Some Grambling State football alumni want Art Briles to rescind resignation
Art Briles' abrupt resignation as Grambling State offensive coordinator was met with a polarizing response among alumni of the program, with some calling for the embattled former Baylor coach to reverse course and move forward with the Tigers.
The announcement of Briles' hiring at Grambling was met with swift backlash on Thursday, prompting Briles to resign from his post on Monday.
More:Art Briles resigns as Grambling State offensive coordinator four days after being hired
Briles, 66, had not coached in college since being fired at Baylor in 2016 after an internal investigation into the Texas university's handling of an extensive number of sexual assault accusations, including accusations against players on the football team during Briles' tenure. An NCAA investigation cleared Briles in August 2021 of any NCAA violations but was critical of how Briles handled the allegations against his players.
First-year Grambling coach Hue Jackson defended the hire in a lengthy statement on Monday, hours before Briles announced his resignation. Jackson wasn't alone in his support.
"There's a vast majority of G-men that have played that support the hire and support coach Jackson and all the decisions that have been made,"Herman Arvie, who played for Grambling from 1989-92, told The News-Star. "So I'm like completely baffled with what's transpired within the last 24 hours."
Arvie is the executive director of G-Men Nation, Inc., a booster-like organization that aims, according to its website, to grow and sustain the HBCU experience at Grambling and also promote fundraising.
Arvie said he was in disbelief at Briles' resignation. Among the reasons: Spring practice begins Friday.
"We are way behind the eight-ball when it comes to trying to hire an offensive coordinator," Arvie said. "'I'm speaking on behalf of G-Men Nation. We're hoping that there's an opportunity that coach Briles will change his mind."
Arvie's stance represents the divide among some alumni in the program. Doug Williams, a former Grambling coach and also one of the greatest players in program history, said last week he was "very disappointed" in the hire. Eddie Robinson III, the grandson of the legendary GSU coach, conveyed similar sentiments. "That's not the Grambling we all know," Robinson III told ESPN on Friday.
But Arvie also is not alone. Three other alumni — Darryl Milburn (1986-90), Elfrid Payton (1985-90) and Keifer Phillips (1992-94) — all were in agreement that Briles deserves a second chance in college football, echoing the statement made by Jackson on Monday.
"What's wrong with Grambling being on the front line of showing and giving someone a second chance to move forward and help to give our program a leg up and get it back on the right track by getting a high quality coach?" Phillips said. "We hate to see that we get it in our own way."
Briles' hiring was still set to face scrutiny had he not resigned. The University of Louisiana System Board, which includes 16 members, would have needed to approve the hire with a majority vote during its next meeting on April 28.
I'm having faith in Grambling's head coach," Milburn said of Jackson's decision to hire Briles. "I mean, he picked (Briles), he could have picked the African American guy or somebody else that's qualified. I wouldn't have no problem as long as they're qualified."
Whatever happens next, Arvie had a message for Jackson:
"We want to show them that, 'Hey, look, we support you,'" Arvie said.
"This is a new campaign," Arvie said, "and we just need to roll our sleeves up and support the university better than we've done in the past."