Williams would rather not open with McNeese


Blacknbengal

Blacknbengal

Well-Known Member
Williams would rather not open with McNeese

Scott Beder / Tech and GSU Reporter
Posted on August 28, 2002


GRAMBLING - Grambling State opens the season Saturday with a rare game against another in-state school not named Southern.

The Tigers travel to Lake Charles to face McNeese State. It is the first-ever football meeting between the two schools and the first of a two-year contract. Next year McNeese State will travel to Grambling.

However, Grambling coach Doug Williams isn't a big fan of playing the state's I-AA schools.

"McNeese State, Northwestern (State), Nicholls State, no, I don't look forward to playing them," Williams said. "I would rather play Tennessee State, I would rather play Morgan State, I would rather play Howard University. It just so happened that (McNeese) Coach (Tommy) Tate and I talked about it and scheduled this game. I would rather play a Division I school a get a payday and get an opportunity to play at that level."

Last year Grambling traveled to Thibodaux to play Nicholls State. It was the first meeting between those two schools, which Grambling won 37-28. It was a one-year deal and Williams wasn't thrilled with the idea of playing that game.

Williams said his preferance is to play other historically black institutions.

"Grambling, we're going to stay historical," he said. "Years ago we couldn't play McNeese State, we couldn't play Northwestern State (because of segregation). Going to Las Vegas to play Tennessee State (Sept. 21) is big for us because that's somebody they told us we could play years ago and I want to be able to continue to play those type of teams."

Dream weaver: Grambling sophomore place kicker Brian Morgan had a dream recently that the Tigers defeated McNeese State 22-21. The winning formula? Morgan booted five field goals and converted an extra point to give Grambling the win.

"He said, 'I know you wouldn't like that,"' Williams said. "I told him I just want the win, it doesn't matter how."

Hatcher out: Much has been made of the loss of starting running back Brad Hill to academics, but another blow to the offense was the injury of tight end Jason Hatcher.

Hatcher, a 6-6, 245-pound sophomore from Jena, blew out a knee two days before two-a-days in a pickup basketball game.

The loss of Hatcher is a big one because the Tigers had tailored part of the offense to take advantage of two tight end sets featuring Hatcher and Gershone Jessie.

"We could also play him outside at receiver," Williams said. "We had so many plans. All summer we talked about what we were going to do with Jessie and Hatcher. Imagine what we could have done with two tight ends and Brad Hill?"

Tiger tidbits: Grambling opens the season ranked No. 9 in the Consensus Preseason I-AA rankings, while McNeese comes in at No. 18. ... McNeese is apparently big on hiring within the McNeese family. Of the 14 coaches on staff, 10 of them, including head coach Tommy Tate, are McNeese graduates. ... McNeese played two SWAC schools last season, winning both games. The Cowboys defeated Prairie View A&M 56-0 and Alcorn State 54-14.
 
I agree, why go to play these white schools at their home to only help them pack their 17,000 seat stadium? They only want to play you for financial benefit to them. Years ago, they wouldn't dare play Grambling. Now that the GSUs JSUs SUs, etc come with a big fans support and the good football product, they want you add you guys to the schedule.

It would be more beneficial for 2 black schools to play each other at a classic or WORSE a home-home series than to play these PWC. I'm sure that 2 HBCU could easily see 17,000 tickets.
 



So basically you're saying we should segregate black teams from the white teams and only play black schools?
 
Originally posted by unknown1
So basically you're saying we should segregate black teams from the white teams and only play black schools?
Click to expand...

Are there any white teams?
 
I agree with Doug... basically the white schools are using the Black schools... they want us to come fill up their stadium so they can get payed... prime example Troy State and ASU, and Jacksonville State and AAMU.... Everytime AAMU goes to Jacksonville is it a record crowd sellout, they could never return the favor to Huntsville. Hell I would rather see AAMU play FAMU besides Jacksonville State.
 
