A day after Superdome officials reportedly considered replacing Grambling State in future Bayou Classic games, representatives attempted to clarify its stance on the event.
Citing lack of attendance, especially from Grambling fans, Commissioner Robert Bruno intimated that another school could play in the game instead of Grambling.
Southern fans have significantly outdrawn Grambling fans in recent games, he said.
The average Bayou Classic attendance before Hurricane Katrina displaced thousands of Louisiana residents was 70,198. The last two games has featured an average attendance of 46,682.
On Thursday, Bruno said Grambling will continue to be part of the Bayou Classic despite rumors that have surfaced.
“Before it gets so bad that you’ve got 10,000 people there and State Farm doesn’t want to be involved in it and it becomes nothing, maybe you ought to think about maybe either you earn your way in through something else, bring another school in that’s willing to guarantee a certain number of tickets sales or whatever,” Bruno said.
“There’s never, ever been any consideration of changing the match-up for this game,” said said Superdome general manager Alan Freeman.”As a matter of fact, you would be crazy to so because over the 40-year history.”
Southern Athletic Director William Broussard said Mercedes-Benz Superdome officials have not reached out to him about changing the format of the game.
“I’m someone who has never considered anything other than Southern and Grambling playing the game as the season ender,” Broussard said.
Grambling State President Frank Pogue said the school and Southern have made “no plans to change this annual challenge in any way.”
