Despite uncertainty the annual Bayou Classic would be played because of COVID-19 issues affecting Grambling State, the school’s athletic director affirmed the game would go on.
“The game is scheduled to be played. We’re looking forward to it,” Grambling athletic director David Ponton told the News-Star on Friday. “We’re looking forward to the city of Shreveport hosting it. It’s going to be a good event in northwest Louisiana.”
Grambling’s ability to participate in the game against Southern was in question after the football program was forced to pause after several members of the team tested positive for COVID-19 and others were lost to subsequent contact tracing and quarantine measures.
When asked about his team’s status for the final game of the spring regular season, head coach Broderick Fobbs previously indicated at the time he wasn’t certain his group would be ready to play.
Also read: Will the Bayou Classic be played this year? COVID-19 complicates matters for Grambling State
But that all changed when the 0-3 Tigers returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since late March.
“I think they’ve done a good job maintaining. Although activities were suspended, our student-athletes were able to individually workout, we just couldn’t do things as a team,” Ponton said. “It’s not an ideal situation but COVID-19 is not an ideal situation, period. Our staff has worked extremely hard to put our student-athletes in the best possible situation.”
The game is scheduled for April 17 at 1:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
