The Savannah State Tigers football team represents Savannah State University in college football. The Tigers are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).[2] The football team is traditionally the most popular sport at Savannah State and home games are played at Ted A. Wright Stadium in Savannah, Georgia.
| Savannah State Tigers football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1902 |
| Athletic director | Opio Mashariki |
| Head coach | Aaron Kelton 2nd season, 7–13 (.350) |
| Stadium | Ted Wright Stadium (capacity: 13,500) |
| Year built | 1967 |
| Field surface | FieldTurf |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia |
| NCAA division | Division II |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) |
| All-time record | 491–567–18 (.465) |
| Conference titles | 12 (since 1940) |
| Consensus All-Americans | 10 |
| Colors | Burnt orange and reflex blue[1] |
| Marching band | Savannah State Marching Tiger Band |
| Website | ssuathletics.com |
After moving to the NCAA Division I FCS in 2000, the Tigers compiled a record of 80–137.[3] While in the FCS, the team competed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In 2019, the Tigers moved back to NCAA Division II and rejoined the SIAC. Savannah State has played football since 1902, though they did not field a team in 1943 to 1945. Through the 2018 season, the Tigers have compiled an all-time record of 491–567–18 (.465).[3]
The program's largest margin of victory was 87 points in an 87–0 victory over Miles College in 1992. The largest margin of defeat was 98 points against Bethune-Cookman College in 1953 (Bethune-Cookman 98, Savannah State 0).[4] Prior to a game against the Florida State Seminoles in 2012, the Seminoles were installed as 70.5 point favorites, reportedly making Savannah State the biggest underdogs in any college football game ever.[5]
The team regularly participates in one or more black football classics each season, including the CSRA Football Classic and the Joe Turner Classic. The team has previously participated in the Gateway Classic, the Miami Classic, the Palmetto Capital City Classic, and the Circle City Classic.
Conference affiliations
edit| Conference | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 1915 | 1928 |
| Southeastern Athletic Conference | 1929 | 1961 |
| Independent | 1962 | 1968 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) | 1969 | 1999 |
| NCAA Division I-AA/FCS independent | 2000 | 2009 |
| Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) | 2010 | 2018 |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) | 2019 |
No team: 1916–1922, 1924, 1943–1945
On September 8, 2010, Savannah State University was confirmed as a full member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), making the Tigers eligible to participate in all conference championships and earn the conference's automatic berth to NCAA postseason competition in all sponsored sports.[6]
Conference championships and NCAA playoff appearances
editThe Tigers were Southeastern Athletic Conference champions in 1938, 1948, 1950, and 1956.[7][8]The team's only playoff appearance occurred in 1992 The Tigers, led by head coach Bill Davis, were defeated by Jacksonville State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, 41–16.
Season-by-season records
editNCAA I-AA MEAC NCAA I-AA Independent SIAC (NCAA Division II) NCAA Division III NAIA Southeastern
| Season | Wins | Losses | Ties | Conference record | Head coach | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Shawn Quinn | |||
| 2013 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3-5 | Steve Davenport, Corey Barlow (Interim) | ||
| 2012 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1-7 | Steve Davenport | ||
| 2011 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1-7 | Steve Davenport | ||
| 2010 | 1 | 10 | 0 | Julius Dixon (interim) | |||
| 2009 | 2 | 8 | 0 | Robert Wells | [9] | ||
| 2008 | 5 | 7 | 0 | Robert Wells | [9] | ||
| 2007 | 1 | 9 | 0 | Theo Lemon | [10] | ||
| 2006 | 2 | 9 | 0 | Theo Lemon | Savannah State University football program was placed on probation for three years by the NCAA in 2006. Prior to moving to Division I - FCS the team compiled a 97-108-4 record in NCAA Division II (1981–2000), a 15-20-0 record in NCAA Division III (1973–1980) and a 1-1-0 record as a member of the NAIA. | [11][12] | |
| 2005 | 0 | 11 | 0 | Richard Basil | [13] | ||
| 2004 | 2 | 8 | 0 | Richard Basil | [13] | ||
| 2003 | 0 | 12 | 0 | Kenneth Pettiford Richard Basil | [13] | ||
| 2002 | 1 | 9 | 0 | Kenneth Pettiford | [13] | ||
| 2001 | 2 | 7 | 0 | Bill Davis | [13][14] | ||
| 2000 | 2 | 8 | 0 | Bill Davis | [13][14] | ||
| 1999 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3-4 | Steven Wilks | [15] | |
| 1998 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 7-2 | Daryl McNeill | Savannah State placed on four years probation and scholarships reduced in six sports | [16][17] |
