2012 Savannah State Tigers football
ConferenceMid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Record1–10 (0–8 MEAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumTed A. Wright Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 22 Bethune–Cookman $^   8 – 0     9 – 3  
Howard   6 – 2     7 – 4  
North Carolina A&T   5 – 3     7 – 4  
North Carolina Central   5 – 3     6 – 5  
Delaware State   5 – 3     6 – 5  
South Carolina State   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Florida A&M   4 – 4     4 – 7  
Hampton   3 – 5     3 – 7  
Norfolk State   2 – 6     4 – 7  
Morgan State   2 – 6     3 – 8  
Savannah State   0 – 8     1 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2012 Savannah State Tigers football team represented Savannah State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). This was the second season under the guidance of head coach Steve Davenport. The Tigers played their home games at Ted Wright Stadium and they finished the 2012 season with a 1–10 record (0–8 in the MEAC) to finish last in the conference.

Coaches and support staff

Name[1][2] Type[1][2] College Graduating year
Steve Davenport Head coach Georgia Tech 1990
Greg Lester Assistant head coach/Outside Receivers coach Georgia Tech
Terance Mathis Offensive coordinator/Inside Receivers coach New Mexico 1990
Thomas Balkcom Defensive backs coach Georgia Tech
William Bell Running backs coach Georgia Tech
Mitch Doolittle Linebackers coach Presbyterian College 2006
Saeed Khalif Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Georgia Tech 1988
Tony Haynes Quarterbacks coach Webber International 2005
Broderick Jones Offensive line coach Ole Miss 2005

Media

Radio flagship: WHCJ
Broadcasters: Toby Hyde (play-by-play), Curtis Foster (analyst)

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 pmat No. 19 Oklahoma State*
FCSL 0–8455,784
September 86:00 pmat No. 6 Florida State*
ESPN3L 0–5571,126
September 227:00 pmNorth Carolina Central
L 33–453,415
September 291:00 pmat Howard
L 9–562,955
October 67:00 pmMorgan State
  • Ted Wright Stadium
  • Savannah, GA
L 6–451,978
October 136:00 pmat Florida A&M
L 3–4412,561
October 202:00 pmEdward Waters*dagger
  • Ted Wright Stadium
  • Savannah, GA
W 42–354,269
October 272:00 pmat Hampton
L 13–215,500
November 32:00 pmat Norfolk State
L 21–3316,269
November 105:00 pmBethune-Cookman
  • Ted Wright Stadium
  • Savannah, GA
L 7–493,683
November 171:00 pmat South Carolina State
L 13–2710,011
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Oklahoma State

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 0 0 000
Oklahoma State 35 14 211484

at Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma

  • Game time: 7 pm EST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 21% humidity
  • Game attendance: 55,784
  • Referee: David Alvarez
  • TV: Fox College Sports

Florida State

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 0 0 000
Florida State 35 13 7055

at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

  • Game time: 6:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: Rain, lightning delay, game was terminated
  • Game attendance: 71,126
  • Referee: Walter Davenpor
  • TV: ESPN3

For their second game of the season, the Tigers traveled to Tallahassee, Florida to face the #6 ranked Seminoles of Florida State. This was the first meeting between these teams. Prior to the game, the Seminoles were installed as 70 1/2 point favorites, reportedly making Savannah State the biggest underdogs in any college football game ever.[3][4]

The Seminoles held the Tigers scoreless, winning 55–0. Florida State scored 35 points in the first quarter, with a 61-yd touchdown pass from EJ Manuel to Rodney Smith, a 6-yard touchdown run from Chris Thompson, an 8-yd touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Greg Dent, a 9-yd touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Kelvin Benjamin, and a 5-yd touchdown run from Devonta Freeman. Florida State added another thirteen points in the second quarter as the result of a 19-yard touchdown run from James Wilder, Jr. and another 1-yd touchdown run from James Wilder, Jr. with a subsequent failed point-after-attempt from kicker Dustin Hopkins, ending his streak of 145 consecutive extra point attempts. Florida State scored another seven points in the third quarter as the result of a 19-yd touchdown pass from Jacob Coker to Kelvin Benjamin.

