Grambling tries to go back-to-back
The defending Celebration Bowl and national champion Tigers are attempting to repeat since for the first time since the program won three consecutive titles from 2000-2002 under former head coach Doug Williams.
“This is the place we want to be,” Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs said about being back in the de facto HBCU national championship game. “This is where every school in our conference wants to end up.”
Hello, old friend
Before Grambling won the national championship last season after an eight-season absence, Rod Broadway — the current head coach at North Carolina A&T — led the Tigers to a title back in 2008.
Broadway went 35-12 at Grambling, winning one SWAC championship.
“I look at Grambling this way: When you think of black college football, that’s what you think of,” Broadway said. “It means a lot to have coached at a place like that, where football is king.”
The best of the best
The Celebration Bowl will feature teams with a combined 22-1 record, three FCS All-Americans, 24 all-conference selections and coaches who have won two of the last three HBCU football national championships.
The unquestioned two best teams in black college football are playing in Atlanta and set up the possibility for one of the best championship games of all-time.
“It’s a matchup of all matchups and a matchup for the ages,” said Fobbs. “We’re looking forward to it. I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. I want to play the best and I’m pretty sure they do as well. It lets you know where you are and where your program is.”
