GRAMBLING, La. | After coming off an open week, the Grambling State University football team will open up Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play in its 2018 home opener as the Tigers take on Alabama State. Kick-off from Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 as Butch Alsandor (play-by-play) and Ken Moore (color) will call the action. Additionally, the Tigers’ broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Nick Harrison and Leon Thomas will have all of the action on Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game will broadcasted in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and Monroe (KJMG – 97.3 FM) and streamed online at www.gsutigers.com.
Grambling State (0-2) is seeking its first win of the season after opening the year with losses to Louisiana (Lafayette) and Northwestern State. The Tigers have not started 0-2 since 2015 and have not lost more than two games in a season since 2014.
Alabama State (1-2) started the year with a thrilling overtime win over Tuskegee, but lost the last two games against ranked opponents. The Hornets fell on Sept. 8 to FBS-No. 7 Auburn, 63-9, and on Sept. 15 to FCS-No. 8 Kennesaw State, 62-13.
“It was good to take a week off,” Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. “We had an opportunity to get a couple of guys healthy. This week we’ve got Alabama State, whose a really, really good program with a really good football coach, who does an exceptionally good job of not only coaching, but also mentoring young people. It’s the first game in the conference, which is exciting for our kids and our coaching staff. We are looking forward to this opportunity.”
ABOUT THE GAME
> Saturday’s game is High School Day
> This will be the 41st meeting between the two teams
> Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs will be seeking his 18th victory in the state of Louisiana
> Alabama State head coach Donald Hill-Eley took over in the middle of last season and guided the Hornets to five wins in the final six games. That lone loss — at home against Grambling State
> The game will feature two quarterbacks that transferred from Arkansas State (Aldon Clark – Grambling State; Darryl Pearson – Alabama State)
> This will be the SWAC opener for both teams
> For the first time in nearly three years, Grambling State is unranked in the STATS FCS Top 25 and FCS Coaches’ Poll
Last Time Out
> Grambling State last played nearly two weeks ago with the Tigers falling on the road to Northwestern State, 34-7
> Grambling State amassed 349 total yards of offense, with 22 first downs
> Aldon Clark led the team in passing (14-of-22 — 125 yards) and rushing (14 carries for 62 yards)
> Damien Crumitie paced the defense with seven tackles and one pass breakup
Inside the Numbers
> The Tigers are looking to extend their current home winning streak to 13 games against Alabama State
> Broderick Fobbs and his Grambling State teams have won 25 straight SWAC games
> Senior kicker Marc Orozco is just 44 points shy of becoming the all-time GSU leader by a kicker. Orozco enters this season with 281 total points for his career, needing only 44 points to surpass Morgan as the school’s all-time leading kick scorer
Grambling State-Alabama State Connections
> The series began in 1979 with Grambling State picking up a 21-7 win
> Saturday’s game will mark the 41st meeting between the two teams
> The Tigers have won the last three meetings, with the Hornets’ last win in the series coming in 2014 (37-23)
> The most points scored by Grambling State was 51 (1994) and 60 by Alabama State (1991)
> This will be the second matchup between GSU head coach Broderick Fobbs and ASU head coach Donald Hill-Eley
Up Next
Grambling State leave the state for the first time this season on Sept. 29 as the Tigers take on Prairie View A&M at the State Fair Classic in Dallas, Texas. Kickoff from the Cotton Bowl is set for 4 p.m.
Tickets Still Available
Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale at the GSU Ticket office and fan are encouraged to visit www.gsutigers.com or call the ticket office to purchase tickets. For more information on purchasing season tickets, call (318) 274-2625 or (318) 274-2629.
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
-www.gsutigers.com-
Brian Howard
Sports Information Director
Grambling State University
You must be logged in to post a comment.