Grambling Does Number on Alcorn : Tigers Rally to Give Robinson His 350th Victory, 35-30

Grambling’s Eddie Robinson got his 350th coaching victory, improving on his all-time record Sunday at the Coliseum, but for a while it seemed he would leave without it.

His Grambling team trailed Alcorn State, 30-14, in the third quarter in the first Los Angeles Football Classic before a crowd of 33,722.

But the Tigers surged behind quarterback Clemente Gordon and Wendell Jones, a pass catching specialist who has caught only two in his career, to beat the Braves, 35-30.

As for his milestone win in a career that began at Grambling in 1941, the 70-year-old Robinson said:

“I want to take it personal, but I can’t. I just want to be thought of as a great American and what other great coaches have done.”

Then, Robinson, who is in his 48th coaching season, added that the late Bear Bryant, Alabama’s famed coach, was an inspiration to him. Bryant had the all-time coaching record at 323 wins until Robinson caught and passed him in 1985.

Only the late Amos Alonzo Stagg has coached longer than Robinson on a major collegiate level and Robinson smiled and said:

“I love football. If I can continue to compete with those young coaches and, if Alonzo Stagg could stay for 57 years, I’d sure like to stay for 50. And if I’m feeling good . . . “

He was certainly feeling good late Sunday afternoon with the comeback his team fashioned after almost giving the game away by halftime.

Grambling had a 14-7 lead in the second quarter before three turnovers in just under two minutes contributed to Alcorn’s quick 17 points and a 24-14 halftime lead.

Alcorn was led by quarterback Fred (Air) McNair, who replaced starter Gerry Butler in the second quarter, and provided his team with a lift.

Grambling began its comeback late in the third quarter when running back Tony Jerry scored from the one-yard line to wrap up an 80-yard drive.

Then, a few minutes into the fourth quarter, Gordon teamed with wide receiver Steven Grant on a 75-yard touchdown pass. Grant slipped behind three Alcorn defenders and caught Gordon’s perfect pass at the Braves’ 35-yard and outran the pursuit.

Grambling trailed, 30-28, and, after an Alcorn drive stalled at the the Tigers’ 31-yard line, Clemente led his team to the winning touchdown in improbable fashion.

Faced with a third and 16 situation at his own 49-yard line, Gordon called time out. He said he wanted to get Wendell Jones, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior, into the game.

“We sent Fred Jones and Steven Grant deep to split their safetys, with Wendell going underneath the coverage into the seam,” Gordon said. “That play was open earlier.”

Jones came in at a tight end position and ran his pattern to perfection. He caught Gordon’s pass over the middle, broke a tackle at the 25-yard line and wasn’t stopped until he got to the Alcorn seven-yard line.

On first down, wingback Fred Jones, faked a cornerback on the sideline and caught Gordon’s pass for the winning touchdown.

Alcorn still had 3 1/2 minutes left to go ahead again, but a McNair-led drive was two yards short of a first down on fourth down near midfield.

“I just play in the shadow of Fred Jones,” Wendell Jones said. “That was only the second pass I’ve caught since I’ve been at Grambling.”

Said Gordon: “He’s our specialist. He doesn’t even block.”

The senior quarterback, who was an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference first team selection last season, wasn’t overly concerned at halftime, saying, “We gave them 17 points and we were moving at will.”

Gordon, a 6-foot 4, 220-pound pro prospect with a strong arm, completed 20 of 41 passes for 398 yards, one interception and four touchdowns.

McNair, a converted wide receiver, was 10 of 25 for 251 yards and three touchdowns including a 70-yard scoring play to wide receiver Cedric Tillman in the second quarter.

It was entertaining football, and the Grambling and Alcorn bands staged their own lively competition at halftime.

Proceeds from the game will benefit black colleges and students who wish to attend black colleges.