Savannah State fires football coach after 0-5 start

SAVANNAH - Savannah State, off to an 0-5 start with the latest loss a 48-3 drubbing by previously winless Howard, fired coach Ken Pettiford on Monday and replaced him with assistant Richard Basil. <br> <br> Pettiford posted a 1-14 record as head coach of the Tigers, with his only victory over Morris Brown last season. Morris Brown has since disbanded its football program. <br> <br> Savannah State has been outscored 205-18 this season. ``At this point, we refuse to accept it as a reflection of the players on our football team,&#39;&#39; said school president Carlton Brown in announcing the change. Basil was given the job as interim coach for the rest of the season. <br> <br> Basil, a former Savannah State quarterback, is in his eighth year on the Tigers&#39; coaching staff. He is the Tigers&#39; seventh head coach in the last 10 years. <br> <br> ``There&#39;s no easy situation when you come in during the middle of a season,&#39;&#39; Basil said.