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Savannah State Tigers and Lady Tigers

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Athletic director
  
Sterling Steward Jr.

Varsity teams
  
16

Location
  
Savannah, Georgia

Football stadium
  
Ted A. Wright Stadium

Savannah State Tigers and Lady Tigers

University
  
Savannah State University

Conference
  
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

The Savannah State Tigers and Lady Tigers are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia.

Contents

Conference affiliation

Savannah State University holds membership in the NCAA Division I (as members of the MEAC) and participates in the following sports: football, baseball, basketball (men and women), cross-country (men and women), tennis (men and women), track and field (men and women), volleyball (women only), golf (men), and softball (women). On March 20, 2010, the Tigers were accepted as provisional members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) beginning on July 1, 2010. On September 8, 2011, the 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. Before moving to Division I-AA, Savannah State was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division II (1981–2005), NCAA Division II and the Southeastern Athletic Conference in the NAIA (1929–1961).

Team colors

The official school colors for Savannah State are Burnt Orange and Reflex Blue. White is often used as a secondary color and for alternate jerseys.

Organization

Athletics at Savannah State University are administered by the Savannah State University Athletic Department. The department is headed by an athletic director who is responsible for the department's oversight and all matters related to the school's 16 NCAA Division I sports teams for men and women. The department dedicates about $2 million per year for its sports teams and facilities.

The current athletic director is Sterling Steward Jr.

Current facilities

Most athletic teams have on-campus facilities for competition, including Ted A. Wright Stadium for football, and Tiger Arena for basketball and women’s volleyball.

Football

The football team is traditionally the most popular sport at Savannah State. The games are played at Ted A. Wright Stadium. Since moving to NCAA Division I - FCS in 2000, the Tigers have compiled a 17-88 record as of the 2009–2010 season. Prior to moving to Division I-AA 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.

Men's basketball

Savannah State competes in NCAA Division I as an independent and plays home games in Tiger Arena on the university campus.

The school gained notoriety when they finished the 2004–2005 men's basketball season a winless 0-28, the first Division I team to do so since Prairie View A&M University in 1991–1992. The Tigers were the 2011-12 MEAC regular season champions and received an automatic bid into the 2012 NIT, their first ever appearance in any Division I tournament as a Division I member. The team posted a 21-10 overall mark and lead the MEAC in scoring defense, only allowing 58.9 points per game and were second in the conference in scoring margin (+5.4).

Baseball

The head coach is Carlton Hardy.

Conference championships and NCAA playoffs

  • The Savannah State Tigers finished as SIAC baseball champions for five consecutive seasons (1995–1999).
  • In 1999, the Tigers were the #4 seed in the NCAA Division II South Regional baseball Tournament
  • In 2013, the Tigers were the co-champions of the MEAC Southern Division and won the conference baseball tournament and the conferences automatic NCAA bid.

    • Season-by-season record

    NCAA Division I Independent SIAC (NCAA Division II) NCAA Division III NAIA Southeastern

    Team awards and NCAA records

  • Savannah State holds the NCAA Division II records of 46 consecutive victories in baseball and 46 consecutive victories to start of a season (2000). The team also hold the NCAA Division II records of 12.59 average runs per game in a season (2000), 58 total triples in a season (1998) and 1.18 average triples per game in a season (1998).
  • Theophalus Gregory established the NCAA Division III record of 1.92 average stolen bases per game in 1974 as a member of the Savannah State baseball team.
  • Gerald Smith, held the 2005 NCAA Division I top slugging percentage (.785) as a member of the Savannah State baseball team.
  • Savannah State baseball player Brett Higgins (2000) holds the NCAA Division II record of 32 doubles in a season (in 49 games) with four other players and led the NCAA in RBIs (93), slugging percentage (1.010), and total bases (193) in 2000.
  • Willie Melendez, former Savannah State baseball player holds the NCAA Division II record of 16 triples in a season (1998).

    • Notable players and coaches

    Some notable Savannah State baseball players and coaches include:

    Women's basketball

    The current head coach is Cedric Baker. Baker was named head coach on July 30, 2003.

    Team awards and NCAA records

  • Savannah State holds the NCAA Division I record for fewest points scored in a half (3 points) which occurred on November 23, 2003 against Florida State.
  • In 1995 the Lady Tigers led the nation in field-goal percentage defense (32.2%).
  • In 1984 the Lady Tigers led the nation in Average home game attendance (1,750 per game average).

    • Season-by-season record

         NCAA Division I Independent      SIAC (NCAA Division II)      NCAA Division III      NAIA Southeastern

    Women's tennis

    The current coach is Don Andrews who entered his first season as head coach in 2008.

    Team awards and records

    The Women's Tennis Team won the SIAC championship in 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998

    Women's volleyball

    The current head coach is Jolanta Graham who replaced Schannon Gamble in 2012.

    Women'ssSoftball

    The current head coach is Jose Gonzalez who entered his first season in 2008.

    Men's golf

    The current coach is Art Gelow.

    Track and field

    The current coach is Ted Whitaker who entered his first season as head coach in 1999.

    References

    Savannah State Tigers and Lady Tigers Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA