Savannah State Tigers football
Savannah State Tigers | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
First season | 1915 | ||
Athletic director | Sterling Steward Jr. | ||
Head coach |
Erik Raeburn 1st year, 3–4 (.429) | ||
Stadium | Ted Wright Stadium | ||
Year built | 1967 | ||
Seating capacity | 16,000 | ||
Field surface | Grass | ||
Location | Savannah, Georgia | ||
NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
Conference | MEAC | ||
All-time record | 376–439–8 (.462) | ||
Bowl record | 0–0–0 (–) | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 7 | ||
Colors |
Burnt Orange and Reflex Blue[1] | ||
Marching band | Savannah State Marching Tiger Band | ||
Website | SSU Tigers Football |
The Savannah State Tigers football team represents Savannah State University in college football. The Tigers are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).[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.
Since moving to the NCAA Division I FCS in 2000, the Tigers have compiled a record of 22–140.[3] Prior to joining the FCS, the team competed in the NCAA Division II where they were a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Savannah State has played football since 1915, though they did not field a team in 1924 and from 1943 to 1945. Through the 2014 season, the Tigers have compiled an all-time record of 267–474–32 (.366).[3]
The program's largest margin of victory was 81 points in an 87–6 victory over Miles College in 1992. The largest margin of defeat was 88 points against Bethune-Cookman College in 1953 (Bethune-Cookman 98, Savannah State 10).[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
Conference | Joined | Left |
---|---|---|
Independent | 1915 | 1928 |
Southeastern Athletic Conference | 1929 | 1961 |
Independent | 1962 | 1968 |
SIAC | 1969 | 1999 |
Division I-AA Independent | 2000 | 2009 |
MEAC | 2010 | – |
No Team: 1924, 1943–1945
On September 8, 2010, Savannah State University was confirmed as a full member of the MEAC Conference, 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
The Tigers were Southeastern Athletic Conference champions in 1938, 1948, 1950 and 1956.[7][8] The team's only NCAA playoff appearance occurred in 1992. The Tigers, led by Head Coach Bill Davis, were defeated by Jacksonville State University in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, 41-16.
Season-by-Season Records
NCAA 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3-5 | Steve Davenport, Corey Barlow (Interim) | ||
2012 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1-7 | Steve Davenport | ||
2011 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2-6 | Steve Davenport | ||
2010 | 4 | 7 | 0 | Julius Dixon (interim) | |||
2009 | 6 | 5 | 0 | Robert Wells | [9] | ||
2008 | 11 | 3 | 0 | Robert Wells | [9] | ||
2007 | 4 | 7 | 0 | Theo Lemon | [10] | ||
2006 | 9 | 3 | 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 t | ||
2005 | 2 | 9 | 0 | Richard Basil | [11] | ||
2004 | 7 | 4 | 0 | Richard Basil | [11] | ||
2003 | 10 | 2 | 0 | Kenneth Pettiford Richard Basil | [11] | ||
2002 | 2 | 9 | 0 | Kenneth Pettiford | [11] | ||
2001 | 4 | 7 | 0 | Bill Davis | [11][12] | ||
2000 | 3 | 8 | 0 | Bill Davis | [11][12] | ||
1999 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3-4 | Steven Wilks | [13] | |
1998 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 7-2 | Daryl McNeill | Savannah State placed on four years probation and scholarships reduced in six sports | [14][15] |
1997 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2-6 | Daryl McNeill | [14] | |
1996 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5-4 | Wendell Avery | [16] | |
1995 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4-4 | Wendell Avery | [16] | |
1994 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5-3 | Joseph Crosby | [17] | |
1993 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6-2-0 | Joseph Crosby | [17] | |
1992 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 6-2 | Bill Davis | Lost in first round of NCAA Division II playoffs | [12] |
1991 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4-3 | Bill Davis | [12] | |
1990 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5-2 | Bill Davis | [12] | |
1989 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Bill Davis | [12][18] | ||
1988 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 6-1 | Bill Davis | [12][18] | |
1987 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 4-3 | Bill Davis | [12] | |
1986 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5-3 | Bill Davis | [12] | |
1985 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3-4 | Frank Ellis | [19] | |
1984 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2-5-0 | Frank Ellis | [20] | |
1983 | 4 | 7 | 0 | Frank Ellis | [20] | ||
1982 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2-4 | Frank Ellis | [20] | |
1981 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2-3 | Frank Ellis | [20] | |
1980 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Frank Ellis | [20] | ||
1979 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-1-0 | Frank Ellis | [21] | |
1978 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4-3 | Frank Ellis | [21] | |
1977 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-2 | Frank Ellis | [21] | |
1976 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0-6 | John H. Myles | [21] | |
1975 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2-3 | John H. Myles | [21] | |
1974 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2 | John H. Myles | [22] | |
1973 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2-4 | John H. Myles | [22] | |
1972 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-1 | John H. Myles | [22] | |
1971 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4-1 | John H. Myles | [22] | |
1970 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4-1 | John H. Myles | [22] | |
1969 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3-2 | John H. Myles | [23] | |
1968 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [23] | ||
1967 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [23] | ||
1966 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [23] | ||
1965 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [23] | ||
1964 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [24] | ||
1963 | 1 | 9 | 0 | Leo Richardson | [24] | ||
1962 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2-3 | Richard K. Washington | [24] | |
1961 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2-0 | Richard K. Washington | [24] | |
1960 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3-2 | Richard K. Washington | [24] | |
1959 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4-1-0 | Richard K. Washington | [25] | |
1958 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5-0 | Richard K. Washington | [25] | |
1957 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3-2-0 | Richard K. Washington | [25] | |
1956 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4-1 | Ross F. Pearly | Southeastern Athletic Conference Co-Champions | [7][8][25] |
1955 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2-0 | Ross F. Pearly | [25] | |
1954 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1-5 | Ross F. Pearly | [26] | |
1953 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2-3 | Albert Frazier | [26] | |
1952 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1-4 | John H. Martin | [26] | |
1951 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3-2-0 | John H. Martin | [26] | |
