The story was basically written after Grambling State thumped the Southern Jaguars in the Bayou Classic, and the SWAC Championship put the anti-climatic ending to a predictable story line.
Grambling State Tigers win the Sheridan Black College Football National Championship.
There’s much debate about it, as there usually is. South Carolina State had a claim to the title with an impressive romp to the MEAC football crown and a close-than-expected playoff showing. Tuskegee University, save for a picture-perfect bad call in the Turkey Day Classic, would’ve happily taken another SIAC title and another undefeated season with an SBN championship on the side.
Poor Shaw University has the misfortune of competing in the CIAA, which many people believe presents mediocre competition to in the face of the other three black college conferences. Same thing with the mighty Langston Lions, who actually advanced in their playoffs, but play in an athletic conference about as familiar to black college sports fans as NASCAR.
But above it all, the voters believed that Grambling made the strongest case for the championship, and it just goes to show that, for all the weaknesses and controversy in the SWAC, the one thing they get right is making sure they are the last thing on the minds of the voting coaches and SID’s.
And its not like their claim doesn’t have merit. The Tigers finished with two losses on the season against a consistently higher level of competition than the foes Tuskegee faced, but played much weaker opponents than South Carolina State, who again, advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs.
It comes down to your taste in judgment. If you go with wins and losses, Tuskegee is your champion. If you go with strength of schedule, South Carolina State is your champion. If you go with who won best, Grambling is your champion.
My advice? Cheer on your champion, because with the SBN, you’ll never get it quite right.
| 1. Grambling State Tigers (23) | 11-2 | 267 | 1 |
| 2. South Carolina State Bulldogs (7) | 10-3 | 233 | 2 |
| 3. Tuskegee Golden Tigers | 10-1 | 219 | 3 |
| 4. Prairie View Panthers | 9-1 | 181 | 4 |
| 5. Florida A&M Rattlers | 9-3 | 153 | 5 |
| 6. Shaw Bears | 8-3 | 116 | 6 |
| 7. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | 8-3 | 72 | 8 |
| 8. Tennessee State Tigers | 8-4 | 63 | 9 |
| 9. Jackson State Tigers | 7-5 | 41 | 7 |
| 10. Southern Jaguars | 6-5 | 34 | 10 |
Others receiving votes (in order of points): Albany State 33, Fayetteville State 27, Elizabeth City State 24, Morgan State 19, Langston 8.
noonie 9:50 pm on December 23, 2008 Permalink
What fools or dumb negroes would give the Grambling this phantom SBN. We all know that SCSU would run woodshed on the tigers of. This is a swac championship for swac teams only. This is a total disgrace.Look at the Final Polls in the FCS. If they can get it right why can’t sheridan.
Wishbone 8:03 pm on December 27, 2008 Permalink
Don’t shake him let him sleep. He’s dreaming!
Dr. C. E. Page 10:28 pm on January 1, 2009 Permalink
Grambling is a powerhouse in HBCU football. If you doubt their strength, wait until the SWAC/MEAC Challenge…..We should meet the MEAC champs…….we will see whos gonna get ran over.
JC 10:48 pm on January 1, 2009 Permalink
I’m not sure that SC State would run all over Grambling like that. About the only weakness that I saw from Grambling this season was play calling.
I think it would be a pretty even game.
dstep0360 10:46 am on November 3, 2009 Permalink
Last year Langston University played Grambling a very close game at Grambling. LU may not be in a HBCU Conf. but it is an HBCU and has a very very good Football Program under Coach Greg Johnson. LU is currently 8 and 2 with a loss to UAPB at UAPB and on the road to a strong NWOSU. LU in the playoffs again.
JC 10:54 am on November 3, 2009 Permalink
You are absolutely right. A post on the Lions will be soon coming. Thanks for checking me on my lack of coverage of their great season.