Savannah State Tigers and Lady Tigers

Savannah State Tigers
University Savannah State University
Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Athletic director Sterling Steward Jr.
Location Savannah, GA
Varsity teams 16
Football stadium Ted A. Wright Stadium
Basketball arena Tiger Arena
Nickname Tigers or Lady Tigers
Colors
     Burnt Orange       Reflex Blue
Website ssuathletics.com

The Tigers is the name used for all of the men's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia. The female intercollegiate teams are known as the Lady Tigers.

Conference affiliation

Former SSU Athletics logo (2000-2012)

Savannah State University holds membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (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).[1][2][3] On March 20, 2010, the Tigers were accepted as provisional members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) beginning on July 1, 2010.[4] 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.[5] 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 III and the Southeastern Athletic Conference in the NAIA (1929–1961).

Timeline

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Conference championships

Season Sport Conference Notes References
1970 Men's BasketballSIAC [6]
1979 Men's BasketballSIACregular season and tournament title[7][8]
1980 Men's BasketballSIACregular season and tournament title[7][8]
1981 Men's BasketballSIACregular season and tournament title[7][8]
1991 Women's TennisSIAC [9]
1994 Women's TennisSIAC [9]
1995 BaseballSIAC [10]
1996 Women's TennisSIAC [9]
1996 BaseballSIAC [10]
1997 Women's TennisSIAC [9]
1997 BaseballSIAC [10]
1998 BaseballSIAC [10]
1998 Women's TennisSIAC [9]
1999 BaseballSIAC [10]
2012 Men's BasketballMEACregular season conference champions
2012 SoftballMEAC Southern Division Conference Champions
2013 BaseballMEAC Southern Division Conference Champions
Conference Tournament Champions

Team colors

The official school colors for Savannah State are Burnt Orange and Reflex Blue.[11] 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.[12] The department dedicates about $2 million per year for its sports teams and facilities.[13]

The current athletic director is Sterling Steward Jr.[14]

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

Sophomore quarterback A.J. Defillips warms up during the Savannah State vs. Old Dominion game. (Taken on November 6, 2010).

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.[15] 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.[16][17]

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.[18][19][20] 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).[21]

Baseball

Savannah State Tigers
League NCAA Division I
Location Savannah, Georgia
Nickname(s) Tigers
Colors Burnt Orange, Reflexive Blue and White
Mascot Tiger
Manager Carlton Hardy
Uniforms

CC5500

Away

The head coach is Carlton Hardy.[22]

Conference championships and NCAA playoffs

Season by Season record

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

Team awards and NCAA records

Head baseball coach Carlton Hardy, 2014

Notable players and coaches

Some notable Savannah State baseball players and coaches include:

Name Class year Position Notability Reference(s)
Mark Eric Alvarez Right Hand Pitcher Signed as a non-drafted free agent, 1/29/06 currently with the Bradenton Pirates (Pittsburgh Pirates Gulf Coast League team) [29]
Brandon Jackson Outfielder Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in round 16 of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft (#491 overall) [30]
Jeff Urgelles Catcher Selected in the 26th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds [31]

Women's basketball

Savannah State Lady Tigers
University Savannah State University
Conference MEAC
Location Savannah, GA
Head coach Cedric Baker (6th year)
Arena Tiger Arena
(Capacity: 6,000)
Nickname Lady Tigers
Colors

Blue, Orange, and White

                  
Uniforms
Home
Away
Alternate
Conference tournament champions
2015
Conference regular season champions
2015

The current head coach is Cedric Baker. Baker was named head coach on July 30, 2003.[32]

Team awards and NCAA records

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.[36]

Team Awards and Records

The Women's Tennis Team won the SIAC championship in 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998[9]

Women's Volleyball

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

Women's Softball

The current head coach is Jose Gonzalez who entered his first season in 2008.[37]

Men's Golf

The current coach is Art Gelow.[38]

Track and field

The current coach is Ted Whitaker who entered his first season as head coach in 1999.[39]

References

  1. ↑ "Savannah State University Athletics". Savannah State University. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
  2. ↑ "Savannah State's bid to join MEAC on hold; Winston-Salem State to get vote soon". Black College Sports Page. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  3. ↑ Barnidge, Noell (2008-08-24). "Flythe: SSU to stay Division I; eyes conference". SavannahNow.com (Savannah Morning News). Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  4. ↑ Barnidge, Noell (2010-03-11). "Savannah State joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  5. ↑ "N.C. Central and Savannah State Become Full Members". MEACSports.com. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "SIAC Basketball Champions". Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Former Savannah State Men's Basketball Coach Dies". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Georgia Sports HOF To Induct Nine". Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "SIAC Tennis Champs". Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 "1999 NCAA Post-Season Playoff Recap". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  11. ↑ "Savannah State University Athletics". Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  12. ↑ Barnidge, Noell (2010-12-09). "Suggs named Savannah State athletics director". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News and Evening Press. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  13. ↑ "The Mid-majority Report: Savannah State". Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  14. ↑ "Sterling Steward Jr.: Director of Athletics". Staff Directory. Savannah State University. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "Football Championship Subdivision Records Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  16. ↑ "DIAAFOOTBALL.COM - Savannah State". Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  17. ↑ "Official 2007 NCAA Division II and III Football Records Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  18. ↑ "Tigers finish season 0-28". ESPN.com. 2005-05-28. Retrieved 2005-02-15.
  19. ↑ "Winless Savannah State Gets New Coach". CSTV.com. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  20. ↑ "SSU fires men's basketball coach Daniels". 2005-02-17. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  21. ↑ "MEAC announces All-MEAC Men's Basketball Honors". MEACSports.com. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Savannah State University Baseball Head Coach: Carlton Hardy". Savannah State University. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "From the Onnidan Online News Room". Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  24. ↑ "Savannah State Univ. Season Statistics". Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 25.8 25.9 "Northwestern Oklahoma State University - Ranger Athletics". Archived from the original on 2007-10-27. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Savannah State Receives Probation, Financial Aid cuts".
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "Player Bio:Wesley McGriff". Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 "Official 2006 NCAA Records Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2006-12-05.
  29. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Scoutinig Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  30. ↑ "First-year Player Draft". Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  31. ↑ "PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND SCOUTING" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 "Savannah State University Women's Basketball Head Coach: Cedric Baker". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 "Official 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  34. ↑ "Savannah State names three head coaches". 2002-08-17. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 "Morris Brown Announced New Coaches". 1999-07-23. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  36. ↑ "Savannah State University VOLLEYBALL/TENNIS Head Coach:Yocaira Basilio". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  37. ↑ "Savannah State University Softball Head Coach: Henry Banks". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  38. ↑ "Savannah State University GOLF Head Coach: Art Gelow". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  39. ↑ "Savannah State University TRACK & FIELD Head Coach: Ted Whitaker". Retrieved 2007-11-21.

External links