1950 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4-0-0 | John H. Martin | Southeastern Athletic Conference Champions | [7][8][26] |
1949 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3-1 | Theodore A. "Ted" Wright | [27] | |
1948 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4-1 | Theodore A. "Ted" Wright | Southeastern Athletic Conference Champions | [7][8][27] |
1947 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2-3-0 | Theodore A. "Ted" Wright | [27] | |
1946 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6-1-0 | John W. Myles | [27] | |
1942 | 5 | 2 | 0 | John W. Myles | [27] | ||
1941 | 4 | 3 | 0 | W. McKinley King | [27] | ||
1940 | 4 | 3 | 0 | W. McKinley King | [27] | ||
1939 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | [28] | ||
1938 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | Southeastern Athletic Conference Champions | [8][28] | |
1937 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Arthur Dwight | [28] | ||
1936 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | [28] | ||
1935 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Arthur Dwight | [28] | ||
1934 | 2 | 4 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [29] | ||
1933 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [29] | ||
1932 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [29] | ||
1931 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [29] | ||
1930 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Richard Richardson | [29] | ||
1929 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Richard Richardson | [30] | ||
1928 | 3 | 3 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [30] | ||
1927 | 3 | 3 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [30] | ||
1926 | 2 | 4 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [30] | ||
1925 | 6 | 0 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [30] | ||
1923 | 6 | 0 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [31] | ||
1915 | 3 | 3 | 0 | W.P. Tucker | [31] | ||
Totals | 11 | 74 | 0 | NCAA Division I-AA Independent results [11] | |||
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 |
Notable players and coaches
Some 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 | [32] |
Eric Brown | 1989 | Cornerback/Safety | former National Football League player with the Dallas Cowboys | [33] |
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 | [34][35] |
Bobby Curtis | 1987 | Linebacker | former National Football League player with the Washington Redskins and New York Jets | [34] |
Ken Dawson | 1981 | Running Back | 10th round pick by the Seattle Seahawks; #252 overall pick | [33][36][37] |
Roy Ellison | 1987 | Guard/Center | National Football League official and umpire during Super Bowl XLIII | [38] |
Aaron Fields | 2000 | Defensive End | former National Football League player with the Dallas Cowboys | [33] |
Troy Hambrick | 2000 | Running Back | former National Football League player who averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his 5 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2000–2003) and the Arizona Cardinals (2004). | [33][34] |
Britt Henderson | 1996 | Defensive Back | 1996 First Team All American | [11] |
Patrick Jackson | unknown | former United Indoor Football player who played with the Rock River Raptors | [34] | |
Jonathan Johnson | unknown | former United Indoor Football player who played with the Rock River Raptors | [34] | |
Lemuel Ligdon | unknown | former NFL Europe player who played with the Rhein Fire | [34] | |
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. | [39][40] |
Ernest "The Cat" Miller | Linebacker | All-American linebacker and former professional wrestler | [41] | |
Andrew Mitchell | unknown | former Arena Football League player who played with the Arizona Rattlers | [34] | |
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 National Football League player with the Houston Oilers | [33] |
Shannon Sharpe | 1986-89 | Wide Receiver / Tight End | 1989 First team All American, former National Football League 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. | [11][33][42] |
Tim Walker | 1980 | Linebacker | 1979 First Team All American and former National Football League player with the Seattle Seahawks | [11][33] |
Steven Wilks | 1999 | Head Coach | the current Assisant Head Coach and defensive backs coach of the Carolina Panthers | [13] |
References
- ↑ "Savannah State University Athletics – 2016 Football Quick Facts". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
- ↑ Barnidge, Noell (2010-03-11). "Savannah State joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News and Evening Press. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- 1 2 "Savannah State Yearly Totals". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ↑ "GWU Rolls Past Savannah State, 66-0, Saturday Afternoon". Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- ↑ Brooks, Matt. Savannah State is biggest underdog in college football history against Florida State. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- ↑ "N.C. Central and Savannah State Become Full Members". MEACSports.com. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "Conference Championships: Southeastern Athletic Conference". Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Composite Championship Listing". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 "SSU names Robby Wells head football coach". 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ↑ "SSU fires Lemon". 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Delaware State University visits Savannah State". Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- 1 2 "1999 NCAA Football Schedules and 1998 Results" (PDF). NCAA. p. 557. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 8, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- 1 2 "McNeill Resigns Savannah State Football Post". Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ↑ "Savannah State Receives Probation, Financial Aid cuts".
- 1 2 "Avery contacts team via voice mail". Retrieved 2009-03-11.
- 1 2 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- 1 2 "Ex-SSU coach watches son play for MVSU". Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ↑ "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- 1 2 "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- ↑ "Sand Gnats make radio deal". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News and Evening Press. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "All-time Players Page: Troy Hambrick". NFL.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Former Tigers sign football contracts". 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ↑ "Ex-SSU RB Cone signs with indoor team". 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ↑ "1981 Seattle Seashawks". Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ↑ "Seattle Seahawks draft history". Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ↑ "Savannah State Alumnus Officiates Super Bowl XLIII" (pdf). The Savannah Tribune. The Savannah Tribune, Inc. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ↑ "Sports with Walter Moore". The Savannah Tribune. The Savannah Tribune, Inc. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
- ↑ "Player Bio:Wesley McGriff". Retrieved 2007-11-22.
- ↑ "The early days of WCW star Ernest Miller". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ↑ "NFL.com Writers: Shannon Sharpe". NFL.com. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-04.