Report: Grambling players don't show up for bus to Jackson State
Grambling football player Naquan Smith speaks at a 'State of Emergency' gathering organized by student Kimberly Monroe in Grambling, La., on Thursday. Smith said the team had concerns about the football coaching staff and facilities. After two days of players skipping practice, Grambling spokesman Will Sutton announced Dustin 'Dirt' Winston as the new interim football coach shortly following the student demonstration. / Dacia Idom, Associated Press 
GRAMBLING, La. - Roughly two hours after Grambling State president Frank Pogue reiterated his support for the school's athletic program and football team Friday morning, the team did not show up for its bus ride to Jackson, Miss., where it is scheduled to play Jackson State on Saturday.
According to The Gramblinite, no football players were present when the bus was scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m. CT, and they also did not attend a walk-through in prepration for the game.
Grambling athletics director Aaron James told The Monroe (La.) News-Star the school has pushed back the departure time for the football team until 3:30 p.m., and that officials were hopeful the team will be on the buses. However, The Gramblinite reported that the buses were sitting idle and empty as of 3:34 p.m.
Pogue and athletics director Aaron James had said during a Friday morning news conference they expect the team to play Saturday at Jackson State.
'We're going to Jackson and we're going to play Jackson State for their homecoming,' said Pogue, who added he would be in the stands Saturday night.
The public appearance was Pogue's first since former coach Doug Williams was fired on Sept. 11.
'We support our team when we are losing and when we are winning,' Pogue said. 'Our goal right now is to move forward with our academic and our athletic program. We support our men on and off the field.'
Pogue's comments come amid a tumultuous week for the football program when the players walked out on a Tuesday meeting with administration, boycotted two days of practice, then witnessed interim coach George Ragsdale removed from his post.
Defensive coordinator Dennis 'Dirt' Winston has been named head coach for now.
'I don't see the players as being in control,' Pogue said when discussing the events of this past week, including the team's walkout Tuesday. ' I have never lost control of an institution.'
The university president touched on the firing of Williams, four days after a loss to ULM: 'It was a difficult decision that clearly was not made overnight or over a week but frankly over an extended period time.'
James said he was unsure how many players would be in Jackson.
'We plan on going to Jackson this afternoon,' James said. 'I couldn't tell you how many players will show up at this time.'
This week is a far cry from the glory days under the late and legendary coach Eddie Robinson, and Grambling officials said they realize it will take time to re-establish the image of the program.
'We assume it will take a little time, but there are some realities,' Pogue said. ''It is likely that it could take years to ever get back to the Grambling athletic image that it once enjoyed internationally.'
Contributing: Sean Isabella, The (Monroe, La.) News-Star. The News-Star is a Gannett company.
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