Grambling State Skips Practice

[Eric]

http://tracking.si.com/2013/10/16/grambling-football-team-skips-practice/

A pretty interesting story line when I saw it. The athletic climate doesn't sound too healthy over at Grambling. No head coach, new athletic director, losing, frustrated players. And to make matters worse, their basketball program is on academic probation and they went 0-27 last year since half of their roster is made of walk-ons.

[Spence]

Sounds like the administration better get their ducks in a row before they lose their ability to have an athletic program.

[donovan]

I suspect this all has to do with money. A once noted football program that produced as many NFL players as any in the country financially can not keep up with the massive amounts of money it takes to compete. And the reality is, African American players can go to any school they want to in the country now, didn't use to be that way and the Gramblings are not getting the competitive players anymore.

[Eric]

Well now the game between Grambling and Jackson State has been canceled. This is crazy. I don't remember anything like this ever happening in the history of Division 1 football, unless I'm forgetting something. A team basically has a mutiny and quits mid-season? Where do they go from here?

I think the only solution is to flush everything out about this team and start from scratch. New AD, new coaches, and new players from top to bottom. Either that or if they can't feed the players on road trips (one of the initial complaints), then they need to dump football.

[donovan]

I imagine that is exactly it. They just don't have the money to have a program. Its demise is for the reasons stated. You will see more of this. How long before revenue sharing?

[Spence]

I imagine that is exactly it. They just don't have the money to have a program. Its demise is for the reasons stated. You will see more of this. How long before revenue sharing?

The B-10 has revenue sharing to an extent, but these are public schools for the most part. How many public run agencies have you ever heard of that share funding? They don't think like that.

[Eric]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9846943/grambling-state-tigers-players-send-letter-complaint-administration

Sounds like a decaying athletic facility, having to pay for their own sports drinks during practice, and general uncleanliness leading to staph infections are also at play in addition to the excruciating bus rides. The state cut funding for schools so Grambling can't afford to help the players out here. It doesn't look like there is a solution. They should probably drop athletics all together if they can't afford some of the more basic amenities.

[Derek]

I imagine that is exactly it. They just don't have the money to have a program. Its demise is for the reasons stated. You will see more of this. How long before revenue sharing?

The B-10 has revenue sharing to an extent, but these are public schools for the most part. How many public run agencies have you ever heard of that share funding? They don't think like that.

The SEC has it too, but I'm pretty sure it's only for bowl games.

[Spence]

We share TV money as well. We get to keep our gate.

[Duke1632]

Anyone notice Grambling got their first win today?

[Eric]

I did. How bad must Mississippi Valley State be

[Cane from the Bend]

About as Terrible as Miami & Michigan . . .

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[Eric]

About as Terrible as Miami & Michigan . . .

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I think we can take solace in the fact that we didn't lose to Grambling

I'd rather be in Miami's shoes right now as far as the season is going. The only thing Michigan has to play for is to lose to Ohio State and lose their New Year's bowl game. At least Miami can win their bowl game

[Eric]

It sounds like reports are saying Duke Johnson is out for the year with a broken ankle. Terrible news. Blame ESPNU if this turns out to be untrue since that's where I got it from.

[Cane from the Bend]

No, it's definitely broken . . . but don't credit e.rroneous s.peculation p.ropagated n.arcissism for reporting the story . . . those of us who are tied closer to this situation, were well aware of the news before "they" even got wind of it.

[Note --- I neither have a twitter nor facebook account] Reports handed down proceeded as:


Duke Johnson had his right foot/leg twisted under him in that pile. Tough to watch the replay.
10:47 PM - 2 Nov 2013

It's Duke Johnson's right ankle. He's being helped off the field. UM could ill-afford not to have him next week.
10:48 PM - 2 Nov 2013

Trainers checking out Duke Johnson's right ankle on the training table.
10:50 PM - 2 Nov 2013

WQAM's Josh Darrow reported RB Duke Johnson has a sprain, but was taken back for x-rays to make sure it isn't worse.
11:00 PM - 2 Nov 2013

Canes RB Duke Johnson with cast on right leg
11:37 PM - 2 Nov 2013

Source close to situation tells Miami Herald that UM RB Duke Johnson has broken his ankle and is out for the season. Surgery next week.
12:44 AM - 3 Nov 2013

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