Back in the Day: Grambling at ULM, 2007

Nick’s note: The first in a series of Summer Reruns featuring favorites from our live game-day blogs. Today, we revisit a November 2007 contest where Grambling helped set a new home attendance record for nearby ULM in the first-ever date between these north Louisiana football programs. Start at the bottom and work upward for moment-to-moment memories:

FINAL THOUGHTS: A terrific day, with joy and fun to be had inside and outside the stadium. This is a moment when a community comes together, and why football on a fall afternoon has so much majesty and myth surrounding it. ULM 28, Grambling 14.

00:21, fourth quarter: Quintez Secka picks off Landers, putting an end to things.

00:28, fourth quarter: Grambling defenders are sitting dejectedly on the bench, even as the Tiger Marching Band plays. Sterlington product DeMichael Dizer, who returned a touchdown for Grambling’s first score, tries to buck up his team mates with high fives for John Scroggins and John Carter, as ULM punts to midfield.

1:55, fourth quarter: Down on the field, Eddie Robinson Jr. — son of Grambling’s late legendary coach — looked around in wide-eyed amazement. “It’s great, a packed house,” he said. “It reminds me of the Southern games back before we moved it to the Superdome. People are lined up at the fences, just like then. This thing could really be something.”

3:57, fourth quarter: The stands are rapidly emptying, as ULM’s 28-14 lead holds. But that doesn’t mean anybody has left. The tailgating areas on either side of the stadium are still jumping, with grills sending smoke curling into the sky and music thumping all around.

9:48, fourth quarter: Grambling’s John Carter just recovered a Frank Goodin fumble, as ULM pushed down to the Grambling 9. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Warhawks then pushed the ball to the Grambling 20. Reality check: ULM was trying to protect the lead by running, but that didn’t work either.

15:00, fourth quarter: Landers is sacked, leaving Grambling with third and long. Then sacked again. Another punt.

2:38, third quarter: Another Grambling possession, another punt. When GSU couldn’t score from deep inside the ULM territory earlier this quarter, the tide seemed to have decisively turned. Grambling’s game is not based on coming from behind. It’s a considered attack in the post-Eugene era. Yet ULM keeps throwing the ball, which gives this game a wide-open feel. Weatherbie is tossing it around like the score is reversed. If I were him, I’d be running Dawson and Goodin until their legs fell off.

3:30, third quarter: Whatever momentum Grambling had gained with the Lewis touchdown evaporates with Dawson’s 10-yard scoring dash. ULM, for reasons known only to Charlie Weatherbie, had opened the second half with a series of passing plays. Once they went back to Dawson, the Warhawks took control of the game again. ULM 28, Grambling 14.

4:39, third quarter: Darrell McNeal hauled in a Lancaster pass and dragged a gang of Grambling defenders all the way down the Grambling seven yard line, leading to first and goal. ULM is finally running the ball again, after a third quarter that saw do-anything rusher Calvin Dawson gain just five yards.

7:15, third quarter: Landers threw to the wrong shoulder of his receiver, leaving Grambling with a fourth down. Manuel attempted a 30-yard kick, which hit the right upright. But GSU was offsides. Then the resulting 35-yard attempt was blocked. The two teams, in a mad dash for the ball, end up pushing the ball back to the ULM 42, where the Warhawks start over.

8:26, third quarter: Another Grambling stop, and ULM punts from deep in its own territory. Reginald Jackson takes the kick 18 yards to the ULM 31.

10:09, third quarter: After an impressive Grambling stop, GSU’s Nick Lewis turns this entire game on its ear with a dramatic touchdown play for 63 yards. His score makes it ULM 21, Grambling 14 – but with every bit of the emotion reversed. ULM is showing why it has suffered through 14 straight losing seasons. Up in an emotional neighborhood scrum, thew Warhawks look like they are trying to give the game away.

