Grambling State Tigers

Last updated

Grambling State Tigers
Grambling State Tigers logo.svg
University Grambling State University
Conference SWAC
NCAA Division I (FCS)
Athletic directorDavid Ponton
Location Grambling, Louisiana
Football stadium Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium
Basketball arena Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center
Baseball stadium Wilbert Ellis Field at Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Park
Softball stadium GSU Softball Complex
Soccer stadium GSU Soccer Complex
Other venues Memorial Gymnasium
MascotTiger
NicknameTigers
ColorsBlack, gold, and red [1]
     
Website www.gsutigers.com

The Grambling State Tigers and Lady Tigers represent Grambling State University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Grambling's sports teams participate in Division I (I-FCS for football) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Contents

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Bowling
Cross countryCross country
Football Soccer
Track and fieldSoftball
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

Baseball

Notable players

Men's basketball

The Grambling State Tigers won the NAIA National championship tournament in 1961, beating Georgetown College (Ky.). The victory made Grambling State the first and only college basketball program in the state to win a national basketball championship. In the following years, the Tigers made it to the NAIA Final Four, and placed 3rd in 1963, and 1966, defeating Fort Hays State (Kan.) and Norfolk State (Va.) respectively. The Tigers appeared in the NAIA National Tournament eight times from 1959 to 1971, with a total NAIA National Tournament record of 19–7. Former NBA star Charles Hardnett played for the National Championship Tiger team. The team reached their first NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2024 after winning the SWAC Tournament Championship. [2] In 2013, the Tigers went 0–28, with only one single-digit loss (an 8-point loss to Alabama A&M in the SWAC tournament). Grambling State's most popular and highest attended regular season basketball rivalries are against the Southern Jaguars and Prairie View A&M Panthers.

Women's basketball

Football

Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium Grambling, Louisiana.jpg
Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana

Grambling State plays its arch rival Southern University in the annual Bayou Classic, which is hosted at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana over Thanksgiving weekend and broadcast nationally on NBCSN.

GSU also plays in the annual State Fair Classic against the Prairie View A&M Panthers at the Cotton Bowl, in Fair Park, in Dallas, Texas.

Former football coach Eddie Robinson previously held the NCAA record for most career wins as a head coach at an NCAA division I school. [3]

During Robinson's 55-year coaching career, the university gained a national reputation because of the large number of athletes who joined the professional ranks in football.

After Robinson's retirement in 1997, former GSU standout and NFL Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams took over the reins of the university's football program.

Grambling has won fourteen black college national championships, tied for second most in the country (Robinson's teams won nine of those championships).

The 1981 TV movie Grambling's White Tiger set in 1967, tells the true story of Jim Gregory, the first white Quarterback at Grambling.

In October 2013, citing health hazards within the Grambling State athletic facilities and team mismanagement in a letter to the administration, the Grambling State football team refused to play their October 19 game against Jackson St., forfeiting the match up, resulting in a loss. [4] The NCAA would later go on to announce the ruling on the game was officially declared a no contest. [5] The Tigers would return for their very next game a week later against Texas Southern. [6]

In 2017, Grambling State completed a few million dollars worth of renovations to the field and scoreboard. [7]

Notable players

Pro Football Hall of Fame members

Traditions

Grambling State's colors are black and gold, with red as a tertiary color symbolizing the blood of people of African descent. The school's mascot is the Tiger. Grambling State's male athletes are traditionally referred to as "G-Men". [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwestern Athletic Conference</span> Collegiate athletic conference made up of historically black colleges and universities

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for most sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly referred to as Division I-AA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black college football national championship</span> National championship won by the best football team among HBCUs in the United States

The black college football national championship is a national championship honor that, since 1920, has been regularly bestowed upon the best football teams among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) within the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Jaguars and Lady Jaguars</span>

The Southern Jaguars and Lady Jaguars represent Southern University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Southern University's 13 athletic teams participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) which is a part of the NCAA Division I. Football participates in the Football Championship Subdivision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grambling State Tigers football</span> American varsity football team

The Grambling State Tigers are the college football team representing the Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The 2000 Grambling State Tigers football team represented Grambling State University as a member of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Doug Williams, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the SWAC West Division title. Grambling State beat Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game to the conference title. The team was also recognized as a black college football national champion. The Tigers offense scored 300 points while the defense allowed 207 points on the season. Grambling State played home games at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson State Tigers football</span> College football team of Jackson State University

The Jackson State Tigers football team represents Jackson State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie View A&M Panthers football</span> College football team

The Prairie View A&M Panthers football team is the college football team representing the Prairie View A&M University. The Panthers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Fair Classic</span> Annual college football game, Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M

The State Fair Classic is an annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Prairie View A&M University Panthers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The game is played on a neutral site at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas during the State Fair of Texas. The game often occurs the weekend before the Red River Showdown game; the Heart of Dallas Classic took place on the first weekend of the 2013 fair, and the State Fair Football Showdown took place on the third weekends of the 2018 and 2019 fairs, featuring SWAC competitors Southern and Texas Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grambling State Tigers men's basketball</span> Collegiate basketball team

The Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represents Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. The school's team currently competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They currently play their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. They made their first ever appearance to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2024.

