After 3 consecutive SWAC titles and a 7-year tenure, Grambling State University has decided to part ways with its notable head coach, Doug Williams. As a former standout quarterback for the Tigers under the athletic direction of Grambling football legend Eddie Robinson, Williams has always been a ‘campus hero’ whether throwing Hail Marys down the field or sphereheading a victory on the sidelines. His 2011 return to the Grambling coaching staff even produced a winning season that led to yet another SWAC championship. However, his 2012 season didn’t quite render the same victorious flair. The 2012 football season was the worst the Tigers ever played under Williams’ direction, creating the highly apparent blemish that led to the slow demise of the ‘Doug Williams’ Grambling era.
Then, the bottom fell out as the 2013 season opened with a foreboding two-game losing streak which definitely didn’t sit well with the Grambling State officials. The first two games of the season clearly served as a harsh reminder of the gut-wrenching 1-10 2012 season, which included a whopping 0-9 SWAC standing, placing the Tigers at the very bottom of the SWAC totem pole — a very uncommon rank for the legendary head coach and team itself. So after much arbitration, Grambling was left no other choice than to fire Williams, stating that they’d decided to, “move in a another direction”, paying Williams contract out and ending his coaching agreement, which would have spanned through next season.
According to the Grambling President Frank Pogue and Coach Williams’ the decision was cordially endorsed. Grambling and Williams parted on amicable terms.
“We recognize Doug Williams’ many contributions to our football legacy, and we express our deep appreciation for his service to Grambling State University and we wish him well in the future,” said President Pogue. Williams’ simply responded stating, “I told him, ‘OK,’ and I was gone.” –Pure simplicity.
As a 1978 first-round, NFL draft pick Doug Williams has a proven track record of success. He played as a starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1978-1982.
Williams is vastly renowned for his laudable performance in the Super Bowl XXII MVP of 1988. Doug Williams led the Washington Redskins to a 42-10 wipe-out victory over John Elway and the Denver Broncos.
Grambling running backs’ coach George Ragsdale has been appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the 2013 football season. Coincidentally, Ragsdale played for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins just as Williams had. Hopefully Ragsdale can turn things around and produce a plausible season for the Grambling Tigers.
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