Tag: Grambling State

Three takeaways from Florida basketball’s rout of Grambling State

Dominance on the boards and second-chance points neutralized a poor shooting effort from Florida on Monday, leading to a 24-point win over Grambling State and the first 3-0 start of the Todd Golden era.

Florida trailed Grambling State for all of 30 seconds and then the rout was on.

The Gators defeated the Tigers, 86-62, on Monday night, securing a 3-0 start to the 2024-25 college basketball season. On paper, the matchup looked like a sure thing for Florida, which went 14-1 against Quadrant 3 and 4 opponents a season ago. Still, a 24-point blowout is typically a sign that all gears are working properly within the machine.

For a second-straight game, Florida proved that it didn’t need nearly 60 combined points from its two star guards, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. Instead, the Gators distributed the ball well, finishing the night with five players in double figures and three more within a field goal from double-digit points.

Center Rueben Chinyelu led Florida in scoring with 14, followed closely by Sam Alexis, Clayton, and Richard with 12 apiece. Alexis’ 12 is more impressive than the rest, considering he only played 20 minutes off the bench.

Good win, bad shooting

Despite crossing the 80-point threshold for a third-straight game, Florida’s shooting wasn’t the best Monday night. Removing layups (14-25) and dunks (3-6) from the picture, the Gators shot 12 of 33 (36.4%) from the field.

Richard was off for most of the night (4 of 11) and made just one of five attempts from deep. Alijah Martin, who is looking to score more consistently, shot just 33% over 29 minutes, and Denzel Aberdeen tried a little too hard to score when he was on the court. A late step-back three saved Aberdeen from an abysmal night from the field, but going 2 of 8 isn’t the best look for a key bench piece.

Fortunately, those points in the paint count as much as the rest, and the big men were on tonight. Chinyelu went 7 of 8 from down low, Alex Condon worked his way to the free throw line often, hitting 6 of 8 shots, and Thomas Haugh snuck in nine points off the bench; not to mention the 5 of 9 night provided by Alexis.

Florida has played these past two games differently than the season opener against USF. Clayton is making a concerted effort to distribute and take smart shots, and Richard is working on his defense and transition offense. Both are hoping to prove they belong in the NBA.

Gators dominate the boards

Florida nearly doubled Grambling State’s rebound total, and a lot of those came on the offensive side of the ball. In total, the Gators finished with 45 boards to the Tigers’ 24, with a 17-5 differential on the offensive glass.

Size matters in basketball and more rebounds means more points in this game. Florida’s 18 second-chance points dwarf Grambling State’s two, and the 16-point differential in that category makes up the bulk of the Gators’ margin of victory.

Condon led the way with eight rebounds (four on offense and four on defense), while Haugh and Alexis had seven and six, respectively.

The surprise rebounder of the night was guard Alijah Martin, who grabbed as many as Haugh (7), including a pair of offensive boards. Even Richard had five, which means the ‘3’ position is doing its job on the glass.

How special is this Gators team?

It’s hard to gauge just how good this 20th-ranked Florida team is through just three games. It’s the first 3-0 start of the Todd Golden era, but the Gators haven’t faced an equal match yet.

The upcoming matchup with Florida State could be a true test for this squad. Although the Seminoles finished last season one game over .500, a rivalry game on the road could be a trap for the Gators.

Head coach Leonard Hamilton has the ‘Noles 2-0 to start the season — against Northern Kentucky and Rice, with a matchup against Tarleton State on Monday night — and draft hopeful Jamir Watkins just earned a Co-ACC Player of the Week nod while averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 assists per game with zero turnovers.

Florida State also has size on its roster, which could challenge Florida’s frontcourt. The kind of rebound differential seen on Monday won’t easily be duplicated against a Power Four opponent with five players taller than 6-foot-10.

If Florida can beat FSU handily on Friday, there’s a real shot at closing out November with a perfect record. Florida A&M and Southern Illinois are next up on the schedule, followed by Wake Forest on Thanksgiving as part of the ESPN Events Invitational.

Next up for Florida basketball

The Gators travel north to take on the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee on Friday, Nov. 15. The rivalry matchup tips off at 6 p.m. ET and can be watched on the ACC Network.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Saints assistant D.J. Williams to participate in 2023 Quarterback Coaching Summit

New Orleans Saints assistant D.J. Williams to participate in 2023 Quarterback Coaching Summit:

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The New Orleans Saints will be well-represented at the 2023 Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and the Quarterback Coaching Summit, what’s become an annual offseason event for coaches and front office personnel around the NFL: offensive assistant D.J. Williams will be in attendance at the league’s Los Angeles office, participating in seminars and panels alongside other current and former coaches.

