MACHIAVELLI
February 21st, 2006, 02:28 PM
By Nick Deriso
[email protected]
GRAMBLING — The Bayou Classic appears to be headed back to New Orleans.
But that doesn’t mean Grambling State won’t be playing in Houston this year.
Coach Melvin Spears confirms that GSU is in scheduling talks with the University of Houston, a year after playing its annual rivalry game against Southern at Reliant Stadium in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Houston advanced to the Fort Worth Bowl in 2005, the first time since 1980-81 that the Cougars appeared in two bowl games during a three-year span. Both came under fourth-year coach Art Briles, the first former UH player to lead the Cougar football program. A loss to Kansas, however, meant Houston finished 6-6 last season.
“We want to use that game as an opportunity to gauge where we are at as a program,” Spears said. “Then, when you look at how we recruit Houston, it’s a win-win.”
Grambling officials said all along that they would return to New Orleans when the Superdome was playable.
“I think it’s very important that everybody know that this is a Louisiana game,” Dr. Angelia Weaver, Grambling’s 2005 Bayou Classic coordinator, said late last year. “We intend to be back in New Orleans as soon as it is physically possible.”
The NFL has announced an accelerated schedule for renovations that has the New Orleans Saints playing their first home game on Sept. 24 against Atlanta.
Spears said he hasn’t received definitive word on returning to the Superdome, but feels certain that’s where the game will be held.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/SPORTS/60221001/1006/SPORTS
[email protected]
GRAMBLING — The Bayou Classic appears to be headed back to New Orleans.
But that doesn’t mean Grambling State won’t be playing in Houston this year.
Coach Melvin Spears confirms that GSU is in scheduling talks with the University of Houston, a year after playing its annual rivalry game against Southern at Reliant Stadium in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Houston advanced to the Fort Worth Bowl in 2005, the first time since 1980-81 that the Cougars appeared in two bowl games during a three-year span. Both came under fourth-year coach Art Briles, the first former UH player to lead the Cougar football program. A loss to Kansas, however, meant Houston finished 6-6 last season.
“We want to use that game as an opportunity to gauge where we are at as a program,” Spears said. “Then, when you look at how we recruit Houston, it’s a win-win.”
Grambling officials said all along that they would return to New Orleans when the Superdome was playable.
“I think it’s very important that everybody know that this is a Louisiana game,” Dr. Angelia Weaver, Grambling’s 2005 Bayou Classic coordinator, said late last year. “We intend to be back in New Orleans as soon as it is physically possible.”
The NFL has announced an accelerated schedule for renovations that has the New Orleans Saints playing their first home game on Sept. 24 against Atlanta.
Spears said he hasn’t received definitive word on returning to the Superdome, but feels certain that’s where the game will be held.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/SPORTS/60221001/1006/SPORTS