Originally posted by DAHILL
... basically the white schools are using the Black schools...
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with your point, but lets be careful with this statement. White schools can't use Black schools unless Black schools want to get used.
 
No, I'm saying HBCUs should be these white schools to come to play them at the HBCU house if its not a D1-A school. What's in it for the HBCU to visit and bring a big fan base to fill up the PWC stadium?

In the day, it was the HBCU wanted to play PWC (even on the high school level) to prove that they can compete with the PWC. Today it is not about to competition. It is about the money, and with teams like GSU, SU, JSU, etc have game dates where they can draw 60,000+ to a game, it doesn't take too much brains to realize that they would want a piece of the pie.

I would say schedule them for a home game only, unless you get the chance to play a big time program.
 
.....S.O.G.......

Originally posted by SAME OLD G


I don't disagree with your point, but lets be careful with this statement. White schools can't use Black schools unless Black schools want to get used.
Click to expand...


...I'm with you all the way on this one....

...Basically they didn't need(or want) us then...and we don't need them now!!!!
 
Let's cut through the chase

Doug is more concerned with preserving the Grambling Legacy. The fact of the matter is desegragation has hindered the number of quality players HBCU get. The impact started being felt around 1980 and has moved our schools out of the upper echelon of college football. Our level of competition is now 1-AA. In the 70's many of these PWC (now 1-AA) were not on our level. The mainstream media always tried to play down the caliber of play of HBCU (albeit the AFL & NFL had a different perspective). With the inception of the sub D-1 div. known as 1-AA perception became reality. Our crowds are larger than most 1-AA teams because in many instances we are older, have larger alumini base and many more years of tradtion. We must deal in the present tense as that is where we are living. It is not prudent to segragate ourselves from anyone. Contracts must be crafted correctly to protect our interest. If the former owner of Tampa Bay's son can acknowledge a wrong, give 1 million dollars to Doug and the Grambling program, surely he can have enough character to not harbor ill feelings that would minimize prospetive revenue and additional exposure for his program. I vehemently disagree with his current perspective and hope it changes. The Grambling legacy will never change. But, parity is a reality in 1-AA football. Hence, he will lose a few that may hurt his pride. I expect more out of Southern, Gram, JSU, FAMU, Hampton & NCA&T. I would expect folks from the smaller less successful HBCU programs to have reservations about playing PWC.....Peace....One Love....One Black Man's Opinion
 
Re: Let's cut through the chase

Originally posted by JROCK
Doug is more concerned with preserving the Grambling Legacy. The fact of the matter is desegragation has hindered the number of quality players HBCU get. The impact started being felt around 1980 and has moved our schools out of the upper echelon of college football. Our level of competition is now 1-AA. In the 70's many of these PWC (now 1-AA) were not on our level. The mainstream media always tried to play down the caliber of play of HBCU (albeit the AFL & NFL had a different perspective). With the inception of the sub D-1 div. known as 1-AA perception became reality. Our crowds are larger than most 1-AA teams because in many instances we are older, have larger alumini base and many more years of tradtion. We must deal in the present tense as that is where we are living. It is not prudent to segragate ourselves from anyone. Contracts must be crafted correctly to protect our interest. If the former owner of Tampa Bay's son can acknowledge a wrong, give 1 million dollars to Doug and the Grambling program, surely he can have enough character to not harbor ill feelings that would minimize prospetive revenue and additional exposure for his program. I vehemently disagree with his current perspective and hope it changes. The Grambling legacy will never change. But, parity is a reality in 1-AA football. Hence, he will lose a few that may hurt his pride. I expect more out of Southern, Gram, JSU, FAMU, Hampton & NCA&T. I would expect folks from the smaller less successful HBCU programs to have reservations about playing PWC.....Peace....One Love....One Black Man's Opinion
Click to expand...

