What former Grambling football stars think about Hue Jackson and future of program
GRAMBLING – Former Grambling State football players Doug Williams, Sammy White and Andrew Glover made their way back to GSU for the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday night at Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena.
Although they came to celebrate the past accomplishments of former teammates and other former Tigers, they shared a collective hope for the future of the football program under the leadership of new coach Hue Jackson.
"Grambling has got to go forward," Williams said. "There's been some things that have happened that didn't make a lot of us happy."
Williams was a four-year starter and led the Tigers to a 36-7 record and three SWAC Championships in the 1970s. He had a 61-34 record as coach of the Tigers during two stints in 1998-2003 and 2011-13.
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In February, Williams said he was unhappy with the school’s decision to hire embattled Art Briles as offensive coordinator.
“I’m not a fan at all. I’m very, very disappointed in Grambling, I really am,” Williams told The Washington Post. “I talked to the AD a couple times. They knew where I stood, but they did it and if that’s what they want to do, that’s fine. I’m out.”
Four days later Briles resigned.
Williams was the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he led Washington to the title in 1988. He was inducted into the National Quarterback Club Hall of Fame in 2021 and is now an executive with the Commanders.
On Saturday night, Williams didn't address the Briles hire and said he's always pulling for the success of the Tigers.
Jackson was the offensive coordinator last season at Tennessee State. Previous to that spent two decades in the NFL. He was coach of the Cleveland Brown from 2016-18 and posted a 3-36-1 record. He was coach of the Raiders in 2011, finishing 8-8. He also has served as offensive coordinator for Washington (2003) Atlanta Falcons (2007), Raiders (2010) and Bengals (2014-15).
"He's a great person," Andrew Glover said about Jackson. "He's going to make our men proud, he's going to make our university proud. What we have to do to help him is support him, come out, be positive and give him what he needs so he can go out and be successful."
Glover spent 10 years in the NFL including a season with the New Orleans Saints. The tight end attended Grambling from 1987-91. He said that he hopes that under Jackson the Tigers will win every game this season – especially against rival Southern to close the regular season in New Orleans.
Similarly, former NFL wide receiver Sammy White believes in Jackson and the work he has been doing while at Grambling.
"We hope for good things to happen," White said. " We want good things to happen."
The most recent Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame inductee and former quarterback Clemente Gordon said that after attending a practice, he has high expectations for the Tigers this season.
Gordon was All-SWAC First Team selection in 1988 and 1989. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
"I think we're going to be under the radar," Gordon said. " But I think we're going to do some things this year. I really think we're going to compete for the championship."
Emely Hernandez covers University of Louisiana-Monroe athletics and high school sports. Email her at ehernandez@thenewsstar.com and follow her on Twitter @emhernandeznews.
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Doug Williams' thoughts on Hue Jackson and the future of GSU football
