LORMAN &045; Johnny Thomas took calls Thursday concerning his friend and coaching advesary Doug Williams, but Williams’ departure from Grambling State was shocking news, Thomas said.

The Alcorn head coach was 0-6 against Williams, who was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three consecutive times (2000-02) at his alma mater.

Williams accepted a front-office position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an organization he played for from 1978-82 before the two parties had a falling out.

&uot;I never could have imagined him leaving Grambling,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;I was completely stunned to find out today he was going to Tampa Bay. Doug’s never giving me that impression of wanting to leave Grambling. I’m just as surprised as anybody.&uot;

Thomas said he’ll miss competing against Williams as a coach, and then added with a laugh: &uot;Even though I never beat him.&uot;

The Braves fell short in 2003, 40-28, as Gramlbing tallied a 1-yard touchdown drive and a safety off two botched snaps on Alcorn punting attempts during the pivotal fourth quarter.

In 2002, an explosive fourth where both teams combined to score 34 points ended in heartbreak once again for the Braves, as Grambling prevailed 41-35.

&uot;You can’t help but say the institution will lose a lot with him leaving,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;He re-established a program to where it had been when Eddie (Robinson) left. Doug is an outstanding football coach.&uot;

Williams took over a fledgling Tiger program before the 1998 season for the retiring Robinson, a college football coaching legend and Williams’ coach when he was a quarterback at Grambling from 1974-77.

The once storied program had fallen on hard times in Robinson’s final three years, posting losing seasons after each season.

The Tigers needed new blood, and everyone knew it was Williams’ job to turn down. He didn’t and quickly transformed Grambling back into a black college football power.

&uot;Grambling is gonna miss him unless they can find someone to fill his shoes,&uot; Thomas said, &uot;like the way he filled Coach Robinson’s shoes when he took over. Doug had to go in there and implement his system and his personnel and he was able to do all that. That’s why they were able to have success.&uot;

Two seasons after Williams took over, the Tigers began a three-run stretch where they claimed outright SWAC Championships and were honored as national black college champions every season.

Before the start of 2003, Grambling was Sports Illustrated’s pick as the No. 1 team in Division I-AA. Williams dropped his third Bayou Classic to rival Southern for the SWAC West crown and the Tigers finished a respectable, unfulfilled, 9-3.

&uot;Doug did an outstanding job recruiting talented athletes and he manifested that on the field through winning championships,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;It’s not easy to go into a program behind a legend like Eddie Robinson, but it didn’t take him long to get the place back.&uot;