /><br />"Hills is pushing all of those guys," said Spears. "He's certainly going to be in that rotation. Paul Hardiman is asserting himself. All he's got to do is become a little more physical."<br /><br /><strong>Depth chart<br />OFFENSE<br /></strong>QB: Brandon Landers*, Bruce Eugene<br />TB: Ab Kuuan*, Michael Rainey<br />FB: Ruben Mayes*, Terrion Rodgers<br />WR: Clyde Edwards*, Moses Harris<br />SLOT: Henry Tolbert*, Tim Abney<br />TE: Matt Feeheley, Jerome Spears<br />LT: Jonathan Banks*, Derrek Governor<br />LG: Charles Wilson*, Jamar Dorsey<br />C: Tavarus Cockrell, Chris Wiggins<br />RG: Chris Wiggins, Tommy Dural<br />RT: Andre Bennett*, Doug Smith<br />* - returning starter<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Replacing defensive line, secondary brings battles</strong><br /></span>By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Battles for starting jobs on the defensive line and secondary took a backseat to the ongoing quarterback derby this off-season at Grambling State.<br /><br />Perhaps they shouldn't have.<br /><br />"We've got a dogfight right now at defense end, with (sophomore Jason) Banks and (converted senior tight end Matt) Duhe," said GSU coach Melvin Spears. "There's a great competition there. But the good thing is they are all interchangeable. We can allow all of them to play."<br /><br />Coaches also converted another offensive player, wide receiver Bakari Guice, in an effort to replace Lewis Carter at the corner. The junior was lost to a knee injury before spring sessions had begun.<br /><br />Guice showed promise, as did Texas Tech transfer Ivory McCann, but the team jumped at an opportunity to sign Oregon transfer Marques Binns - who coaches say will push them all.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">A POSITIONAL LOOK<br /></span>DL: </strong>All-conference defensive tackle Lennard Patton, who sat out last season with academic problems, brought needed experience to a unit that lost three of its four starters - including Houston Texans draftee Kenneth Pettway.<br /><br />Patton, who is already getting postseason game invites, lived up to the hype: He had seven solo tackles in the spring game, including five for a loss of 21 yards. Patton added four sacks for a loss of 49 yards and a safety, along with a recovered fumble.<br /><br />The other spring starters were tackle Kevin Wiggins, Banks and Jena product Jason Hatcher. But then Matt came over from tight end.<br /><br />"The big, big surprise is Matt Duhe," said Spears. "That light has finally come on."<br /><br /><strong>LB: </strong>This unit was decimated by graduation, with the loss of Pettway, Marcus Yanez and John Petty. But no one played better down the stretch run in 2004 than returning middle linebacker Dimitri Carr. The Farmerville product finished as GSU's leading tackler.<br /><br />David Hicks and Joshua Bester have emerged at the top of the depth chart on the strong and weak side, respectively.<br /><br />But two other performers had impressive showings at the spring scrimmage: Tim Wilson had nine tackles, including five solo. Cedric Harris, a sophomore from Monroe's Neville High, had seven tackles, with three for a loss of 12 yards.<br /><br />Linebackers coach Andre Robinson said Harris was this unit's most improved player during the spring.<br /><br />"He's gotten bigger, after having a really good off season," said Robinson, himself a former consensus All-American linebacker at Grambling. "I'm pretty pleased with all of the guys."<br /><br />Richwood product Michael Gilbert - who, like Bester, is a converted strong safety - has been working on both the strong and weak sides as a backup.<br /><br />Out last season with academic problems, Hicks has also been playing behind Carr, but Wilson is Carr's main backup.<br /><br /><strong>DB: </strong>Greg Fassitt, a smart junior from New Orleans, secured a starting position on one side of the defense, while the other remains competitive.<br /><br />"Greg Fassitt can just flat-out play," said Spears. "He's got a 3.3 GPA, and does everything the right way. A model guy."<br /><br />Guice, a product of Wossman in Monroe, showed steady improvement throughout the camp and will play nickel situations.<br /><br />"Bakari has great speed," said Spears. "He just has to gain some confidence in playing a new position - and come to the weight room this summer."<br /><br />While the school continued to sort through transfer problems for McCann, coaches continued tinkering.<br /><br />Sterlington's DeMichael Dizer, along with talented newcomers Tyrone King Jr. and Deshon Pennie, were competitive. But GSU will also bring in Binns, the Oregon transfer.