As a player, Eddie George was tough, physical and was typically able to impose his will on his opponent. It is that same mentality he has brought to Tennessee State as its head football coach and the team has began to adopt the mindset of their head coach.
The Bison of Howard University got an up close and personal view of Tiger physicality, as TSU played Homecoming spoiler, defeating HU 24-14. On the most recent MEAC Football Media Call Howard’s head coach Larry Scott said Tennessee State was “the most physical team” the Bison have seen all season. The Tigers’ pad-popping approach to the game left a mark on the Bison players with Coach Scott adding “guys were sore after the game.”
“That’s what we preach is to play fast, play physical with discipline, said Coach George on Tuesday’s Big South-OVC Football Media Conference. “That how we practice, that’s how we approach things…..We try to be a physical football team and we don’t shy away from that.”
On the afternoon, the Tigers were able to record 6 tackles for loss and sacked and intercepted HU quarterback Ja’Shawn Sroggins 2 times each. In addition, the TSU defense also held Scroggins, the then reigning MEAC Offensive Player of the Week to just 5/19 passes for 28 yards and 2 interceptions. Amongst Big South-OVC teams this season, the Tennessee State defense ranks 3rd in sacks (29), 1st in red zone defense, third in total defense ( 344.2 yards per game) , and third in scoring defense ( 24.7 ppg).
Leading the Tigers to their first winning season in seven years with the 6-5 last season, the team is 6-2 overall and very much in the Big South-OVC championship mix as the Tigers currently sit second with a 3-1 conference mark. With four games left in the season, the team and program could be poised for a breakthrough season, provided they learn from the mistakes that befell and use those lessons to take care of business on the gridiron.
Following the bye week, the Tigers’ late season
Ds docket commences November 2 against a tough UT Martin ballclub. The Skyhawks defeated the Tigers 20-10 last season.
