Oh my: Savannah State goes 0-for-season

Posted 5:27AM on Tuesday 15th February 2005 ( 20 years ago )

SAVANNAH - Maybe in a few years, they'll be able to look back on this season and chuckle just a bit. Not now. The pain is too real, the scoreboard all too familiar. The Savannah State Tigers went through an entire season without winning even one game, only the second NCAA Division I team in the last half-century to reach the gold standard for futility. ``Being out in public, walking around on campus, people make jokes about you because you're not winning,'' senior Sherard Reddick said. ``We're all just struggling emotionally. It's hard to describe.'' But this much is clear: The Tigers have no business being in Division I, a leap they made a few years ago with hopes of making a name for themselves. Instead, they became a national laughingstock. ESPN even did live ``cut-ins'' during its regular programming to provide updates on Savannah State's quest for infamy Monday night. The Tigers gave their best showing of the season but still lost to Florida A 49-44, wrapping up an 0-28 season. They joined Prairie View in the hall of infamy. The Texas school went 0-28 in 1991-92 the only other Division I team in the last 50 years to endure a winless season. ``It's unbelievable,'' Reddick said. At least the Tigers didn't go down without a fight. They tied it at 41 with 1:57 remaining when Donald Carson son of former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson hit two free throws. But Michael Harper put Florida A (9-13) ahead for good just 12 seconds later with two foul shots. Mark Williams hit a long 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to pull Savannah State to 45-44, but Tony Tate clinched it at the free throw line for the Rattlers. He made six straight in the final 24 seconds and led all scorers with 23 points. Reddick scored 12 points to pace Savannah State, which kept it close despite shooting just 22.6 percent (14-of-62) from the field. Carson was 1-of-15, missing all seven of his attempts outside the arc. Williams made only 3-of-18. Reddick was about the only bright spot, hitting 6-of-8 shots and grabbing 17 rebounds. Harry Carson traveled from New Jersey to watch his son's final college game, taking part in ceremonies beforehand to honor the team's three seniors. ``You're not always going to be the best,'' the former football star said. ``You've got to learn to deal with adversity. You've got to learn to deal with disappointment.'' Savannah State actually had a chance to lead at halftime for the first time all season. But Michael Ayodele hit a 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining in the period, putting Florida A ahead 28-26. ``Usually by halftime, we're losing by 20 points,'' said Chris White, a 19-year-old student who was among the crowd of 1,357. ``I actually might watch the rest of the game instead of just talking to my friends.'' Indeed, the crowd was on its feet in the frantic final seconds. But in the end, the result was the same another loss. The Rattlers were clearly relieved to get out of Savannah with a win. During one of the final timeouts, Darius Glover tried to calm his teammates. ``Come on, guys. Relax. Relax.'' When Carson shot an airball on a desperation 3-pointer that could have forced overtime, Florida A coach Mike Gillespie walked in front of the bench and said defiantly, ``We won the ... game.'' The Tigers won four games last season, but had to forfeit those because of an ineligible player the son of coach Edward Daniels, no less. This time, they completed an imperfect season without having to rely on forfeits. Savannah State lost by an average margin of nearly 23 points. ``If you looked at our schedule, you'd be hard-pressed to say we had a better team than anyone we faced,'' Daniels said. ``We just had to focus on improving from game to game.'' Savannah State has only eight scholarship players five short of the Division I limit and the most striking example of its dubious decision to move from Division II. The Tigers had modest success in the lower level former NFL great Shannon Sharpe is an alumnus but jumping up has been a major blunder. The school doesn't have enough money to fully fund any of its programs, and no conference stepped forward with an invitation. So, Savannah State plays on as an independent, with scant hope of success. ``Basically,'' said White, the student who watched the final loss, ``they're out of their league.'' When it was over, Daniels huddled briefly with four of his players. He told them he was proud of their effort. He reminded them that they've got their whole lives to erase the disappointment of this winless season. ``People remember the last thing you've done,'' Daniels said. ``They have a chance to go on and do some other things. Maybe they'll be able to look back and talk in a lighthearted way about this.'' Not now. Major colleges that have gone winless for a season (minimum: 10 games played): 2004-05 Savannah State, 0-28 1991-92 Prairie View, 0-28 1954-55 The Citadel, 0-17 1944-45 Baylor, 0-17 1943-44 VMI, 0-14 1942-43 Tulsa, 0-10 1936-37 William Mary, 0-18 1936-37 Middle Tennessee, 0-11 1933-34 American, 0-10 1931-32 VMI, 0-14 1926-27 Saint Louis, 0-14 1923-24 Northwestern, 0-16 1917-18 Dartmouth, 0-26 1916-17 Oregon, 0-11 1909-10 Drake, 0-10 Source: NCAA

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