GRAMBLING---Looking to bring back pride and tradition to the Grambling State football program, Doug Williams knew exactly who to turn to and add to his coaching staff.

 

“It was a no-brainer,” Williams said. “I knew exactly who I needed.”

 

So when Williams returned to Grambling in February for his second stint as head coach, he also brought back his former receivers coach for the G-Men — friend and former teammate Sammy White.

 

“Sammy is Grambling football,” Williams said. “He won championships here as a player and as a coach. He's dedicated to the program and willing to do what it takes to bring it back to the level where we want it to be. Like me, he wants that 'tradition of excellence' to return for Grambling football.”

 

White stayed on with the G-Men after Williams moved to a front office job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, serving as offensive coordinator under Melvin Spears and then still sticking around to become receivers coach when Rod Broadway took over as head coach.

 

But following the 2009 season, Broadway released White from his staff, setting up the opportunity to make a comeback with the Black and Gold when Williams took back over as head coach.

 

“It just didn't feel like it was the Grambling football program I had been a big part of, so I had no problem when I was let go,” White said. “It's a lot better now. The atmosphere has changed back to where it should be. The doors are open again and people are excited about Grambling football!”

 

As a player for Grambling under legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, White was a star wingback who helped guide the G-Men to three National Black College and three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. The native of Monroe, La., was named the SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 1975.

 

Selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, White was named to the Pro Bowl three times during his 11-year career and was a member of the Vikings 25th and 50th anniversary teams.

 

“During the year or so I was out of coaching, I did some traveling, and a lot of 'honey-dos,' ” White said. “But one of the best things is that it gave me the opportunity to go back to Minnesota on Dec. 18 of last year to see the Vikings play the Bears and get honored as part of the 50th anniversary team. That was special.”

 

White was just as successful in his first coaching stint at GSU, as he helped lead the Tigers to four more National Black College championships and four additional SWAC titles.

He's coached standout GSU receivers such as Scotty Anderson, Tramon Douglas, Henry Tolbert, Levi Washington and Clyde Edwards.

 

“Randy Hymes played quarterback for us in college, but went on to play receiver in the NFL,” White said. “I remember him telling me – I'm watching what you're teaching them out there, because he knew that if he was going to play in the NFL, it would probably be as a receiver.”

White said that this year's crop of receivers stands a chance to be special and continue the tradition of excellent players at that position.

 

“They're looking real good,” White said. “I coached some of the older guys when they were freshmen before I left. The best thing is we have a lot of guys ready to contribute and make plays. We're six to seven guys deep, and that's important because especially those older players can help out a young, new quarterback like we're going to have.”

 

When the Tigers take the field at 6 p.m. Saturday for their season opener against Alcorn State in the Port City Classic at Shreveport's Independence Stadium, White will be looking at a familiar face across the field as Douglas is in his first year as receivers coach there.

 

“It's going to be strange looking over there and seeing him doing the same thing I'm doing but with different colors on,” White said. “Coach Spears took over there about a month before Doug came back here and brought a lot of Grambling flavor to that program. We'll be seeing a lot of familiar faces.”

And White hopes, that familiar “tradition of excellence” will return for the G-Men.

 

“That's why we're here – to win championships and bring that sense of pride and tradition back to Grambling football,” White said. “I'm excited to be back and about the upcoming season.

“It's good to be home and back with the Grambling football family.”