Grambling's Tiger Marching Band invited to inaugural parade

The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Friday it has invited the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band to Perform in the 56th Inaugural Parade. The world famous Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band will join representatives from across the country and the Armed Forces in the historic parade down Pennsylvania Avenue following President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol.

"I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade," Obama is quoted as saying in a news release. "These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity and commitment to service. Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade." Organizations wishing to participate in the parade submitted an application to the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), which then assisted the Presidential Inaugural Committee in reviewing all of the groups' applications. All told, 1,382 organizations applied to participate, setting a new standard for interest in marching in the parade.


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Nevada, Grambling bands to perform together after game

They've brought their version of "Ball of Confusion" to three Super Bowls and two presidential inaugurations, and this week members of Grambling State University's world-famous Tiger Marching Band will be shaking things up in Reno. Nevadans have two chances to catch the Tigers: Friday at a free performance at the Peppermill Casino Resort and Saturday when Grambling State's football team plays the Wolf Pack in Mackay Stadium.

It's an athletic and musical matchup that has been two years in the making, said Rory Hickok, Nevada associate athletic director. "We started the negotiations in 2007, so this has been in the works for quite a while now," he said. "This is truly a historic occasion to get a band of this renown in Northern Nevada. They have played at presidential inaugurations and Super Bowl halftimes, so this is an opportunity to see one of the world's most famous bands."

Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band

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Grambling State Tailgating: Possibly the Best in the SWAC

Grambling/I-20 Classic Tailgating and Band 2007

Documentary: Grambling State University Tigers Band

State Fair Classic to honor Eddie Robinson

By KATE HAIROPOULOS, The Dallas Morning News

State Fair Classic
Prairie View vs. Grambling St.
6 p.m. Sat., Cotton Bowl

Ex-Grambling coach to be remembered before State Fair Classic

The legendary, late Eddie Robinson coached his final game at the Cotton Bowl a decade ago, on Oct. 4, 1997.

"Long live Dallas and the football fans," Robinson said then. "I am aware of the fact Eddie Robinson has had a good life in football, and I am a lucky man."

Saturday, Dallas will honor Robinson's memory at the annual Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic between Prairie View A&M and Robinson's Grambling State.

Robinson died in April at the age of 88 after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

His Tigers' 33-6 victory over Prairie View in 1997 was the 407th win of his career. He finished with 408, a national record when he retired at the end of the 1997 season after 57 seasons.

Dallas mayor Tom Leppert will present Robinson's widow, Doris, with a ceremonial award during Saturday's pregame show. She will be escorted by former Grambling player and coach Doug Williams, the former NFL Super Bowl MVP.

The Grambling and Prairie View bands, best known for their halftime battles, will perform together before the game to honor "Coach Rob."

"Coach Robinson, what he was able to do at Grambling is remarkable, and I don't think you'll ever see that again," said Rod Broadway, the first-year Grambling coach. "He's probably 40 or 50 years ahead of his time of how he was able to build that program, take a little, small town in northern Louisiana and put it on the national map."

As usual, Prairie View will be the underdog Saturday, having lost 19 straight to Grambling.

Grambling won 53-7 last year and has scored 50 or more points each of the last four meetings.

Grambling is 2-1 with wins over Alcorn State and Alabama A&M and a 34-10 loss at Pittsburgh. Prairie View is 2-1 with wins over Texas Southern and North Carolina A&T and a 12-2 loss last week to Southern.

Broadway, who came from North Carolina Centraland and is experiencing his first State Fair Classic, said the Tigers' dominance in the series doesn't affect Saturday's game.

That's something fourth-year Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III, who touted the program's rebuilding efforts, stressed Monday.

"We promise you," he said, "this year, you're not going to leave after halftime."

Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic: Prairie View A&M (2-1) vs. Grambling State (2-1), 6 p.m. Saturday, Cotton Bowl (pregame festivities start at 5:15)

Grambling laments missed opportunities

Photo: GSU RB #23 Frank Warren missed pass vs. Pitt.

