Those of you who witnessed the meltdown that took place at Blackshear Stadium on Saturday can attest to the fact that we witnessed the worst performance from our celebrated QB since he arrived on the scene.
Many Panther-faithfuls can also verify that we witnessed our first loss at home in several years, one of few bragging rights we did have. In a game that seemed to be going in our favor, how can we explain this disappointing loss? Or better yet, who’s to blame?
OK folks, I know many of you are familiar with the good old phrase, there’s no “I” in “team,” right? Well, the statement is true folks, figuratively and literally speaking.
When you consider the fact that our head coach knew before the game we were putting our hopes in the hands of a 60 percent starter, against an undefeated SWAC foe, it’s a clear indication that we were doomed from the start.
Let’s get inside the numbers here: 15/32, 150 yards, 2 interceptions, and the most important statistic of them all, 0 touchdowns, which accumulates a QB rating of 34.6. Talk about a lackluster performance! With all this being said, don’t beat Black up, the best is yet to come.
So, we get a decent defensive performance from Spears and company, as they allowed 269 yard, forced four turnovers, and scored two points of their own.
However, their hard-nose effort went unrewarded, as the offensive unit turned the ball over just as many times.
The game almost looked like a hot-potato contest. The same team that managed a 9-1 record and won a SWAC championship clearly didn’t show up, and that’s who the fans came to see.
Speaking of what the fans came to see, it’s almost certain they didn’t expect to see the Marching Storm leave in the third quarter due to a “potential” rain threat, which by the way never occurred. It seems as if they were more concerned with preserving their band uniforms than fulfilling their purpose; to inspire and entertain the home crowd.
Whatever the case may be, we’ve certainly got to get things in gear for Grambling State, who appears unified after defeating a solid Jackson State team that recorded 346 passing yards, a number that exceeds the amount of total yards we had in Saturday’s game.
Folks, let’s just pray for three things on Saturday: a healthier K.J. Black, an astounding performance from Donald Babers, and an extended stay from the Marching Storm, or at least having them stay until the fourth quarter’s two-minute warning, otherwise, no SWAC this year. Imagine what that will do to our hopes of building a new stadium.
-The Panther