2012 HBCU Preview - Tennessee State: Can the Tigers Take the Next Step?

Tennessee State is the lone HBCU that is not a member of an all HBCU conference. The Tigers continue to struggle in this role as they search for answers as members of the Ohio Valley Conference.

By Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil, Brandon Bolden and Guest Columnist Kydarian Wilkins
Inside the HBCU Huddle Columnists
College Sporting News

The Tigers will have their chance to make a statement against non-conference HBCU competition prior to conference competition: Florida A&M in the 14th John Merritt Classic in Nashville, TN; Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, TN; Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, FL; and for homecoming a matchup against Arkansas at Pine Bluff back in Nashville.

PREVIEW SNAPSHOT:

Tennessee State University
School Nickname: Tigers
Location: Nashville, TN
Stadium: LP Field (68,798) and W.J. Hale Stadium (15,000)
Head Coach: Rod Reed (3rd season) Career Record (8-14 overall, 4-11 OVC)
Who’s Back: Sherman Carter – C – 2nd Team – All-OVC, Kadeem Edwards – OG – 2nd Team – All-OVC, Rogers Gaines – OT – 2nd Team – All-OVC, Michael German – QB – All-OVC Newcomer OVC Freshman of the Year, Steven Godbolt – DB – All-OVC Newcomer, Antonio Harper – DL – 2nd Team – All-OVC
Who’s Gone: NG Donte’e Nicholls, DE Tyler Lusk, LB John Jones, Jr., LB Rico Council, FS Joseph Wylie
Historical Fact: Did you know TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee and was founded in 1912? The university is celebrating 100 years.
Last Year: The Tigers finished tied for fifth place in league standings.
This Year: The Tigers were picked to finish 5th out of nine teams in the OVC standings.

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"INSIDE THE HBCU HUDDLE" is here for its second annual release featuring four "HBCU Games of the Week" analysis with columnist Brandon Bolden and executive editor Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil.

Powered by The Heritage Group (www.THG-Agency.com), an applied data analysis, sports entertainment consulting and management company, the HBCU Football Rankings are based on a combination of ranking algorithms and a voting system.

The polls separate the rankings of NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NAIA Division I member HBCU institutions into two distinct poll categories: Major and Mid-Major. Unlike the SBN Poll which groups all HBCUs together regardless of competition level, the Major Division Poll consists of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) [formerly I-AA] programs and the Mid-Major Division Poll includes NCAA Division II and NAIA Division I programs.

"INSIDE THE HBCU HUDDLE" is a weekly HBCU Major Division Report by Brandon Bolden and Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil that takes a featured look the gridiron action and predicted winners as well as scores surrounding HBCU Major Division football.

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