Savannah State says Wells violated NCAA rules

Former SSU Tigers coach Robby Wells was asked to resign for committing two NCAA secondary violations reports the Savannah Morning News.

As Savannah State University was preparing to join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, former football head coach Robby Wells was responsible for two of three secondary violations within the football program that SSU self-reported to the NCAA, according to documents obtained by the Savannah Morning News through a Georgia Open Records Act request. Wells, who resigned Jan. 28 after two seasons, broke an NCAA rule on Jan. 20 when he invited an SSU student - a non-qualifier - to participate in weightlifting and conditioning drills with the football team.

SSU Assistant Athletics Director/Compliance Shed Dawson wrote in a report he submitted to the NCAA that, during a routine practice site visit, he observed the prospective athlete participating in the practice session. The athlete had been declared a non-qualifier by the NCAA Eligibility Center and was not eligible to participate in team practices or competition.

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Former SSU Football Coach Robby Wells Talks about his Upcoming Story on ESPN

Former Savannah State University football coach Robby Wells is in the spotlight Sunday morning at 9 a.m. on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines”. Wells “resigned” from the Tigers program, but later says he was forced to resign. He accuses school officials of racism and lies. ESPN producer Arty Berko and reporter Jemele Hill interviewed Wells twice for the story and visited Savannah on two different occasions. They go in-depth looking for answers.



Release sent from ESPN:
In 2007, Savannah State, a historically black university, hired Robby Wells as their first white head football coach in the school’s 98-year history. In his first season, Wells led Savannah State to a 5-7 record, the most wins since the program joined Division I in 2002. The team managed only 2 wins in 2009, and after just two seasons, Wells says he was forced to resign, even though he thought he had the confidence of the administration.

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Savannah State Football Coach Robby Wells Resigns

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Robby Wells announced that he is resigning from his position as head football coach at Savannah State University for personal reasons. Wells’ resignation will be effective immediately. “I have decided to resign as head football coach at Savannah State University for personal reasons,” Wells said. “At this point I have to think about my family and my health before I can think about anything else. I wish the players well as they pursue their dreams on and off the field. My thoughts and prayers will be with them as they continue to progress in their collegiate career.”



Marilynn Suggs, interim athletics director, has appointed Julius Dixon to serve as interim head football coach. Dixon served as the Tigers defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the past two seasons. He was recently moved to defensive line coach. “SSU’s athletics department has accepted Coach Wells’ resignation and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Suggs said. “We are confident that Coach Dixon will do a great job in the interim as we begin our search for a head football coach. Coach Dixon will have the full support of the athletics administration as we move forward into signing day and spring practice.”

Wells became SSU’s 21st head football and compiled a 7-15 record over the span of two seasons. The Tigers finished with a 5-7 record in 2008 and a 2-8 record in 2009. Wells came to SSU after serving as defensive coordinator and football marketing director for one season at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. Prior, Wells served as the General Manager for the Augusta Spartans Arena Football Team in 2006. Wells got his first coaching job at an HBCU in 2002, serving as the defensive coordinator at South Carolina State University from 2002-2005. SSU will begin a nationwide search to find a replacement immediately.

Opinion on Robby Wells' departure

"The Ayatollah" -- SSU Vice President for Administration, Dr. Claud Flythe

I think Savannah State University Vice President for Administration Claud Flythe made a good decision. I don't know the specific reason behind Robby Wells' resignation as SSU's football head coach Thursday after two seasons at the helm. Wells is saying it's for personal reasons, and that he's going to focus on his health.But read between the lines. Flythe is supporting Wells' explanation. But I believe with all of my heart that Wells was given a choice to either resign or be fired. Theo Lemon was given the same choice. He told SSU to fire him.

I believe Wells sealed his fate when it was revealed publicly last Friday night that 28 players will not participate in spring practice (15 players quit the team, 13 players are ineligible). Once Flythe (whose nickname is "The Ayatollah") learned about this, I believe he offered Wells the choice of either resigning or being fired.

