Did you know? Famous athletes, entertainers who attended SU or GSU

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The 51st Bayou Classic will take over Caesar’s Superdome Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate this annual gathering of HBCU excellence; Here is a list of well-known people who attended Grambling State University and Southern University across generations.

Many professional football players developed their skills and love of the game while attending GSU, including the first black NFL quarterback to win a Super Bowl and former Grambling head coach Doug Williams.

Ernie “the Big Cat” Ladd played for the San Diego Chargers but became a household name after being sidelined by an injury and became a professional wrestler. Ladd also served as a member of the New Mexico State Legislature and is a member of the Chargers Hall of Fame and several professional wrestling halls of fame, including the WWE.

Willis Reed was drafted 10th overall in the 1964 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. Reed won multiple championships and was named league MVP and served as coach and general manager after his retirement.

Tommie Agee played center fielder and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1691, but won the 1969 World Series with the team called the Miracle Mets, which pulled off one of the most historic upsets in MLB history. Agee played for five MLB clubs and was a two-time All-Star, two-time Golden Glove winner, AL Rookie of the Year and was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.

Ronnie Coleman was a professional bodybuilder who, along with Lee Haney, holds the record for winning the most Mr. Olympia titles with eight titles each.

Entertainment, particularly music, is another highlight of the Bayou Classic. For this reason, well-known musicians visited GSU, including singer, songwriter and actress Erykah Badu. Her unique voice and creative projects have achieved critical and commercial success.

E-40 is a rapper and serial entrepreneur who hails from California. He left his mark on his fellow Grams when he performed at the GSU talent show in a family rap group called The Most Valuable Players.

An honorable mention goes to our reporter and weekend news anchor, Ya’Lisha Gatewood, who graduated from Grambling State University and was a member of the world-famous Tiger Marching Band. While attending GSU, she performed at five Bayou Classics.

Southern University remains atop the Bayou Classic win list with 26 Classic victories compared to Grambling’s 24. Not surprisingly, NFL Hall of Fame All-Pro Aeneas Williams ranks at the top of the notable professional athletes who played for the Jags.

Avery Johnson played for the San Antonio Spurs’ 1999 championship team. Numerous professional accolades led the Jaguars to hoist his number 15 jersey and retire it for good. Johnson was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2006 and coached the All-Star team that same year. He is also a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Other notable SU athletes include Super Bowl XXXI champion Matthew Dorsett, track and field Olympian Brian Johnson, Olympic gold medalist Rod Milburn and NBA All-Star Bob Love, the second-leading scorer in Chicago Bulls history.

Rap artist and super producer David Banner is known for creating hit songs for himself and others, including TI Banner, who has also appeared in several film and television projects including Black Snake Moan and the Peacock series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” and the upcoming The Family Business: New Orleans.

Alvin Batiste, James Carroll Booker III and Branford Marsalis are all New Orleans-born, world-renowned musical prodigies attended the SU. Randy Jackson, not Michael’s younger brother But the former American Idol judge and music producer was a member of the Class of 1979.

SU’s honorable mention goes to WVLA Baton Rouge News Director John Walton.

Both universities have also nurtured and educated generations of politicians, community activists, health professionals, entrepreneurs and educators – you get the idea. Southern University and Grambling State University built on time-honored traditions and created space for great works to be created by people who attended them, even if they did not graduate.