Savannah State University holds membership in the NCAA Division II (as members of the SIAC) 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).[2][3][4] On March 20, 2010, the Tigers were accepted as provisional members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) beginning on July 1, 2010.[5] 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.[6] 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).
Savannah State announced on April 17, 2017, that all of its intercollegiate athletic programs were going to be reclassified to NCAA Division II, citing that maintaining Division I status was not financially feasible.[7] Just under eight months later on December 7, the university revealed its plans to apply for re-entry to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by February 1, 2018.[8] These plans were later approved and Savannah State was re-admitted into the SIAC on July 2, 2019.
The official school colors for Savannah State are Burnt Orange and Reflex Blue.[15] 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.[16] The department dedicates about $2 million per year for its sports teams and facilities.[17]
The current athletic director is Sterling Steward Jr.[18]
Current facilities
Most athletic teams have on-campus facilities for competition, including Ted A. Wright Stadium for football and track and field,[19] and Tiger Arena for basketball and women's volleyball.
Ted A. Wright Stadium is an 8,500 seat multi purpose stadium which opened in 1969.[20] The stadium's name is an homage to former Savannah State Football coach Theodore Wright, who coached the team from 1947 to 1949.[21]
Track and field renovations were made at Ted A.Wright Stadium in the mid 1990s as part of the "Olympic Legacy Package". The "Olympic Legacy Package" included a 400-meter track and competitive field areas.[22]
Tiger Arena is a 5,000-seat multi purpose arena that opened in 2000. Tiger Arena replaced Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium,[23] costing $9.6 million to construct.[24]
The football team is traditionally the most popular sport at Savannah State. The games are played at Ted A. Wright Stadium. Since moving to NCAADivision I – FCS in 2000, the Tigers have compiled a 17–88 record as of the 2009–2010 season.[26] 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.[27][28]
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.[29][30][31] 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).[32]
The Tigers defeated Benedict College, 76–62, to win the 2022 SIAC Men's Basketball Tournament.[14]
The Savannah State Tigers finished as SIAC baseball champions for five consecutive seasons (1995–1999).[13]
In 1999, the Tigers were the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Division II South Regional baseball Tournament[34]
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.
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).[39]
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.[39]
Gerald Smith, held the 2005 NCAA Division I top slugging percentage (.785) as a member of the Savannah State baseball team.[39]
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.[39]
Willie Melendez, former Savannah State baseball player holds the NCAA Division II record of 16 triples in a season (1998).[39]
Notable players and coaches
Some notable Savannah State baseball players and coaches include:
Savannah State Lady Tigers basketball is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member. They currently play in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[44]
The Lady Tigers started playing in 1928 and in 1974 joined Division II. They compiled a 339–394 record in Division II before moving on to Division I in 2002.[45] In Division I, the Lady Tigers are 148–260.[45] The Lady Tigers won 6 total SEAC Championships.[45]
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