TDR mailbag: ‘Conditional’ NCAA certification; offensive playcalling

In today’s TDR mailbag, we’ll delve into Grambling’s recent conditional NCAA certification and a question about offensive playcalling.

1. I’m curious what the NCAA problems are with getting a full certification. – T.T.

The NCAA, as a policy, doesn’t get into specifics on possible violations — though Grambling’s “conditional certification” indicates that the school is largely compliant with Division I rules, but must correct some deficiencies before receiving full certification. Schools are evaluated on “commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity, and commitment to equity,” according to the NCAA.

So what’s my best guess on what college athletics’ governing body discovered at Grambling? A problem with the very first item on the certification check list: Governance and that “commitment” to compliance.

Grambling has run through a series of athletics directors over the past five years, leaving a patchwork of policy — or lack thereof. In all, six different people have served, including current AD Lin Dawson. A full year over that span featured either no director or interim leadership, first by Duer Sharp and then Sharon Perkins.

Here’s how it went: Albert Dennis III — a respected ex-player whose father was also one of Eddie Robinson’s first team captains — was fired on July 1, 2004, Grambling president Horace Judson’s first official day in office. Former longtime South Carolina State coach Willie Jeffries didn’t assume the AD job until Jan. 3, 2005 — and had resigned by Oct. 31. Sharp, now commissioner of Grambling’s home Southwestern Athletic Conference, then served as interim until former Dallas high school athletics administrator Troy Mathieu took over on May 23, 2006. By August 2008, Mathieu was gone and assistant women’s basketball coach Sharon Perkins was serving as interim. Dawson, a former administrator at North Carolina State, Virginia Commonwealth and North Carolina Central, then took over in October of last year.

This kind of dizzying turnover has its trickle-down effects, and maintaining departmental structure is one of the most obvious. Dawson has his work cut out for him.

2. I think Grambling needs a new offensive coordinator. The plays that are called are basic plays people use in high school. That puts too much pressure on the defense to carry the load. Maybe just be more creative on offense, but something has to be done, because you can’t rely on your quarterback to run every down. – Darren

Fans (and sportswriters) love to criticize playcalling — principally, I’d say, because we have an opportunity to see the outcome of the move before deciding if it was the right one. The coaches actually making these calls, unfortunately, don’t have that luxury. They must decide what course to take before the result is shown on the Jumbotron.

I don’t think anyone would argue with the notion that Grambling flattened its playbook last year. Only, in the case of 2008, I saw it as good coaching. After all, GSU’s fourth-year starting quarterback vanished as fall camp began, leaving a battle between two untested, differently talented backups. The more athletic Greg Dillon eventually secured the job, but continued to struggle to make plays within the framework of the offense. He was at his best when he was able to improvise. Letting him do that — rather than forcing him into a different role — helped Grambling win. And win. And win. 11 times, including the Bayou Classic and the SWAC Championship Game.

It may not have been pretty — I famously got scolded by Rod Broadway in two separate news conferences for saying so — but it most certainly was effective. They used Dillon to the best of his ability, the definition of good coaching.

Fast forward to the just-completed spring practices: Grambling’s staff kept Dillon firmly in the pocket, helping him develop a different part of his game. That should work to bulk up the playbook going into the next season — good news for fans like you, Darren, but also for the team. You can bet opposing defenses will be prepared for Dillon’s ground attack next time. I see a Grambling offense that appears to be diversifying to play off those tendencies. Again, a smart move.

PREVIOUS MAILBAGS:
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TDR mailbag: Non-conference scheduling, Legends Hall of Fame
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