The Seminoles totaled 413 yards of offense in the game, with 167 rushing yards and 246 passing yards while holding Savannah State to just 28 total yards of offense. The victory improved Florida State's all-time record against the Tigers to 1-0.

The game was delayed by lightning in the area in the second quarter and later called with 8:59 left in the third quarter, again due to weather.[5]

North Carolina Central

Period 1 2 34Total
North Carolina Central 3 7 28745
Savannah State 7 7 61333

at Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, Georgia

  • Game time: 7 p.m.
  • Game weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 3,415
  • Referee: Darrell Davis

Howard

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 0 3 609
Howard 7 21 28056

at William H. Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C.

  • Game time: 1 p.m.
  • Game weather: Partly Sunny
  • Game attendance: 2,955
  • Referee: Donnell Leathers

Morgan State

Period 1 2 34Total
Morgan State 7 7 24745
Savannah State 6 0 006

at Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, Georgia

  • Game time: 7 p.m.
  • Game weather: Partly Sunny
  • Game attendance: 1,978
  • Referee: Kelvin Thorpe

Florida A&M

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 3 0 003
Florida A&M 13 10 14744

at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

  • Game time: 6 p.m.
  • Referee: Flemon Williams

Edward Waters

Period 1 2 34Total
Edward Waters 14 7 7735
Savannah State 14 14 7742

at Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, Georgia

  • Game time: 2 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 4,269
  • Referee: Andre Lowe

Antonio Bostick threw for four touchdowns and ran for two as the Tigers defeated NAIA Edward Waters College for the first win of the season. Bostick finished the game with 319 yards passing.[6]

Hampton

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 3 0 7313
Hampton 0 14 7021

at Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, Virginia

  • Game time: 2 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, Windy & Rain
  • Game attendance: 5,500
  • Referee: Clement Hall

Norfolk State

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 0 21 0021
Norfolk State 17 7 6333

at Price Stadium, Norfolk, Virginia

  • Game time: 2 p.m.
  • Game weather: Partly sunny
  • Game attendance: 16,269
  • Referee: D. Leathers

Bethune-Cookman

Period 1 2 34Total
Bethune-Cookman 7 28 7749
Savannah State 0 0 707

at Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, Georgia

  • Game time: 5 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, Fair
  • Game attendance: 3,683
  • Referee: Steve Kinny

South Carolina State

Period 1 2 34Total
Savannah State 7 0 6013
South Carolina State 10 3 7727

at Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, South Carolina

  • Game time: 1 pm
  • Game weather: Cold and Windy
  • Game attendance: 10,011
  • Referee: Andre Lowe

South Carolina State defeated the Tigers 27-13 in the season finale for both teams. The Bulldogs led 13-7 at halftime and pushed the lead to 20-7 with 6:21 left in the third quarter.[7] The Tigers scored on a 10-yard pass from Victorian Hardison to Dylan Cook with 1:39 left in the third to pull the Tigers within a score, 20-13, but missed the extra point.[7] The Bulldogs blocked an SSU punt which put them in scoring position from the Tigers 20-yard line to seal the victory for the bulldogs.[7] The Tigers defense was led by Wayne Burden who had 11 tackles (10 solo) and 3 tackles for loss.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Staff Directory". Savannah State University. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Dalpias, Mickey Named Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers". Savannah State University. August 10, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  3. ^ Brooks, Matt (September 6, 2012)State is biggest underdog in college football history against Florida State. The Washington Post Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  4. ^ "Savannah State Tigers getting 70 1/2 points vs Florida State Seminoles - ESPN". ESPN com. September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  5. ^ No. 6 FSU up 55-0 before game suspended by bad weather. ESPN.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "College Football Regional Roundup: Edward Waters Falls to Savannah State". The Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville. October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d "SC State End Season With Win Over Tigers". LIVE5NEWS.COM. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
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