This three-day symposium works in partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame to offer “peer-to-peer professional development and networking opportunities” for candidates for promotion in coaching circles. The Saints have been involved with similar events before; last winter, football administration vice president Khai Harley (best known for his work managing the salary cap) participated in the NFL Front Office Accelerator program to help raise his standing around the league.

Williams, a former standout quarterback at Grambling State and the son of Washington Commanders executive Doug Williams (who won Super Bowl XXII as Washington’s starting quarterback) who joined the Saints back in 2017 as a coaching staff intern. He was promoted to a full-time position in 2019 and has worked closely with the quarterbacks ever since. This is a great opportunity for him to get more experience from his peers in the NFL.

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No. 8 Arkansas vs. Grambling State: How to watch, stream, listen

Arkansas manager, Dave Van Horn, will likely treat this game as a tune-up, looking for opportunities before the tough SEC season starts. 

There were questions about the Diamond Hogs going into 2023, but we witnessed how good and bad they can be at the College Baseball showdown. 

The Diamond Hogs looked good in the College Baseball Showdown overall, despite the 18-6 debacle against TCU. It’s too early to tell which team will be present for most of the season, but the next test will be a historical black college, Grambling State Tigers.

Arkansas will host Grambling State for a one-game series. The Razorbacks have never lost to a SWAC team, and it shouldn’t change in this afternoon’s matchup either. Grambling State opened its season in the HBCU Classic, finishing 1-2 on the weekend.

Arkansas manager, Dave Van Horn, will likely treat this game as a tune-up, looking for opportunities before the tough SEC season starts.

Diamond Hogs ready for Grambling State after College Baseball Showdown

Let’s see if they can keep that momentum going against Grambling State. The first pitch is at 3:00 pm on SEC Network. 

Our editor, E.Wayne, predicted Arkansas to finish opening weekend at the College Baseball Showdown 1-2, but the Hogs gained an extra win in the final game.

Next for the Razorbacks is the Grambling State Tigers. The Tigers started the season in the Cactus Jack HBCU Classic, only winning their last game against Mississippi Valley State 14-4.

INF Cameron Buford, catcher John Garcia, and OF Trevor Hatton lead the Tigers. The three players combined for 33 home runs, Buford and Garcia were the only players who finished with double-digit home runs.

Arkansas shouldn’t struggle in this game, especially after giving up 18 runs last weekend to No. 18 TCU. Some could say that was a wake-up call because the staff only allowed one run to the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the next game. 

“You learn a lot about your team a lot times after a bad loss. They showed a lot of – I don’t know the word I’m trying to use – I always thought we were tough, so I don’t really want to use the word toughness. I don’t question that one bit.” – Dave Van Horn

Let’s see if they can keep that momentum going against Grambling State. The first pitch is at 3:00 pm on SEC Network.

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Art Briles resigns OC post at Grambling State after less than a week

Art Briles has resigned at Grambling State in the face of huge backash to his hiring

And for once, logic and common sense have prevailed.

Art Briles is out at Grambling State as its offensive coordinator less than a week after being hired.

In a statement Monday, Briles told Grambling: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of your coaching staff at Grambling State University. Unfortunately, I feel that my continued presence will be a distraction to you and your team, which is the last thing that I want. I have the utmost respect (for) the university, and your players.”

Briles was considered one of the top offensive coaches in the country when he led Baylor from 2008-15, leading the program to a 65-37 record. He left the program in disarray and scandal.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar astutely summed up why Briles had no place at the school after his hiring was announced.

Oree Banks. Todd Bowles. Rod Broadway. Vyron Brown. Eric Dooley. Broderick Fobbs. Lee Fobbs. Emory Hines. Ozias Johnson. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones. Mickey Joseph. Bob Leahy. Tyrone McGriff. Gabe Northern. Heishma Northern. Trei Oliver. Doug Porter. Eddie Robinson (of course). George Small. James Spady. Melvin Spears. Sam Washington. Doug Williams. Dennis Winston.

All great men who have coached at Grambling State University, perhaps the crown jewel of all HBCU schools from a football perspective.

Art Briles does not belong in their company, but as of now, that’s exactly where Briles lives. This thanks to Hue Jackson, the former NFL head coach and offensive coach who became Grambling’s 14th head coach last December. It was Jackson’s decision to hire Briles as his offensive coordinator, which officially happened on Thursday.

This is the same Art Briles who has been out of college coaching since May, 2016, when Baylor officials suspended him with intent to terminate after sexual assault allegations were made against a number of school athletes, including Briles’ players. In May, 2016, Briles was fired. He later reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the university. Baylor president Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw were suspended, and left the university soon after an internal investigation.

