Grambling State players return to practice after boycotting game at Jackson State

[WoodysGirl]

By Nick Bromberg | Dr. Saturday –

"As part of the athletic program at Grambling State University, the football team, took a stance on what we thought was right. We did not quit on our university. There are many problems that exist and if no one says anything, nothing will come of our institution. We hope Coach Eddie Robinson and his legendary players can appreciate that we stood up for what we thought was right," Grambling player Naquan Smith said in a statement.

"After coming into contact with different sources, we decided to reach out to the one person we trusted, Coach Doug Williams, with our concerns. His main statement to us was, “Go out there and play football.” He also put us in contact with Jim Bernhard out of Baton Rouge. A meeting was held with Mr. Bernhard as well as, Douglas Porter, Ezil Bibbs, Roy Jackson, Henry Dyer and Howard Davis. The meeting confirmed him [Jim Bernhard] as being committed with our best intentions at heart and that he would ensure we had updated facilities, but we had to agree to being back practicing Monday, October 21 and finish the remainder of our season. Although we are going to continue our season, we have not forgotten the situation and how we’ve gotten here. We would like to say thank you to Coach Williams, the Legends and Mr. Jim Bernhard. Grambling has given us the opportunity to be a part of its legacy and we are only looking to improve conditions for the university and future student-athletes."

A Sports Illustrated piece Friday detailed the financial situation at Grambling that has affected the entire university. The historically black college in Louisiana has seen state funding dwindle from $31 to $13 million. Players sent pictures to ESPN of what appears to be mold and mildew in the team facilities and on shoulder pads, and said that they had to pay for Gatorade and Muscle Milk themselves as well as drink from a hose underneath the stands during summer practice.

Read the rest: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf...boycotting-game-jackson-162634872--ncaaf.html

 

[jterrell]

It really is a shame the conditions there.
Those kids deserve better.
There has to be a way to market and make money off that band if not the football and basketball teams.

 

[joseephuss]

Did these players not take a tour of of the facilities while they were being recruited to Grambling? I agree it is a shame the condition the facilities are in, but it isn't as if Grambling has ever been rolling in money to have top notch facilities.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Did these players not take a tour of of the facilities while they were being recruited to Grambling? I agree it is a shame the condition the facilities are in, but it isn't as if Grambling has ever been rolling in money to have top notch facilities.

Maybe the conditions have gotten worse? Maybe certain promises have gone unfulfilled. Maybe the firing of Doug Williams and the losing has finally gotten to them. Doug was probably the selling point for all those years and now he's gone.

The rationing of gatorade and water is pretty unusual. Travel accommodations are what they are, but maybe they used to fly? Even Spirit might be better than taking a bus for 24 hours or however long those rides were.

*shrug* Just speculating..

 

[jterrell]

Did these players not take a tour of of the facilities while they were being recruited to Grambling? I agree it is a shame the condition the facilities are in, but it isn't as if Grambling has ever been rolling in money to have top notch facilities.

Many probably didn't have official recruiting trips but those that did likely were shown positives not negatives.
If Grambling has money for hosting recruits it should have money for gatorade.

The question is how the money is being used. If football money is being used to prop up the school and the athletes are being shorted that's bad news. --because eventually you'll have no football to prop up anything.

HBCUs are really hurting and it is a shame given their history and role. But end of the day if they aren't drawing more support they'll fail.
Even 2nd and 3rd tier athletes are avoiding them.
They'd rather go JUCO and try for a shot later on.

I am shocked we don't see more Steve McNair and Jason Hatcher type success stories.
There are tons of late bloomer athletes out there.
And a school like Grambling should have its eyes on major high schools in Texas and Louisiana where the talent is deep and rich.

I liked Grambling as a high school kid. They could have certainly talked me into playing football there. --and I am white.
Many kids I went to school with in Oak Cliff ended up in HBCUs.
But kids today have little desire to go there it seems.

 

[trickblue]

While I understand their frustration, what they did to Jackson State is unforgivable...