Grambling's Doug Williams Married at Press Conference
July 26, 2002
LAS VEGAS -- The first annual Silver Dollar Classic is already a milestone occassion for Grambling State football coach Doug Williams, and it hasn't even been played yet.
Williams, 46, married Atlanta dentist Lisa Judge Thursday at a press conference promoting the initial Silver Dollar Classic, which will pit Grambling State against Tennessee State at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Sept. 21.
The press conference began with comments from event organizers and local dignitaries, followed by comments from Tennessee State coach James Reese and Williams.
Williams said the Las Vegas ceremony came about as he tried to work the press conference into a busy week he had planned.
"I had an obligation in Florida earlier this week and had planned to get married Friday night in my backyard in my hometown (Zachary, La.)," Williams said. "I was talking with (Silver Dollar Classic Vice President for Operations) Earl Harris trying to work out the press conference, and he mentioned me bringing her out and getting married here."
That still didn't make for an easy decision.
"She said no at first," Williams said. "So I went back and told Earl, and he wanted to talk to her, and here we are. Earl did all the work."
After the coaches entertained questions from local media as well as national media via conference call, the wedding ceremony began.
It started at 12:25 p.m. Las Vegas time and was over six minutes later as the couple was pronounced "Dr. and Mr. Williams."
Williams was asked by one of the conference call reporters about his honeymoon following a Vegas wedding.
"We've been honeymooning for two months," Williams joked. "Now it's about time to get back to work."
Freshman football players report to Grambling State on Aug. 4 with the first full-team practice slated for Aug. 8.
Grambling finished the 2001 season as National Black Champions while Tennessee State was ranked No. 4 in Black College polls. Reese he expects Grambling to be tough but that his squad is prepared to battle.
"We plan to bring an exciting offense and charging defense," Reese said. "We want to bring some excitement to the city.
"Even though (Grambling) finished No. 1, we're still going to show up."
Williams said he was pleased to be facing a team like Tennessee State in a setting like Las Vegas.
"When you look back, Tennessee State and Grambling have been a great rivalry even though we haven't played since 1992," Williams said. "This is a great opportunity for our kids to get a chance to come out somewhere they probably wouldn't get a chance to otherwise.
"It's also a good opportunity to bring some money back to the campus and into the program. That's why you play these kinds of games.
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