Athletic director Sterling Steward Jr. Seating capacity 16,000 Head coach Erik Raeburn Consensus all americans 7 | Year built 1967 Field surface Grass NCAA division Division I FCS Division Division I (NCAA) First season 1915 Postseason bowl record 0 | |
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The Savannah State Tigers football team represents Savannah State University in college football. The Tigers are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). 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.
Contents
- Conference affiliations
- Conference championships and NCAA Playoff Appearances
- Season by Season Records
- Notable players and coaches
- References
Since moving to the NCAA Division I FCS in 2000, the Tigers have compiled a record of 22–140. 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).
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). 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.
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
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.
Conference championships and NCAA Playoff Appearances
The Tigers were Southeastern Athletic Conference champions in 1938, 1948, 1950 and 1956. 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
Notable players and coaches
Some notable Savannah State football players and coaches include: