Anthony Hamilton
It was a rainy and gloomy day, yet the weather would not stand in the way of the Homecoming road trip to Grambling State University.
Those familiar with Black College Football know that the SWAC is one of the power conferences, and Grambling is one of the meccas. The Grambling State Tigers are (this year) the top team in the conference. Before the big game however, there was the 3 hour drive to GSU to attend the homecoming festivities.
I arrived in Grambling, Louisiana at about 10:30am. When I got there, the homecoming parade was already in full swing. There were floats, area high school marching bands as well as the world renown GSU Marching Tiger band, as music filled the streets of Grambling. There was also a bit of a car show mixed in, with music booming out of car systems as well. Despite the gloomy weather, a large number of people were on hand enjoying the festivities.
I’ve attended homecoming and normal games at Eddie Robinson stadium, and one of the great aspects of attending the Tigers’ games is tailgating beforehand. This day would be no different. While I didn’t partake in any grilling, I enjoyed the atmosphere provided by the music, and I was able to connect with family and friends from Northeast Louisiana that I hadn’t seen in years.
As game-time was approaching, I could imagine head-coach Broderick Fobbs worrying about his team having a letdown after last weekend’s game, a very exciting, emotional, comeback one-point victory over Alcorn State in overtime, courtesy of a blocked extra-point. That game was dubbed a preview of the SWAC championship game in December, and it lived up to all the pregame hype.
On this day, however, Coach Fobbs had nothing to worry about, as his team was razor-sharp from the opening kickoff. Grambling took a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, and then, courtesy of a 21-point second quarter, the game was out of reach by halftime as Grambling led 35-7. After taking a 42-7 lead into the fourth quarter, Coach Fobbs put his young players in to finish the game, which would be won by Grambling 49-14 on the strength of quarterback Johnathan Williams, son of former NFL quarterback Doug Williams. Williams passed for 225-yards and 2 TDs. Running back Jestin Kelly also had a big day, rushing for 159-yards on 18 carries.
For fans of GSU football, it was a great day from homecoming festivities all the way through the game, and we couldn’t have scripted a better ending.