Tennessee State Tigers gets familiar with comeback victories

Nashville, Tennessee -- For the second consecutive week, Tennessee State overcame a double-digit deficit to keep alive its hopes of posting a winning record. After falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter, the Tigers scored four consecutive touchdowns, then had to hold UT Martin off for a 35-30 victory.

The Tigers (5-5, 4-3 OVC) end the season next week at home against Jacksonville State. An LP Field crowd of 19,537 watched TSU claim its fourth win in five games. The Tigers’ last winning season came in 2008 when they finished 8-4.

Last week, TSU fell behind Eastern Illinois 17-5 in the third quarter and battled back for an 18-17 win. “The Cardiac Kids is taken, the Comeback Kids is taken; I don’t know what you should call us,” TSU Coach Rod Reed said. “But I don’t want us to have a nickname like that. I don’t want us to have to win like this anymore.”

UT Martin (5-5, 4-3) scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and threatened to take back the lead when it recovered an onside kick with 2:47 remaining and then drove into TSU territory.

Photo Gallary: TSU vs. UT-Martin




READ MORE

Former Alcornite and Titans' QB McNair pays visit to UTM

MARTIN, TN - The University of Tennessee-Martin football team has almost finished its first week of practice, and the Skyhawks already got their first big surprise of the season Wednesday. Former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair showed up at practice and gave the team a pep talk before they hit the field.

"It is the work you put in now that determines if you are ready to make that final play in the fourth quarter when it counts," the former NFL co-MVP told the team. McNair was in town visiting his two nephews: Jason and Julius McNair, who are both freshmen for the Skyhawks' football team this year.

UTM head coach Jason Simpson said having McNair, who finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1994 despite only playing at the I-AA level at Alcorn State, was good for his team early in fall camp.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.