Over the past decade, Grambling football — the team, in tandem with the Tiger Marching Band — has helped a series of FBS teams to record-smashing gates. And in return, as befitting the oft-used monicker “money game,” the university gets a big check.
There is, however, a hidden cost.
After all, the SWAC began this season at 0-22, according to commissioner Duer Sharp, since 1999 against FBS foes. The games, quite honestly, are not played for the winning.
“I would prefer not to play them at all,” Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. “As a football coach, your No. 1 prerogative is to win. I also understand the position we’re in, where we have to bring in some revenue to run a good program.”
There has always been a specific need for the program to help underwrite the broader athletic budget, and that has only intensified through the age of Title IX and, more recently, in unsteady economic times.
Now, this: A move by the Southwestern Athletic Conference back to a nine-game league-team scheduling mandate gives administrators just two spots a year to bolster whatever income follows from regular-season matchups — including the neutral-game cash cows in Dallas (the State Fair Classic, against Prairie View) and New Orleans (the NBC-broadcast Bayou Classic game, against Southern).
So Grambling must maximize any out-of-conference date, meaning trips like this year’s to Stillwater, Okla., to play a far superior FBS Top 20 Oklahoma State.
There, we saw a big crowd (more on that later), a sizeable payday — and big injuries.
Grambling returned with six players needing X-rays, including quarterback Greg Dillon — who practiced sparingly throughout the following week. A secondary that had already been reshuffled after an injury to starter Kenn Anio (now lost for the year) suffered another series of devastating hits.
Result: GSU comes out flat against Prairie View, giving up 14 opening points, and by the time Dillon finally gets into rhythm in the second half, the Panthers have taken control of the game.
Grambling, a year after going undefeated in league play, is already in an 0-1 hole. A season ago, this loss woud have kept GSU out of the SWAC Championship Game.
What’s all of that worth?
As with previous trips to heavily favored FBS foes like San Jose State and Houston, Grambling set an attendance record at Stillwater — this time, in the form of the first sellout ever at the newly completed Pickens Stadium.
The best-attended Oklahoma State game in the program’s history had earlier this season, when the Cowboys played host to SEC foe Georgia — attracting 53,012.
Grambling helped draw 56,901, easily smashing the old mark. It’s part of a trend for the program, which has always travelled well (see TDR attendance chart below).
In return, Grambling received a payout of $340,000.
And a bundle of problems.
That money comes with strings attached.
ONE SOLUTION?: Go to your home games, Grambling fans.
Grambling coach Rod Broadway discusses how injuries, in particular across the defensive secondary, have impacted the 2009 football season:
GRAMBLING’S BIG DRAWS
TheDerisoReport.com’s look at record-breaking recent visits by Grambling to FBS programs, and what the university was paid (where available):
Louisville welcomed 41,227 for its Sept. 9, 2000 game against Grambling, then the 10th largest crowd in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium history.
The Tigers were paid $275,000 to visit San Jose State on Aug. 24, 2003, drawing 31,681 and the first sellout for a football game at Spartan Stadium since 1990. A season later, without Grambling as an opponent, the Literacy Classic drew two-thirds fewer fans, just 11,360.
Washington State gave Grambling $500,000 to play, and saw 51,486 at Seattle’s Qwest Field on Sept. 17, 2005. The school hasn’t counted more than 50,000 fans at that venue since.
Grambling’s Sept. 16, 2006 game at Houston drew 27,302 — the biggest home crowd at John O’Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium since 31,784 fans watched Texas take a 53-26 win over the Cougars on Sept. 29, 2001.
The Tigers helped set a new home attendance record at the Louisiana-based FBS program ULM on Nov. 20, 2007, drawing 30,101. GSU reportedly received $100,000 from the nearby school.
Grambling was paid $275,000 for its opening away game at Nevada in 2008, drawing 20,078 — just outside the Top 10 all time for the Wolf Pack at Mackay Stadium.
Nick great research. I don't agree with your directive that the fans need to show up in larger numbers for home games. Grams fans have to travel from Houston and the Dallas areas. Grambling needs to do a better job working with the hotels in the area. You can stay at a 4 star hotel in either city cheaper than you can get a room at a hotel in Ruston.Since the great Eddie Rob it has been proved that the local area does not have a large enough fan pool to fill the stands for Gram,La. Tech or La. Monroe.
Coach Robinson never discouraged his players. He always stated that if they are playing football today we will be there. Grambling State University is so full of employees who have no love for Grambling and what it stands for today. Again Judson is the problem and everything he brings to Grambling has been a problem as far as I can see. He needs to go. Broadway you have the best coaching job in Division I AA Football. Be thankful that you are not riding the bus every weekend.
Broadway has done an excellent job as our Head Coach BUT you never say to your players or anyone else that you can’t play with anyone. He has a right not to want to play them…but he went overboard with his comments. No way those kids felt good about him saying that…hell it hurt me and I didn’t have to play one snap.
I hope he’s apologized to the team for those comments and will NEVER utter such words again.
Everyone is missing the point that’s bein made by Coach Broadway and Nick…If more people would come out and support the team instead of critizing them then maybe we wouldn’t have to play FBC Schools and risk injuries to the players which has happen. Sure, playing these big schools help get the players noticed, but If I’m not mistaken all schools have pro day…I’m just sick and tired of all the negative comments that are being made about the Coaches…That’s there job, not yours or mines, so get over it…We still have severals more games to play so let’s get behind the team as a whole and cheer them on to a successful season….LET”S GO GSU see at the ROB on Saturday..
Whats the difference between a white Div 1aa program playing a FBS school and recieving a half million dollar payday, and an HBCU playing the same type of school? The White Schools competes and expects to win, but according to Gramblings coach, He doesn't like playing where they don't have a chance…WTF…thats why most HBCU football is GARBAGGE…I hate the low budget,bad coaching, and non visionary football we play…KB