Grambling State Football
After one of the greatest seasons in Louisiana college football history, Grambling State quarterback Doug Williams was presented with the Sugar Bowl’s James J. Corbett Memorial Award. The honor recognizes the top collegiate athlete in the state of Louisiana.
James J. Corbett Awards
Williams led Division I in total offense (3,249), passing yards (3,286), touchdown passes (38), and yards per play (8.6) while leading the Tigers to a 10-1 record, the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship, and a share of the Black College National Championship. His 38 touchdown passes were the second most in college football history, just behind the 39 tossed by San Diego State’s Dennis Shaw in 1969.
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The 6-4, 220-pounder also connected on seven touchdown passes in one game to tie the NCAA record (with Marc Wilson of Brigham Young and Jim Freitas of Long Beach State).
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Williams finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1977 behind Earl Campbell, Terry Miller, and Ken MacAfee. He was also named to many All-Amerca teams, including the Associated Press, Sporting News, Walter Camp, Pittsburgh Courier, and the Mutual Black Network teams.
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The Zachary, La., product completed his career with 93 career touchdown passes, more than any other college quarterback at the time of his graduation. He completed 483 passes in 1,009 attempts for 8,411 yards. His 8,195 total yards put him in the No. 2 all-time spot behind Abilene Christian’s Jim Lindsay.
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Williams, who was coached by the legendary Eddie Robinson, helped Grambling to three Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships in his career.
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Following his outstanding collegiate career, he was selected No. 17 overall in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bya Buccaneers, the first Black quarterback drafted in the first round.
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SOURCE: 1978 Sugar Bowl History Book