<br /><br />"I think Ivory is one of the most promising guys out here," said Spears. "But we don't know now about his situation with Texas Tech."<br /><br />Binns left with 61 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in 26 games during the past three seasons at Oregon. His best season was a breakout freshman year in 2002 when he had 30 tackles after a starter went down.<br /><br />Zaire Wilborn and Jermaine Mills - who Spears calls "Mr. Consistency" - are the starting safeties.<br /><br /><strong>Specialists: </strong>The team returns a stellar return tandem in Landry Carter and Keantwon Gray. These two combined to help lead GSU to the top of Division I-AA in returns for several weeks last season. Carter, then a freshman, was the No. 12 kick returner in the nation.<br /><br />But the kicking and punting game is less settled. GSU lost Brian Morgan, the conference's top kicker last year, to graduation. Punter Tim Manuel returns, but he sometimes struggled through his freshman season - finishing ranked No. 9 in the 10-team conference.<br /><br />Several promising kicking recruits are expected to arrive in the fall.<br /><br /><strong>Depth chart<br />DEFENSE<br /></strong>DE: Jason Hatcher*, Antonio Hughes<br />DT: Kevin Wiggins, William Nance<br />DT: Lennard Patton, Johnathan Favors<br />DE: Matt Duhe, Jason Banks<br />WLB: Joshua Bester, Michael Gilbert<br />MLB: Dimitri Carr*, Tim Wilson<br />SLB: David Hicks, Cedric Harris<br />CB: Bakari Guice, Deshon Pennie<br />SS: Zaire Wilborn, Bryan Langford<br />FS: Jermaine Mills*, Antonio Rainey<br />CB: Greg Fassitt*, DeMichael Dizer<br />* - returning starter<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong>GSU buzz list</strong></em><br /></span><strong>Signal-calling smoke signals: </strong>GSU coach Melvin Spears said no decision had been made in the quarterback battle, but senior Bruce Eugene was taking the majority of the snaps with the first team by the end of spring - and had the far better spring game.<br /><br /><strong>Secondary consideration: </strong>Sterlington product DeMichael Dizer could work his way into multiple-set cornerback situations, and might even see game-time action elsewhere in the secondary. "He had probably the best camp of them all," said Spears. "He can play safety or corner, and with great speed. We saw a lot from him."<br /><br /><strong>Hills climbs up: </strong>Clinton sophomore Kovarus Hills secured a role in the wide receiver rotation. "He got better every day," said Spears. "He's a Sammy White-type player, a game-time player. You can't really tell how fast he is."<br /><br /><strong>Duhe gets defensive: </strong>Matt Duhe flourished at defensive end this spring. "He is playing," Spears said, "at another level." Like starter Jason Hatcher of Jena, Duhe is a converted tight end.<br />- Nick Deriso, nderiso@thenewsstar.com<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g g g<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Guessing GSU's success</strong><br /></span>Preseason rankings quite varied for Tigers<br /><em>July 1, 2005 </em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - Grambling State is either one of the Top 10 Division I-AA programs in the nation - or has tumbled all the way down to No. 36, depending on the preseason predication.<br /><br />GSU coach Melvin Spears sees both rankings as grist for the inspirational mill.<br /><br />"I don't think it necessarily matters," Spears said. "It can be a pride thing, but you can't let either one leave you stranded in one place. Either way, it can be used to motivate our troops."<br /><br />A middle ground might be found in I-AA.org's consolidated Top 25 preseason rankings, where Grambling - which finished 6-5 overall, but third in the SWAC's West division with a 3-4 mark - was a respectable No. 19. That was the highest ranking for a Southwestern Athletic Conference school.<br /><br />GSU fared best in Street and Smith's, where writer Lut Williams had the Tigers at No. 9 in I-AA.<br /><br />"That's a whole lot of respect built up over the years with Coach (Eddie Robinson) and Doug (Williams)," Spears said. "We've just got to play like a No. 9 team."<br /><br />Grambling returns its top rusher in Ab Kuuan, last year's Bayou Classic most valuable player, as well as top receiver Clyde Edwards on offense. Former two-time Walter Payton Award finalist Bruce Eugene and Brandon Landers, last year's conference freshman of the year, are battling for the quarterback spot.<br /><br />Street and Smith's preview said that returning experience makes Grambling the team to beat in the West this year, facing Alabama State from the East in the title game. It did not select a conference champion.