Saturday, November 27, 2010

Doug Williams hoping for more visibility for Grambling-Southern Bayou Classic

After quarterbacking Grambling State against Southern University in the inaugural State Farm Bayou Classic 36 years ago and coaching the Tigers from 1998-2002, Doug Williams is enjoying the spectator's view of the annual game between African-American universities. It's visibility he hopes maintains its relevance beyond Saturday's contest at the Louisiana Superdome.

"I'm always going to be involved around the game," the former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl XXII MVP said. "It's been affected by the economy, but it's still viable. I mean, you can't take away black college rivalries like Jackson State-Alcorn, Alabama State-Tuskegee and Grambling-Southern."

Grambling RB Frank Warren earns praise on and off the field

Grambling senior running back Frank Warren sat among the crowd during Monday’s Bayou Classic news conference on the floor of the Superdome, donning an old-school letterman’s sweater. Nothing flashy. And one by one, someone from either Grambling or Southern took the podium and showered him with compliments in anticipation of Saturday’s State Farm Bayou Classic.

First, it was Grambling Athletic Director Lin Dawson.

“Not only do I respect him as the leading rusher in the history of Grambling, but also as a man of character,” Dawson said. “And I will tell you after the Bayou Classic is over, years from now, people will be hearing about this young man. He is a man of integrity and a young man of character.”

Bayou Classic keys to victory

Grambling State and Southern have to focus on playing for pride, and make it the driving point. Texas Southern swiped the Tigers’ chances of playing in next week’s SWAC championship game a couple of weeks ago. Yet, Tigers Coach Rod Broadway continues to talk up this game to his team. The Jaguars have endured one of their worst seasons in school history. They’re riding a five-game losing streak and have lost eight of the past nine games. A win today for first-year coach Stump Mitchell could make up for this season’s struggles.

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