Grambling focuses not just on opener, but first month

Often, a coaching staff will seek to motivate its team by talking about the opener. It’s a shining goal on the hill, that first contest.

Something to aim for.

Grambling has begun this fall with a broader concept: The season’s first month. It’s a point of constant reminder for the team.

“Our first four games are real tough,” said GSU running back Frank Warren. “That’s what they keep telling us.”

Here’s why: In its initial four games, Grambling faces black college power South Carolina State (Sept. 6), Southland Conference foe Northwestern State (Sept. 12), SWAC East champ Jackson State (Sept. 19) and then former BCS Top 10 Oklahoma State (Sept. 26).

In a larger way, this is why Rod Broadway has been pushing this team like never before. As much as it’s already accomplished, Grambling will have a sequence of Saturdays that could define its season.

“A lot of guys aren’t pushing themseves,” Broadway said of the team’s first week of fall practices. “They want to be good, but are not willing to pay the price. We’ve got some guys who will push the button and some who want to coast. We need to start paying attention to detail and working our butts off.”

Asked directly if he felt that was the result of relaxing a bit after an 11-win campaign, or simply just early-season rust, Broadway told me: “It’s a combination. I think some of the guys think they are better than they are, and a think some of is, it’s just the first week.”

Even so, the message seems to be getting through: Work now, and hard, because September promises to be rigorous, uphill battle.

“That’s why we are trying to work hard and get everything we can out of this camp,” said Grambling quarterback Greg Dillon. “If we do our part, the rest will work out.”