<br /><br />"The loss of Eugene in Melvin Spears' first game as head coach knocked conference favorite Grambling State for a loop," said Williams, editor of the online Black College Sports Page. "With Eugene back after being granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA, the Tigers will come in as West division favorites."<br /><br />Still, GSU could only manage No. 24 in Lindy's Poll. Hampton was the top-ranked historically black college in that poll, debuting at No. 13.<br /><br />"We just want to go out and prove them wrong," said Eugene, a senior who missed 2004 with a knee injury. "We know when the dust clears, we will be in it - regardless of preseason ranking."<br /><br />The worst preseason ranking for GSU comes courtesy of the AnyGivenSaturday.com poll, which had Grambling at No. 36 - one spot behind Southern. The top-ranked black school in the AGS poll was again Hampton, at No. 22.<br /><br />"A lot of folks are putting us down in the pack, because we've got some holes to fill - in particular defensively," said Spears, who lost five starters - though returning linemen <strong><a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/09/grambling-greats-jason-hatcher.html"target="_blank">Jason Hatcher </a></strong>and Jason Banks combined for 10 sacks. "We need to find out if we can play consistent football."<br /><br />Grambling's overall preseason rankings were damaged by finishing 94 out of 120 schools in I-AA.org's final Gridiron Power Index for 2004.<br /><br />That score is weighted down by the sometimes-weak SWAC's strength of schedule, something the GPI includes as a main statistical base. For instance, the Tigers only cracked the Top 20 in that rating system once (at No. 20, in 2001) during their 2000-02 three-peat conference title run under <a href="http://gramblingfootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/grambling-greats-doug-williams.html"target="_blank"><strong>Doug Williams.</strong></a><br /><br />Still, the uneven nature of the talent in their home conference, some writers said, could easily spark another title run for the Tigers - though the instate Bayou Classic rivalry game always looms as a deal breaker.<br /><br />"After opening with Alcorn State followed by Alabama A&M, the G-Men should take a 2-0 record into a payday game against Washington State in Seattle," said Steve Brown, a radio host who writes for TheSportsConnection.org. "Afterwards, expect them to roll off six consecutive victories until they face rival Southern - where they could pick up their only conference loss of the season. Unfortunately, it could be such a loss that could thwart their championship hopes in a tight Western Division race."<br /><br />Athlon, Phil Steele's and Sporting News, a trio of the best-known football prognosticators, didn't mention Grambling because they do not produce preseason Division I-AA previews.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>GSU's star power</strong><br /></span>A trio of Grambling State athletes have been recognized in the positional preview series by The Sports Network's Matt Dougherty.<br /><br />Senior quarterback Bruce Eugene, on the comeback from a season-ending knee injury in 2004, was named the No. 7 returning quarterback in Division I-AA.<br /><br />"On numbers alone, Eugene could earn a spot in the top two or three or even No. 1," writes Dougherty. "Eugene finished in the top three of the Walter Payton Award voting in 2002 and 2003, and leads all returning quarterbacks with 84 career touchdowns and 9,122 yards passing."<br /><br />Meanwhile, Dougherty named junior Ruben Mayes as the top fullback and senior Jonathan Banks as the No. 2 offensive tackle in Division I-AA.<br /><br />"The mammoth Banks returns at left tackle for a Tigers line that boasts three players over 350 pounds," writes Dougherty.<br /><br />GSU also swept Street and Smith's offensive and defensive players to watch in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for 2005. They are Eugene and defensive lineman Lennard Patton.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33033013.post-22293764543894677552007-11-29T10:24:00.000-06:002009-01-18T10:22:02.464-06:00Remembering: The 2004 season<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A happy ending </span></strong><br />GSU overcame series of setbacks to finish on high note<br /><em>Thursday, December 2, 2004</em><br /><br />By Nick Deriso<br /><a href="mailto:nderiso@thenewsstar.com">nderiso@thenewsstar.com</a><br />GRAMBLING - One collision in the north endzone of the Grambling State practice field, on the Tuesday before the season opener, summed up this year.<br /><br />Texas Tech transfer Ivory McCann came down on the leg of projected No. 1 receiver Moses Harris. His ankle would be broken, and McCann's paperwork didn't clear. Neither played a down of football for GSU.