SSU Dixon hopes to lose interim tag

Savannah State University interim head football coach Julius Dixon has a past history of high achievements (see bio below).

Julius Dixon has been in charge of Savannah State University's football program since Jan. 28, 2010 the day Robby Wells was forced to resign and interim athletics director Marilynn Suggs appointed Dixon interim head coach. Dixon, SSU's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, began preseason training camp Saturday with the interim tag still in his title. He also is listed in the Tigers' 2010 media guide as interim.

It's an awkward position for Dixon, but the 43-year-old Toccoa native said he is confident he has the support of SSU's administration.

"In this transition phase into the (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), there were several requirements placed, football-wise, that had to take place," Dixon said Sunday during SSU's annual Media Day at Tiger Arena. "It's really been a busy process for a lot of different people to make this transition work a little smoother.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

COACH JULIUS DIXON BIO

Julius Dixon, a native of Toccoa, Georgia, attended and graduated from Stephens County High School in 1985; earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1990 from Furman University.

As a star cornerback for Furman, Dixon was one of four freshmen to letter in his first year, and was a member of the 1985 NCAA I-AA runner-up team that finished with a 12-2 record and a Southern Conference championship. As a senior, he earned first team all-conference honors, and was the captain of the 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship team. That year, the Paladins compiled a 13-2 record, a conference championship, and earned the nation’s top scoring defense holding opponents to 9.5 point per game. During his four-year span, the Paladins recorded a 40-10-2 record.

Dixon entered his first year as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach for Savannah State University in 2009. He comes to SSU from Presbyterian College where, in 2007, he was the defensive coordinator and helped coached the team to a 6-5 record in their first year of Division I, FCS competition.

Prior to that, he spent 14 years as an assistant with Furman University; first as defensive line coach for three years, and then he served as the defensive backs coach for eleven years. During his tenure at Furman, Dixon coached three All-Americans and six All-Conference players. He also helped coach the Paladins to three conference championships (1999, 01, 03), and playoff appearances in 1999, 2001, 2004, and 2005. The 2001 team finished as the NCAA I-AA national runner-up.

Dixon got his start in coaching at Camden High School (S.C.). He served as an assistant coach for four years, from 1988-92. During his first year as an assistant, Camden went 15-0 and won the South Carolina AAA State Championship.

He is married to the former Tawanda Cooper of Kingstree, S.C. and they have two children; Jailyn (7) and Devin (2).

SSU President Responds to ESPN “Outside the Lines” Story

When Robby Wells was hired at Savannah State in 2007, he became the first white head football coach in the school's 98-year history. Wells enjoyed moderate success in his first two seasons at the HBCU, but claims that he was forced to resigned in 2009, citing racial discrimination as the reason for his dismissal. "Outside the Lines'" Jemele Hill investigates the allegations of racism at Savannah State. Wells says he was fired earlier this year because he is white -- a charge the school, a historically black university, denies.

ESPN Video: Outside the Lines Show: 5/16/10: Question Of Race

May 16, 2010

Dr. Earl G. Yarbrough Sr., President, Savannah State University president responds to ESPN “Outside the Lines” broadcast ...

Following his resignation from Savannah State University (SSU), former Head Football Coach Robert “Robby” Wells very regrettably leveled negative and false allegations of “ racism and lies” at the university and its administration. These false allegations formed the basis of an episode of the ESPN show “Outside the Lines,” which aired this morning. Several SSU staff members and I spoke with ESPN regarding Wells’ comments and our policies at SSU and, it is our hope that in the interest of balanced reporting, ESPN will have chosen to include these interviews in the Wells segment. Nevertheless, I want to re-state the university’s expectations and set the record straight for our supporters, alumni, friends and the community.

As university president, I have committed this administration to abide by all SSU academic policies and procedures, those of the University System of Georgia as well as NCAA Rules and Regulations. As SSU Athletics prepares to enter the national stage via our membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, as well as this ESPN airing, we must re-affirm these fundamental principles.

At Savannah State University:

1. We believe in diversity, as is amply demonstrated by a workforce that remains among the most ethnically and culturally diverse within the University System of Georgia and in the city of Savannah.
2. We firmly believe that our athletes must first be students and demonstrate character and integrity.
3. We insist that student athletic recruitment be a shared activity where ALL recruits are known and vetted by ALL involved coaches, the athletic and NCAA compliance directors as well as the administration.
4. We also insist, and have always insisted, that all student athletes being recruited to SSU receive fair and equal treatment regardless of race, color, gender or family background. discriminatory treatment of any kind has never been, nor will ever be, tolerated by this administration. Any claim of unjust treatment related to admission and/or scholarship offers must be reported immediately to the administration.

