Grambling’s Rod Broadway has heard the stories about Prairie View.
A record losing skid that might stand forever, 80 straight games — nearly doubling the second-longest such streak. Last Southwestern Athletic Conference championship: 1964, when the Panthers were also mythical black college national champions.
That’s not the Prairie View he knows.
“I’ve never experienced the down-and-out period,” Broadway says. “Starting two years ago, we have been very fortunate to come out of there with a win.”
The Prairie View he knows pushed Grambling until the very, very end in 2007. It took a Tim Manuel field goal with just 1:22 left to play for Grambling — on its way to the first of two consecutive Western Division titles under Broadway — to secure that win against these pesky Panthers.
The Prairie View that Broadway knows jumped out to a 9-0 lead last season on the strength of some savvy trick plays, putting a Grambling team that would go on to win the SWAC back on its heels. GSU recovered to victory 40-16, but again left the Cotton Bowl with a healthy respect for Henry Frazier’s squad.
Prairie View is coming off a remarkable 9-1 season. That’s its best record since that ’64 title — and just one victory away from propelling Frazier and Co. to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game.
That single crushing loss came a year ago in this game, the State Fair Classic at Dallas. In fact, the Panthers haven’t beaten GSU since 1986, when most of the players taking the field on Saturday were toddlers.
But they’ve been close lately. Very close. This one is nothing to take for granted. Hasn’t been for years, Broadway says.
“The two teams we have played have been competitive,” Broadway said. “The ball bounces a lot of different ways — and that has determined the winner. Prairie View has been good since we’ve been here.”
No comments yet.