Saturday, September 5, 2015

Grambling State University makes history being the 1st HBCU to play University of California (Cal) at Berkeley-CALIFORNIA LOVE







CALIFORNIA LOVE

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY WON with University of California in Berkeley on Saturday, September 7th. GRAMLING WON THE HEARTS OF CAL FANS with over 60,060 FANS!!!
Grambling G-Men loss to Cal 73 to 14.
Despite the loss with the football teams, Grambling State University (GSU) WON with admiration, respect, and appreciation from University of California (Cal). GSU made history being the 1st HBCU to play at Berkeley.

I have traveled many places and seen many faces.

My presence in Berkeley felt like Spike Lee’s School Daze.
Now, journey with me….
I parked my car in the parking garage for Media staff.  I was prepared to pay $25.00 as I saw the signs advertising the cost for public parking. I was surprised and GREATful when my parking was free. I thought, wow, THANK YOU CAL I was winning.
Then, I had to walk 4 blocks from my car to the Berkeley Stadium. No complaints with walking I was so elated to see all the students and the Cal FANS.  As I was walking, I heard from a near distance “Hello Grambling”, which was evident of my support with my Grambling shirt.  I smiled and I continued to walk.  A Cal FAN couple told me, “Welcome Grambling we are happy you are here”. Another Cal FAN smiled with admiration as he shared, “Eddie G. Robinson was a GREAT coach and his legacy lives on forever. Then, I turned the corner passing a Fraternity house with the Frat guys outside barbecuing. One of the Frats threw the football at me. I jumped and moved to the right side away from the football. So, my brother (black guy who is a member of the fraternity) ran up to me and said, “Girl, you know we got represent. You were supposed to catch the football” as he laughed. I told him, “I didn’t want to mess up my outfit.”  We laughed and I waved to the other fraternity guys. Then one of the guys from the same fraternity walked up to me and said, “Grambling looking like that I am going to Grambling…you looking good girl”. I received a couple of more compliments as I headed to the stadium. I had to laugh…two laughs 1. I received multi-cultural love…they had game :). 2. When I turned the corner by the Frat House, it reminded me how I would turn the corner by the cafeteria in front of the Union at Grambling and guys would flirt as the girls walked by them. I felt my Grambling School Daze.

Love and Respect has NO COLOR.

By the time, I got to the stadium my thighs were killing me. I felt like I had just exercised.  It is all love with me laughing from the compliments and smiling from the appreciation of GSU.

After Alan Blakeney greeted me at the Media Information desk at Berkeley, he introduced me to Grambling Student Taylor who was shadowing me as we covered GAME highlights and I reported the FAN fun. Alan is a biker boy with so much HEART. We had so much covering the game. NO COLORS-Just LOVE.
Dr. Larry Pannell led Grambling State University and Universality of California Band together playing the Star Spangle Banner. Throughout the game both bands would give the Cal FAN and the GSU FANs a treat by playing Tupac’s California LOVE!

The half time show was amazing from the Grambling State University World FAMED Tiger Marching Band.  I watched from the Press Box. Immediately after performance, Cal FANS engaged me with stating
When Cal would score, the announcer would Cal 7 – GRAMBLING NOTHING, Cal 21 – GRAMBLING,

“The Band is TERRIFIC” “THAT IS THE BEST BAND WE EVER HAD” “THEY CAN MOVE AND PLAY WITH PURE TALENT.
NOTHING, this went on through Cal 59 GRAMBLING NOTHING. The score is supposed to be 59 to Zero. Not nothing. I prayed God please let us score so the announcer can stop saying Grambling Nothing. Prayers answer Grambling score 14 points against Cal’s 73.

Berkeley felt like a California –Grambling. Grambling is a humble town known for its love and hospitality. And that is what I felt at Berkeley…
Love-1love-California Love!

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