12:47, third quarter: A critical third down at the ULM 35. Landers is hurried though, and his errant pass falls into the open backfield. Manuel lines up to punt, and puts it out of bounds at the ULM 9. The score remains 21-7.

13;13, third quarter: A new all-time record for attendance at Malone Stadium has just been announced, 30,101. That shatters the previous record, 28,725 in 1998 against Tech, and makes a tremendous argument for continuing this game as a series.

14:05, third quarter: Grambling’s already at third down, but Landers converts to Neville product Tim Abney — moving into ULM territory. The Tigers need a score here to keep from letting this one get out of hand.

15:00, third quarter: Grambling enters the second half having managing just four first downs, 40 net passing yards, and just five net yards rushing after a series of devastating sacks on Landers late in the first half.

2:32, half time: The Tiger Marching Band, as part of its half-time performance, spelled out “ROB” and “408″ in formation – tributes to Grambling’s late longtime former football Coach Eddie Robinson. Robinson was widely known as “Coach Rob,” and won a still-standing Division I-record 408 career wins. The crowd then joined in an emotional chorus of “Let’s Stay Together,” the 1970s-era hit by Al Green.

00:00, second quarter: Grambling may be losing the game, but something tells me they are going to win the half time. Bad news/good news for Grambling fans: ULM has now led at home five times this year at half time at home, but their record is just 2-2 so far.

00:29, second quarter: Grambling was playing soft, trying to give up some yards but not a touchdown. Instead, ULM marched down, bit by bit, then scored when tight end Zeek Zacharie went uncovered. The 29-yard score, so late in the first half, puts Grambling in an emotional hole. ULM 21, Grambling 7.

2:35 p.m., second quarter: Nigel Copeland just broke up a long Lancaster pass, but it was underthrown. The ULM QB is having a distinctly unimpressive day. You wonder why Weatherbie isn’t running Dawson, and running Dawson and running Dawson. With one minute left in the first half, he’s already piled up 72 yards rushing — nearly equalling this Grambling defense’s average per game. If ULM is going to put this game in Lancaster’s hands, my sense is that Grambling can stay in it.

2:42, second quarter: That was probably Grambling’s best offensive drive, and it barely got to midfield. Here’s how dominant ULM’s defense has been: Grambling had just one first down in the first quarter. Into the second quarter, the Tigers had just one yard of rushing.

3:52, second quarter: Grambling’s Landers connects with Reginald Jackson, who made a terrific 12-yard first-down run and catch. But then ULM’s surging defense knocked Landers back for losses of 8 and 6 yards on consecutive plays. Landers’ subsequent pass is broken up on third and 24.

5:53, second quarter: Another untimely penalty, this time for unsportsmanlike conduct, puts ULM at the Grambling 13. Frank Goodin then scampers in for the score. Emotions are difficult to control in a game like this. Thing is, GSU has three of them in a row — with the Bayou Classic and then the SWAC Championship Game looming. They’ll have to learn to deal with them. ULM 14, Grambling 7.

9:08, second quarter: ULM is outgaining Grambling three to one, but is still tied 7-7. That’s a testament to the Warhawks defense, which has helped cover for the shocking mistakes the ULM offense keeps making. Coming into this, I thought it might be a shootout. Instead, it’s been a defensive battle. That doesn’t work in Grambling’s favor, since as a FCS program, it has fewer scholarships to build depth for a late-game push.

10:26, second quarter: Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers, running for his life early in the second quarter, flung the ball across his chest from his own two-yard line toward Clyde Edwards. Edwards then made a dramatic one-handed grab for a first down, drawing gasps from the sold-out crowd. Grambling can’t make good on the momentum swing, though, and gives the ball back three plays later when Manuel booms a 59-yard punt.

13:16, second quarter: Melvin Mathews picked off a tipped Lancaster pass. Good play. He then spikes the ball. Bad play. Now Grambling has to start at its own 12, after being walked back half the distance to the goal line. This looks to kill Grambling’s next chance to score.