In light of the national broadcast concerning Savannah State University and its football program, the university must affirm that it acted legally and within the guidelines of the policy of the University System of Georgia with regard to the separation of former head football coach, Robert “Robby” Wells. With concern to not damage Mr. Wells’ future professional opportunities, however, the university has withheld specific information regarding his performance or any violations of department, university, University System of Georgia, and NCAA rules, procedures and/or guidelines. While SSU bears Mr. Wells no ill will, we will not waver from protecting the reputation of this university - its Athletic Department, student-athletes and alumni - regardless of the forum.

Savannah State University Responds to Robby Wells’ Resignation Letter

Former Savannah State University football coach Robby Wells has broken his silence regarding his departure from the Tigers football program. Wells’ official resignation letter was sent to University administrators Thursday afternoon from his legal team’s office in Atlanta.




Here is the statement from Savannah State released Thursday at 7:50 p.m. regarding Wells’ resignation.

Feb. 11, 2010

Statement on Robby Wells’ February 11, 2010, Resignation Letter

Robby Wells has submitted his letter of resignation to Savannah State University. Wells’ resignation has been accepted and he will be assigned to other duties within the University until March 31, 2010. As mandated by the University System of Georgia, Coach Wells was given the opportunity to address all of his concerns with SSU President Earl G. Yarbrough Sr. He specifically declined to do so. Coach Wells’ decision to go public with this instead of directing them to the University through proper channels is truly unfortunate.

While the accusations in Wells’ resignation letter are troubling, SSU remains a diverse institution that affords equal employment opportunities to everyone in all instances specifically including this one. Savannah State has a strong commitment to diversity, particularly in its hiring practices. Furthermore, President Yarbrough has three diversity goals that he previously submitted to the University System of Georgia:

READ ROBBY WELLS RESIGNATION LETTER, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Controversy Surrounds Savannah State Football Recruits
Sports with Walter Moore
Savannah State University Loses Its Seventh Head Coach in 11 Years
Opinion on Robby Wells' departure
SSU football coach Robby Wells resigns after 2 seasons
Savannah State football coach suddenly resigns

Extreme makeover for Savannah State athletics

The horse is catching up to the cart at Savannah State University. When SSU jumped into NCAA Division I - college athletics' highest level - in 2002, the Tigers lacked an extensive feasibility study, adequate facilities and financial resources. These days, the historically black college is a whirlwind of activity. Progress, something SSU athletes and alumni crave, is evident in renovations to T.A. Wright Stadium (football) and Wilcox-Wiley gymnasium (volleyball). The improvements don't end there.



SSU has created the Tiger Club for boosters, an attempt to secure the necessary funds for scholarships to recruit the best student-athletes possible. SSU also has developed licensing and corporate marketing programs. Even the walls are talking inside Tiger Arena (basketball) thanks to the addition of colorful action photographs featuring biographies of former athletes. The athletics upgrades, part of the vision of school president Earl Yarbrough, vice president for administration Claud Flythe and athletics director Bart Bellairs, are long-awaited steps toward fielding teams that can be competitive in all sports.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Savannah State selects Wells as head football coach

Photo: Robert Wells, SSU Head Football Coach

by beepbeep, MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street

Savannah State University announced this afternoon that it has selected Robert "Robby" Wells as the Tigers new football coach. Wells becomes the ninth head football coach at the university in the past 13 years and the 21st head football coach in school history.

Mr. Wells is 39 years old and is SSU first white head football coach hired in the 93 year program history.

He was selected from four finalists and 68 applicants to replace Theo Lemon, who was fired after two seasons for not winning enough with a 3-18 record. Lemon had only one recruiting class and 23 scholarships for a 1-AA program allotted 63 by the NCAA.

Wells has no prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level.

He has served one year as the the general manager for the American Indoor Arena Football League Augusta Spartans team in 2006. He claims to be an 18 year veteran of the coaching profession.

Coach Wells completed his first year (2007) as the defensive coordinator/linebacker coach at Benedict College, a NCAA Division II school in Columbia, S.C. in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Benedict College finished the season with a 2-9 record and ranked near the bottom in the ten team conference in most defensive statistical categories, allowing 24.2 points per game (8th) and giving up 326.7 yards per game (7th).