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Savannah State athletics on the rise

It's homecoming week at Savannah State. For years... The athletic programs have floundered in mediocrity. But with new leadership from President Dr. Earl Yarbrough and athletic director Bart Bellairs... There is hope for the future. "There have been some amazing things happen," said Bellairs. "The transformation of this campus is just beautiful."

The Savannah State athletic department is trying to pull itself out of the hole that was created by years of neglect. If nothing else, Bellairs can feel the excitement of growth. "Our football staff works tremendously hard at getting good. The players are feeling it, the campus is feeling it."

Basketball is just around the corner and Coach Horace Broadnax had helped the team gain respectability. "We're very excited. We just signed a deal with Georgetown that we'll go to Georgetown in men's basketball and they will come back in here the following year," said Bellairs. "Our women's team is already playing a huge schedule, they've got Georgia Tech coming in. We're hoping that everyone will get behind Savannah State athletics as we try to improve our competition and we have our quest to win championships."

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Jacksonville Third quarter does in Savannah State

SSU Coach Robby Wells starts Tiger career at 0-1, as he learned Saturday morning that 11 players were ineligible to play against Jacksonville because of NCAA Clearinghouse issues. The Dolphins are a non-scholarship program in the Pioneer League.

Jacksonville (Fla.) University cornerback Robson Noel guaranteed a victory against Savannah State University and his teammates delivered Saturday night. After a scoreless first half, Jacksonville scored 17 points in the third quarter and held on for a 20-7 victory. A Memorial Stadium crowd of 4,441 watched as the Dolphins spoiled the head coaching debut of SSU's Robby Wells, and gave JU second-year head coach Kerwin Bell his first road win.

"I just knew our team was ready to play," said Noel, who made four tackles. "I'm very relieved. I owe it all to my teammates." Jacksonville, which does not offer athletic scholarships, is a member of both the Football Championship Subdivision and the Pioneer Conference. The Dolphins won their season opener for the first time since 2002, when they beat Lenoir-Rhyne, 37-27. SSU has not won its season opener since 2004, a 41-34 double-overtime victory at Norfolk (Va.) State.

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Attendance: 4,441@ Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 15,000).

Jacksonville cornerback guarantees a victory over SSU

Teams meet at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium

It's Savannah State's football season opener. It's Robby Wells' first game as the Tigers' head coach. And if that's not enough intrigue then try this: Jacksonville (Fla.) University cornerback Robson Noel has guaranteed a JU victory against SSU at 7 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium.

Noel, a senior from Pompano Beach, Fla., last week told the Florida Times-Union, "We want to get off to a fast start this year. We've got a couple of big games ahead of us. We're focused in on Savannah State right now, and we're looking forward to Appalachian State (Sept. 6), but we're keeping that in the background. "We're thinking about this first game, and we're going to come out with a win ... and I guarantee it." Thanks to the Internet, word of Noel's guarantee spread quickly at SSU.

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SSU conducts first football scrimmage

Hunter snags two interceptions

The sounds of sawing, hammering and drilling echoed throughout Savannah State's campus Saturday morning. It started at T.A. Wright Stadium, which is being renovated, and drifted to the practice field near Tiger Arena, where SSU's football team did some building of its own.

The offense worked on mastering the Tigers' new spread offense during the first scrimmage of fall practice. SSU's six quarterbacks took turns operating the no-huddle attack, which involves spreading the field vertically and horizontally to open up gaps for the running and passing games to exploit.

First-year head coach Robby Wells and offensive coordinator Alan Hall frequently had the Tigers use four wide receivers - three to one side of the field - and one running back. The quarterbacks often worked from the shotgun formation. "It's a multiple-set offense because we can go from two backs and two tight ends all the way to no backs and five wide receivers," Wells said.


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Savannah State Tigers have questions about running game

SSU Tigers starting QB Jacorey Kilcrease
Sophomore, 6-0/170, Macon, Georgia; Central Macon.

