Before the start of the regular season, first-year Grambling State head coach Mickey Joseph indicated in so many words that he wanted the Tigers to be feared once again, like in the glory years.
“They need to fear Grambling, Joseph said at his introductory press conference back in December. “And that’s what we plan to do.”
Some eight months later, in front of the largest crowd to see a Grambling State home game in nearly 20 years, the Tigers forced five turnovers and got just enough offense in a convincing 41-20 win over Jackson State on Saturday night at Eddie Robinson Stadium.
It was an early tenure-defining win over an opponent expected to contend for a SWAC championship and established, at least for now, that Grambling is past the shortcomings that had befallen the program since its last winning season in 2017.
Grambling (3-1) was led by its defense on a night when the offense was only able to muster 271 total yards of offense. The unit, which had come into the matchup leading the FCS in turnovers, forced five, including two that resulted in defensive touchdowns.
It was a performance fitting for the hard-nosed Joseph, who wanted to mold the program into a tough and disciplined group.
To the crib!🏠 RQQ to the BRUHZ🐶⚡️
Caleb Lee-Collins with the pick 6 before halftime! #GramFam | #ThisIsTheG🐯 pic.twitter.com/ZhGWIe1uB4
— Grambling State Football 🐯 (@GSUFootball01) September 22, 2024
“So, my thing was getting back to dominance, dominating people like we’re supposed to. Respect – they’re always going to respect Grambling,” Joseph told the Ruston Daily Leader after the win. “They’re never going to disrespect Grambling. They may say it with their mouth, but when they get on that field, they know it doesn’t matter what Grambling team, and they’re going to get the best from that team.
“So, when I say restore the order, bring the dominance back.”
Quarterback Myles Crawley threw for 167 yards and a TD pass. Running back Ke’travion Hargrove added two scores on the ground. On defense, defensive back Caleb Lee-Collins picked off Jackson State quarterback Cam McCoy for a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown. Patrick Marshall scooped up a Jacobian Morgan fumble for a four-yard TD.
And the dominance on defense occurred in front of 19,085 fans — the most for a Grambling State home game since the 2007 season.
It might finally be the year of the Tiger, after all.
