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The legendary Grambling Tigers

The Grambling band has performed at events from coast to coast, and in Liberia, Panama, Korea and Cuba. JIM BRYANT / AP file

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 9/24/2009  2:26 AM
Last Modified: 9/24/2009  6:30 AM

The basics

Grambling State University is located in Grambling, La. (situated in north central Louisiana — 64 miles east of Shreveport, 41 miles west of Monroe).

According to the Grambling State University Web site, the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association was formed in 1896 to organize and operate a university. Grambling State opened for business in November 1901.

Nearly 90 percent of Grambling's 5,161 students are black Americans. Nearly 60 percent of the students are female.

The Tiger football program

Eddie Robinson-coached Grambling State teams had 45 winning seasons, won or shared 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles and captured nine black college national championships.

During the Robinson era, Grambling recorded at least eight victories in 32 seasons. His 1955 team was 10-0, outscoring opponents 330-54. In 1972-77, the Tigers were 60-11.

Grambling's Sept. 12 victory over Northwestern State was the program's 500th since Robinson was hired in 1941.

Eddie Robinson

He coached baseball and women's basketball, and for a time he was involving in directing the band and coordinating the cheerleaders. But Eddie Robinson is best known for his work on the football field.

In 57 seasons as the Grambling State football coach, Robinson posted a record of 408-168-15. Today, he occupies the No. 2 position on the list of winningest coaches in college football history.

"Eddie Robinson — that's a pretty amazing story, what that guy was able to accomplish," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "It's a very tradition-rich program, and we have a lot of respect for what they have accomplished."

After retiring in 1997, Robinson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. At the age of 88, he died on April 3, 2007.

The Football Writers Association of America presents the Eddie Robinson Award to the national coach of the year.

Distinguished football alumni

More than 200 of Eddie Robinson's Grambling players went on to play in the National Football League or American Football League. Four of those players wound up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Buck Buchanan of the Kansas City Chiefs, Willie Brown of the Oakland Raiders, Willie Davis of the Green Bay Packers and Charlie Joiner of the Houston Oilers, Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers.

After leading Grambling to four SWAC titles in 1965-68, James Harris was with the Los Angeles Rams in 1973-76 and became the first black quarterback to open a season as the starter.

After completing his Grambling career, Doug Williams was a 1978 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1984, he quarterbacked the Oklahoma Outlaws, Tulsa's USFL team. Following the 1987 NFL season, Williams led the Washington Redskins to a Super Bowl rout of the Denver Broncos. In 1998-2002, Williams was Robinson's coaching successor at Grambling. Williams then became a personnel executive with the Buccaneers.

The Grambling State marching band

The Tiger marching band is at least as nationally renowned as the Tiger football program.

Grambling's band, celebrated for its energetic showmanship, has performed at three Super Bowls and an NBA All-Star Game. The band has performed at events from coast to coast, and in Liberia, Panama, Korea and Cuba.

And on Saturday, at halftime of the Grambling-Oklahoma State football game, the Tiger band will perform at Boone Pickens Stadium.

According to the Grambling Web site, "the Tiger Band continues to be one of the most visible recruiting tools at Grambling State University. Young and old, black and white, foreign and American are all attracted to this band."



OSU Up next

Vs. Grambling State

6 p.m Saturday

Radio: KFAQ am1170, KRVT am1270
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
conserv-o-king, (9/24/2009 8:27:55 AM)
That is truly amazing, wish i would have applied to Grambling... I could have recieved a minority scholarship!
Report Comment
Rhymeister, Tokyo, JPN (9/24/2009 8:43:21 AM)
Maybe you should read up on history, king, before you get all uppidity and be so sarcastic! Only a truly negative person would say something like that about a university that has made people into better human beings.
Report Comment
CW Kingston, (9/24/2009 11:36:15 AM)
Grambling has probably sent lore to the NFL than a whole lot of D 1 Schools. Don't knock em.
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C SQUARED , MANNFORD (9/24/2009 11:40:28 AM)
Looking forward to the game and band hope the weather holds out Go Pokes!
 

 
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