GRAMBLING, La. — Two Grambling band members marched down Central Ave. on Grambling's campus Saturday, one's trombone slide gliding back and forth as notes bellowed in the afternoon air.
On a normal fall Saturday, the pair would be two of several hundred members of The World Famed Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band blasting fan-favorite music.
But Grambling forfeited Saturday's football game against Jackson State as the Grambling football team continued its protest of what it says is mistreatment by the university's administration. Grambling players refused to travel from their Louisiana campus for Saturday's game because of issues they have with leaders of the athletic department and the university.
Across the street, one Grambling freshman missed a fadeaway jumper at the outdoor basketball courts.
"I think it's embarrassing for the university," said the freshman, who declined to give his name because he said he wanted to keep a low profile. "I'm just a freshman so I don't know a lot of the details ... and I understand a lot of the students feel a certain way.
"I know that certain things needed to be done ... but I don't think it was a reason for the (football team) to quit like that."
Grambling officials are meeting this weekend in an effort to reach a resolution with disgruntled football players and avoid any more forfeits. Some of the players have demanded the resignation of university president Frank Pogue, but school spokesman Will Sutton said Saturday, "that's not going to happen."
Sutton said that players were given the weekend off but that officials were in touch with some of them by phone. He added that a practice is scheduled for Monday, though it is unclear if players will show up.
The university plans to play next Saturday's scheduled game at Grambling against Texas Southern. It is the school's annual High School Day, which draws in many prospective students from around the region.
Sutton said officials meeting this weekend include Pogue, athletic director Aaron James and coach Dennis "Dirt" Winston, the team's third coach this season. Former Doug Williams was fired after just two games, and Winston replaced interim coach George Ragsdale on Thursday.
Sutton confirmed one of the players' concerns was about travel. The team recently took buses to games in Kansas City and Indianapolis.
"When you have your budget slashed by 57 percent, you have to make choices," Sutton said, adding that the school would "love" to fly the team to distant road games, but that Grambling was contractually obligated to take its band, cheerleaders and dance team on those two trips. He said those obligations led to the difficult choice to put everyone on buses.
Sutton specified that the 57 percent cut in state funding, which has occurred over the past several years, has affected the entire campus, and that athletics was spared significant cuts until this academic year. The athletic department was asked to cut $335,000 from its overall department budget of $6.8 million. Sutton said football was cut by $75,000 to about $2 million.
More than 100 students attended an on-campus rally Thursday to show support for the football team and to voice their own grievances.
Former Grambling offensive lineman Herman Arvie said in a telephone interview Saturday he initially shared the freshman's sentiment until he said he learned more about the players' situation by talking to alumni closer to the program.
"I'm on the players' side now," said Arvie, who played four NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens from 1993-96. "I didn't realize what these players were facing, and I am proud of these guys for taking a stand.
"In retrospect, we didn't have anything in terms of facilities. Twenty years later, what they have has improved drastically from a visual standpoint, but if the conditions are what they say they are, then (Grambling) has taken a step back. Sometimes you have to do things that may be considered detrimental to the history and the program itself. In order to take a step forward, you have to take a couple steps back."
ESPN reported Saturday that it had obtained a letter detailing player complaints, which included mold in the locker room and improperly cleaned uniforms contributing to an increased likelihood of staph infections.
Sutton said that local health department inspectors, acting on an anonymous tip, recently visited Grambling athletic facilities and recommended changes to improve conditions, but did not deem those facilities a health hazard.
Sutton added that buildings throughout campus, including the library, have similar problems because of neglect, and that the conditions football players have complained of are symptomatic of problems campus-wide stemming from substantial budget cuts.
"If people want to get this fixed, there are two things they can do: Make a donation to the Grambling Foundation and the other is lobby legislators to fund Grambling at the level it should be funded," Sutton said.
With the forfeit to Jackson State on Saturday, Grambling has now lost 18 consecutive football games against NCAA opponents.
But Sutton said Williams' dismissal was not related to his "wins or losses, or Xs and Os. Not at all." When asked to clarify why Williams let go if not because of his record, Sutton said, "We don't discuss personnel matters."
Sutton added that the recent change in interim coaches was a move the AD felt needed to made in order to move closer to resolving the impasse with players, who Sutton said supported the decision to promote Winston.
The ongoing chaotic situation first drew public attention on Tuesday, when players angrily walked out of meeting with administrators. Players then refused to practice Wednesday and Thursday, then did not show for buses Friday to travel to Mississippi for Saturday's game.
Pogue released a statement Saturday apologizing to Jackson State, who highlighted its homecoming festivities with a scrimmage instead of a game against Grambling.
"It was with deep regret that I called Dr. Meyers and told her what had happened," Pogue said. "We have had our financial challenges this year, and unfortunately too many of our players don't understand the degree of our fiscal challenges. We are sorry."
"We share many of the frustrations of our players and we continue to work to balance those concerns with the financial restraints that have been placed on our institution by the state. However, though recent events have resulted in an unfortunate homecoming gap in the always exciting JSU homecoming weekend of activities, we ask that JSU alumni and fans respect the right of our football players to freely express their concerns as we do."
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