Coutesy of Grambling Athletics
A clash of HBCU football bluebloods is on the menu for this weekend, as Grambling State welcomes Tuskegee to town for the 2024 home opener at James “Shack” Harris-Doug Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on HBCUGo.
GSU and TU are two of the most decorated HBCU football programs in history, combining for 28 HBCU National Titles.
Grambling State enters Saturday’s contest 0-1 on 0the season, following a 40-10 loss versus the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. In that game, the Tigers amassed 241 yards of offense with 166 of those yards coming through the air. GSU trailed 30-0 at halftime, but played an even second half, limiting the Ragin Cajuns to 10 points and avoiding the shutout.
Starting quarterback Myles Crawley had an efficient night, going 19-for-28 for 166 yards and one interception. His top target was Nick Howard who snagged five passes for 68 yards.
Ke’Travion Hargrove led the GSU rushing attack with 61 yards on 12 carries.
Defensively, GSU newcomer Blake Davis had a solid night racking up a game-high eight total tackles with seven solo stops. He also had an interception and a sack.
Tuskegee also enters the game 0-1 after falling to Johnson C. Smith 21-13 on Sunday night. The Golden Tigers were held to 232 yards of total offense with starting quarterback Raequan Beal going 9-of-17 for 138 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on HBCU with Charlie Neal (PxP), Jon Kelley (Analyst) and Lawrencia Moten (Sideline) providing commentary. Fans can also listen to game live on KGRM 91.5 FM and KPCH 99.3 The Peach.
GAME PREVIEW
All-Time Series: Tuskegee leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: W, 55-0 (Oct. 31, 1949 in Shreveport, La.)
THE MATCH-UP
Grambling State hosts Tuskegee for its home opener on Saturday. GSU is coming off a 40-10 loss at Louisiana, while TU is fresh off of a 21-13 loss to Johnson C. Smith. Saturday’s contest will be the first time since 1949 that Grambling State and Tuskegee will meet on the gridiron. Saturday’s game is also the first night game at GSU since the 2018 season.
COACH MICKEY JOSEPH – FIRST SEASON
This season is the first season that Mickey Joseph will roam the sideline as head coach of the GSU football program. Joseph, who served as an assistant coach at GSU in 2014 and 2015, returns to Grambling following assistant coaching stints at LSU and Nebraska.
NEW SEASON, NEW EXPECTATIONS
Grambling State enters the season following a 2023 campaign that saw the Tigers go 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the SWAC. The Tigers are also seeking their first season opening win since 2021 when they beat Tennessee State 16-10 in the Black College Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. GSU was picked to finished third in the SWAC West.
THE MYLES CRAWLEY EXPERIENCE
Grambling State starting quarterback Myles Crawley was selected as the preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. He was also placed on the Walter Payton Watch List. Last season, the Redshirt-Senior from Lithonia, Ga. threw for 2,303 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 60.1 percent of his passes (197-of-328). He was the first Grambling State quarterback to throw for at least 2,000 yards in a season since Devante Kincaid in 2017 and the first GSU QB to throw at least 16 touchdowns since Geremy Hickbottom in 2018.
THE “BOOT” IS HOME
Grambling State’s roster features 60 players from the state of Louisiana. This year’s team is also full of new faces with 68 new players wearing the black & gold this season.
THE OPPONENT
Tuskegee enters Saturday’s game following a 21-13 loss to Johnson C. Smith in the Red Tails Classic. The Golden Tigers a led by second year head coach Aaron James.
LOOKING BACK AT 2023
Grambling State finished the 2023 campaign with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in SWAC. The Tigers got off to a strong start in conference play, opening with a pair of victories over Texas Southern and eventual SWAC West Champion Prairie View A&M. The Tigers nearly clinched its first winning season since 2019, but a last second defensive stop by Southern in the Bayou Classic thwarted that opportunity.
In 2023, GSU showed promise under signal caller Myles Crawley who had a stellar debut season for the Tigers.
THE SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN TIGERS
Saturday’s game will be just the fourth all-time meeting, and the first since 1949, between Grambling State and Tukegee. GSU defeated TU 55-0 in 1949 in Shreveport, La.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS vs. TUSKEGEE
Date Score Location
9/28/46 L 21-6 Tuskegee, Ala.
9/27/47 L 19-6 Tuskegee, Ala.
10/31/49 W 55-0 Shreveport, La.
ROOKIE SENSATION
Returning to the field for the G-Men in 2024 is sophomore wide receiver Javon Robinson. The Homestead, Fla. native was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year following a season that saw him make a name for himself on offense and special teams. Robinson made 30 receptions for 368 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 44 rushing yards on 10 carries. On special teams, he had 10 kick returns for 190 yards and fielded seven punts for 53 yards.
THE NEW GUYS
Several new players made their mark in Grambling State’s season opener at Louisiana. Defensive back Blake Davis had a remarkable afternoon for the Tigers, making eight total tackles with one sack and one interception.
Transfer wide receiver Nick Howard paced the Grambling State receiving corps with five receptions for 68 yards.
The running back tandem of Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove and Tre Bradford. Hargrove picked up 61 yards on 12 carries while Tre Bradford ran for 26 yards on seven carries.
SWAC PREDICTIONS
Grambling State was picked to finish third in the SWAC Western Divison in the preseason projections. Alcorn State was pojrected to come in first with Prairie View A&M tabbed for second. Behind GSU in was Southern in fourth place Arkansas-Pine-Bluff in fifth and Texas Southern in sixth.
GRAMBLING STATE PROTECTS HOME TURF
The Grambling State Univeristy football team has historically been successful at Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. The Tigers are currently 100-39-1 all-time when playing at home.
