By T. Scott Boatright
The Grambling State University football program has produced more of its share of greats over the years starting with the late Eddie G. Robinson, the College Hall of Fame legend the school’s stadium is named for.
Before last Saturday’s Homecoming game against Alabama A&M, the names of two more Grambling Legends became permanently linked to Robinson Memorial Stadium as a ceremony named the turf there Harris – Williams Field after GSU quarterback greats Doug Williams and James “Shack” Harris.
“This is a big day,” Williams said. “Not only for me, this is a big day for James Harris and I think this is a big day for Grambling.
“When you think about Grambling over the years, people like James and myself, Coach Robinson and all of the greats, it’s such a great feeling to have your name on this field from a legacy standpoint. What it means to not only me, but to my family, to have those names — Doug Williams and James Harris — will always be a part of Grambling, I think that’s a big deal.”
As a four-year starter at Grambling from 1974-77, Williams led the Tigers to a 36-7 record and three Southwestern Athletic Conference champions.
Williams also twice earned Black College Player of the Year honors and as a senior finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
A first-round draft pick by the NFL’s Tampa Bay franchise, Williams became an integral player for the Buccaneers and later the Washington Redskins.
In 1988, he etched himself into sports history books with Washington’s 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. The signal-caller was named the game’s MVP and became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
“I’m proud to receive this honor, very proud,” Williams said. “But I have to remember my teammates back from my playing days at Grambling. I have to remember all of the greats that came before me like Willie Davis, Buck Buchanan, Willie Brown and Charlie Joiner, Tank Younger and so many more. I’m thinking about them today and am so honored and humbled to be a part of that group of true legends.
“So I’m very grateful to have this happen. This is a day I will always remember.”
Before Williams came to Grambling, Harris also became a NFL fixture. In his rookie season with the Bills in 1969, Harris became the first Black player to start a season at quarterback in the history of pro football.
At Grambling, Harris played for the Tigers from 1965-68 and led the team to four Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and a 24-5-1 overall record over his college career.
In 1974, the Harris-led Los Angeles Rams clinched the NFC West Division title and earned their first playoff victory since 1951. Harris made history again that season as the first African-American quarterback to start a conference championship game and was also named the Pro Bowl MVP that year.
Following his playing career, Harris held various front office positions in the NFL, serving with the Baltimore Ravens, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Detroit Lions.
“It’s a great day,” Harris said before last Saturday’s ceremony. “It’s a great day for all of the players I played with and for my family. I just wish Coach Eddie Robinson could see this. I think we represent a lot of players who came before us and I’m just glad to be part of that group. I love Grambling — Grambling made me who I am and to be honored in this way is truly something special.”
During his postgame press conference Saturday, Grambling football coach Hue Jackson recognized the significance of the field at Robinson Stadium being named for Harris and Williams.
“That was great to see,” Jackson said. “Those guys have been two pillars here — really great players, really great ambassadors for the university and it was great to see them honored in that way and to see all the support they were given. I think they both really deserve it.”
