GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University, the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champions and Black College Football National champions, begin the quest for a second straight 10-plus win season on Saturday with a trip to New Orleans, La. to face Tulane. Kickoff at Yulman Stadium is set for 7:04 p.m.
 
The game will be streaming live on ESPN3 (Joel Meyers and Hutson Mason). Grambling State will broadcast the game on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game can be heard in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and in Monroe (KJMG 97.3 FM). The Tigers broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Leon Thomas and Nick Harrison will call all the action. Tulane will also broadcast the game on Fox Sports Am 1280 New Orleans (Todd Graffagnini, Steve Barrios and Gus Kattengell).
 
This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools, which are separated by just 320 miles.
 
"We're excited to start the 2017 season in New Orleans, Louisiana against Tulane University," Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. "It's an FBS opponent and it's going to be a challenge for us. We are looking forward to the challenge and the good thing about it is that we've had a really good training camp. Our players have worked extremely hard, not only in training camp, but all offseason long."

 
What to Watch For
* Saturday's game will mark the third straight year that Grambling State will begin the season against an FBS opponent. The last two years, the Tigers have matched up with members of the Pac 12 conference (California and Arizona).
* Grambling State is seeking its first season-opening victory since the 2011 season when the Tigers began that year with a 21-14 win over Alcorn State.
* The Tigers amassed 39.7 points and 484.2 yards per game last season and will face a team that surrendered 27.7 points and 364.5 yards.
 
 
Broderick Fobbs in Season Openers
 
* Tigers head coach Broderick Fobbs, who was the 2016 SWAC Coach of the Year, is seeking his first win in four season openers. In his first season, Grambling State fell to Lamar (Southland Conference) and in the past two years Fobbs has faced off against Pac 12 heavyweight's California and Arizona.
* Despite not garnering a win in the season opener, Fobbs has been 7-5 in the opening month, but is 11-3 in games played in the Bayou State.
 
 
Grambling State-Tulane Connections
 
* It's a family affair: Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs will matchup against his brother, Jamaal, who is the running backs coach for Tulane.
* The Tigers have two players who began their collegiate career at Tulane – Dedrick Shy and Keeyon Smart.
 
Football Facts
 
* Grambling State's Martez Carter has 526 career all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns in season openers.
* GSU placed 13 players on the All-SWAC Preseason Teams, highlighted by SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, DeVante Kincade. Earning All-SWAC First Team Preseason honors were: DeVante Kincade, Martez Carter, Trent Scott, William Waddell, Devohn Lindsey, De'Arius Christmas and Derrick Dixon. Named to the second team was Christopher Johnson, Brandon Varner, Malcolm Williams, Ja'Terious Pouncy, Jordan Jones and Percy Cargo.
* Tigers quarterback DeVante Kincade, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns last season with four interceptions, was named to a number of preseason watch lists, including Black College Football Hall of Fame, College Football Performance Awards and STATS FCS Walter Payton Award.
* Grambling State returns 12 starters (six offense and six defense) off last year's team.
* The Tigers are ranked No. 21 by the FCS Coaches Preseason Poll and STATS FCS Top 25 Preseason Poll.
* Grambling State is the preseason favorite in the 2017 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Coaches Poll.
 
Random Facts
 
* The Saturday night matchup will be Grambling State's first time in New Orleans where the game is not played in the Mercedes Benz Superdome
* This is the first that Grambling State will open its season against an in-state opponent since 2010 – Louisiana Tech (20-6 loss) on Sept. 4.
* Seven Grambling State players on the rosters are from New Orleans – Alexander Blunt, Darrell Clark, Ronald Evans, Albion Ford, Najee Gordon, William Jefferson and Dedrick Shy.
* Grambling State went a 4-1 last season in televised games and 7-1 in stadiums that seat more than 30,000.
 
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
 

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