Prior to his one year with the Augusta Spartans, he served as the defensive coordinator at South Carolina State University for four years (2002-2005) under Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough. With Wells orchestrating the defense, the Bulldogs were ranked near the top statistically among all Division I-AA teams and led the nation in pass defense efficiency in 2003.

Wells told the South Carolina Times and Democrat newspaper on January 6, 2006, "Buddy and I sat down (after the season) and decided it was best that I move on," Wells said. "I agreed with him. It was time for me and I though it was time to move on." The two worked together at the University of South Carolina when Pough was the running backs’ coach and Wells served as a graduate assistant, under Lou Holtz.

He is a 1990 graduate of Furman University and was a member of the Paladins’ 1988 I-AA national championship team where he played wide receiver and fullback. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Furman in health and physical education, and a master’s degree in adult education, University of South Carolina in 2000.

Wells also coached at the high school level at Murray (S.C.) High School (head coach) 1995-97; and at Greer (S.C.) High School (assistant coach) 1990-95.

Savannah State University went 1-9 in 2007 and the institution is under NCAA probation through May 18, 2009. The previous coach and staff were not responsible for the NCAA three year probation, which was issued one month after Theo Lemon was hired.

The NCAA probation includes a finding of unethical conduct against a former assistant coach, several recruiting violations, impermissible summer workouts with football prospects before their initial full-time enrollment and several prospects' receipt of impermissible benefits, including free housing. There were also findings against the institution for lack of institutional control and failure to monitor its athletics program.

This was the second major infractions case against Savannah State University in recent years. In 1998, the Division II Committee on Infractions also ruled that there was a lack of institutional control. It was found in both NCAA cases against SSU that institutional staff members misunderstood NCAA rules and the institution did not have an adequate compliance program in place to monitor the activities of the coaching staff.

Wells was selected over finalists Raymond Gross, Kent Schoolfield and Rubin Carter.

One has to question what the SSU administrators were thinking when they made this selection, as it is a real butt scratcher. It is difficult to see what strengths, if any, Coach Wells brings to this difficult situation.

Savannah State is in desperate need of financial support from its alumni; a winning football program; satisfactory completion of NCAA probation; conference affiliation; more than 24 scholarships allotted to the football program; an increase in home attendance for five home games from 3,710 average; and payment of realistic scaled 1-AA head and assistant coaches salaries.

The handwriting is on the wall--there are going to be some very difficult days ahead for Savannah State University football program with this hire, in light of the fact the program has been historically underfunded and the product on the field is not competitive in 1-AA.

Wells is not a proven football program builder and will be unable to succeed in this environment lacking the appropriate recruitment skills, coaching abilities and funding. This is not the best situation for an on-the-job training head coach, especially one that wasn't a standout player in college or known as a great recruiter of 1-AA talent.

Here are the overview of the other finalists that weighed in on the SSU administration final decision.

Raymond Gross is currently the quarterbacks coach at 1-AA Bethune Cookman University (1999-2002, 2005-Present) and has served as the offensive coordinator at Division II Clark Atlanta University (2001-2004) before returning to BCU. He was an All-American Quarterback at Georgia Southern University and lead the Eagles to the 1989 1-AA National Championship with a 15-0 record under legendary coach Erk Russell. He won a second 1-AA National Championship with GSU in 1990 under Coach Tim Stovers. He is a member of the GSU Hall of Fame, and played professional football as a starting quarterback calling the signals for the Ravenna Chiefs of the Italian Football League.

Gross graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1993 with a degree in Commercial Recreation. He later earned his Master's Degree in Education from Cambridge College in 1999.

Kent Schoolfield is a 32 year coaching veteran with extensive Division II, I-AA and IA experience. Schoolfield’s most notable success occurred at Division II Fort Valley State. In six seasons as a head coach (1997-2002), Schoolfield compiled a 48-21 record and advanced to the NCAA playoffs three times. Schoolfield was named SIAC Coach of the Year in 2001 and has been honored twice by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., as its Coach of the Year.

Schoolfield has served as the offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T State University (2005) and 1-AA James Madison University. He has held coaching positions at Temple, Pittsburgh, New Mexico State, Florida A&M and N.C. A&T. His most successful stint as an assistant came during his time under legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. He spent five seasons at Florida State, his recruiting skills helped to make the Seminoles an elite Division I program. He is currently serving his second stint as the wide receivers coach at Division III Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Schoolfield is an inductee in the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame and played professional football for the New England Patriots. He earned a B.S. in History and an M.S. in Education from Florida A&M University.

