Grambling State Game Cancelled Due To Missing Referees

Last week's game between tiny Talladega College and Division I Grambling State was canceled because there was no officiating crew to call the game.

"When we get to the gym they notify us that the referees were running late," Talladega head coach and athletic director Matt Cross told The Anniston (AL) Star. Cross said the team was told the game would be delayed for a half hour.

Twenty minutes later, the game was canceled, with Grambling officials saying the Southwestern Athletic Conference had failed to assign officials "and have a safe trip back and we'll mail you the guaranteed money," Cross said.

"I offered to try to make sense of the situation and they were just blaming everything on the SWAC," Cross said. "Then I even offered to stay another night and play the game on Wednesday, but they were adamant about not playing the game."

Talladega College has knocked off four Division I college teams this season. And that makes the case of the missing referees at Grambling all the more interesting.

Duane Lewis, assistant commissioner for the SWAC, said that lining up officials is the home team's responsibility, not the league's. He said Grambling athletic director J. Lin Dawson is looking into the situation.

Talladega coach Matt Cross talked about how disappointed his team was by the forfeit:

"They were so disappointed, I'd never seen them that distraught. They really wanted to play the game. They get excited to play bigger schools."

Biting into the Tournament.....

By Mark Buckets

....with the help of Coppin State coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell, who makes his third NCAA Tournament appearance tonight. In 1997, Coppin State pulled off - at the time - only the third 15 over 2 upset when the Eagles defeated a B.J. McKie-led South Carolina team.

We'll give the Gamecocks a pass there - they also lost the following year to 14th seeded Richmond - since it was coached by perennial underachiever, Eddie Fogler.

No matter, this is about the play-in game and it's historical significance (or lack there of) and the opportunity presented to the athletes at Mt.St.Mary's and Coppin State.

Opinions vary greatly when discussing the NCAA-deemed "Opening Round Game." To mainstream fans and most of the electronic/print media, this pairing is better known as the "Play-in Game." Fans and media alike find it difficult to believe that this game even exists. Matching two schools - one of which, without fail, is a historically black school - knowing that one will miss out on the bright lights of a full-fledged NCAA Tournament site, is a great shame.

To those who have a vested interest in the money generated from the NCAA Tournament - the school presidents, AD's, coaches and CBS's Corporate Champions - this is just another notch on their gold-plated belts.

These schools - the MEAC and SWAC are prime examples of this - lack the simplest luxuries a middling team from the Big 10 would take for granted. Three assistant coaches with a director of basketball operations (basically a fourth full time assistant)?

Most programs from historically black colleges lack even two paid assistants.

Fully-stocked training tables for Coppin State? Try dinner at McDonald's, day after day....after day...

Charter flights for Mt.St.Mary's? Not in the budget.

This is an argument for a different time, and I am obliged to bring you analysis of the "Opening Round" game tonight at the University of Dayton Arena.

Brent Musberger teams with Steve Lavin as ESPN televises this game for the seventh time - TNN presented the inaugural gathering in 2001 - which tips off at 6:30PM Central Time.

And so, Mark Buckets breaks down Coppin State/Mt.St.Mary's:

This should be a track meet, as both of these teams love to run. Midway through the season, Mt.St.Mary's coach Milan Brown decided to employ an up-tempo game, feeling that his team needed a philosophical change.

After slowing games to a crawl early in conference play, The Mount dramatically altered their pace, garnering a modest amount success.

Coppin State also struggled mightily early in the season losing 11 straight at one point.

Now don't get me wrong - these teams aren't exactly Circ du Soleil- with the basketball - both teams are incredibly sloppy at times.

In the end - and usually in games of this variety - go with the team that has the player who can change the complexion a game in the matter of two or three minutes.

Coppin State's Tywain McKee - who is as quick as most division 1 lead guards - is an explosive scorer who enjoys taking over games, to say the least. His last second shot defeated Morgan State (coached by Todd Bozeman) in the MEAC Tournament Final.

The Eagles are also senior-laden, led by five four-year players who understand what Fang Mitchell expects in them. This general understanding and the sheer athleticism of McKee - and I think that Coppin State will emerge victorious.

There's only one thing to ask now:

First class or coach?