Of course Doug and everyone else on this board is entitled to their opinion. I feel both ways on the issue, but lean more towards scheduling a game against a PWC where the situation favors us financially and in terms of building our program. Playing an in-state rival 1AA opponent that will reciprocate us in terms of fans attending the game is win/win. I feel that McNeese's fans will travel to the game next year in GSU. If not, we should still have a packed house of our own fans to witness a game against a ranked opponent. Our course we should continue to schedule
highly ranked out of conference HBCU's as well. These are our legacy games and old-rivals. Playing each other before large home crowds or in classics are money makers that our fans enjoy.

I now see the merits of playing all conference members and keep our revenue in the conference. Our popularity has been rekindled and all members will benefit from home and home contest against each other. It's good for conference growth and development.
 
I agree with Doug.....Damn all IAA PWCs.

You didnt want to see us then, so you shouldnt want to see us now. Unless its a D1 with a big payout, leave it alone. You can do much better with a BCF team with a better payout.

We dont go to the playoffs anyway, so power rankings dont matter either. Playing PW IAAs is a waste of time unless you just cant avoid it.
 
Originally posted by unknown1
So basically you're saying we should segregate black teams from the white teams and only play black schools?
Click to expand...


Sounds like what is being said to me. I still think we should play PWC on a regular basis, especially in-state games. We do have fans in other cities other than the ones we play in all the time. They already know about us. We need to give them a chance to see not just know. Don't forget this is HBCU football, which means bands. Many of our fans want us to come to thier schools, so they can see us. We have to start somewhere. They are certainly not going to come to us first. They're not coming to us unless we go to them a few times.
 
Re: Let's cut through the chase

Originally posted by JROCK
Doug is more concerned with preserving the Grambling Legacy. The fact of the matter is desegragation has hindered the number of quality players HBCU get. The impact started being felt around 1980 and has moved our schools out of the upper echelon of college football. Our level of competition is now 1-AA. In the 70's many of these PWC (now 1-AA) were not on our level. The mainstream media always tried to play down the caliber of play of HBCU (albeit the AFL & NFL had a different perspective). With the inception of the sub D-1 div. known as 1-AA perception became reality. Our crowds are larger than most 1-AA teams because in many instances we are older, have larger alumini base and many more years of tradtion. We must deal in the present tense as that is where we are living. It is not prudent to segragate ourselves from anyone. Contracts must be crafted correctly to protect our interest. If the former owner of Tampa Bay's son can acknowledge a wrong, give 1 million dollars to Doug and the Grambling program, surely he can have enough character to not harbor ill feelings that would minimize prospetive revenue and additional exposure for his program. I vehemently disagree with his current perspective and hope it changes. The Grambling legacy will never change. But, parity is a reality in 1-AA football. Hence, he will lose a few that may hurt his pride. I expect more out of Southern, Gram, JSU, FAMU, Hampton & NCA&T. I would expect folks from the smaller less successful HBCU programs to have reservations about playing PWC.....Peace....One Love....One Black Man's Opinion
Click to expand...


I feel ya on that one.
 



One more thing. People keep mention JSU, SU, and GSU. I know we can draw a big crowd, but every school in the SWAC and MEAC does not consistently draw large attendance. We have to think about these schools. These schools should be willing, at least a few times, to go play in front of a crowd they don't usually perform in front of and let them be re-introduced to the HBCU football experience. Who knows that might translate into more fans at home games and away games against other teams.
 
I am aware of the fact that if we beat these teams that it could help in recruiting battles. (But note that we have stopped sending our teams to the playoffs.) I am aware that the crowds at their stadiums would be the largest of their school's (PWCs) history.

But if these games were to benefit them more than our schools, then I am not too interested in our schools playing them. The situation needs to be a win-win situation for both schools and not a win for them and a loss for us. In other words I understand what Doug is saying.
 
I am aware that the crowds at their stadiums would be the largest of their school's (PWCs) history.
Click to expand...

Won't be in our case. Our record attendance at home is 27,500 for the 1976 game with the then USL. We had about ten games in that era that were between 20,000 and 25,000.
 
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