KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Grambling/ Louisiana Tech make football game in Shreveport official

Grambling/ Louisiana Tech make football game in Shreveport official

SHREVEPORT, La. - The Grambling State University Tigers will take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the first ever meeting on the gridiron between the two teams in the 2010 Port City Classic on Saturday, Sept. 4^th, 6 p.m., at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La.  The two teams announced the game in a joint press conference in conjunction with the Shreveport mayor's office Tuesday morning.

Grambling State University ended the 2009 campaign with a 7-4, 5-2 SWAC record and a second place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference western division.  This will be head coach Rod Broadway's first trip to Independence Stadium and the Tigers their first trip since 2003, when they defeated Alabama A&M 45-14.  The Tigers hold a 4-3 record against members of the Western Athletic Conference.

The matchup between Grambling State and Louisiana Tech will mark the head coaching debut for new Louisiana Tech head coach Sony Dykes.  Tech last played at Independence Stadium during the 2009 Independence Bowl when they defeated Northern Illinois, 17-10, for the program's first bowl win in 34 years.  In 2009 the Bulldogs went 4-8, 2-5 WAC with a fifth-place conference finish.

"We are excited to finalize our non-conference schedule for the 2010 season and announce the game against Grambling State," said Louisiana Tech Acting Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde. "Louisiana Tech has a strong alumni and fan base in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and I am anxious to see them all come out to watch the Bulldogs kick off the 2010 season at Independence Stadium. We have a terrific non-conference schedule this year including seven games in the state of Louisiana."

The addition of football continues a tradition of competition and cooperation between the neighboring universities. Grambling State and Louisiana Tech annually compete in several other sports and also have several academic programs that work hand-in-hand.