Jackson State keeps homecoming festivities despite Grambling no-show

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JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Grambling’s decision not to travel to Jackson State for Saturday’s football game did not stop the homecoming festivities on the Mississippi campus.

The music was blaring, the barbecue roasting and good times were all around outside of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday morning.

It looked like a typical JSU homecoming celebration, complete with gorgeous 70-degree weather, a parade and — of course — a performance by the school’s popular marching band, the Sonic Boom of the South.

The game between Grambling (0-8) and Jackson State (6-2) was canceled and declared a forfeit on Friday after disgruntled Grambling players refused to travel from their Louisiana campus because of issues they have with leaders of the athletic department and the university.

“It’s not the way I really like to win, but I’ll take it,” Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said on Saturday.

“I feel sorry for our kids, the seniors, who are playing their last homecoming game, not having the opportunity to have their families enjoy it like in the past.”

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'I wanted to play:' Jackson State players roll with news of Grambling State's forfeit 

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Jackson State had its team dinner on Friday, stayed at the hotel and boarded a bus to the stadium on Saturday morning. The players wore dress shirts and ties.

Going through its usual routine, the team treated Saturday like any other game day.

Except it wasn’t.

After days of turmoil, Grambling State forfeited its matchup against Jackson State less than 24 hours before kickoff. The homecoming preparations had already been set, and all the JSU players could do was roll with the news.
“I really don’t know what to say how I feel about it, because it’s very unexpected,” Jackson State quarterback Clayton Moore said. “I woke up this morning, I did my normal pushups. I had my butterflies, but I was like wait, I’m not playing. ... It’s tough. Selfishly, I wanted to play, just for selfish reasons. But my body needed a rest.”

Jackson State’s second string scrimmaged for 30 minutes in front of a smaller-than usual homecoming crowd. In the past few years, JSU homecoming games had an average attendance of 35,000. That wasn’t the case Saturday, even with Jackson State making the event free.

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