The Southwestern Athletic Conference opener between Grambling State and Jackson State Saturday night has extra meaning.
The two longtime rivals didn't meet a year ago as scheduled.
Grambling State forfeited their Oct. 19 game at Jackson State after refusing to travel to the game. Its players were in the midst of a six-day walk-out protesting conditions within the program.
Both teams have new head coaches this season, so the programs are more than anxious to move on from last season's forfeit. Jackson State is 2-1 under Harold Jackson, winning twice at home, while Grambling State is 0-3 under Broderick Fobbs, playing better this season despite the winless record.
"These guys, they understand the situation that was going down there. And probably within that same situation, they probably would have done the same thing. They understand that," Jackson said. "We haven't heard any residue or anything about that right now. Right now, the only thing they're doing is trying to get ready for Grambling because they know Grambling is going to come into their home and (be) ready to play ball."
"Jackson State has always been a program that I've admired," said Grambling alumnus and coach Broderick Fobbs. "They have a great fan base, they travel well and they show up for any contest that Jackson State plays. That's something that I will always remember from playing against Jackson State. And then they have great athletes. The state of Mississippi puts out great talent every year that goes on to various universities and are very, very successful. And Jackson is no different."
In addition to Grambling forfeiting the game during the Tigers' tumultuous 2013 season, the SWAC's council of presidents and chancellors later imposed a $50,000 fine against the Louisiana school and mandated that it would have to play at Jackson State for the next three seasons to help compensate for its opponent's lost revenues last year, when the game was supposed to be Jackson State's Homecoming.
Grambling holds a 40-23-1 series lead, but Jackson State won the last time they met on the field, 53-17 in 2012 at Grambling.
[SportsNetwork.com]