<br /><br />A season of lost promise for the Southwestern Athletic Conference's top passing attack would follow, as GSU finished 6-5 and out of title contention for the first time since 1999.<br /><br />No. 2 receiver Tim Abney also missed the year with a nagging groin injury. Senior All-American quarterback Bruce Eugene then tore his ACL in Week 1. Center Lance Wright, a senior team captain, also suffered a season-ending injury.<br /><br />The Tigers' offense never recovered from those personnel losses: After averaging 465 yards per game last season, GSU averaged 374. The Tigers converted on third down 45 percent of the time last year, but fell to 32 percent in 2004.<br /><br />Scoring dropped by 10 points per contest. After totaling 57 touchdowns in 2003, GSU finished with 36 - three fewer than its opponents - this season.<br /><br />But, in the end, GSU overcame its inexperience, both among its players and coaches, to fashion a winning season.<br /><br />"All you can do is play with the hand that's dealt," said Melvin Spears, named interim coach in February after the sudden departure of sixth-year coach Doug Williams to the NFL. "Nobody knows going in that my quarterback is going to get hurt in the very first game. Or that two or three of the receivers weren't going to play. You've just got to play. And we've come out every week and done that."<br /><br />With a hole now in his well-known vertical scheme, Spears struggled to adapt. Not until Week 9 did GSU settle into a pounding run game that would win its final two contests - including the emotional in-state rivalry game against Southern.<br /><br />Perhaps that was expected.<br /><br />"Over the past five or six years, this team might have had a good running game, but what we've done best is making receiving plays," said offensive coordinator Sammy White. "That got us on the scoreboard. That got us to championships."<br /><br />PASSING CONCERNS<br /><br />GSU stumbled badly in its first two games with true freshman Brandon Landers under center. There were also problems on defense, which had worked under four coordinators in less than one calendar year.<br /><br />Before he left, Williams hired Tom Lavigne to run the defense and Luther Palmer to work with the defensive line. Lavigne replaced Heishma Northern, who had filled in for Michael Roach when Roach abruptly quit early last season.<br /><br />But Spears almost immediately fired Lavigne and moved Palmer, with whom he had a better working relationship, into the coordinator spot.<br /><br />"When we came in this fall, it would have been nice to have spring to work," said Palmer. "But we'd only had seven or eight weeks to put in this new terminology. We were still teaching them how to do their jobs, and let every thing flow to them."<br /><br />Former Grambling State great Calvin Spears then returned to coach the secondary - which vastly improved in technique, if not in big-play potential. That unit didn't make many glaring errors, but finished with eight interceptions for a conference-worst 1 yard - yes, 1 single yard - in returns.<br /><br />But the year turned on offensive turnovers, anyway.<br /><br />Despite Week 3's thrilling come-from-behind victory over Bethune-Cookman, Landers was, after all, a freshman - gutsy, but inexperienced and prone to fatal errors. He would lead the conference in yards per completion, but also interceptions.<br /><br />So, the Cincinnati game may best be remembered as the moment when Spears began to trust in Landers' nascent promise a bit too much. Those mishaps would cost GSU some games - including Jackson State, when coaches called a staggering 46 passing plays.<br /><br />It was easy to get lost in the upside, though: Landers was named the SWAC's co-newcomer of the week after accounting for 293 of Grambling State's 360 yards in total offense in the 24-23 win against Bethune-Cookman.<br /><br />"The one thing that Brandon brings to the game is such poise," Spears said. "He took over that ball game - and I think the guys were starting to rally around Brandon Landers."<br /><br />Northern was given the task of quarterbacks coach as Landers tried to make his way - and did an admirable job. By Week 11, Landers had settled down into quiet efficiency.<br /><br />"I just want to thank the coaches for the opportunity," said Landers, The News-Star/Glenwood SportsCare prep offensive player of the year at Carroll High in 2003. "I've just got to keep studying film, keep studying every kind of defense that they can throw at me. I just want to keep improving."