13:36, second quarter: Add 1,000 to whatever they announce tonight for attendance. Fans are standing three deep at the scoreboard endzone fence. That’s similar to what happens at the Bayou Classic, when many Grambling fans spend the balance of the game walking the concourse.

14:14, second quarter: Dawson had 41 yards in the first quarter, and is again keying this drive. ULM is already on the GSU 22. Grambling has only been giving up 77 total yards a game in rushing so far this season.

14:51, second quarter Tim Manuel, backed up five yards into his own end zone, kicked out to midfield — despite a bad snap. ULM is set up at the Grambling 44. The score remains 7-7, which is a bit of a moral victory for Grambling. But the momentum doesn’t appear to be on the Tigers’ side.

0:42, first quarter: A lateral that usually works to Clyde Edwards is shut down. His relative lack of size against ULM — a team that has guys like Greg James who are much bigger than many SWAC defensive backs — puts him at a rare disadvantage. A record-smashing performer in his own league, he’s struggling so far.

2:42, first quarter: Because Lancaster didnt notice that Grambling had jumped offsides — again — he kept running around until his own guy committed his own holding penalty. Offsetting penalties then stalled the drive. ULM punted.

4:43, first quarter: Off-sides again on the Grambling defensive line. They are clearly feeling the emotions of this game, which is nearing an all-time record in attendance as the crowd continues to pour in.

6:38, first quarter: Josh Thomas stood up the Grambling rusher on a fourth-and-one try, though. GSU has to give the ball back on downs, losing a critical opportunity to take control — at least emotionally — of this game.

8:03, first quarter: Christian Anthony just recovered a Lancaster fumble at the ULM 25, spurring a furious reaction the crowd.

9:47, first quarter: John Scroggins, the Grambling defensive line’s best — if not most vocal player — is down. The Minnesota transfer eventually limps off, apparently favoring an ankle.

10:32, first quarter: Landers badly overthrows on third and 10, and ULM’s James Truxillo picks it off at the ULM 12. Turnovers like that will kill them, I’m saying. And Sterlington product DeMichael Dizer picks off Kinsmon Lancaster, then returns the ball it 28 yards to even the score. Grambling 7, ULM 7.

11:30, first quarter: ULM’s kickoff team committed a personal foul on Clyde Edwards, adding 15 yards to his return on Grambling’s first possession of the game. That meant ULM was backed into its own territory, at the 42, just moments after scoring.

12:44, first quarter: An impressive run of 21 yards for a score by ULM’s Calvin Dawson. That’s just what Grambling did not want: An easy march down field to start the game, finished by a punishing rush by Dawson. ULM is up 7-0, and the teeming GSU faithful are a bit quieter. But only a bit. ULM 7, Grambling 0.

3:59 p.m.: GSU has won the toss — and the stands. As the team was announced, the stadium erupted … and then the Tiger Marching Band deliriously launched into “Neck.”

3:57 p.m.: Grambling team captains are Tim Abney, Chris Byrd, Tim Manuel and Reginald Jackson. Abney and Byrd are Monroe natives.

3:49 p.m.: A standard admonition from the SID in the press box is that you shouldn’t cheer for either team, and that who do will be asked to leave. No word on cheering for one of the bands, however.

3:42 p.m.: Grambling fans have taken over the visitors’ side here at Malone, with many wearing black and gold. It’s quite a sight.

–Better still is that they are cheering loudly right now as the PA announcer announces ULM’s departing standouts for senior days. GSU fans showed the same friendly sportsmanship in pre-game tailgating, shaking hands and taking pictures with any opposing supporters that crossed paths. We visited both groups’ tailgating areas, and I’m going to give the nod to Grambling. Robert Clark was spinning some great old soul records, and Reddix had some turkeynecks going.

–For the first time in memory, the roads leading into Malone were gridlocked. From the pressbox, we can see traffic sitting bumper to bumper.