Grambling football dispute draws attention to cuts

BATON ROUGE, La. - Grambling State University's president said a nearly weeklong boycott by the Grambling football team has drawn awareness to the university's financial struggles.

President Frank Pogue told the Louisiana state university system's board Tuesday he's using the national attention as a way to highlight campus academic and facility needs. He said the boycott drummed up interest f om donors around the country.

University of Louisiana System president Sandra Woodley said Grambling's financial woes are the worst in the system.

Grambling, like all public colleges around Louisiana, has endured repeated budget cuts from the state since 2008. Tuition increases have only partially filled the gap.

Grambling's players staged the boycott because of multiple issues with university leaders, including the school's rundown facilities, long bus trips to road games and personnel decisions.