Savannah State's running game was an area of concern after sputtering for only 899 yards and five touchdowns last season. It became a bigger issue when leading rusher Antwan Edwards quit the team in May. SSU's running game suffered another blow Sunday when heralded freshman Kendal Blackshear quit the team.

SSU head coach Robby Wells said Blackshear, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound Houston native, returned to Texas. Wells said Blackshear's departure was not the result of a disciplinary decision. "Kendal came in, and it's a long way from home," Wells said following the completion of a Media Day press conference at Tiger Arena. "For whatever reason, he and his parents - his parents were still here (on campus) - decided that they wanted to go back home. It happens. We wish him well."



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Wells is Savannah State University football's last hope

Photo: SSU Tigers head coach Robby Wells is on the hot seat before the season starts for the 2008 Tigers.


Robby Wells saw Savannah State's football program as "a little gold mine" six years ago. Now the Tigers' head miner, Wells must find that hidden mineral vein. Or SSU should close its mine for good.

This is a program in peril. Nine coaches in 13 years, four since Wells became taken with the school as a South Carolina State assistant in 2002. Ten wins since moving to Division I-AA in 2000, only three against I-AA competition. A fan base dwindling with each coaching change, blowout loss and stranger-than-fiction episode, like student coaches selling steroids to players.

Wells is the Tigers' last hope. The administration made a long-term commitment when they hired him four months ago, with athletics' headmaster Claud Flythe promising Wells will be at SSU as long as he himself is.

Wells will either make the Tigers respectable or drive them to extinction. Such is the risk taken by a historically black college that hires a young white man with no head coaching experience to lead its marquee athletic program.

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Former Florida A&M head coach Rubin Carter was a finalist for this position. Kent Schoolfield, a former Fort Vally State head coach, and FAMU and Florida State assistant coach was also a finalist. Georgia Southern's legendary QB/current Bethune Cookman assistant coach Raymond Gross was a finalist.

But, the SSU president selects Robby Wells, with no head coaching experience--period, over coaches that have had some success at the Division I level or higher.

Carter was a Miami All-American and NFL All Pro; Schoolfield was an NFL player and FAMU All American; Gross won national championships with GSU and was an All-American player. Wells credentials just doesn't measure up to the other coaches that were available to SSU.

In all fairness to Wells and his staff, they have no chance of winning, even with a 12 game schedule stacked with NAIA and Division II programs.

Inadequate scholarships--no incoming talent equals no winning program. You can't attract Division I level talent based on a pipe dream and an unproven coaching staff. Who would put their football future into the hands of an unproven commodity like Coach Wells.

It can get worst than the Tigers ever imagined with a possible record of 1-11 or 0-12 in 2008, and a Tigers fan base quickly disappearing. SSU in its current condition with NCAA probation and reduced scholarships, would be hard pressed to be a competitive Division II program, today.

Nine coaches in 13 years speaks volumes about the ineptitude of the SSU administration when it comes to the major economic engine of the school.

Moreover, why schedule 12 football games in 2008, and only play four games on the Tigers home field? You don't make money playing road games at Division II and NAIA stadiums, so what's the logic behind that move?

The Tigers are not a Division I FCS football program in any stretch of the imagination, and until a full commitment is made financially to SSU football, attempting to compete at the FCS (formerly 1-AA) level is a major disservice to the Tigers student-athletes and fan base.

It will take more than hope (with no head coaching experience) to win at SSU. The first order of business should have been to hire a competent athletic director.

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SSU's Wells conducts first football practice

Photo: Savannah State University head football coach Robby Wells.

Tuesday morning lights.

It's not the sequel to the movie "Friday Night Lights." It's what Savannah State's football team was practicing under at 5:30 a.m. at T.A. Wright Stadium.

The Tigers had their first spring practice and conducted a variety of drills for first-year head coach Robby Wells and his six assistants until 7:30 a.m.

For the next four weeks, SSU will conduct 11 practices from 5:30-7:30 a.m. The Tigers will have one afternoon practice and two late-morning scrimmages before wrapping up with an afternoon spring game April 12.