| 1997 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2-6 | Daryl McNeill | [16] | |
| 1996 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5-4 | Wendell Avery | [18] | |
| 1995 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4-4 | Wendell Avery | [18] | |
| 1994 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5-3 | Joseph Crosby | [19] | |
| 1993 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6-2-0 | Joseph Crosby | [19] | |
| 1992 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 6-2 | Bill Davis | Lost in first round of NCAA Division II playoffs | [14] |
| 1991 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4-3 | Bill Davis | [14] | |
| 1990 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5-2 | Bill Davis | [14] | |
| 1989 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Bill Davis | [14][20] | ||
| 1988 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 6-1 | Bill Davis | [14][20] | |
| 1987 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 4-3 | Bill Davis | [14] | |
| 1986 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5-3 | Bill Davis | [14] | |
| 1985 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3-4 | Frank Ellis | [21] | |
| 1984 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2-5-0 | Frank Ellis | [22] | |
| 1983 | 4 | 7 | 0 | Frank Ellis | [22] | ||
| 1982 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2-4 | Frank Ellis | [22] | |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2-3 | Frank Ellis | [22] | |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Frank Ellis | [22] | ||
| 1979 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-1-0 | Frank Ellis | [23] | |
| 1978 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4-3 | Frank Ellis | [23] | |
| 1977 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-2 | Frank Ellis | [23] | |
| 1976 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0-6 | John H. Myles | [23] | |
| 1975 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2-3 | John H. Myles | [23] | |
| 1974 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2 | John H. Myles | [24] | |
| 1973 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2-4 | John H. Myles | [24] | |
| 1972 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-1 | John H. Myles | [24] | |
| 1971 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4-1 | John H. Myles | [24] | |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4-1 | John H. Myles | [24] | |
| 1969 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3-2 | John H. Myles | [25] | |
| 1968 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [25] | ||
| 1967 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [25] | ||
| 1966 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [25] | ||
| 1965 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [25] | ||
| 1964 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [26] | ||
| 1963 | 1 | 9 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [26] | ||
| 1962 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2-3 | Richard K. Washington | [26] | |
| 1961 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2-0 | Richard K. Washington | [26] | |
| 1960 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3-2 | Richard K. Washington | [26] | |
| 1959 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-1-0 | Richard K. Washington | [27] | |
| 1958 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5-0 | Richard K. Washington | [27] | |
| 1957 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3-2-0 | Richard K. Washington | [27] | |
| 1956 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4-1 | Ross F. Pearly | Southeastern Athletic Conference Co-Champions | [7][8][27] |
| 1955 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2-0 | Ross F. Pearly | [27] | |
| 1954 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1-5 | Ross F. Pearly | [28] | |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2-3 | Albert Frazier | [28] | |
| 1952 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1-4 | John H. Martin | [28] | |
| 1951 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2-0 | John H. Martin | [28] | |
| 1950 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4-0-0 | John H. Martin | Southeastern Athletic Conference Champions | [7][8][28] |
| 1949 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3-1 | Theodore A. "Ted" Wright | [29] | |
| 1948 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4-1 | Theodore A. "Ted" Wright | Southeastern Athletic Conference Champions | [7][8][29] |
| 1947 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2-3-0 | Theodore A. "Ted" Wright | [29] | |
| 1946 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6-1-0 | John W. Myles | [29] | |
| 1942 | 5 | 2 | 0 | John W. Myles | [29] | ||
| 1941 | 4 | 3 | 0 | W. McKinley King | [29] | ||