The Times - Shreveport

PITTSBURGH — Grambling State left Heinz Field with more than a 34-10 defeat at the hands of the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday.
They left knowing they had squandered some opportunities as well.

The Tigers (1-1) had a punt blocked and a pass intercepted to lead to two Pitt touchdowns and eventually a 21-0 lead with 11 minutes gone.

The Tigers also hurt themselves with 108 yards of penalties. They also failed to score three times after moving the ball inside the Pitt 10 during the second half.

"They (Pitt) played an excellent game and I take nothing away from it, but we helped them a great deal," GSU coach Rod Broadway said. "When you have three passes intercepted, a punt blocked and get the ball inside the 20-yard line four times without scoring, then you've got a problem.

"Pitt's a very talented team but I thought we missed an opportunity to close the gap a little bit. We need to do a better job of coaching."

Photo: GSU Tiger Band performs before 30,852 at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA .

Despite giving up 34 points, Grambling's defense allowed 321 yards offense to Pitt. The Panthers had 202 yards passing and 119 rushing.

"I thought our defense actually played pretty well," Broadway said. "We gave up 34 points and 280 yards (actually 321), but most of that came in the first half when Pitt had the ball on our side of the 50 a lot."

Offensively, though, the Tigers struggled against Pitt.

Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers was 19-of-40 passing for 155 yards. He threw one touchdown, but he was intercepted three times.

"We have to get better at converting in the red zone," Landers said. "That's one thing that coach really stressed to us after the game, and we know it's true.

"You have to convert those kinds of chances if you're going to be successful against a team like Pitt. We'll keep working on it. We have two more weeks before our next game to get it right."

Pitt's untested QBs bracing for Grambling's speed

Photo: Grambling's WR Clyde Edwards

By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A new quarterback will be at the helm of Pitt's offense tomorrow against Grambling at Heinz Field. Growing pains are likely along with stretches where the Panthers struggle to move the football.

There is one other thing that could cause the offense to sputter and it has nothing to do with Kevan Smith or Pat Bostick and everything to do with the speed of Grambling's defense.

The Tigers are fast, aggressive and will try to force the Panthers to play at a pace they likely aren't comfortable playing.

That's not good news for any offense, but particularly one searching for an identity and some consistency.

"They predicate everything on speed and making plays and putting pressure on an offense," coach Dave Wannstedt said of Grambling's 4-3 defense. "It forces your quarterback to make fast decisions and that's what we'll be facing."

The Panthers have tried to simulate the speed of the Tigers in practice, but it's never the same. Still, Wannstedt is confident the offense and the two young quarterbacks, will hold up under the pressure, especially with the changes made in the offensive line.

"We've tried to make it as difficult on them as possible," Wannstedt said. "I think it's important to not fool them. If you were coming in and facing a freshman quarterback, you're going to try to pressure them and give them some looks hoping to force them into some bad plays. I'm cautiously optimistic that these guys will get in there and perform better than any of us think."

While it might seem overly optimistic to expect a quarterback making his first start to play beyond expectations, Wannstedt isn't so sure.

In fact, he needs only to point to last week -- the Panthers 27-3 win against Eastern Michigan in the opener -- to find a precedent.

"Billy Stull did that, quite frankly. He stepped in there and performed at a better level than what I thought he was going to," Wannstedt said. "And Scott Mc-Killop did that. Every time, we've had somebody step up. That's kind of been a trademark for the team.

"I believe it will happen at quarterback."

Stull led the Panthers to a big lead and played admirably against Eastern Michigan, but he was injured in the third quarter of the game and will be out for at least a month, which is why coaches are scrambling to find a replacement.

Wannstedt said he will make a game-time decision, but the sentiment around the team seems to be that Smith will be the starter tomorrow. Both are expected to play.

NOTES -- For those who can't wait until tomorrow, the Grambling band will provide a sneak preview tonight at the Petersen Events center. The band, along with Pitt's, will perform in a "battle of the bands". ... Wannstedt said every player is healthy and ready to play except tight end John Pelusi, who is still day to day with a shoulder injury. ...The game is not televised, but it can be seen online at ESPN360.com.