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Grambling and Hampton Share SBN National
Championship
December 16, 2005
Final SBN Football Poll
(Pittsburgh, PA – December 16, 2005) – For the
first time in 32 years, two teams have captured the SBN Sports
Black College National Football Championship in the same season.
Hampton University will return as the reigning champs, but
this year the Pirates will be sharing the throne with the Grambling
State Tigers. Both teams posted 11-1 records, won their respective
conference championships and were unbeaten in Black College
competition. The Pirates also captured the MEAC crown and won
an automatic bid to the playoffs while the Tigers won the SWAC’s
western division and the conference championship game.
Hampton started the season as favorites to repeat as SBN National
Champs and stayed in the number one position throughout the
regular season. The Pirates reign at the top appeared to come
to an end when they fell to Richmond in the 1-AA playoffs while
Grambling captured the SWAC Championship with a 45-6 victory
over Alabama A&M. However, when all the ballots were cast
and returned from SBN’s national panel of pollsters,
the two teams were deadlocked with 277 points apiece.
Voters gave the Tigers 15-first place votes, the Pirates 13-first
place votes, and Tuskegee 2-first place votes. However, it
was the total number of points with Grambling and Hampton each
receiving 277 that split the national championship.
The historic co-champions, Hampton University and Grambling
State University, will officially be crowned at the 32nd Annual
SBN Sports Black College All-American Awards Banquet February
18, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. American Urban Radio Networks
will also be honoring the 24-member All-American Team. The
event will be hosted by actor/comedian, Michael Colyar, and
special invited guests include Michael Strahan (NY Giants),
Darnerian McCants (Philadelphia Eagles) and Bennie Anderson
(Buffalo Bills). SBN Black College All-American honorary committee
members scheduled to attend include, Doug Williams, Mel Blount,
James Harris, L.C. Greenwood and Eddie Robinson, Jr.
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