HBCU Football: 3 takeaways from Southern’s rout of Grambling

Many players have made names for themselves playing in the Bayou Classic. Grambling State legend Doug Williams played and won four Bayou Classics while quarterback for the great Eddie Robinson. This season was Ladarius Skelton’s turn to become a Bayou Classic legend.

Skelton has played in and won three straight Bayou Classics and named MVP three times. Skelton left the game with what appeared to be an upper-body injury, only to come back and have an impressive game. On the day, Skelton had 178 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Not that the Jags needed a herculean performance from Skelton or John Lampley, the quarterback Skelton platoons. Southern dominated the game from start to finish leaving the Tigers winless for the first time in over three generations of Tigers football.

Grambling came into the Classic, reeling from a spring of tumult on and off the field. Head coach Broderick Fobbs saw two offensive coordinators resign and starting quarterback Geremy Hickbottom enter the transfer portal.

If that were not enough adversity, the team paused activities because of positive COVID tests. Grambling did not begin practicing again until this week. The Bayou Classic was the end of a bitter spring in northern Louisiana.

Here are three takeaways from the 47th annual Bayou Classic.