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Savannah State announces Coach Wells first recruiting class

Photo: Savannah State University head football coach Robby Wells

SAVANNAH, Ga.- First year head football coach Robby Wells completed his recruiting class at Savannah State Wednesday with the announcement of 23 National Letter of Intent signees.

The jewels of the class could be athlete Kurvin Curry (6-2, 200) and Deron Talley (6-1, 175). During the 2007 season, Curry passed for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, rushed for 1,575 yards and 15 touchdowns and was voted most valuable player in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, Talley recorded 36 receptions for 626 yards.

Savannah State Tigers 2008 Recruiting Class 2/6/08.

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. High School/Hometown 2007 Stats/Honors

1. Travis Alston DE 6-3 210 Cedar Grove/Ellenwood, Ga. Two-year starter.

2. Jared Brunson OL 6-2 290 Maynard Evans/Orlando, Fla. Graded out at 82% for the season with 48 pancake blocks and 27 knock downs.

3. Chris Bush WR 6-0 185 Bainbridge/Bainbridge, Ga. 52 receptions for 618 yards. 612 kick return yards and 10 touchdowns. 4x100 State Champion.

4. Cedric Chambers WR 6-0 185 Kendrick/Columbus, Ga.

5. Kurvin Curry QB/Ath 6-2 200 Hart County/ Hartwell, Ga. Passed for 3,000 yards with 30 Touchdowns, rushed for 1,575 yards and 15 touchdowns in two years. Team MVP in 2006 and 2007.

6. Jamal Davis OLB 6-3 195 South Aiken/Aiken, S.C. 48 receptions for 680 yards. Region 4-A Player of the Year. 182 tackles and three sacks.

7. Stephen Dorn LB 6-1 200 Apopka/Apopka, Fla. 68 tackles with five TFL along with four sacks and two hurries. One touchdown and one blocked punt.

8. McKeaver Edwards OL 6-2 300 Stephenson/Stone Mountain, Ga. Graded out at 88% with 20 pancake blocks. All Region 5-A. 25 key blocks.

9. Edward Endem OLB 6-0 190 North Clayton/Atlanta, Ga. Two-year starter.

10. Quintez Hayes DL 6-3 260 Thomasville/Thomasville, Ga. 76 tackles, 10 sacks and two pass break-ups.

11. Demetrius Holmes WR 5-11 195 Stockbridge/Stockbridge, Ga.

12. Johnny Howard DT 6-2 255 Dublin/Dublin, Ga. 54 tackles, 37 assists and four sacks. All-State selection and 2006 State Champion.

13. Tametrick Hunt DT 6-0 290 Hart County/Hartwell, Ga. 35 TFL, 15 sacks and team Most Valuable Defensive Lineman.

14. Thelmore Jackson OL 6-6 298 Tri-Cities/Atlanta, Ga. Two-year starter.

15. Timothy Jackson RB 5-7 170 Lovejoy/Hampton, Ga. Three-year starter.

16. Stephan Meyers DL 6-1 275 Camden County/St. Mary’s, Ga.

17. Alex Miller RB 5-11 190 Salem/Conyers, Ga. 183 carries for 1,008 yards and 12 touchdowns. 10 receptions for 145 yards. Team Offensive Player of the Year.

18. Grant Newman OL 6-4 280 Jefferson County/Louisville, Ga. Graded out at 85%. 16 knockdowns.

19. Keenan Ray OL 6-3 290 Lovejoy/Hampton, Ga. Two-year starter.

20. Richie Rucker FS 6-2 185 Hart County/Hartwell, Ga. 58 tackles, five break ups, two forced fumbles and eight interceptions.

21. Deron Talley WR 6-1 175 Orange Park/Orange Park, Fla. 36 receptions for 626 yards.

22. Pat Thomas DB 5-10 180 Mays/Atlanta, Ga. Three-year starter.

23. Anthony Young DB 5-10 170 Gainesville/Gainesville, Ga. Eight interceptions, 35 tackles, 14 assists and five break-ups. Team Most Valuable Defensive Back.