<br /><br />REDIRECTING THE FOCUS<br /><br />The season quietly began to improve with stellar play by the special teams, where Northern did his best work as a coach. Not only were the Tigers second in the SWAC for kick coverage, Tallulah freshman Landry Carter shot to national recognition as he helped GSU to the top spot in all of Division I-AA for kick returns in early November.<br /><br />Sophomore Keantwon Gray ripped off two returns of more than 90 yards in consecutive games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jackson State.<br /><br />Carter was named SWAC specialist of the week after he gained 240 yards in returns in the Tigers' win over Prairie View. But that contest would be marred by an on-field fight, which brought suspensions from the conference and fines for Spears from President Judson. In all, nine members of the GSU team and eight from Prairie View - along with an assistant from each school - were suspended. That made the Tigers' game at Mississippi Valley a more competitive affair.<br /><br />Upon returning home , GSU continued to rely on its traditional pass-first mentality, even as the losses piled up.<br /><br />Freshman wide receiver Clyde would earn co-newcomer of the week honors in late October after catching seven passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Jackson State. Yet, GSU fell in that game, part of an 0-4 year at Robinson Stadium.<br /><br />"We were trying to figure out their motivation - whether that be playing in front of a national crowd, or just having pride in Grambling," said Calvin Spears. "It's not soul searching for talent. It's soul searching for effort. That's all we were missing."<br /><br />Some of the blame for the offensive struggles could have been an over-reliance on the pass. The freshman quarterback was game, even in the face of so much adversity.<br /><br />"Brandon has a lot of character about himself," said White. "When he fumbled the ball, or threw an interception, he kept his head in the game."<br /><br />If Spears stayed with the vertical attack too long, he said it was the best option against the defensive looks that opponents were giving GSU. "We got everything that we wanted," said Spears. "But when you're in the red zone, your guys have to beat their guys. We just didn't cash in."<br /><br />But no one could argue with the late-season success of this team's rushers. GSU's Ab Kuuan and Rueben Mayes grinded out 159 yards - and a startling combined average of eight years per carry - in a loss to Alabama State that was keyed on passing errors.<br /><br />The coaches took notice. When the Tigers committed to the run, their season finally got on track. On the strength of that late surge in rushing yardage, GSU rushed for six more touchdowns this year than it had in 2003.<br /><br />"We had to get 60 minutes of play out of this young team," said Spears. "Some of it was doing the little bitty things; it was execution. They had to buy into what we were doing. You saw that in the last game."<br /><br />THEN FINISHING STRONG<br /><br />The capstone on the season was that Nov. 27 victory over Southern, putting GSU one game over .500. The Tigers averaged 5 yards per attempt and 279 total yards rushing in New Orleans.<br /><br />"That is such an emotional game. There are reunions, the spectacle, the bands. But in the end, it's about football," said Spears, who will now become part of a national search to permanently replace Williams. "It comes down to guts, to heart - to the players who really want it."<br /><br />The win was so transformative, as GSU teetered on a losing campaign, that the school sponsored a Wednesday victory parade then a party at Men's Memorial Gym on campus. Cheers of "Keep Coach Spears" broke out.<br /><br />GSU's defense - which limited Southern to 300 fewer total offensive yards this year - slowly rounded into shape, as well. Opponents were held to 1,031 fewer yards passing, and five fewer touchdown tosses. Though the defense gave up a scant 51 more total rushing yards, there were actually 9 fewer rushing scores.<br /><br />"Eventually, we are going to be very, very good in this secondary," said Spears. "Our team stuck together, no matter what was said. They may have been rattled sometimes, but they endured."<br /><br />Grambling State, perhaps fittingly, scored 105 of its 294 points this season during the fourth quarter. The last quarter of play in this 11-game season was also the Tigers' best. GSU would win three of the final five games, notching its 51st non-losing season since 1945.<br /><br />"I think it finished up in a way that showed how much we had progressed," said Spears, who is awaiting word on Eugene's application for a medical exemption. "We're going to look at it as building momentum. The seasoning of these freshmen makes our future look very bright - and we're getting some people back."