College Sports Established
1901
Location
Grambling, Louisiana
College Name
Grambling State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1958 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1958 - Present / Southwestern Athletic Conference
Nickname
Tigers - Grambling State University is home to one of the country's most beloved college sports teams, The Grambling State Tigers. But where did this iconic nickname come from? Let’s take a look at how the Tigers got their name and why it has become so popular with fans.
The origin of Grambling’s nickname dates back to 1901 when two small towns, Lincoln and Claiborne Parish, merged to form what we now know as Grambling State University. During this time, some students began referring to themselves as “Tigers” due to their fierce school spirit and competitive nature on the football field. This name eventually caught on among other students until it became an official part of GSU's identity in 1932 when they adopted "Tiger" as their mascot for all athletic teams.
Since then, The Tiger moniker has been synonymous with success for GSU athletics programs across all NCAA divisions, including Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). From legendary coach Eddie Robinson's nine SWAC titles between 1959-1982 or current head coach Broderick Fobbs' four consecutive conference championships since 2015, winning comes naturally for these tigers! Aside from success on the playing field, many alumni also point out how proud they are about being associated with such a potent symbol like a tiger, representing courage and strength both inside & outside of competition alike!
Overall, there is no denying that The Tiger brand has become an integral part of not only GSU but its fan base too - making them one team you definitely don't want to mess around with anytime soon!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1957
- 1976
- 1996
- 2011
-
Basketball Coach Fred Hobdy Era
The glory years of the Tigers were led by Fred Hobdy, who led the Tigers to eight SWAC regular season titles (five outright) during his coaching tenure. Hobdy went 572-288 as head coach from 1957 to 1986, which saw them play in NCAA Division II and the NAIA. They reached the Elite Eight of the Division II tournament in 1958 ... -
Tigers played in Asia Continent
On September 24, 1976, Grambling State and Morgan State became the first collegiate football teams from the United States to play a game in the continent of Asia. GSU defeated Morgan State 42–16 in Tokyo, Japan. In fall 1977, the GSU Tigers were invited back to Tokyo where they defeated Temple University 35–32 in the inaugural Mirage Bowl game. -
Buck Buchanan Hall of Fame Player
Buchanan attended Grambling College in Louisiana and was a letterman in football and an NAIA All-America selection. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He is one of four Grambling State players, Willie Brown, Willie Davis, and Charlie Joiner coached by Eddie Robinson enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. -
SWAC men’s basketball tournament
The Tigers advanced to the final round of the SWAC men’s basketball tournament for the first time in program history in 2011 but lost to Alabama State.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Tigers
Grambling State Tigers is a powerhouse of college sports. The university has been around since 1901, and its athletics program dates back to the 1940s when it was founded as an all-black school. Since then, Grambling State has become one of the most successful NCAA Division I teams in history. With 19 national titles, including 11 football and 8 basketball championships, they have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the court or field.
The Grambling State Tigers are well known for their football team, which won 9 consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships from 2000-2008 under legendary coach Eddie Robinson who led them for 56 years until his retirement in 1997 after winning 408 games during his tenure at GSU! During this period, they also made several appearances in bowl games such as the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic, where they had great success against some of college football’s top programs like Oklahoma University & Texas A&M University, respectively!
In addition to their tremendous success on the gridiron, GSU’s men's basketball team also reached unprecedented heights by making three straight trips to NCAA tournaments from 2004-2006 while playing under head coach Larry Wright who left after that season having compiled an impressive record overall at GSU! Other notable accomplishments include women's tennis claiming four consecutive SWAC titles between 2011–2014; baseball reaching five conference tournament finals since 2010; softball earning six regular seasons SWAC crowns over 10 seasons (2004–2013); plus both track & field squads combining for 13 indoor/outdoor championship wins over 17 seasons (2000–2016).
Overall there is no denying that Grambling State Tigers are one of the collegiate sports' elite programs with unparalleled achievements throughout its storied history within NCAA Division I competition - so if you're looking for a school whose athletic tradition rivals any other out there, then look no further than right here: home sweet home – Go TIGERS!!