Grambling

[JRock]

0-7 and refusing to play. I hate to see this.

[UNTFan23]

0-7 and refusing to play. I hate to see this.

And two coaches have been fired. Not a good situation ... at all.

[Huff]

The Sports Illustrated web site had a story about the Grambling situation one day this week. They have a real mess. I don't know all of the details but it seems to me that those kids deserve a lot better than they are getting from their university.

[techdawg88]

Tech & Grambling students usually mix since both schools are less than 5 miles apart

[MeanMag]

Grambling Football looks like it is just the most visible results of budget cuts across the entire state. The entire state has a mess on their hands.

[techdawg88]

Grambling Football looks like it is just the most visible results of budget cuts across the entire state. The entire state has a mess on their hands.

the state politicians are afraid to do anything too dramatic to both Grambling and Southern without being called racists

[Eastwood Eagle]

Tech & Grambling students usually mix since both schools are less than 5 miles apart

Go on...

[JesseMartin]

Yeah, from what I gather, thus far they've walked out of a meeting, no-showed at practice, and refused to play. Budget cuts aside...is it the coaches? Or is it what the coaches have been told to do/say that's the problem?

[UNTexas]

Pretty weak. Anyone on scholarship should lose it immediately. They give you an education to play. We had some cockroach infested garbage facilities and lost a ton of games for years but you didn't see UNT players walking out.

Hell, UNT Soccer didn't have a locker room and took vans to games further than 600 miles in the past and won. (a Grambling gripe on bleacher report via Twitter was busses to games)

All of those players are replaceable, especially since they apparently aren't good at their positions and obviously lack mental toughness. If I were their President I would drop the program and save the money for other sports. I have never heard of college players refusing to play. A lot of guys would kill to play for free.

Off my soap box.

Edited October 19, 2013 by UNTexas

[NT91]

They should drop football.

Edited October 19, 2013 by NT91

[MeanMag]

I agree the players should lose scholarships and if it's so bad that the players don't want to play, perhaps they should drop football permanently.

[greenjoe]

Or drop all the malcontents and start a pure walk-on program with guys that want to play.

Beat LaTech.

GO MEAN GREEN

[buff64]

Sad situation, I'll bet Eddie Robinson and Bum Phillips are discussing it right now.

[oldguystudent]

Or drop all the malcontents and start a pure walk-on program with guys that want to play.

Beat LaTech.

GO MEAN GREEN

Necessary Roughness

[Christopher Walker]

What's being lost here is that the football players are acting not just out of the state of their athletics, but of their entire campus and are using their visibility to bring attention to the rapid decay that is happening there.

A former boss of mine and his brother (and son!) all played Grambling football and I've been keeping up with them on Facebook. The picture they convey is one of systematic failure across the entirety of the university's administration.

[JesseMartin]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9846943/grambling-state-tigers-players-send-letter-complaint-administration

Yeah, I'm going to have to side with the players for sure now. I understand that the budget cuts aren't the University's choice, but if they're repeatedly getting staph infections and the facilities are that bad (look at the pics), plus they have to pay for supplements out-of-pocket (with what money?)...it's out of control.

On the other hand, you'd think an away game would be a welcome retreat, since the facilities for the visiting team must be better than what they're used to. Though the 14-17 hour bus rides certainly don't help much. I love a good road trip, but ouch.

There's a definite need for re-prioritization in how their limited budget is spent. Health and safety should be the first concern. The other things could be argued either way, but this is awful.

[greenminer]

I thought I saw a big red flag when I read the coaches flew while the players did these marathon bus rides.

[KRAM1]

If the state is not going to properly fund these universities and if tuition and fees cannot be raised appropriately to support the schools, they should be closed. Political correctness or fear of being called names should not play a role. Fund them properly or shut them down.

Has enrollment been going up over the last few years? If so, it reflects interest in the school. If not...that pretty much says it all.

[NT03]

JSU plans on lawsuit : http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131022/SPORTS030101/131022030/JSU-plans-sue-Grambling-State-financial-loss-forfeit-?nclick_check=1

[Danish43]

JSU plans on lawsuit : http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131022/SPORTS030101/131022030/JSU-plans-sue-Grambling-State-financial-loss-forfeit-?nclick_check=1

I don't like that. All it will do is create division and bitterness that can last for years.

[THOR]

I don't like that. All it will do is create division and bitterness that can last for years.

then grambling should have played...it's a short bus trip...

[oldguystudent]

.it's a short bus trip...

So in addition to all the other indignities, they make them ride the short bus?

[MeanGreenTexan]

So in addition to all the other indignities, they make them ride the short bus?

anyone else find it a little ...strange... that KingDL1 gets mod status and all of a sudden, we're running out of +1's a little earlier?

[untbowler]

well side with players who were protesting the President, who in turn has now gone political about the lack of funding for HBC's. Mr. Grambling President get your @$$ out and fund-raise for YOUR university and stop asking for handouts and complaining.

[UNTLifer]

I thought I saw a big red flag when I read the coaches flew while the players did these marathon bus rides.

Not the coaches:

The players were bothered, according to the letter, that "the president and athletic director traveled by plane."

The part that concerns me is the filth they had to contend with and the President pushing blame to someone else. If the facilities are in as bad of shape as they state, the pictures seem to support their claims, then how could anyone overlook them including the university president?