Savannah State Tigers football

Savannah State University college football team

Savannah State Tigers football

First season| 1902; 123 years ago (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

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.

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

[edit]

The 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

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

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

[edit]

See also: List of NCAA football retired numbers

The Tigers have retired only one number.

Savannah State Tigers retired numbers

No.  | Player  | Pos.  | Tenure  | Ref.
2 | Shannon Sharpe | TE | 1986–1989 | [35]

## Notable players and coaches

[edit]

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 | [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]
Roosevelt Williams | 1998  | Cornerback  | former NFL player with the Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns

| [40]
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]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Savannah State University Athletics – 2016 Football Quick Facts". Retrieved September 5, 2016.
2. ^ Barnidge, Noell (March 11, 2010). "Savannah State joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News and Evening Press. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
3. ^ a b "Savannah State Yearly Totals". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
4. ^ "GWU Rolls Past Savannah State, 66-0, Saturday Afternoon". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
5. ^ Brooks, Matt. Savannah State is biggest underdog in college football history against Florida State. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
6. ^ "N.C. Central and Savannah State Become Full Members". MEACSports.com. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
7. ^ a b c d "Conference Championships: Southeastern Athletic Conference". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
8. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Composite Championship Listing". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
9. ^ a b "SSU names Robby Wells head football coach". December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
10. ^ "SSU fires Lemon". November 30, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
11. ^ "infractions".
12. ^ "Savannah State placed on three years' probation". May 19, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Delaware State University visits Savannah State". Retrieved November 20, 2007.
15. ^ a b "1999 NCAA Football Schedules and 1998 Results" (PDF). NCAA. p. 557\. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 8, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
16. ^ a b "McNeill Resigns Savannah State Football Post". Archived from the original on October 13, 1999. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
17. ^ "Savannah State Receives Probation, Financial Aid cuts".[permanent dead link]
18. ^ a b "Avery contacts team via voice mail". Retrieved March 11, 2009.
19. ^ a b "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
20. ^ a b "Ex-SSU coach watches son play for MVSU". Retrieved November 20, 2007.
21. ^ "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
22. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
23. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
24. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
25. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
26. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
27. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Retrieved March 6, 2008. [dead link]
28. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
29. ^ a b c d e f g "Savannah State Yearly Results". Retrieved March 6, 2008. [dead link]
30. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
31. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
32. ^ a b c d e "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
33. ^ "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
34. ^ "Savannah State Yearly Results". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
35. ^ "SSU Retires Shannon Sharpe's Jersey". ssuathletics.com. October 19, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
36. ^ "Sand Gnats make radio deal". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News and Evening Press. January 28, 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
37. ^ "All-time Players Page: Troy Hambrick". NFL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
38. ^ a b c d e f g "Former Tigers sign football contracts". November 13, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
39. ^ "Ex-SSU RB Cone signs with indoor team". November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on November 13, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
40. ^ a b c d e f g "NFL Players who attended Savannah State University". Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
41. ^ "1981 Seattle Seashawks". Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
42. ^ "Seattle Seahawks draft history". NFL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
43. ^ "Savannah State Alumnus Officiates Super Bowl XLIII" (PDF). The Savannah Tribune. The Savannah Tribune, Inc. February 11, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
44. ^ "Sports with Walter Moore". The Savannah Tribune. The Savannah Tribune, Inc. February 16, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
45. ^ "Player Bio:Wesley McGriff". Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
46. ^ "The early days of WCW star Ernest Miller". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
47. ^ "NFL.com Writers: Shannon Sharpe". NFL.com. 2007. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2007.

## External links

[edit]

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