#NNPA BlackPress
The bands were rolling as Grambling faced off against No. 1 Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the Grambling State Tigers traveled to Columbus to face the reigning, defending College Football Playoff National Champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, everyone knew you could throw out the records. Attending this game was not about who would win, because the outcome was never in doubt. However, this game was about two […]
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the Grambling State Tigers traveled to Columbus to face the reigning, defending College Football Playoff National Champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, everyone knew you could throw out the records. Attending this game was not about who would win, because the outcome was never in doubt. However, this game was about two things: the bands and each team’s spirit!
First and foremost, Ohio State’s Marching Band, nicknamed, “The Best Damn Band in the Land”, rolled out the red carpet for Grambling’s outfit, “The World Famed” Band! Ohio State’s band is known for precision, gravitas, Army-like structure and discipline. Ohio State’s band began as a military drill band in the 1870s. Their Ramp Entrance into Ohio Stadium has been done with very little change since 1928. As the current and alumni members of TBDBITL marched and did ‘Script Ohio’, the announced crowd of 100,624 patrons stuck around to see Grambling’s band perform.
Grambling’s ‘World Famed’ Band has performed in multiple Super Bowls, presidential inaugurations, and has a phenomenal reputation of its own. Saturday afternoon, Grambling brought soul, the flair, the party, and a wall of sound that made the fans – of all ages and colors – move their hips, bob their heads, and dance.
Notably, Ohio State’s band learned Grambling’s fight song as a way to extend the olive branch of friendship.
The spirit inside Ohio Stadium, which is also known as ‘The Shoe’, was congenial! While everyone respected Grambling’s historic contributions to college football and band culture, The Ohio State University rolled out the scarlet and grey carpet for Grambling.
At the end of the game, TBDBITL invited Grambling’s band to perform post game, even though, it was unannounced. The members of Ohio State’s Marching Band really wanted to experience a fifth-quarter atmosphere. Grambling did not disappoint and were cheered as they marched out of Ohio Stadium.
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As For The Game
The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes beat Grambling 70-0. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 18-of-19 passes for 306 yards, and threw four touchdowns, all in the first half. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith finished the day with five catches, 119 yards and two touchdowns. Notably, the Buckeyes rushed for 274 yards with Bo Jackson leading the way with 108 yards gained on nine carries and a touchdown.
This is the second time Ohio State has played a member of the SWAC, they played Florida A&M in 2013 at The Shoe.
Grambling Head Coach Mickey Joseph caught a little flack for saying the bands would have a bigger ‘battle’ than the football teams would. During his postgame press conference, he did not back away from his sentiments.
“I’m proud of the support staff, and I’m also proud of our band,” Joseph said. “Because y’all, some people took my comments out of context last week about what I said about the band. We’re going to give you everything we have. If you know me personally, you know what I told my boys, we were gonna fight. But this playing field’s not even at this level to college football right now. So they have a really good football team over there. I’m sure they’re going to be playing after January.”
Grambling’s next game is against Kentucky State this Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is 7:00 PM Eastern on SWAC TV.
This was the first matchup between Ohio State and Grambling State.
