On the day he orchestrated his first spring game as Grambling State head coach, Hue Jackson identified a financial figure that could immediately uplift Black college football’s most storied program.
“I know for a fact, if there was five million dollars, we can change the face of this really quick, all of it,” Jackson said Saturday. “I think there are ways of doing it. There are people who want to help, but at the same time people gotta understand what that looks like.”
The conversation took place Saturday during “The Pivot Podcast” hosted by former NFL players Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder ahead of the annual Black and Gold Spring Game at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.
Jackson’s comments come five months after he was hired last December in place of Broderick Fobbs, who was fired after eight seasons as head coach. Before Jackson arrived at Grambling, the program and university officials were called out by members of the football team for a lack of support.
In a letter addressed to University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson on Dec. 9, 2021, players expressed a “no vote of confidence” in school president Rick Gallot.
The team explained in the document by listing specific issues which it argues led to “the decline” of the football program’s performance over recent years. The issues highlighted include “misappropriation and diversion of funds for the football program,” a “failure to provide a safe environment,” and “failure to provide, promote and support proper athletic staff.”
Henderson, in response to the letter, indicated that he supported Gallot and expressed willingness to provide Grambling with all the support it needs.
“It’s talent acquisition and it’s talent development,” Trayvean Scott, Grambling athletic director, told The Pivot during his appearance on the show. “You also have to provide the bare necessities for the student-athletes.”
Said Gallot on Saturday: “Coach (Jackson) and I talk all the time and I said look, ‘We have to give you the resources you need to get the results we expected,’ “he said. “We’re not going into this saying they’ll do more with less, we want them to do more with more.”
Watch The Pivot Podcast interview with Jackson, Scott and Gallot below:
