After more than a decade away from the gridiron, Stillman College is set to bring back Tiger football, marking a major milestone in the institution’s athletic revival.
The program was discontinued following the 2015 season after the college made the difficult decision to eliminate nearly all athletic programs except men’s and women’s basketball because of severe financial challenges. At the time, school leaders said the cuts were necessary to stabilize the institution’s finances and ensure the college’s long-term future.
Now, with the college on stronger financial footing, Stillman is preparing to restore one of its most recognizable athletic traditions. The return of football represents years of planning and renewed institutional investment, while signaling the college’s continued commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes.
Football has long been an important part of Stillman’s identity. The Tigers first fielded a team in 1999 after a decades-long absence and competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) until the program was shuttered in 2015. During that span, Stillman produced several standout players, including NFL draft pick Sammie Hill.
Since transitioning to the NAIA, Stillman has steadily rebuilt its athletic department, adding new programs and competing in the HBCU Athletic Conference. The reinstatement of football is the latest step in that growth and is expected to boost student enrollment, alumni engagement, campus life, and community support.
The return of Tiger football is more than the revival of a sport—it symbolizes the resilience of an HBCU that overcame financial adversity and is once again investing in its future.