| 1940 | 4 | 3 | 0 | W. McKinley King | [29] | ||
| 1939 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | [30] | ||
| 1938 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | Southeastern Athletic Conference Champions | [8][30] | |
| 1937 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Arthur Dwight | [30] | ||
| 1936 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | [30] | ||
| 1935 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | [30] | ||
| 1934 | 2 | 4 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [31] | ||
| 1933 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [31] | ||
| 1932 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [31] | ||
| 1931 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [31] | ||
| 1930 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Richard Richardson | [31] | ||
| 1929 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [32] | ||
| 1928 | 3 | 3 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [32] | ||
| 1927 | 3 | 3 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [32] | ||
| 1926 | 2 | 4 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [32] | ||
| 1925 | 6 | 0 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [32] | ||
| 1923 | 6 | 0 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [33] | ||
| 1915 | 3 | 3 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [34] | ||
| Totals | 11 | 74 | 0 | NCAA Division I-AA Independent results [13] | |||
| NCAA Division II results | |||||||
| NCAA Division III results | |||||||
| 44 | 72 | 11 | NAIA results | ||||
| 253 | 381 | 28 | Regular season results | ||||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | Playoff results | ||||
| 253 | 383 | 28 | All games including playoffs | ||||
Retired numbers
editThe Tigers has retired only one number.[35]
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Shannon Sharpe | FL/TE | 1986–1989 |
Notable players and coaches
editSome notable Savannah State football players and coaches include:
| Name | Class year | Position | Notability | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Aycock | 1993 | Offensive lineman | Head football coach at Johnson C. Smith University | [36] |
| Eric Brown | 1989 | Cornerback/Safety | former NFL player with the Dallas Cowboys | [37] |
| Chadrick Cone | 2006 | Running Back | Signed by the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League in 2006 and the Columbus Lions of the American Indoor Football Association in 2009 | [38][39] |
| Bobby Curtis | 1987 | Linebacker | former NFL player with the Washington Redskins and New York Jets | [38] |
| Ken Dawson | 1981 | Running Back | 10th round pick by the Seattle Seahawks; #252 overall pick | [40][41][42] |
| Roy Ellison | 1987 | Guard/Center | NFL official and umpire during Super Bowl XLIII | [43] |
| Aaron Fields | 2000 | Defensive End | former NFL player with the Dallas Cowboys | [40] |
| Troy Hambrick | 2000 | Running Back | former NFL player who averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his 5 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2000–2003) and the Arizona Cardinals (2004). | [40][38] |
| Britt Henderson | 1996 | Defensive Back | 1996 First Team All American | [13] |
| Patrick Jackson | unknown | former United Indoor Football player who played with the Rock River Raptors | [38] | |
| Jonathan Johnson | unknown | former United Indoor Football player who played with the Rock River Raptors | [38] | |
| Lemuel Ligdon | unknown | former NFL Europe player who played with the Rhein Fire | [38] | |
| Wesley McGriff | 1990 | Outside Linebacker | current defensive backs coach and defensive recruiting coordinator for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Former defensive backs coach for the Miami Hurricanes and former interim coach and defensive coordinator at Savannah State University. | [44][45] |
| Ernest "The Cat" Miller | Linebacker | All-American linebacker and former professional wrestler | [46] | |
| Andrew Mitchell | unknown | former Arena Football League player who played with the Arizona Rattlers | [38] | |
| Tahj Mowry | Running Back | former child actor from the sitcom "Smart Guy", played football at SSU for 1 season | ||
| Wes Phillips | 1979 | Offensive Tackle | former NFL player with the Houston Oilers | [40] |
| Shannon Sharpe | 1986–89 | Wide Receiver / Tight End | 1989 First team All American, former NFL player with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, three-time Super Bowl champion, and former NFL's all-time leader in receptions (815) by a tight end (record now held by Tony Gonzalez). He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. | [13][40][47] |
| Tim Walker | 1980 | Linebacker | 1979 First Team All American and former NFL player with the Seattle Seahawks | [13][40] |
| Steve Wilks | 1999 | Defensive coordinator | former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers | [15] |