Rubin Carter has a career record (2004-2007) of 16-17 (6-5, 7-4, 3-8) at Florida A&M University where he served as the Rattlers head coach. Carter was hired two weeks before Spring practice in 2004. He was somewhat successful in reshaping the Rattlers program and had two very strong recruiting classes with topnotch student athletes. He was responsible for leading the Rattlers program from under NCAA probation, operating with a reduction of scholarships from the previous administration infractions. Carter was not responsible for FAMU being placed on NCAA probation.

Prior to FAMU, Carter served as the Defensive Line Coach at Temple University (2004); the New York Jets' Defensive Line Coach for three seasons (2001 to 2003; and the Washington Redskins' Defensive Line Coach for two seasons (1999-2000).

Carter first coached in the NFL with Denver under Dan Reeves from 1987-88, directing the Broncos defensive line while also assisting with strength and conditioning.

Carter also coached at the collegiate level for nine years:
He was Defensive Coordinator and Strength & Conditioning Coach at Howard University from 1989 to 1993, leading the Bison defense to a number one national ranking in Division I-AA in total defense (220 yards per game) and scoring defense (10.5 points per game) in 1989.

He went on to serve as Defensive Line and Strength & Conditioning Coach at San Jose State in 1995 and 1996. Carter's last position at the collegiate level prior to Temple, was at Maryland, where he instructed the defensive line from 1997-98.

Carter began his coaching career after playing 12 seasons (1975-86) at defensive tackle in the NFL with Denver. He was part of five AFC West Championship teams as a key member of the Broncos famed "Orange Crush" defense and played in two Super Bowls (1978, 1987). Upon his retirement, he had played in more games (152) than any other nose tackle in NFL history. Carter was drafted in the fifth round by Denver in the 1975 draft out of University of Miami, Florida, where he was a Kodak, UPI and AP All-American as a senior in addition to being named the MVP of the Hula Bowl.

Carter holds the distinction of being the first African-American to be cited as an All-American on the Hurricanes' defensive line. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1975 and was inducted into the University of Miami's Hall of Fame in 1992.

Good luck Tigers!!

Bethune-Cookman 45, Savannah State 13

SAVANNAH, Ga.-- Jimmie Russell scored touchdowns on runs of 12, 2 and 10 yards to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 45-13 victory over Savannah State on Saturday.

Russell, who had 65 yards on 12 attempts, also completed 10 of 15 passes for 112 yards. His backup, McKinson Souverain, completed one of two passes, but it went to Paul Neufville for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Wildcats (2-1) also got an 85-yard interception return from Corey Council and Brian Sumlar got the other score on a 1-yard run.

JaCorey Kilcrease supplied most of the offense for the Tigers (1-2), hitting on 14 of 26 passes for 112 yards, including a 39-yard scoring pass to A.J. Benson. Greg McCrary scored the other Savannah State touchdown on a 1-yard run.

ATTENDANCE: 5,063

Offensive line clears way for SSU running game

By Noell Barnidge, Savannah Morning News

"The Hoggies," Savannah State's starting offensive linemen, went hog wild on Saturday.

Right tackle Derrick Dorsey, right guard Algernon Wright, center Kenny Andrew, left guard Justin Norton, left tackle Rashad Jackson and tight end Joshua Marshall pushed Johnson C. Smith's defensive line all over the field in SSU's 24-10 victory.

Six players, led by freshman tailback Antwan Edwards, combined for 328 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 53 carries against the NCAA Division II school from Charlotte, N.C. It was SSU's most yards rushing since the Tigers ran for 330 yards at Fort Valley State in 1999.

Edwards, who made his first start at tailback, ran for a game-high 103 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, on 14 carries. The 5-foot-9 177-pound Miami native became the first SSU running back to run for over 100 yards since Chad Cone gained 169 yards against Morehouse last October.

"Our offensive line worked hard this week and it showed in the game," Edwards said.
"The Hoggies," whose largest player, Wright, is 6-foot-2, 432 pounds, redeemed themselves after a 47-7 season-opening loss at Morgan State in which SSU ran for only 29 yards without a touchdown on 32 carries.

Photo: Savannah State running back Justin Babb (20) hits a wall of Johnson C. Smith University defenders during Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium.

Saturday, SSU's offensive line created running lanes that resulted in touchdown drives of 77, 94 and 52 yards, and netted a field goal on a 30-yard drive. "The Hoggies" also did not allow a sack.

"My hat goes off to our offensive line," SSU second-year coach Theo Lemon said. "Those guys did a great job of blocking and sustaining."

