Has Eddie Robinson Coached His Last Game At Grambling? Program Troubled As Legendary Coach, 77, Suffers 3-8 Season

After 53 seasons, Grambling State head football coach Eddie Robinson may have coached his last game on Saturday.

Robinson, who has maintained he would not retire after this season, may instead be asked to step down. If so, that means Saturday’s 23rd annual Bayou Classic, a game which Robinson helped found, could be the last time the only college football coach with 400 victories walks the sidelines.

“I think like any program at our university, after the season is over, we will sit down and make an assessment on how we want to move on and go in the future,” said Grambling president Dr. Raymond Hicks.

When asked if such a thought has been considered, Hicks laughed and went on to say, “I’ve only been at Grambling for a year and a half. But it is a new administration and whenever you have a new administration it’s not unusual for changes to be made.”

Hicks would not guarantee Robinson’s return.

Robinson, 77, is 402-150-15 in 53 seasons at Grambling. None have been as tumultuous as this one.

With the 17-12 loss to Southern U., the Tigers fell to 3-8, their worst season under Robinson since 1951.

More important, it appears Robinson has lost control of the program. Grambling is currently under NCAA investigation over a grade-changing scandal. And two weeks ago, four Grambling players were arrested and charged with raping a 15-year-old girl after the homecoming game against Alabama State.

Hicks would not say how those incidents would affect Robinson’s status. However, a new athletic director is expected to be hired in the next two months.