Tigers try to build on two-win season

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Posted 1:29PM on Wednesday, August 3, 2005

After 11 players left Savannah State during the offseason, coach Richard Basil had to make do with less than 40 guys in spring practice. No problem. The Tigers have been through worse. ``We were able to get in a lot of individual, personal coaching,'' the upbeat Basil said. ``It was something we needed.'' Following an 0-12 2003 season, Savannah State improved to 2-8 last season. Still, the Tigers are only 3-29 in three seasons after moving up from Division II to I-AA. Losing isn't the only problem. There were accusations from some former and current players that an ex-student-assistant coach sold steroids to players last season. The coach is no longer with the team, and the NCAA is investigating the charges. Basil said the steroids investigation had nothing to do with the players leaving the team. ``It wasn't a mass exodus,'' he said. But he acknowledged that the NCAA probe is an issue. ``That's always going to hang over you,'' Basil said. ``It's talk. When something comes out like that, we just have to work hard to get that stigma off us and let everybody know the integrity of the program is intact.'' Basil said he couldn't address specific questions about the allegations. ``We had a few trying to tarnish the image of the program,'' he said. ``We've been through so much and overcome so much. We're just going to work harder. We're going to prove our program is full of integrity. Things like this happen.'' Basil said he added 27 scholarship and non-scholarship players after last season, and the Tigers still list eight returning starters on offense and five on defense. The Tigers will lean heavily on senior quarterback Clyde Tullis, who passed for 1,680 yards and 18 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. ``We were really able to focus on some individual things and really spend a lot of time with Clyde this spring,'' Tullis said. ``We were working with him and getting him to the point he will be something people are going to have to deal with on Saturday.'' The Tigers also have Myshun McAlpine, who rushed for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 2004, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. McAlpine moved up to start when Akeeno Mitchell left the team for personal reasons. Mitchell is back as a junior this season, giving Basil the possibility of playing both backs together. At 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, McAlpine is more of a speed back, while Mitchell is a 230-pounder who can play tailback or fullback. ``He's a big, explosive back,'' Basil said. ``We're trying to get our best athletes on the field. Although he can play tailback, we can still get some things out of him at fullback.'' The Tigers open their season on Dept. 3 against Division II Benedict College. Savannah State scheduled another Division II team, Central State of Ohio, for its Oct. 29 homecoming game. The remaining games are against Division I-AA opponents. Basil said the addition of two Division II teams doesn't mean Savannah State is considering a return to Division II. ``Just trying to get some wins, baby,'' he said. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)