SSU (1-1) primarily was a passing team under former coach Richard Basil. Lemon's offensive philosophy is based on the running game.

It has taken time, including last season's 2-9 campaign, for SSU's running attack to develop. But Saturday, the running game that Lemon vowed "will come" made its much-anticipated debut.

SSU's ball-carriers, most of them members of Lemon's first full recruiting class this season, bulled their way to the most yards rushing during the Lemon era. The previous high was 204 yards rushing in a 24-20 victory over Division II Morehouse last season.

"We wanted to run the ball. That was the game plan: to control the clock," said Jackson, a 6-4, 317-pound senior from Jacksonville, Fla. "We probably only ran about seven plays. We tried more plays against Morgan State, but we realized what our limitations were.

"Today, we had different backs for different situations. We have our power backs and we have our speedy backs. When they run for a lot of yards it's a good feeling. It makes us know we're making holes and they're capitalizing on what we make.
"This is big for the school, the city and also for us."

SSU quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease raved about "The Hoggies" and their ability to spring the Tigers' stable of running backs.

"Our offensive line, those boys went out and executed," he said. "Without them we can't do anything."

Savannah State seeks to avenge last season's loss to JCSU

By Noell Barnidge, Savannah Morning News

Savannah State's football team will play its first three home games, including today's 1 p.m. home opener against Johnson C. Smith, at Memorial Stadium because T.A. Wright Stadium is being renovated.

But the renovations don't stop there. SSU second-year coach Theo Lemon has spent this week's practices shuffling his roster and searching for playmakers after the Tigers' 47-7 loss at Morgan State last Thursday.

The most notable change for today's annual Joe Turner Classic is at running back, where freshman Antwan Edwards of Miami has replaced junior Reginald May of Macon as SSU's starting tailback.

"We're waiting for a guy who just makes that position his," Lemon said.

"We've got a stable right now. We're looking for a guy who just goes in there and really makes it happen. Right now, Antwan Edwards is the guy. It's his (job), and we'll see what happens at the end of this game."

Edwards ran for 13 yards on nine carries against MSU. May gained 8 yards on eight carries. Both performances were lackluster, along with senior fullback Jamie Beard's team-high 18 yards rushing on six carries.

SSU (0-1) ran for 29 yards without a touchdown on 32 carries compared to MSU's 233 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries.

"There are no excuses about (last) Thursday night," Lemon said.
But there is plenty of blame to go around. As Lemon told his team earlier this week, "If you want to blame someone, look in the mirror."

The Tigers were 1-for-13 (8 percent) on third-down conversions against MSU.
SSU gained 15 yards of total offense in the first half, and 140 yards of total offense in the game, compared to the Bears' 345 yards of total offense in the game.

Too many penalties in opener
SSU starting quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease, a sophomore, was 9-for-19 passing for 111 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.

Backup quarterback Greg McCrary, a freshman, was 0-for-4 passing. He was intercepted twice.

"Our confidence right now is in JaCorey," Lemon said. "We don't have any qualms or any hesitation if we have to play McCrary. But right now, looking at the tape, JaCorey probably played the most, and he played the best."

SSU was penalized 10 times for minus-115 yards. It was better than MSU's 13 penalties for minus-149 yards, but it is unacceptable to Lemon.

"We had too many mistakes," Lemon said. "We had too many guys that were doing a lot of bone-headed things. And I hate to use that phrase, but that's all (the mistakes) are. When you beat yourself it hurts the whole team. Whether it's holding or jumping off-sides or flagrant fouls, we have to settle down and just play Tiger football."
Division II JCSU (1-0) beat NAIA school Edward Waters, 24-0, on Aug. 25.

Last season, JCSU beat SSU 27-6 during the Golden Bulls' Homecoming. The Tigers own a 3-1 series lead.

"We need this win," said SSU strong safety Antwan Allen, a sophomore from Miami who made a team-high 10 tackles last Thursday.
Golden Bulls third-year coach Daryl McNeill coached SSU to its last winning season, 7-4, in 1998. His assistants, Steven Aycock and Jonathan Kelly, played for him at SSU.

JCSU quarterback Carl Richardson was 9-for-21 passing for 122 yards and a touchdown against Edward Waters. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior was intercepted twice. The Golden Bulls managed 62 yards rushing without a touchdown.
"I think (JCSU) will try to run the ball first," Allen said. "But when they see that they don't have success at running the ball then they will go to the air."