GRAMBLING--- Grambling State head football coach Doug Williams liked what he saw Tuesday as his Tigers continued preparations for Saturday's home opener against Alabama A&M at Robinson Stadium.

 

While Williams has admitted frustration in watching his young Tigers struggle offensively in their first three games (GSU stands at 1-2 with a win over Alcorn State and losses at Louisiana-Monroe and Alabama State), he said he realizes he has to give them time to grow up and that they're working hard on the practice field.

 

"They're working their behinds off out there," Williams said. "I'm not mad at them. There's no divorce in the future. I have to live with them and they have to live with me."

 

Williams let his team know that following Tuesday's practice.

 

"This thing is a long way from over if you keep working hard and looking like this," Williams said about the ongoing season. "It's a long season -- there's plenty left. We just have to make things happen."

 

GSU has faced plenty of blitzes in its first three games and Williams admitted tweaking his schemes some to try and help that situation.

 

"(Alabama) A&M is the most blitzing team in the (Southwestern Athletic Conference)," Williams said. "They'll throw the kitchen sink at you. We have to try to make sure as coaches to try and put our quarterbacks in position to make plays against that blitz. It's up to us to find plays to do that. And we need some playmakers to step up and show us what they can do."

 

Williams also admitted to losing a little sleep thinking about ways to spark his team.

 

"Any coach in America who sleeps after the kind of performance we gave against Alabama State probably shouldn't be coaching," Williams said. "But the players are working hard and the coaches are working hard, and we're going to find a way to turn this thing around."

 

Williams said he hopes a big crowd will help fire up his team in the home opener against the Bulldogs.

 

"Being our first home game and all, it will be great to see a lot of support and fans out there Saturday," said Williams about the 6 p.m. SWAC contest against Alabama A&M at Robinson Stadium. "We're struggling right now, so we need some good support to give our players some encouragement and help us get back to winning."