Grambling State coach Hue Jackson attempted to defend his hiring of Briles but all it did was create more backlash.

Now, Briles is out and one has to wonder what the school administration thinks it has in Jackson.

Former Grambling and NFL star Doug Williams put the decision on blast to The Washington Post.

“I don’t know Art Briles; I’ve never met him in my life,” said Williams, who also had two stints as Grambling’s coach. “But the situation, nobody else would hire him for whatever reason. I don’t know why Grambling State had to go be the one to hire him, so I’m not a fan at all.”

Asked whether he would continue to support the program, Williams said: “Oh, no. I can’t do that. No, no, no. If I support them, I condone it.”

How Hue Jackson tried to defend hiring Art Briles and created more controversy in the process

What the heck happened here? We break it down.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. You may have heard about Hue Jackson and Art Briles and some very weird tweets and wondered what’s up with that. We’re here to help.

Art Briles is back coaching college football, with Grambling State hiring the former disgraced Baylor coach as an offensive coordinator.

It’s a decision that has rocked the college football world, and rightfully so. But it was made MUCH worse when the foundation for Grambling head coach Hue Jackson tweeted a statement in support of Briles … and that’s just the beginning.

Let’s explain:

Deion Sanders goes 2-0 as Jackson State forces Grambling State fumble at goal line

A late fumble recovery at the goal line by Jackson State against Grambling State and Deion Sanders is 2-0 as a college coach

Deion Sanders made headlines as a player. He had a major voice as an announcer. The spotlight continues to find “Prime” in his first season as a coach at Jackson State.

Jackson State handed Grambling State its first home loss since 2015 Saturday in a battle of schools nicknamed Tigers.

The Jackson State Tigers came away with a 33-28 victory in a game that was not sealed until Sanders’ team forced a fumble near the goal line with little more than a minute left.

Grambling State running back Keilon Elder fumbled, and Jackson State linebacker Keonte Hampton recovered at Eddie Robinson Stadium.

Jackson State’s prior drive resulted in a fumble near the end zone that resulted in a Grambling State recovery on a drive that could have put the game away.

Part 2: Taking a look at Seahawks positional needs this offseason

The Seahawks’ offensive line was better in 2020, but they need to focus on getting some top-tier young talent to succeed the older veterans.

In part one of this series, I discussed the need for the Seattle Seahawks to address the edge rusher position this offseason. In this installment, I examine another position – or rather, a group of positions – that the team should address.

NEED NO. 2: OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Although the 2020 iteration of Seattle’s offensive line was superior to the units of years past, the front five could still do with some upgrades. They were positively bullied by the Rams’ defense in all three 2020-21 matchups, causing quarterback Russell Wilson to make some baffling choices that threw the entire offense off-balance. At times, it appeared that the team was facing a sort of identity crisis, with the popular “Let Russ Cook” mantra giving way to an aura of muddled confusion across the Seahawks fanbase.

As opposing teams figured out how to defend against the 2020 Seahawks’ pass-happy offense, Wilson’s – and subsequently, Seattle’s – efficiency took a massive downturn. In a press conference on Jan. 11, two days after Seattle’s wild-card exit, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the team’s lack of a balanced attack. “I want to see if we can run the ball more effectively… I’d like to not play against two-deep looks all season long next year.”

A return to prioritizing the ground game makes sense, as the Seahawks’ o-line was specifically built around maintaining a strong rushing offense. Starting tackles Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, as well as starting guards Mike Iupati and Damien Lewis, all perform much better on run-blocking than on pass-protecting efforts. With those building blocks in place, the Seahawks ought to focus on further bolstering the unit to ensure that offensive productivity remains consistent (not streaky) for the next several years.

“We need to run the ball with direction and focus and style that allows us to dictate the game,” said Carroll. “We have to be able to get that done.”

The Seahawks’ pending free agent offensive linemen include tackle Cedric Ogbuehi ($2.3 million contract) and interior linemen Mike Iupati ($2.5 million), Ethan Pocic ($1.102 million), Kyle Fuller ($750,000) and Jordan Simmons ($675,000). Not all of them will leave, but regardless of who re-signs, the unit could do with a boost in overall talent.

Seattle’s best bet would be to address this issue through the draft. Brown is the cornerstone of the o-line, but is 34 years old and needs a successor. Iupati is just one year younger than Brown and seems to have reached his peak. With the Seahawks sitting at just four picks this year, they will need to put some serious research into making sure that they hone in on some Day 2-3 prospects that the staff can develop into top-tier blockers.

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