The Savannah State Tigers football team represents Savannah State University in college football. The Tigers are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). 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. 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 compiled an all-time record of 491–567–18 (.465).
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). 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.Brooks, Matt. Savannah State is biggest underdog in college football history against Florida State. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
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 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.
Conference championships and NCAA playoff appearances The Tigers were Southeastern Athletic Conference champions in 1938, 1948, 1950, and 1956. 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 NCAA I-AA MEAC NCAA I-AA Independent SIAC (NCAA Division II) NCAA Division III NAIA Southeastern SeasonWinsLossesTiesConference recordHead coachNotesReferences2019730 Shawn Quinn 20134803-5Steve Davenport, Corey Barlow (Interim) 20122901-7Steve Davenport 201111001-7Steve Davenport 20101100 Julius Dixon (interim)2009280 Robert Wells 2008570 Robert Wells 2007190 Theo Lemon 2006290 Theo LemonSavannah 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.20050110 Richard Basil 2004280 Richard Basil 20030120 Kenneth PettifordRichard Basil 2002190 Kenneth Pettiford 2001270 Bill Davis 2000280 Bill Davis 19995603-4Steven Wilks 19987407-2Daryl McNeillSavannah State placed on four years probation and scholarships reduced in six sports 19973802-6Daryl McNeill 19966505-4Wendell Avery 19958304-4Wendell Avery 19948305-3Joseph Crosby 19937306-2-0Joseph Crosby 199210206-2Bill DavisLost in first round of NCAA Division II playoffs 1991830 4-3Bill Davis 19907405-2Bill Davis 19891010 Bill Davis 19888306-1Bill Davis 19875604-3Bill Davis 19867405-3Bill Davis 19855603-4Frank Ellis 19844712-5-0Frank Ellis 1983470 Frank Ellis 19824602-4Frank Ellis 19815502-3Frank Ellis 1980550 Frank Ellis 19797304-1-0Frank Ellis 19784604-3Frank Ellis 19777304-2Frank Ellis 19761900-6John H. Myles 19753702-3John H. Myles 19746403-2John H. Myles 19734602-4John H. Myles 19727304-1John H. Myles 19716404-1John H. Myles 19705504-1John H. Myles 19695503-2John H. Myles 1968550 Leo Richardson 1967820 Leo Richardson 1966550 Leo Richardson 1965460 Leo Richardson 1964460 Leo Richardson 1963190 Leo Richardson 19625502-3Richard K. Washington 19616403-2-0Richard K. Washington 19605503-2Richard K. Washington 19597304-1-0Richard K. Washington 19589105-0Richard K. Washington 19577303-2-0Richard K. Washington 19568204-1Ross F. PearlySoutheastern Athletic Conference Co-Champions19556403-2-0Ross F. Pearly 19543701-5Ross F. Pearly 19535502-3Albert Frazier 19522801-4John H. Martin 19516403-2-0John H. Martin 19505304-0-0John H. MartinSoutheastern Athletic Conference Champions19493503-1Theodore A. "Ted" Wright 19485304-1Theodore A. "Ted" WrightSoutheastern Athletic Conference Champions19472502-3-0Theodore A. "Ted" Wright 19466106-1-0John W. Myles 1942520 John W. Myles 1941430 W. McKinley King 1940430 W. McKinley King 1939600 Arthur Dwight 1938510 Arthur DwightSoutheastern Athletic Conference Champions1937321 Arthur Dwight 1936330 Arthur Dwight 1935330 Arthur Dwight 1934240 Richard Richardson 1933510 Richard Richardson 1932420 Richard Richardson 1931330 Richard Richardson 1930321 Richard Richardson 1929420 Richard Richardson 1928330 W.P. Tucker 1927330 W.P. Tucker 1926240 W.P. Tucker 1925600 W.P. Tucker 1923600 W.P. Tucker 1915330 W.P. Tucker Totals11740 NCAA Division I-AA Independent results NCAA Division II results NCAA Division III results 447211 NAIA results25338128Regular season results 010Playoff results 25338328All games including playoffs
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
Notable players and coaches Some notable Savannah State football players and coaches include:
References
External links