Walter Moore Bellairs Resigns As SSU AD

Bart Bellairs has resigned as the Savannah State athletic director as was introduced last week as the new athletic director at Southeastern Louisiana. Bellairs, 52, has been at SSU since 2008. Replacing Bellairs on an interim basis will be Marilynn Stacey-Suggs, the current SSU Assistant Athletics Director/Senior Woman's Administrator. Stacey Suggs received her bachelor of arts degree in business management from Winston-Salem State in 1980. She also attended Fayetteville Technical Community College where she received her associate of arts degree in funeral service education in 1983.

Tigers Defeat Western Illinois

Savannah State shot 61.1 percent from the floor in the second half in a 52-48 win over Western Illinois in Tiger Arena on November 24. Tracy Rankins had 13 points for SSU and Patrick Hardy added 10 and 8 rebounds. SSU played in the Skip Prosser Classic in Charleston, SC on Nov. 28 & 29. With the score tied at 42 with 3:47 left, Central Connecticut State held Savannah State to just one field goal the rest of the way as CCSU defeated the Tigers 51-44, in the first game. Louis Arnold led SSU with 12 points and 15 rebounds while Rankins added 10 points. The Tigers (3-3) bounced back in the second game with a 68-57 win over Virginia-Wise as Rashad Hassan scored 25 points and had 9 rebounds while Rankins scored 15 points.

SSU Women Win Third Straight

Savannah State improved to 5-2 with wins over Stetson and Columbia at Tiger Arena. SSU defeated Stetson 54-49 on November 25. Stetson rallied from a 10-point deficit to tie the game at 47 with 3:24 remaining but the Lady Tigers ended the contest by hold Stetson to just one field goal the rest of the way. Courtney Long had 12 points for SSU while Darice Fountaine added 10 and eight rebounds. Crissa Jackson chipped in nine points and five assists and five rebounds. On Nov. 28, Savannah State out-scored Columbia College 43-9 in the second half and the Lady Tigers went on to cruise to a 77-21 victory. SSU shot 50.8 percent from the floor and had runs of 17-0 and 28-0. Long, Jackson and Reynetta Phillips all scored 11 points for Savannah State. Phillips came off the bench to grab a game-high and career-high seven rebounds in 11 minutes of action.

Bethune-Cookman Fires Football Coach

Bethune-Cookman University announced on Nov. 23, that head football coach Alvin Wyatt's contract will not be renewed, effective immediately. Wyatt just completed his 13th year as head coach and is the all-time winningest coach at the school with a record of 90-54. BCU Athletics Director, Lynn W. Thompson said that a national search for Wyatt's replacement will begin immediately. The assistant coaching staff will remain intact until the new coach is named.

Armstrong Makes All-SIAC

Jonathan Armstrong was recently voted to the All- SIAC second team. The senior defensive back at Albany State helped the Rams to a 8- 3 record and a trip to the Division II playoffs. Armstrong ended the year with 48 tackles and one interception which he returned for a touchdown. Armstrong is a graduate of Groves High School.