The SWAC Championship Game, officially the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship Game, is an American college football game that is held annually on the first Saturday in December by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Eastern Division against the champion of the Western Division in a game that follows the conclusion of the regular season. From 2015 onward, the winner of the game has represented the SWAC in the Celebration Bowl. Currently, it is the only conference championship game conducted at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. As of the 2019 season, the game is sponsored by Cricket Wireless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represented Grambling State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers, led by third-year head coach Shawn Walker, played their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in Grambling, Louisiana as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They finished the season 16–17, 10–8 in SWAC play to finish in a four way tie for third place. As the 5-seed in the SWAC tournament they defeated Prairie View A&M before losing in the semifinals to Texas Southern.

Donte Jackson is an American college basketball coach, currently head coach for the Grambling State Tigers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). In 2024, he led the Tigers to their first SWAC tournament championship in program history and their first ever NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Grambling State Tigers football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 Grambling State Tigers football team represented Grambling State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were led by fourth-year head coach Broderick Fobbs and played their home games at Eddie Robinson Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Tigers finished the season 11–2, 7–0 in SWAC play to win the West Division. They defeated Alcorn State in the SWAC Championship Game, receiving the conference's bid to the Celebration Bowl where they lost to North Carolina A&T.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represented Grambling State University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers, led by first-year head coach Donte Jackson, played their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in Grambling, Louisiana as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The 2019–20 Prairie View A&M Panthers basketball team represented Prairie View A&M University in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Panthers, led by fourth-year head coach Byron Smith, played their home games at the William Nicks Building in Prairie View, Texas as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They finished the season 19–13, 14–4 in SWAC play to be regular season SWAC champions. They defeated Alabama A&M in the quarterfinals of the SWAC tournament and were set to take on Jackson State in the semifinal before the tournament was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the SWAC Tournament cancelled, they were awarded the SWAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. However, the NCAA Tournament was also cancelled.

The 1963 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Prairie View A&M University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. In their 15th season under head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled a 10–1 record, won the SWAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 364 to 144.

The 1975 Grambling Tigers football team represented Grambling State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. In its 33rd season under head coach Eddie Robinson, Grambling compiled a 10–2 record, initially tied for the SWAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 153 on the field. The team was recognized as the 1975 black college football national co-champion and was ranked No. 4 by the Associated Press and No. 2 by the United Press International in the final 1975 NCAA College Division football rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2021–22 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represented Grambling State University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers, led by fifth-year head coach Donte Jackson, played their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in Grambling, Louisiana as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Texas Southern Tigers basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2022–23 Texas Southern Tigers basketball team represented Texas Southern University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers, led by fifth-year head coach Johnny Jones, played their home games at the Health and Physical Education Arena in Houston, Texas, as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2023–24 Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represented Grambling State University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers, led by seventh-year head coach Donte Jackson, played their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in Grambling, Louisiana as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They finished the season 21–15, 14–4 in SWAC play to win the regular season championship. As the No. 1 seed in the SWAC Tournament, they defeated Alabama State, Bethune–Cookman, and Texas Southern to win the SWAC tournament championship, as a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. As a No. 16 seed in the Midwest region, they defeated to Montana State in the First Four, before losing to Purdue in the First Round.

References

  1. Grambling State University Logos and Marks (PDF). July 14, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. "Ticket Punched: Grambling State Wins SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament for First Time in School History". Southwestern Athletic Conference. November 12, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  3. Penn State penalties: $60 million fine, 4-year bowl ban The Chicago Tribune . July 23, 2012
  4. "The inside story of what caused Grambling football players to revolt". Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  5. Sean Isabella, USA TODAY Sports (October 30, 2013). "NCAA decides Grambling-Jackson State game is a 'no contest'". Usatoday.com. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  6. "Grambling State returns to field with loss". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  7. GSU announces major stadium improvements Grambling State News [ dead link ]
  8. "Grambling State Athletics - G-Men Season Comes to an End in Heartbreaking Loss". Gsutigers.com. March 14, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2015.