Grambling’s Christian Anthony named preseason SWAC defensive player of the year

by Nick Deriso July 20, 2010, 10:05 pm (CT)

The coaches, sports information directors, and selected media of the Southwestern Athletic Conference provided no surprises in preseason voting the 2010 Defensive and Offensive Preseason Players of the Year. Last year’s post-season winners, defensive end Christian Anthony from Grambling, and quarterback K.J. Black of Prairie View were named heading into Tuesday’s SWAC Kickoff Luncheon and Media Day. Anthony was a dominant defensive force who finished 10th in the league with 76 tackles and third overall in both sacks (8.0) and tackles-for-loss

Read More »

CELEBRATION OF STARS: Grambling Legends honor heroes who guided them

by Nick Deriso July 20, 2010, 10:03 pm (CT)

The Grambling family gathered Saturday at the Monroe Civic Center to induct the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame’s second class, and to again celebrate the lives of the four biggest legends that made the school’s proud athletics history possible — Eddie Robinson, Ralph W.E. Jones, Fred Hobdy and Collie J. Nicholson. “It tells you what Grambling meant to so many of us,” inductee Doug Williams said. “A lot of these guys — and even when I came out of high school — we couldn’t go anywhere else. Grambling

Read More »

Former school president Joe Johnson gave Grambling hoops an assist, too

by Nick Deriso July 20, 2010, 10:00 pm (CT)

Joseph B. Johnson had a distinguished career as a university administrator. He served as executive assistant to the president at the University of Colorado in the early stages of his career, was Grambling’s president from 1977-91, and wrapped up his career as the president at Talladega College.

But ask him about his career, and he first will bring up his playing days with the Grambling basketball team — and an unofficial honor he proudly explains.

“I played with Bob Hopkins, and Bob was the nation’s leading scorer,” Johnson said. “I was the quarterback of the 1955 team — I was to Grambling’s championship team what Bob Cousy was to Boston. If Bob Hopkins was the nation’s leading scorer, then I must have led the nation in assists, because somebody had to pass him the ball!

“We always laugh about that. At that time they kept points, but they didn’t keep stats for assists like they’re keeping right now.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Grambling Legends status is top honor for Doug Williams

by Nick Deriso July 17, 2010, 7:48 am (CT)

Doug Williams is no stranger to praise. He already is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Chaneyville High School Hall of Fame. Tonight, he and 14 others will be inducted into the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame during a 6 p.m. ceremony at the Monroe Civic Center.

Williams said what makes this honor unique is it’s “like coming home.” As he looked around the room at his fellow inductees during a press conference on Friday, he saw all those faces that helped him along his path to becoming the only African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

“I think it speaks volumes,” he said. “From day one, when I stepped foot on Grambling’s campus, I knew who was on hand. I knew people who had been there before me. Sammy White caught my first college TD pass against Prairie View in Dallas, Texas. President (Joseph B.) Johnson was the president my senior year. (Eugene) “Doc” Harvey wrapped my ankles for four years at Grambling. Adolph Byrd — he recruited me to Grambling. He was the guy that came and sat in my mom’s house.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Quick slants

July 20, 2010, 9:57 pm (CT)

Adolph Byrd’s voice was far from the most popular at Grambling College when he returned to the school in 1946 after World War II to complete his education.
But it gained more and more influence, respect and recognition over the years en route to becoming one of the first 40 members of the Grambling Legends Sports [...]

Read More »
July 16, 2010, 11:39 pm (CT)

Mary Currie, who averaged 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds over her record-smashing career, helped turn the Grambling women’s basketball program into a SWAC power in the 1980s.
That’s earned her 2010 induction into the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame, with ceremonies set for 6 p.m. July 17 at the Monroe Civic Center.

Read More »
July 16, 2010, 11:37 pm (CT)

Eugene “Doc” Harvey will be encountering plenty of familiar faces on Saturday at the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. If an athlete played for Grambling in the last 50 years, chances are that athlete ended up on Harvey’s training table.
Harvey was a trainer and physical therapist at Grambling for “34 or 35 [...]

Read More »
July 14, 2010, 10:45 pm (CT)

Eddie Robinson Jr. couldn’t hold back tears Tuesday afternoon when reminiscing about the relationship between his family and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died at age 80 Tuesday morning of a heart attack.
“It’s a very personal loss,” said Robinson, son of legendary former Grambling State University football coach Eddie Robinson.
“It’s like we lost [...]

Read More »