GSU alumni president tied to both schools

Yearly, around the time of the Bayou Classic, tensions between supporters of both Grambling State University and Southern University tighten.
Everyone is polite and careful to keep the rivalry between the opposing teams at a civilized, even level, but for Sharon Armstrong, it’s no big deal at all.
The administrative assistant to Raymond Lockett, chairman of the History Department and political science instructor at Southern, Armstrong happens to be the President of the Charles P. Adams Chapter of Grambling State University’s Alumni Association.
“We’re having fun,” Armstrong said. “It’s a good, healthy rivalry.”
Armstrong, who was selected as the president-elect in July of 2006, will take office on January 1, 2007.
“People often ask me if I’m going to resign since I’m employed here at Southern but supporting Grambling,” Armstrong said of her four year position. “But I tell them ‘no, of course not. This is my job.'”
“When Southern wins, I get teased and when Grambling wins, it’s a quiet, cordial relationship,” she said of the office atmosphere post-Bayou Classic match-ups.
As the president of the alumni’s local chapter, Armstrong said she will continue to plan programs such as bus trips to games, endowments, high school days and scholarship funding.
Her chapter is also working on professional endowments, in addition to work with programs that overlap with the alumni’s association national chapter.
Armstrong laughingly said, “Not only does Southern employ me, a local president, but they also have Grambling University’s National Association, Inc. President here too, James Bradford.”
Despite the friendly rivalry between the two Historically Black Colleges, Armstrong recognizes the unity.
“I think it’s ironic,” she said. “It (the game) really shows the sisterhood in HBCUs, who both recognize that it’s critical to work together during this critical period in history.”
To both Southern and Grambling, Armstrong said, “To the players on both teams, best of luck, may the better team win, which I’m sure will be Grambling.”
“If Southern wins, well, congrats and I guess the better team won,” she said.