No one can accuse Grambling's football players of not being united.
They just happen to be joining forces against their institution.
The entire team skipped practice Wednesday, shreveporttimes.com reported, because players are not happy with the way they are treated. The players walked out of a meeting with the school's administration Tuesday, which was held to address concerns over bus travel to games in Kansas City and Indianapolis, a failure to provide meals for the team and the firing of head coach Doug Williams, who was replaced by running backs coach George Ragsdale on an interim basis.
According to the report, a source said players walked out of the meeting as it became increasingly negative.
University spokesman Will Sutton told shreveporttimes.com that the meeting was held so the administration could show its support for the team.
"(The administration) knew that emotions were raw," Sutton said. "No matter what, it was going to be a challenge for the team to feel good after this season and last season.
"That's part of the reason why we have a new (athletics director) and are looking for a new football coach. The president wanted to make a point that the university supports and appreciates the team and these students, and that the administration will do everything we need to do for the future success of the program."
Grambling has lost 13 consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference games and its last 17 against NCAA teams, but it has a proud history, including a SWAC title in 2011 under Williams. It has won 13 national black college titles and the late Eddie Robinson is a football legend, having won an NCAA Division I record 408 games as head coach.