<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">THE 2004 SEASON<br /></span>Final record: </strong>6-5 overall, 3-4 in the SWAC.<br /><br /><strong>Best game: </strong>GSU finally put together four quarters of football in the Nov. 27 Bayou Classic, rushing with consistency and making stops when needed. The coaching staff also showed the needed patience, sticking with the run-first game plan - even when Southern pulled ahead.<br /><br /><strong>Worst game: </strong>Having lost, in quick succession, three of its best playmakers on offense, GSU stumbled badly at Alabama A&M on Sept. 11 - the only game this year where the Tigers weren't competitive. How bad was it? GSU, while its freshman fill-in quarterback was sacked six times for 54 yards in losses, was 0-for-18 on third down in the 21-9 drubbing.<br /><br /><strong>Turning point: </strong>Falling to Alabama State on Nov. 6 ensured an unprecedented losing season at Robinson Stadium, but it also convinced the coaching staff that junior Ab Kuuan was ready to run. GSU would account for 735 of its 1,656 rushing yards on the season in the final three games - and go 2-1, including an emotional Bayou Classic victory.<br /><br /><strong>Most telling stat: </strong>Senior quarterback Bruce Eugene's season-ending injury forever altered Spears' interim campaign. He played less than three quarters of football in 2004, yet still ended up at No. 4 for total offense on the GSU roster.<br /><br /><strong>Most valuable player: </strong>Walk-on freshman sensation Landry Carter, a McCall-Tallulah product, did it all. Not only was he the top punt and kick returner, Carter was also GSU's third-leading receiver with 177 yards and third leading rusher with 211 yards. That helped him notch a team-best 1,046 all-purpose yards.<br /><br /><strong>Top offensive player: </strong>Freshman Carroll product Brandon Landers, despite problems with ball placement that had the young quarterback leading the conference in picks, was a rallying point for the offense. His passing average per game was fourth in the SWAC - and his yards per completion, 17.3, was tops.<br /><br /><strong>Top defensive player: </strong>The biggest loss on defense is senior Kenneth Pettway, a player of uncommon drive and intensity who would perform well both end and outside linebacker. He was second in the SWAC in 2004 for both sacks and tackles for a loss.<br /><br /><strong>Top special teams player: </strong>Carter led Division I-AA nationally for several weeks on kick returns. He helped GSU finish the year atop the conference standings with an average of 23.9 yards per attempt - despite being kicked away from late in the season, notably by Southern.<br /><br /><strong>Unsung hero: </strong>Senior kicker Brian Morgan quietly put together one of his best seasons, finishing 29-of-30 on extra points, 13-of-20 on field goals and second among SWAC kickers with 68 points. He also ably filled in on punting duties, averaging 36.3 yards per attempt.<br /><br /><strong>Top newcomer: </strong>True freshman receiver Clyde Edwards, given the same jersey number of the departed record-smashing Tramon Douglas, displayed flashy big-play brilliance - and quickly earned a starting position. He finished the season as GSU's leading receiver in receptions, total yards and yards per game.<br /><br /><strong>Emerging star: </strong>Junior running back Ab Kuuan, who coaches hoped would become an every-down runner in the offseason, exploded for consecutive 100-yard games in the final three weeks of the year - including a MVP performance on national television at the Bayou Classic.<br /><br /><strong>Key injury: </strong>Senior quarterback Bruce Eugene - who led the SWAC in passing yards and total offense a season ago - went down in the season opener against Alcorn State. GSU would go from scoring 36.6 per game last year to 26.7, from passing for 3,853 yards a season ago to 2,452.<br /><br /><strong>Returning starters, offense: </strong>(9) QB Brandon Landers, WR Clyde Edwards, TB Ab Kuuan, FB Rueben Mayes, LT Jonathan Banks, LG Charles Wilson, RT Andre Bennett, TE Matt Duhe and WR Zerrick Haymon.<br /><br /><strong>Returning starters, defense: </strong>(7) DT Jimmy Zachary, DT Joshua Kador, DE Jason Banks, LB Dimitri Carr, CB Greg Fassitt, CB Lewis Carter and FS Zaire Wilborn.<br /><br /><strong>Returning specialists: </strong>(2) P Tim Manuel, KR Landry Carter<br />- By Nick Deriso<div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog serves as an archive of Nick DeRiso's 2002-2010 Grambling coverage -- which primarily appeared in the Monroe, La.-based Gannett newspaper, The News-Star.</div>NickDerisohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15894754989164374329noreply@blogger.com0