| Savannah State Tigers football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1902 |
| Athletic director | Opio Mashariki |
| Head coach | Aaron Kelton 2nd season, 7–13 (.350) |
| Stadium | Ted Wright Stadium (capacity: 13,500) |
| Year built | 1967 |
| Field surface | FieldTurf |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia |
| NCAA division | Division II |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) |
| All-time record | 491–567–18 (.465) |
| Conference titles | 12 (since 1940) |
| Consensus All-Americans | 10 |
| Colors | Burnt orange and reflex blue[1] |
| Marching band | Savannah State Marching Tiger Band |
| Website | ssuathletics.com |
The Savannah State Tigers football team represents Savannah State University in college football. The Tigers are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).[2] 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.[3] 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 have compiled an all-time record of 491–567–18 (.465).[3]
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).[4] 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.[5]
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.
- ^ "Savannah State University Athletics – 2016 Football Quick Facts". Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ Barnidge, Noell (2010-03-11). "Savannah State joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference". SavannahNow.com. Savannah Morning News and Evening Press. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- ^ a b "Savannah State Yearly Totals". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ "GWU Rolls Past Savannah State, 66-0, Saturday Afternoon". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- ^ Brooks, Matt. Savannah State is biggest underdog in college football history against Florida State. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.