/* hide author info except on post */
if (is_single()) {
echo “boxtorow.com”;
}
[/insert_php]Fourteen times before, the Grambling State Tigers were named national champions.
Now make it fifteen.
By virtue of its 10-9 victory over North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl on Saturday, Grambling was named 2016 HBCU national champions in the final BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls of 2016.
“This was extremely huge for us,” said third-year head coach Broderick Fobbs. “Our kids have worked extremely hard to get back on their feet. We experienced a very low point in 2013. Our kids have done a really good job of being resilient and understanding the importance of competing, winning and ultimately winning a championship.
“I can’t thank them enough for trusting us and allowing us to put them in certain positions and get them in a certain mind frame to allow them to be successful. For that I’m very, very appreciative.”
It was a unanimous selection for the Tigers.
In the coaches poll, the three-time defending MEAC champion Eagles, who won the conference championship outright this year finished second. North Carolina A&T who won the national championship last year finished third.
Grambling sat atop both polls for just the last three weeks. Their only loss on the season was to FBS opponent Arizona, 31-21 on September 10 in Tucson.
In the media poll,
Southern finished fourth in the final vote while two-time defending CIAA champion Winston-Salem State finished fifth.
In its eighth year, the BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
In its 10th year, the BOXTOROW Media Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
BOXTOROW National Football Champions (Coaches) Year-by-Year
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2011 Norfolk State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
BOXTOROW National Football Champions (Media) Year-by-Year
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Winston-Salem State
2011 Winston-Salem State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
2008 Grambling
2007 Tuskegee
2016 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Coaches Top 10 Poll
Final
(Records through December 17, 2016)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling State (19) | 11-1 | 190 | 1 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central | 9-3 | 169 | 2 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T | 9-3 | 148 | 3 |
| 4 | Southern | 8-3 | 132 | 4 |
| 5 | Prairie View A&M | 7-4 | 103 | 5 |
| 6 | Tennessee State | 7-4 | 97 | 6 |
| 7 | Alcorn State | 5-5 | 83 | 7 |
| 8 | South Carolina State | 5-6 | 59 | 8 |
| 9 | Hampton | 5-6 | 39 | 9 |
| 10 | Bethune-Cookman | 4-6 | 17 | 10 |
Other receiving votes: Florida A&M (4-7) 4, Texas Southern (4-7) 4, Norfolk State (4-7) 1, Alabama State (3-7) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2016 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
Final
(Records through December 17, 2016)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling (14) | 11-1 | 140 | 1 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central | 9-3 | 126 | 2 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T | 9-3 | 111 | 3 |
| 4 | Southern | 8-3 | 98 | 4 |
| 5 | Winston-Salem State | 9-3 | 71 | 5 |
| 6 | Tuskegee | 9-3 | 62 | 6 |
| 7 | Prairie View A&M | 7-4 | 53 | 7 |
| 8 | Tennessee State | 7-4 | 43 | 9 |
| 9 | Virginia State | 9-2 | 42 | 8 |
| 10 | Bowie State | 7-4 | 17 | 10 |
Other receiving votes: Alcorn State (5-6) 2, Langston (7-2) 2, Hampton (5-6) 2, South Carolina State (5-6) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Pingback: BOXTOROW | 2016 BOXTOROW Year-End Review Shows
Pingback: BOXTOROW | BOXTOROW’s HBCU Football Year-in Review 2016