Sports

TCU will be the Grambling Tigers big challenge

The ideal start to the Tigers’ season was tarnished with the comeback win from the Alcorn State Braves in the Port City Classic last Saturday. 

With that game over, coach Doug Williams and his team look forward to their next opponents, Texas Christian University.  The Tigers should not expect the Horned Frogs to take them lightly as this is the first game of the season for them. The Frogs currently hold the longest wining streak in the nation at eight in a row. 

Williams describes playing teams with TCU’s caliber is like “the Eddie Robinson mentality.” As a former player of Grambling, Williams personally understands the importance of playing top division one schools. He himself had the opportunity to play against five division one teams. 

“I want them to have the opportunity to do that once in their career, or every year,” said Williams. 

Win or lose, the most important thing Williams is looking forward to seeing resilience of his players to work hard. 

“This is a character game and it gives us the opportunity to find out who really, really, really want to play football,” Williams said. “The ones who don’t play hard probably won’t be playing for us soon.” 

On Saturday, Williams and his coaching staff expressed the importance of playing hard on every play.

“It’s a must we play hard if we want a future here,” running back Dawrence Roberts said. 

Grambling’s football team is guaranteed  $400,000 for playing against TCU this weekend. Williams admits that from a financial stand point, this game puts an extra “couple dollars in our pocket” that they would not have made “playing at home or somebody else.”

Other schools know that the G-Men do not come alone; they come with The World Famed Tiger Marching Band. 

“They want the band to come with it,” Williams said. “That’s a good thing.”

 

Sitting this one out 

 

Good news for the Tigers, second-leading receiver last year, Skye Dawson will be out of commission for Saturday’s game announced Gary Patterson, TCU’s coach on Tuesday. 

“This takes away one of their many weapons,” said junior linebacker Jacade Carter.  “But at the end of the day, I am pretty sure his back up is pretty good, so we still have to come and play hard. ” 

Patterson did not elaborate on the conditions of the one-game suspension, but reports claim it was because of a violation that occurred during the summer. 

 

Big top coach

 

A win against Grambling would secure Patterson’s name in school history as all-time winningest coach.  He is currently tied with Dutch Meyer (1934-52) with 109 wins. 

 

Banged up Tigers

 

In the game against Alcorn, Roberts suffered from cramps that reduced his time in the second half. 

“I been drinking plenty of water and I added extra conditioning to my schedule,” Florida native Roberts.  

Williams said in a press conference Wednesday that Roberts was not hurt, just needed some Intravenous therapy (IV) and he will be ready for Saturdays game. 

 

Gametime

 

Grambling will try to get their first win of the season on Saturday in Fort Worth, Tx. The Horned Frogs welcome the G-Men to Amon G. Carter Stadium. The kick off is set for 6 p.m.