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Game:  It's that time of the year again - Homecoming. The Grambling State University Tigers will face the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils. This will not be an interesting matchup. It won't even be fun for the Delta Devils. The Delta Devils have not won in Grambling since forever ago and it doesn't look pleasant for them right now. The only way the Delta Devils could win is if Jerry Rice came back to play.

Ironically, the Delta Devils' quarterback Paul Roberts has been better than GSU's Greg Dillon in the same category.  Roberts has seven touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 57.4% completion rate. Dillon?  Seven TDs, 6 INTs, and a 57.2% completion rate. Not much difference, but interceptions hurt your team more than incomplete passes. But don't think that Dillon is worse than Roberts.  Dillon does trump Roberts in passing yardage (1,170 yards to 911 yards), but Dillon has a better offensive line.

The Delta Devils are second in the league-only stats and obtaining sacks (13), but are first in the league in allowing sacks (33). The Tigers? Second in the league in allowing sacks (3) and sixth in the league in obtaining sacks (8). Expect a bunch of holding calls on the Delta Devils, as they will do anything to stop Christian Anthony from terrorizing their quarterback.

But, don't count the Delta Devils out. If they can run the ball consistently against a poor GSU rush defense, they may stay in the game, at least until the third quarter. Head Coach Rod Broadway and his staff are masters at changing a gameplan at halftime, as evidenced by their comebacks against South Carolina State and Prairie View (both losses).

When it's all said and done, I don't expect this to be a close one. GSU will win this game 40-14. The Tigers will start slow, as usual, and pick up steam in the later stages of the game. So come on out, enjoy a thumping of a SWAC foe and soak up that fresh food smell Saturday. I'll be in town, so there will be numerous photo galleries uploaded. Don't ask me about them though, because they'll definitely take some time.

Oh, let's not forget to support whoever walks on the field with Miss GSU. I know some of us have had issues with soon-to-be-gone President Horace Judson, but let's still show some respect - that Grambling class that our teachers and parents/guardians instilled in us. If you want, you can always celebrate/berate his leaving after the game.

Step Show:  The step show is always a pleasure to watch and shoot. This year looks to be interesting on the sorority side of the spectrum.  The Deltas always bring a live step show, but lately, so have the Zetas.  Creativity is a must if one hopes to win this year. It's hard to even pick a winner, but if I had to roll the dice on a team, I would probably take the Psi Beta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta to win it this year.

For the fraternities, we have the Kappas, Alphas, Omegas, and Sigmas stepping. Should be an interesting matchup, because - at least according to the judges' scorecards - the Alphas have been in decline the past few years. The Sigmas have stepped it up considerably from when I first attended a step show, while the Kappas have been pretty consistent. One team that seems to always get screwed and is also an annual crowd favorite is the Omegas. You can't go a step show without hearing someone saying, "The Ques got screwed." Will tradition repeat itself? Probably so. I guess "Que-friendly" judges don't exist.  If I had to pick a winner out of a tough, tough field of competition, I'd have to roll with the Omegas. I just don't see them getting screwed again this year.

No matter who wins, I'm sure to enjoy the teams putting on some crazy moves and stomping the heck out of the stage.

Photo credit: Gram.edu

After five years, GSU President Horace Judson has resigned. Some people celebrated; others panicked. Some took to the streets and went crazy; others stepped back and thought about it. While President Judson resigning has invoked different feelings among students, faculty and alumni alike, there are some major questions left to be answered.

The first and obvious question is, “Who will replace Dr. Judson as leader of this prestigious university?” As of now, Dr. Michael McKinley has been named as the Interim President. But, a search is forthcoming, and only time will tell who will take the university to higher heights than it has already achieved.

There have been many things said about Judson’s tenure at the university. Many are saying he has “destroyed” the university, leaving it in a huge mess and inept for reaccreditation. Others are saying that he has done much good for the university, setting us a part from other HBCUs. I agree and disagree.

Yes, Dr. Judson made some ill-fated moves, some that could be attributed to negatively, but he has not “destroyed” our university. Is it the same old Grambling State University that we are used to? Of course not; he added his own touch and flair to it. Is it going to go down the drain as other ill-fated HBCUs before us? No…are you kidding?

Let’s be honest. The University of Louisiana Systems is NOT out to destroy GSU. There is no way that the ULS would let a state institution be closed that makes the state money for many events, specifically Homecoming, Bayou Classic, and early projections about the Eddie Robinson Museum.  If they did let dear ole’ Grambling close, they would be looking like fools and be politically destroyed.

Going back to Dr. Judson, many have said that he has done nothing for the university. I honestly disagree. I may not have seen eye to eye with him, but there are some things we cannot go against. The new dorms did come under his administration, as did the new Assembly Center, the renovation of the Tiger Xpress and cafe and more. However, we must also remember a lot of this stuff was in plan before him.

But, I will say that his one greatest accomplishment was putting together a University Master Development Plan. It was something that was needed at GSU, and his arguments for it were very compelling. In an interview, he told me that now when things were built, everything will fit a certain style – a Grambling style. That’s something I can’t argue against.


Our buildings do need to be similar in some aspect, as well as our campus in general. There needs to be some cohesiveness. While Dr. Judson is no longer with the university, I would love for the UMDP to continue or be tweaked to fit GSU’s overall image. As long as the UMDP continues to benefit GSU to the fullest extent, I don’t see any reason to be against it, change it or nullify it.

As GSU goes through its trying time of replacing Dr. Judson, we must move past our differences and get behind a President that is for the Grambling name. This means a President that is for the city, the university and the alumni. It’s time to stop acting as if we are not all one in the same. Grambling is Grambling, and I will always love it to death.

I may not have agreed with the Judson administration at all times, but if it was for the better of Grambling, I was for it. So, as Dr. Judson takes his leave from GSU, it’s time for us to unite as Gramblinites. All for one or one for all, because with none for all, the University shall fall.

The wedding of Rhonda Pickens and Mark Anthony Lazard II was pretty cool. It was held at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA. I decided to blog about my experience, from me arriving to Opelousas and my leaving of the said city.

The drive down was pretty cool. I listened to some Three Day's Grace, their latest album Life Starts Now. The album was jamming, and I added a few songs to my iPod of course. The next album was Lil' Boosie. This album almost put me to sleep, and I turned it off before it finished playing. The content just got too repetitive for me.

Arriving to the Op, I made a quick stop at Wal-Mart to get some extra rechargeable batteries. Photographers, if you use AA batteries, GET THE RECHARGEABLES!  The money you spend on buying non-rechargeable batteries will outweigh the $10+ you spend on rechargeable. I always get the 8-pack, as they are a better deal (albeit $20+).  Also had to buy a recharger since I idiotically left my charger at home. That was another $30+ (got the 15 minute charger). OUCH.

I arrived to the house of the bride and groom and the place was rocking. No superstitions here, as both the bride and the groom were present jamming and partying with friends, who had a nice blend of personality. I also got a chance to play NBA Live 09 (I hated it and kept losing) and Fight Night Round 4 (I liked it and kept losing).

Fast forward to the next morning, I overslept my original wakeup time of 8 a.m. It was weird because I woke up at 6 a.m., thinking I overslept. Way to go mind. It was 10 a.m. when I woke up, and I ran to Wal-Mart again to get the charger I mentioned earlier.

Came back to the house, got dressed, shot the bride getting dressed, and found Disney Channel for one of the lil' ones there.  Also read on the refrigerator she was a 4.0 student. Way to go Ari'ana (I think that's how you spell it).

Rhonda had no idea that she was riding in a limo, which made for some cool reaction photos. I hopped into the car, trailed the limo to a church I saw the previous night. 

Funny tidbit on this. I was driving around the town, because I couldn't get in touch with Rhonda (she was in the wedding practice so that's understandable) and I saw a bunch of people at the church.  I said aloud, "I bet that's where she is." I should've turned in and asked questions, but who does that in a town they never really been too?

This is the second Catholic wedding I've shot. This one was held in a grand church, with a scenic backdrop behind the pulpit.  It made for great scenic shots after the couple was announced as married.

The wedding wasn't very long. It was about average time compared to the other weddings I've shot (I once shot a wedding that was an hour and a half long). The wedding party was a pretty good size.

So, I'm sitting back shooting wide angle shots of the Father announcing the bride and groom to the congregation, and the Father says those magic words, "You may now kiss the bride." I immediately sprang up to get the picture. However, I didn't completely get my footing and almost fell flat on my face. Glad I didn't because that would've been super embarrassing.

The reception was rocking as well. It was like a family reunion of sorts, the ones where you enjoy yourself the full time, and see a lot of smiles and happy faces.  I didn't get a chance to taste the food, as I was working almost the entire time, shooting random shots that make for great additions to any wedding album.  They actually put the food up quicker than I expected, but that's the plight of a photographer.

Overall, very good wedding. Met some cool people and enjoyed myself.  One tip to anyone working a wedding...carry business cards. I didn't have any, so that messed me u a bit. But, everyone knows the bride and groom, so I should be in good hands.

President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, with Twitter in full tow, people quickly confessed their displeasure, happiness, or "blehness" of the event.

According to MSNBC.com, "[t]he Norwegian Nobel Committee said Obama was honored for 'his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.'"